I N S T I N C T I V E

(Twelve.)

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One Week Later

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Ramona thanked the man, handing him a $20 tip on his way out of the front door. "Thank you so much, you did great. See you in a few months." She said. He smiled, then heading out. She walked into her bedroom, inhaling the scent of her freshly cleaned carpets.

"Finally able to get these cleaned. I was hoping they'd still look as fresh." She said, then heading to her office to sit at her desk. In the middle of doing some sketches, her phone started to ring.

"Yes, ladies?" She asked Gwen and Brittany. "Hey, how's it going?" The woman asked. Ramona shrugged, too busy focusing on making edits to the sheet of paper. She put the pencil in her hand horizontally between her teeth, then grabbing another one to continue sketching on a sheet of paper that was already surrounded by a pile of other crumpled up dissatisfied drafts. She wasn't even looking at the FaceTime screen.

"So we've been thinking about what you said. About us not taking things seriously. And you're right. I think that we just got so excited about the fact that you met a really great guy and we wanted you to enjoy it to the fullest. But we will try to be more mature about things from this point on, since you're different than us on how you approach these things..." said Brittany. "Mhm. 'Hank-you." Ramona said in a muffled tone from the pencil. She still looked down at the paper.

Gwen chuckled. "She's lost in her drawing, as usual." She said. "What are you making, anyway?" Asked Brittany. "A hilhing here nahy hear." Said Ramona. "I'm sorry, a what?" Asked Brittany. Ramona took the pencil from between her teeth. "A draft of a building near navy pier. It's a daycare center. I've been working on it since eight. I'm working on another deal with a client." Said Ramona.

"Since eight?" Asked Gwen. "Ramona, it's 12:30! Did you at least eat anything?" Asked Brittany. Ramona shrugged. "I don't remember..." She said. "I just want to get this done because after this I have to- Let's try to get your mind off of work for just a little while, okay?" Asked Gwen. Ramonas eyes slowly tilted up at the screen, and she slowly put the pencil down before sighing. "Alright. For five minutes." She said.

"So, have you spoken to Dwight yet?" Asked Brittany. Ramona shook her head. "No. I thought about what Gwen said. About how it might ruin my profession. I can't risk anyone for my job. So I think I'll just have to leave things strictly professional." She said in slight sadness.

"It doesn't seem like that's something you truly want to do." Said Gwen. "It isn't, but I feel like I have no other choice. The only way I'd be able to avoid all of this is either being strictly business partners, or being 100% vanilla, and-" Ramona was interrupted by the sound of her doorbell ringing.

"What?" Asked Brittany. "Someone is at my door." She said, then checking the time. "But it's basically 1am. Who...?" She questioned. "There's no way..." She mumbled, then getting up with her phone to go check the door. After looking through the peephole, the person on the other side was confirmed.

"Oh god, it's Dwight." Ramona whispered. "Answer it, Ramona. Let us know how everything goes. But please remember what I said. I don't want things to be at risk for you." Said Gwen. "Alright, I will. Talk to you later." Ramona replied. She stared at the door, brushing herself off and taking a deep breath. She slowly opened it, peeking through.

Once she saw him, he was wearing some sort of navy blue pajama set, a white silk scarf, and his hair was blowed upward. On his feet were black suede loafers. He stared at her in silence for awhile. In his hands was a small yellow flower.