CHAPTER ONE

DIANA

My eyes widen to the ray of sun piercing through my blinds.

It's 8:06 in the morning, I'm supposed to be at work by 7am. I'm late, again. Shawn is going to kill me. I make my way for the bathroom as fast as I can and I go face first into the shelf in my working corner. This definitely is not the behavior of someone trying to get a promotion. I heave a sigh of frustration.

Thankfully I only sustain a small bump on the side of my forehead. I must have metal for a skull.

I make a mental note in my head to text my brother and inform him I'd be dropping by after work.

I rinse my face and proceed to have my bath and board a cab to work.

Shawn spots me.

“Ah, Diana. Stuck in traffic again?”He asks, making his way towards me.

That's a usual excuse for me to be fair, but the traffic in LA is not even child's play.

“I'm sorry Shawn, I know you wouldn't believe me, but there were minor inconveniences.”

“You're damn right I wouldn't, see me in my office by the close of work”

I groan while making my way to my office.

I'm not surprised when I meet my office in a ruffle, there's absolutely zero respect for me in this company even by the damn cleaners. Even as an Entertainment reporter, I know the kind of work I put in, and it sure as hell demands respect.

I take the next few minutes putting the office together.

I organize the pile of reports from last week and finish up from those I left unattended.

********

Once I'm done with work, I head to Shawn's office, praying and hoping silently that I'm not fired.

I make my way down the hall of the second floor muttering Shawn's office number to myself. I almost always forget.

“21A, 21A, 21A”. I stop as soon as I spot it, and I place a knock to the door.

“Who?” He shouts.

Ugh, that voice annoys me to death.

“Diana” I say enthusiastically, I still need that promotion after all.

“Come in”

Once I'm inside, he gives me a disapproving look and offers me a seat.

“You know, Diana, you've been slacking...”

“I know, I just...” I say, interrupting him.

“Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. Don't interrupt. You've been coming in late, submitting incomplete research and doing zero field work”.

“I'm sorry”

That's all I say, because everything he said is true. I've been so caught up with everything happening at home, my parents and their divorce, and my inability to pay my rent, that I gave less attention to my first priority, MY JOB.

This is exactly why I need to move in with my brother, I'm not sure how he's going to take it, but it's why I've decided to see him today and talk to him about everything. I'm still making a mental note of everything that's brought about this moment in my head when I realize Shawn is still talking.

“... and so the company has decided to put you on probation for one month, if you wow us, you could be getting that promotion when the probation is over. If not, I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go Diana. That's all. You can leave”.

I sit still for a hot 10 seconds, before I say Thank you and head for the door. Tears are threatening to pour out but I hold them back and make for my office to get my bag and leave for my brothers place.