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DIANA

BEFORE...


I was late to work again. I huffed stuffing my charger into my bag and grabbed my keys. I just knew this would happen. The lack of sleep working on my art was killing me. I paused by the couch seeing my boyfriend, Damien, sleeping peacefully.

Silently rolling my eyes, I lifted my bag onto my shoulder and exited the small studio apartment. I raced down the steps, eager to get to work. A black cat purred at the bottom of the steps. Its pretty green eyes stared back at my brown ones.

I ignored the cat's meows and continued down the steps. One of my neighbors stood outside the door smoking.

I forgot what his name was. Oakland? No, Oakley. I pushed open the door hitting him slightly, "Sorry!"

"Aye, watch it!" His accent made me giggle a bit. He knows I mean well.

After that, I couldn't hear what he said. Instead, I continued my trek to the office. After a long bus ride, I stood before Hedare Beauty, watching many people walk in and out of the glass building.

I pushed through the crowd mumbling apologies and scanning my ID at the front desk. My two best friends, Shelly and Kyree hovered next to my desk holding pieces of my work for the next beauty marketing campaign.

"You're late. Mr. Hedare has been looking for you." Shelly quickly passed me my prints pushing me towards the office.

"Wish me luck," I whispered heading towards his main office.

I knocked on the door waiting for him to scream come in. Pulling down my wrinkled work shirt I entered his office, "Did you still want to see me?"

"Diana, sit." His voice was cold and calculated.

His wife, Lauren, was around my age. Her deep melanin skin seemed to brighten in her cherry-red pantsuit. She sent me a soft smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"This print you sent me. It's not red enough." His frail finger traced the red in the campaign background.

"You said-"

He cut me off, "I know what I said. I wanted it darker."

"I can fix it. Just give me some time." I pleaded leaning forward in the expensive office chair.

"No. I'll get someone else to do it."

His wife cut in, "George, let the girl do it herself."

He frowned at Lauren before sighing, "Fine. Get it to the district distribution center by midnight tomorrow."



Back at my apartment, Damien was gone leaving me with some peace. Dropping my bag on the couch. I pulled out my equipment and placed a new canvas on my table. Opening my laptop, I moved to my design space.

I needed to get this new advertisement right for Mr. Hedare or I'd for sure be fired. Another meow sounded from my windowsill.

"Hi, kitty." I smiled putting my laptop on the table.

She meowed again begging me to come closer. By the time I made it to the window, she was gone.

"The hell?" I whispered wondering how she magically disappeared.

Her meows called me from above. I looked up seeing her on the archway of the building staring down at me.

"How'd you get up there?" I questioned her, only to earn a meow.

I waved her down but she insisted on staying. Like she was begging me to come up and help her.

"I can't believe you got my ass doing something crazy," I told the cat making my way outside the window.

I stood on top of the air conditioning unit trying to reach her. Shouts from below distracted me from saving this dumb ass cat.

"Yo! The fuck are you doing?"

I looked down and saw my neighbor Oakley dressed in his detective uniform. I smiled and waved, "I'm saving this cat."

His eyes followed my fingers to the ledge, "Cat?"

I looked over, "I swear there was a cat stuck out here! I'm not crazy."

Oakley smirked, "Well, can you get down, please? This is not how I wanted to end my shift!"

I nodded trying to move off the death trap but I stopped once it rumbled underneath me. I screamed when it slipped out from under me. I held onto the concrete ledge.

"God, is this how I die? Saving a cat I imagined?"

"Just hold on!" Oakley shouted before he bolted inside our building.

I held my breath for dear life praying that he'd reach me in time. My sweaty hands loosened my grip.

Oakley appeared just in time to catch me from plummeting to my death. His hands stretched across my body pulling me close. I inhaled his scent as we made it back to my place.

"Are you okay?" He asked holding my head in his hands.

"Yeah." I felt flustered noticing how close he was to me.

The cat from before meowed making her way between us. I chuckled, "See! That's the cat."

He smiled taking a step back to give me some space, "You weren't going crazy. Damn, what type of woman goes onto a ledge to save a cat?"

"A woman with morals. I have to finish working but thank you for your help!" I smiled watching the cat perch on my couch.

"Anytime. Don't do anything crazy...for real this time."














Authors Note,

chapter 1 always be hit or miss

vote and comment lovelies

have a good day

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