Never Let Them Define You

GOING UP AND LOOKING DOWN

While she's exiting the building, she hears a passionate conversation happening outside the door.

"You're right, we need to focus on the worker aspect of the industry, or else how can we expect the industry to perform at its best?" asks Brian.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about! If workers don't have vacation days, then-" shouts Albert, who stops as she walks out the door.

"Hello, boys."

Brian stands up quickly and smiles. "You're out already?"

"Yeah, they let me off a bit early."

Albert squints as he looks back and forth at both of them rapidly. "Are you two-"

She waves her hand and says, "Please don't say whatever's about to come out of your mouth."

"What?! Do you take me for a crass man?"

"Bye, Albert!" She waves as she walks away with Brian. "So, what got you two talking?"

"Oh, I was just waiting here and he started a conversation; pretty nice guy, actually, I was surprised."

She immediately stops and kisses him on the lips, then grabs his hand, and keeps walking towards the car with a smile.

He grins and tilts his head. "What was that for?"

"Uh, it'd sound weird if I explained."

"Okay..."

She sticks the keys in her Cadillac, then steps in and unlocks the car.

"Is this your car?"

"Company car."

"It's nice."

"Thanks." She sticks the keys in the ignition and gets the engine whirring, then gives it a moment to warm up.

"So...I'd love to be chivalrous and pay for both of us, but I, uh, got robbed."

"Someone robbed you?"

"Yeah, well, I was just going for a walk, and a drifter just came up and took my wallet."

"Anything else?"

"Oh, you know, just my, um, everything."

"Well, where did this happen?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"We gotta get your stuff back, obviously!"

"How are we gonna do that? It was kind of a scary dude."

"I have a knife and I know how to use it, don't worry. Drifters want a lot more if you're a woman."

"Oh, that's understandable, but wait, you wanna stab him?"

"No, no, these guys are nothing, if you just plan on putting up a fight, then they'll hand it over, especially if you're there with me."

"Alright, well, if you think it'll be that easy, then I can give you directions, but do you think we can just do that?"

"Just remember that we aren't going there to have a conversation, he's not going to see reason, and he's going to give us what we want, you understand?"

"Yes, I do, just, um...you know what? Step on my foot if I start getting squeamish, 'cause I'm not gonna know if it's happening."

"Okay, good idea; sorry to your foot in advance. Which way?"

"Go straight. It's okay, it's been through worse."

"Your foot?"

"Yeah, well, I like to backpack sometimes."