"How am I supposed to find out more information?" a tired Reina Mar sat timidly by the cramped desk. A mid-sized computer and towers of files were all she was provided. Optimism was one thing you must bring yourself.

"Dr. Floyd.. yes, I understand. I will sort them out without fuss. Thank you, Poppy." she rested her head gently on her awaiting palms. Poppy Fargles was hesitant to connect her with Dr. Floyd for good reason; he was already on his way to a meeting. After Dr. Floyd Montgomery had so generously guided Reina through the offices again, he introduced her to the floor's manager, Angeline Skeeter, who was far from being an angel. In the past two hours she had reprimanded Reina Mar on her slow pace in filing client's information into the system.

"Mar, if you're so tired. I'm sure someone would be willing to take your place." Angeline Skeeter pounced on the unaware intern.

"No m'am I've just completed the first stacks." Reina raised an eyebrow. Whatever glee she had held for the position vanished whenever she was in the manager's presence.

"Stick that attitude somewhere else Mar or you'll regret it." Angeline snarled before flying over to her next victim. Reina tapped digits into the server. The Prominskys should be satisfied with the resources she'd provided.

"Newbie, huh?" he tilted his head. A female employee gawked at Reina with bulging eyes.

"Yes." her eyes never left the screen. With luck, she could probably start the next day's amounting paperwork.

"Sir! Your father wishes to speak with you." a distorted and trembling voice echoed behind him.

"I'll be there." the man yawned annoyedly. He left promptly and just the smallest glances could be seen being darted at the oblivious new intern who was rapidly typing away on the sorrowful black keyboard. An hour later and she was allowed a thirty minute break. Having no car and not wanting to waste the few dollars she had, Reina settled on the private-owned café across the street.

'Le Fleur's Café' a very pompous and stately named eatery were where most of Nocens' marketing team ate. It spanned two floors and welcomed the most highly regarded. A rival eatery, Bona's Bakery also sold coffee and goods although it was not as well received. Reina decided Bona's would do. Her dainty shoes slapped against the smooth pavement of Hines Avenue.

"Hello." a sprightly voice piped from beside Reina. Her eyes swept above her to a blonde giddy girl.

"Hi," Reina Mar timidly responded. The girl seemed a few years older but a childlike glow bloomed on her peachy cheeks. Her towering height, however, was a bit intimidating to the small statured Reina Mar.

"You're the new intern, right?" she asked as the line moved up.

"Yes, marketing major," Reina spoke louder as the sounds of coffee cups and sweet nectar dripping fizzed in the air.

"Ah right. Makes you a perfect target." the girl nodded as Reina ordered a simple hazelnut coffee with plenty cream. The girl picked up a donut and a strong black coffee. Maybe that's how she fueled that pippy personality.

"A target for what?" Reina asked cautiously as the girl followed her towards an empty table.

"Cole. He's very picky about his staff. Doesn't like new blood on the floor." the girl looked over her shoulder expectantly.

"Cole?" Reina Mar was utterly perplexed. Receiving a warning on the second day was rather strange especially by a strange girl.

"You know, the boss." the girl raised a curious brow.

"Arthur Nocens is the senior CEO." Reina recounted her long admission into her position. Dr. Floyd had been the overseer of her initiation process.

"Cole is his son." the girl added. Reina watched her thoughtfully. Her bouncing shoulder length hair streaked reflectively by the window.

"I'm Dawn Adams by the way." the girl introduced herself properly.

"Reina Mar," she shook hands traditionally. It was a bit awkward with Reina having to reach over the table.

"Well, I suppose you think I'm a little weird for jumping to talk." Dawn Adams giggled and sipped the bitter drink.

"A little." Reina flushed still timid.

"Just thought you might need a friend." Dawn explained the issue, "there are hardly any women in this department."

"I've seen." Reina smiled, "gets boring looking at numbers on a screen and listening to men argue."

