𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

01| Cats and dogs in the office

POV Cara Hetherington

*PFFFFTTTTTT*

A loud, high pitched noise escapes the flute and penetrates my ears. My eardrums shake heavily and I quickly cover my ears, calming everything inside of me.

Why must the referee blow the whistle standing right next to me? I am not asking for it just because I am standing on the side line. Maybe there's a sign somewhere I missed...

The players stop running instantly, the signal of the flute working like a dog hearing a bell. Water, they must think. Well, I know they think that because he's running right up to us.

"Cara! How did I do?" He asks me, flashing me a big smile on that cute face of his. My mother opens up her purse and gives him a bottle with the thing he came running to us for: water.

"Well... you scored. So I guess it was alright?" I say teasingly to my younger step-brother. He snorts, shaking his head in disappointment. I grin, my chaffing getting to him quickly.

The big, mean grin plastered on my face fades as quickly as it appeared, because my mom decided to jab me in my side. I scrunch my body out of reflex, giving her a dirty look. "What?" I asked innocently. She doesn't even need to say anything, her eyes speaking a thousand and one words.

"Okay, Scooter," I start, sighing loudly, "you were the best. I was just teasing you." Scooter looks up at me and out of nowhere a smirk appears on his face. I'm starting to get scared because I thought I was the one playing around. My head tilts while my eyebrows scrunch together in confusion.

"I know, I just wanted you to get in trouble with mom."

Fuck!

For a eleven-year-old, he's pretty damn smart. He got it from me though.

With the speed of a formula one car, which is pretty fast, my head turns to my mom again. Her mouth still not moving, but her eyes are saying "got what you deserved, motherfucker."

Cara, you are such an amateur! An irritating, buzzing noise goes off. The vibration against my skin makes me uncomfortable, my mind switching into work-mode immediately. Before I throw some more fierce remarks to little Scooter, my hand slides inside my pocket and I grab my work phone. Only my work phone makes this annoying noise no-one can change. It's the company's own security tone.

"Well, that's my call. Got some business lady duties to do. It was a pleasure seeing you play soccer again, Scoot." I say as I turn around. He nods and waves me off. He's probably disappointed because it's Saturday and I have to work. Again. I will make it up to him though.

"Next time join us for lunch!" Echoes through the chilly air as I walk off the soccer field. With my thumbs up in the air I get into my small but comfortable car. My twenty-five-year-old cannot afford more than this in New York City.

"Alright mom!"

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The garage door slides open when I click the button the company provided, located at the busy streets of Sixth Avenue. I quickly greet the guard and park my Honda somewhere closest to the entrance. Call me lazy, I would say it's efficient. I just have to be there on time. Even though I was on stand-by, I got to make a perfect impression.

How else could you get a promotion?

The small Honda doesn't give me much space, but it's enough to allow me to change my shoes. Adidas off, pumps on. Or even better: black 7 inch pumps. It is not comfortable for work life at all, I just happened to notice I get privileged treatment from the men I work with when I wear heels. I know, it's depressing.