The Lumberjack & The City Girl

Chapter 1: Alexa

"Alexa!" I'm called the second I walk through the office doors. "We have a problem!"

"Great," I sighed. This day is just not turning out good at all.

"What is it now?" I moaned out my frustrations to my assistant. "I just came in the office quickly to grab the sketches I've been working on for the new line. I'm already supposed to be heading to the airport."

"I know, but I also know how much of a perfectionist you are so it's either kill me now for delaying you or kill me later for not telling you before you left for Keira's bachelorette party." Meghan, my assistant, sighed, handing me the company tablet.

"It's the shipping company again. We got another bad review for the packaging."

"Shit!" I grit my teeth grabbing the ipad taking a look for myself.

Meghan is right. I am a perfectionist. And I pride myself on it too as it is what got me where I am today. I used the skills I gained in design school along with any networking opportunities to branch out into the fashion industry and create my own company and line of luxury clothing. And just like every stitch into the carefully selected fabric has to be perfect, so does the first appearance; the packaging.

I went to great lengths to order custom boxes with a floral design on the outside and my clothing neatly folded and wrapped in delicate lace tissue paper, sealed with a sticker of the company's logo. Hence why it infuriates me to look at our poor customer review with a picture of how she received her items. First, the box looked like it was run over by a mac truck and inside, the clothes were thrown in with no tissue paper or company sticker to be found.

"God damnit! Why now? This is such shit timing with Christmas around the corner and me leaving. I-I just can't deal with this right now. It will have to wait until I come home. I can't miss Kiera's bachelorette party." I hand her back the ipad, gathering my things and heading for the door. "Can you forward me this review in an email with the company's contact information, please. I have to run but they will be receiving an angry phone call from me for sure."

"Of course, but Alexa, please try to unwind and relax while you're gone."

"Yeah, sure," I laugh at Meghan's comment. "I'm going to Alaska. I won't be lounging in a bikini, I'll be bundled up in five layers of faux fur staring at a fire. I'll be chomping at the bit to come home. Especially with this mess to deal with."

"Oh come on. It's a long girls weekend. You'll be drunk most of the time anyway. But I know you've been dying to see Keira so you will have fun."

"If she doesn't kill me for missing my flight. I have to run. Hold down the fort for me!" I throw my mess of things into my purse and race out my office, almost slipping in my stilettos as I turn around to say one more thing.

"Oh, and please contact that customer and give her a free voucher on us!"

"Already done. Stop stressing and have a good time!"

I impatiently wait with my over packed amount of luggage on the bustling Miami streets until my Uber driver finally arrives. A young kid opens the door with rap music blaring, making my organs vibrate from the booming. He throws my luggage in the trunk, not being careful, making me think even more about that damn shipping company. The fashion industry is not an easy feat and I'll be ruined before I can even make a name for myself.

I slither into the back seat and whip out my phone. Ready to rip whoever answers my call a new asshole but before I can even connect to the number, the kid jumps in the driver's seat and turns up the volume of the stereo.

"Hope you like rap music," he shouts. "You're heading to the airport, right?"

"Yes! Can you turn it down? I have to make a phone call." He either doesn't hear me or blatantly ignores my request as he bobs his head to the beat and pulls out to the street. I busy myself answering the unlimited amounts of emails on my iphone but even his reckless driving of swerving in and out of lanes makes it impossible. I gave up, throwing my phone in my purse, hoping I'd have enough time to make the call before I had to board my flight.