"Whatever pays the bills." Dawn bit her donut. The women continued small talk until Reina had finally warmed up to her new companion. Dawn Adams lived closer to Hines Estates than Reina did, she also was pretty acquainted with her job as files manager on the economics floor, Dr. Floyd Montgomery's domain. Being only seventeen, Reina was by far the youngest coworker. Dawn was three years her senior.

"This was nice." Reina chipped as they strolled out of the bakery shop.

"Beats paperwork." Dawn chittered jokingly.

"Well, I have to get back, Angeline only lent me 30 minutes." Reina checked her cellphone quickly.

"Alright, just keep in mind what I said!" Dawn waved at Reina's retreating figure. By the time Reina had settled into her cubicle, Angelina Skeeter was raising hell at her and the last one to enter the workroom. Reina didn't bother to argue, her mind was on the advice Dawn had given her. Steer clear of Cole Nocens if she wished to keep her job another day.

Reina was slightly optimistic that she'd do fine. She managed to survive Angeline's hovering eyes and was relieved to go home. Her male coworkers shot haphazard glances at Reina before she was out of the work floor.
Optimism only goes so far.

"Mar is it?" the familiar lull of a voice beckoned her ear. She turned to see the man she'd spoken with earlier. His snarky attitude lingered thickly.

"Yes, sir." she acknowledged.

"Well, Mar, your work ethic is trash." the man drawled poshly.

"Sir?" Reina restrained from any physical movement besides biting her tongue. The steel taste of blood pried.

"You heard." he tilted his head testing her patience. She stood rigid and livid.

"I suggest you fix it." he removed himself from his taunting stance. His limbs carried him past Reina Mar who vibrated with unsaid profanities and rebukes. Left humiliated, Reina stormed into the rich air of Hines Avenue. Her arm carried the week's work and  a bundle of successful local ads. Isaac Mar's car waited patiently near the brick security tower. This time he was allowed in.

Without much of a word, she slammed into the car seat and began marking points in her papers. She marked each space that needed review and double checked the math to see if everything molded just right. There would be no errors in her record. Every client would have a proper account with nothing short of perfection.

"Hello to you too," Isaac scoffed and reared out out of the park space and out of the stately area. She nodded with empty enthusiasm.

"Wow. Best sister award goes to Rein the Jerk."
Isaac muttered, "What's with the stank attitude ?"

"My boss is the jerk, if that's any cause." Reina spoke up with the iciest reply.

"Dr. Montgomery?" Isaac asked. The wheel swiveled softly in his palm at the turn.

"No," Reina fumed, "Nocens."

"Arthur Nocens was there? I thought he handled business in Atlanta." Isaac Mar glanced at the girl currently burning with grotesque passion.

"He does, but someone has to be in charge of this branch." she clucked her tongue.

"Is it not Montgomery?" he asked evidently confused.

"Cole Nocens, Mr. Nocens's son." Reina spat.

"Son? I didn't know he had children. It's never been mentioned." Isaac said more to himself.

"For good reason," Reina jabbed, "the guy's a class A-"

"Don't say it. Not worth your perfect reputation, is it?" Isaac playfully teased as they reached their apartment. The siblings chattered more with Millie when they settled into the dining area. Millie had prepared a savory meal in honor of Isaac's newest case.

"Sorry about the new boss," Millie Anderson consoled Reina, "but I don't think you should start overworking yourself for him."

"I'm not doing it for him." Reina slid the laptop onto the granite surface of the table.

"Then for who?" Millie asked cautiously. Reina wasn't usually easily riled up but when she was, it was difficult to calm her.

"Me." Reina said.

Millie sighed defeatedly, "You have nothing to prove." But she was wrong, of all the people, Reina had the most to prove. In a male dominated workplace, Reina must exceed expectations. She nodded and rejected the mashed potatoes and pork offering and, instead, she dove into her work ravenously.
After all, optimism only goes so far until one had to face reality. The sorrow fact was, Reina knew reality all too well.