Some weeks later...

Winter has finally arrived and snow cascaded over the bustling hills of San Francisco. Turning most of the city into a frigid bunny slope of sleet. The plus side was the increase in seasonal holiday events. The Nutcracker ballet, skating rings, shopping, Christmas light festivals, and more. Halloween will forever have my heart, but there was just something about Christmas in San Francisco that was magical.

Tonight was going to be one of the most glamorous yet! First I would be attending my first, more professional, gallery for Andrews photography. Unlike my gallery that I will forever have the fuzzies for, he will have an entire room sectioned to himself and his art. I couldn't have been more proud of him and made it my number one goal that no one was going to steal his thunder.

And I was already running late.

Andrew had to be there early to help set up and talk with potential sponsors. Meanwhile, I was at work trying to wiggle my way into one of the most gorgeous dresses I've ever seen in a tiny bathroom stall. Slipping my glimmering gold shoes on I flung open the stall door and practically threw myself out. Catching my reflection in the wall of mirrors above the sink I stopped. I didn't even recognize the person looking back at me. Who was this beautiful creature?

Pale pink hair folded into a braided up-do with golden stars sprinkled in, matching the tiny scattered astrology necklace. The dress was a plum-colored plunging appliqued high low gown and strapless, which was something I thought I could never pull off. It could have had a few fewer ruffles but that alone exposed the sheer volume of the dress. It was stunning. A work of art walking through a gallery of art.

If only I had walked into my senior prom looking like this, everyone would have turned their head. Perhaps it would have been less lonely trying to flirt with the cater and falling in love with the cheese fountain. I wonder if I looked like this back then and showed this much daring confidence that I recently discovered...would I still get paint thrown on me and left crying alone on the bleacher?

Clearing my throat I pushed the nasty memory out and approached the sink to apply my makeup. My lipstick of choice was a rich berry hue called "I dare you" I found it very fitting, plus it matched the dress so win-win. Clasping my purse and shoving it in one of my dresses' hidden pockets I stormed out of the bathroom to come face to face with my worst emotion.

"Jasmine," I said quite shocked. Ever since that day at the diner we hadn't said another word to each other. Not even a single text hanging in the inbox. I even completely lucked out in seeing her when I would visit Andrew on my days off. Now there she stood in my empty workplace "What are you doing here?"

She turned, opened her mouth to say something but became completely dumbfounded by my dress. "Cora? You look..."

"Hideous I know, What do you want?" I stomped past her and towards my cubicle to put away some of my left over paperwork and finish my remained blog post before I left. I had to admit I wasn't proud of my cold tone, but I guess it reminded me that I was still upset about that not so wonderful breakfast.

"That's not what I was going to say," Jasmine answered as she followed me to my desk. "What's the occasion?"

I sighed and closed my top drawer, "Andrew is having his work shown at a gallery, its a more uptight crowd with an expensive audience so I can't exactly wear anything."

"It...sounds like fun." Jasmine folded her arms.

My first question wanted to be how she found where I worked but between my father and Keiko, I figured one of them informed her. So, I skipped introductions and got back to my main question. "Why are you here?"

"I've come to be the bigger person," She started, "I want to apologize for that day at Cookies diner. It upset her...and Beckett and I have been having it rough since. We argue half of the time and with Elizabeth teething, I get no sleep -"

"So you're just here to give yourself closure?" I scuffed. "To make it easier for you to sleep at night."

"Not when you say it like that," Jasmine snapped, "I'm just trying to clear the air. We have known each other for eighteen years, why should this one argument break that bond."

"Because there is no bond Jazz! There never was apparently, If you want to ride off into the sunset with Becky I'm not going to get in your way. There is nothing left for us."

"Is that how you really see it?"

"What other way is there?"

Jasmine pulled her purse up on her shoulder and twirled one of her rings on her pinkie finger. "Look, we don't have to be friends, but I just want to go back to the way things were before. Beckett misses you, you won't answer his texts and Keiko feels like she is in the middle and has to choose between us."

Before I could answer Kim came out of his office in a spunky manner. Sporting black dress pants and a bright tuxedo jacket covered in pineapple print. "Ah yeah! Who's ready to party! Hey, Pinkie do me a favor and help me with this bowtie! The little bitch won't stay on."

I sighed and turned to my computer and confirmed my blog, letting it slowly load. Thanks to the snow and winter weather our uploads, downloads, and loading screens have been slower than usual. I was beginning to get a headache, three problems and a schedule to keep was too much at the moment. I turned to Jasmine and tried to salvage what relationship we had left, even though I wasn't sure about my feeling.

"Look, if you want to try and mend whatever the hell we have I'm all up for it. Right now I'm running behind and need to get work caught up so I can leave tonight."

"Pinkie!"

I groaned, "Just wait right here for a second." I told her before trotting over to Kim's office door and properly tying his bowtie. Compared to the rest of his wardrobe, he chose a bright blue bowtie to complement his pineapple jacket and thick black glasses. He looked like a resident of Bikini bottom about to perform on stage with a saxophone.

The Gallery's dress code was a strict dinner dress style with a wild artistic touch, So his choice in fabric should be okay. My boss had a wild sense of fashion that would definitely be the focal point of the evening. That and his one of a kind personality could win him an Oscar. Still, in the process of fixing his style, I couldn't get Jasmine off my mind, and apparently it showed.

"You're brooding again." My boss noted as he stabbed his straw in his juice box. Something I learned he always had on hand so his sugar wouldn't get low, or else he would become impossible to deal with. "You know I don't like it when you do that. Do I need to stand on a chair and cleanse you with sage again?"

"No." I chuckled.

"Does it have something to do with that sexy model over there by your desk?"

I exhaled. "Yes, but I don't want to talk about it right now. We're going to be late." I finished the last fold and tied the perfect bow around his neck. Satisfied he ran back into his office to shut things down and grab his keys.

Turning, I went back to my desk and noticed Jasmine was gone. Looking around I saw no one in the dark office workspace. I sighed and figured that maybe she changed her mind or would try and serenade me another time. Focusing on my computer my blog had been confirmed and set, Satisfied I logged out of my computer and called it a day, even though the excitement hasn't even begun.

So sorry for such the delayed post! These last few months have not been the nicest for me and I have been struggling with not only my work, but my health as well. I hope to get this chapter kicked off and continue this story to its climax!

Thanks again for bearing with me and reading!

Chapter 40 my lovelies! 

I've got everything plotted and writing it out, Confessions of a Cubicle Ninja will END at Chapter 50...with possible Epilogue. The end is near my dears, are you ready for it? Better light a candle, it's gonna get dark.