I looked at the screen reading, "VonRonsenburger has disconnected" with a slight smile. Never had I thought such friends would come into my life, even if it was full of irrational bickering, but it just turned out in such a way. I heaved a sigh and kicked my chair away from the desk, rolling towards my bedroom door. I jumped out of the leather seat and walked down the hallway of the apartment where I lived alone.

Below my twenty-seventh floor view from the window, the streets rolled on below my feet. It was a very dignified, formal apartment. Once I graduated university, my father insisted I take a load of his work funds to support myself, eventually buying this apartment for me to my displeasure.

"Father," I complained, looking him straight in the eye, "I want to fend for myself. You need the money, too. You won't stay mayor of the city forever; you'll need it for yourself."

"But Nikkie," he placed a hand on my cheek reassuringly, "it's my job as a parent to look after you. I failed that job as a husband with your mother. I can't fail with you."

"I know every since Mum's passing... things have been different. But that doesn't mean I'm different. Father, I don't want nor do I need the money. I can get a good job; I can make good funds myself."

"I know you want to be independent, dear. But let me do this one thing for you."

And now here I stood as the mayor's daughter, looking out at the large city from a high view. The sun was setting behind the city skyline, warning me that my night shift at Olive Garden was approaching. Despite the fact that my father was giving me enough money to live freely, I still wanted to work just to have the feeling of being independent.

I locked the bathroom door after I walked in and looked down at my work attire, then looking back up at my messy makeup I had forgotten to wipe off before my nap. Working the night shift was rough, having to sleep during the day when everything was lively, and hide away at night. Still, it was a better feeling than being in the sitting room watching Judge Judy.

I grabbed a makeup rag and cleaned off my face before reapplying everything from foundation to fake lashes to a toffee-colored matte lip cream. I tied my long, auburn locks into a high ponytail, keeping the hair out of my face for the hours I needed to work. I leaned against the countertop and sighed, inspecting my appearance before leaving the bathroom and sitting at the window once again.

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I looked at it, a text from my boss. Great, now I need to work another hour to clean up.

What an exciting life.