Morning came way too soon.

With tired eyes, Eliana began changing into her business casual: black slacks, white button up shirt, black blazer, and heels, Eliana gripped her piping cup of coffee as she headed to work. Her eyelids protested against her as she pushed herself to stay awake. Exhausted was an understatement, she was drained.

It didn't help that she was wrapped in warmth from the heat and seat warmers in her SUV. It was the beginning of November and the weather in Wyoming was unforgiving in the winter, but she loved it.

The sun hadn't started rising as headlights littered the dark street, a gentle rain of snow falling. This was the type of weather she could curl up on the couch with and read a cheesy romance book. Unfortunately she had to work. She used to love her accountant job; the money was good and the hours were perfect, but after dealing with an abundance of rude clients, it drained her optimism. The job kept her bank account full, but after she took partial responsibility for Sadie's bills on top of her own, it was dwindling.

And it wasn't her dream job.

A deep yawn escaped her as she carefully drove down the street where her job was located. The bank she worked for was one of the largest buildings in this town due to the corporate office office being on the seventh and eighth floor. Her office was located on the sixth floor, and she praised that there was an elevator on days she felt this sluggish.

All night long she tossed and turned, dreading going in today. Not only from working late at After Dark, but her floor was due for their annual evaluations, which also meant a decision on whether or not they would get a raise. She desperately needed a raise, and deserved one more than any other accountant she worked with. The others didn't care about their clients and would deny giving loans, while she went above and beyond the expectations required of her. Yet, her boss always chose the other accountants over her for the more wealthy clients. They have a "backbone" unlike her, according to her boss. Her positivity to even the rudest and poorer of the clients was a weakness to the business.

Scanning her badge to enter the parking garage, she whipped her SUV into her normal spot, and braced the cold once more. The freezing air nipped at her exposed skin, which fueled her body to move towards the elevator quicker.

She rode the silent elevator up to her floor. Her shift started at seven in the morning five days a week, but she was always fifteen minutes early. It gave her a moment of sanity to enjoy her coffee while it was still hot. What better way to start the day than with coffee?

Setting her bag on the carpeted floor next to her mahogany wood desk, she sat in her desk chair and sipped her coffee, breathing in the caramel flavor. It was her favorite, and a lifeline for her in the mornings.

Setting the cup down, she logged into her computer. A familiar and unpleasant voice filled her ears.

"Good morning Eliana, I hope you're ready for your evaluation today," Marcey winked, that same snarky tone Eliana was used to hearing.

Marcey was like a member of the mean girls. She would judge every part of someone, pick them apart, and prey on their weaknesses or insecurities. She had it all; a shit ton of money, massive house, luxury cars, and an equally successful husband. She had everything most girls would kill for.

"I sure am," Eliana replied with a smile forming on her light pink lips. Kill her with kindness she thought to herself. "I hope yours goes well."

Rolling her bright green eyes, Marcey let the conversation die as she made her way to her desk. It bothered her when she couldn't successfully crawl under Eliana's skin like she could anyone else.

Eliana was hoping for the best today since she was off tonight from working at After Dark. Once she was off today, her plan was to have no plans. She didn't have kids or any animals, only Sadie and the apartment.

Relaxing, reading, and snacking felt like a perfect night for her. A moment where she didn't obsess over the stress consuming her and Sadie both.

Taking one last gulp of her coffee, she disposed of the cup and clocked in.

"Good morning, everyone," her boss, Tina announced as she exited the elevator. Her long blonde hair was pulled tight in a high ponytail, and wrapped around towards the front of her left shoulder. Her crisp black pantsuit fit every curve of her body, and ended with black stilettos. If anyone besides Marcey screamed wealth, it was Tina.

She meant business. From her appearance to her attitude towards her employees, she expected nothing but the best, which wasn't what she thought Eliana brought to the table.

Good mornings spread throughout the room as everyone greeted her. Even Eliana, though she felt her heart was in her throat. When she became nervous, her stomach leapt to her throat, the blood rushed to her head, and her hands would clam up.

"Eliana, you're up first," Tina announced for the whole floor to hear as she popped her head from her office just down the hall.

All eyes landed on Eliana as she stood on unstable legs. She swore Tina took pleasure with embarrassing her in front of everyone. Marcey snickered under her breath as Eliana cautiously made her way toward Tina's office.

"Sit." Tina's command made her heart race.

The atmosphere changed as she stepped in and sat down, like the air was stripped from her lungs. The way Tina's eyes locked with hers immediately had her shifting uncomfortably in the stiff chair.

In the past with evaluations, Tina eased her way in with critiquing things Eliana could work on, but today, she was out for her throat.

"I'm just going to get to the point Eliana. I've went through the customers and loans assigned to and from you, and their loans are past their due date. Now, I know you're better than this. You're smart, great with numbers, and are usually on track of all this. I know I've given you a lecture on being too nice and a push over, but this is just," Tina trailed off, the vein in her forehead started to bulge. "This is just careless."

Tina was reading off reports she had run on the customers of Eliana. Now they layed scattered on Tina's coal shaded desk as she tossed them down. "You know that we have a process we go through to provide the customers with a loan, but ONLY if they have the credit and means to pay it back. You know this!"

Tina's voice rose, and Eliana knew the thin gray walls around her wouldn't hide what was being said from the others on the floor. She wanted to sink into her chair and disappear. Away from Tina, her job, the office, everything. She was humiliated, and embarrassed.

Eliana took pride in any job she's ever had, even at After Dark, and that's only a part time gig. She knew deep down she was a damn good accountant, and was more than capable of staying on top of things. But with everything happening in her personal life and with Sadie, maybe it was becoming too much.

"I'm so sorry, Tina. I know I'm better than this. I've been keeping track of the loans, but maybe I just looked past the recent due dates. I promise I'll get on top of that A.S.A.P." Eliana's voice came out tiny, and she hated feeling intimidated the way she did, but Tina was no one to mess around with. She's fired more people in the past three years than any manager prior to her.

Shuffling through the papers she threw on her desk, she found the report that displayed the amounts the customers needed to pay. "If this number," circling it aggressively with her red pen, "doesn't go down, you will be terminated. I do not have time to babysit any of you here. Again, I know you're capable of better than this, so don't let me down, or else this will be your last chance at keeping your job. I'll email you the evaluation results. You're dismissed."

Her heart in her throat, hands clammy, and body shaking, Eliana stood somehow and walked out of Tina's office. All eyes were on her the second she opened the door. Most of them had a deer in headlights look, but Marcey and her goons that followed her footsteps, had smirks playing on their lips like they approved of how the evaluation went.

Turning her flushed face away from them, she made a beeline towards her desk. If she could crawl into a hole and stay there, she would.

It was going to be a long day.