It's almost eight by the time I pull my Camaro into my reserved parking spot. I pick up my files from the passenger seat, shut the door and smooth the lapels of my black pencil skirt before briskly walking into my office building.

I worked at Novencorp, a software-based company, for which I was the Finance Manager. It had been my dream job, I worked my butt off for it. I was offered an internship right after college, and Novencorp had seen my potential, and signed me up for a higher position.

It had been strangely unlikely and certainly not welcome. Having a barely twenty one year old at the helm of one of the pillar departments of the company had most of the other experienced employees fuming, and so it was safe to say that I had not much friends at my work space, save a few.

I take the elevator to the ninth floor, smiling politely at most of my coworkers from other departments. I am greeted with a nod, sometimes a smile, and if I was lucky, a dull, bored, "Morning."

Today, I'm greeted with nothing but stiff silence. The people in the elevator shuffle politely to accommodate me. When the doors open at the ninth floor, I'm the only one left and I walk towards my office. 

Sophia, my assistant, totters up to me. 

'Good morning, Kaitie.'

'Good morning, Sophia. How's Elisa?'

Sophia flips her long red hair away from her eyes. 

'She's fine now. I am so sorry for running out of that meeting yesterday. Her asthma is getting worse.'

'It's okay,' I say, shifting the folders from my left hand to my right and flexing my cramped fingers. 'Stuff happens. What is my schedule for today?'

'I've cleared your afternoon, just like you asked. There are a couple of financial analytics and a graph of this years productivity. We have gone up by 73 percent.'

'Good.' 

Sophie walks in front of me and holds the door open. 

'One more thing,' she says, gesturing to my table. 'Happy Birthday, Kay.'

An enormous cupcake is placed smack in the middle of my desk, topped with a single, giant candle. Next to the table, donning weird party hats, are Leah and Jace. 

Remember the few people who might count as my friends from my work place? These were the three.

Sophia is my assistant. She is the sweetest thing there is, always getting me coffee if I remotely looked tired and making me a sandwich if I skipped lunch. 

Leah Michigan is my head financial analyst. She is one hell of a woman, with a hot head and a protective side. When I was appointed, she had taken a stand and decided that I was taken in for my merit and respected me for my brains. 

Jace Horan - my favorite analyst. He is a former classmate, we went to high school together. Jace is the closest thing I have to a guy best friend other than Tristan, of course, and there is definitely nothing we don't know about each other. 

I would never have survived my first day at work if it wasn't for these three.

'Cut the cake before daydreaming, damn woman!' Leah grins, holding up a knife. 'I am hungry, sweetpea.'

I finally manage to find my tongue. 

'Thank you so much, guys.'

'Yeah, yeah. Thank me later. Cut the cake, Kay.' 

And I do. I blow out the candle and cut a piece of cake. Leah places it in my mouth before smothering my face with frosting. We laugh and eat, with Sophie singing happy birthday off note.

Jace hugs me, placing his party hat over my head, before whispering in my ear. 'I hope you made a wish.'

I nod, my smile taking up my entire, chocolate frosting covered face. I had.

I wished my life would remain this way; perfect.

/*\*/*\

It's almost eleven when Leah knocks on my door.

'Yeah?'

'Your hotshot boyfriend is here.' She leans her slender body against the door and adjusts her dress.

I smile. 'Tristan?'

Leah raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow. 'You have other hotshot boyfriends? Damn, woman. You never cease to amaze me.'

'Shut up.' I roll my eyes, before shutting down my laptop. 'I'm leaving. You sure you can't make it to the party?'

Leah sighs. 'Just enjoy yourself, sweetpea. You know Ria is gonna have my head if I don't show up for her stupid bachelorette party.'

I nod. Her sister is getting married for the billionth time, and this time, Leah didn't even bother to invite anyone for a wedding she is sure "won't last a month".

'Okay. Bye, then. Happy weekend.'

Leah gives me a high five and I walk out, only to find Tristan leaning on my car. His eyes gleam when he spots me and his face breaks into a smile. 'Hey babe.' He pulls me to him and kisses me. 'I missed you.'

It was so easy with Tristan. Everything about us seemed right, we were meant for each other. I lean forward and kiss him again. 'And I missed you too. Did Hes drop you?' 

'Yup. That was his last job for the day. I gave him a day off.'

I smile. 'So you ready to go?'

'So ready to partaaaaayyyyy!'

I chuckle, push him off me and get into the car. 'Let's go, old man. I'm twenty threeee!'

/*\*/*\