Just a little sip

Just another day

The shrill beep-beep of the alarm clock echoed in the background. Rosette jolted upright, her heart racing. "Oh fuck!" she muttered as her eyes darted to the clock. "Overslept again! My boss is going to give me a head full today."

She practically leaped out of bed, her legs tangling in the sheets for a moment before she kicked them away. Racing to the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror—her striking mixed-braid white features reflecting the chaos in her eyes. Rosette had an exotic beauty: caramel skin, almond-shaped hazel eyes that always seemed to be analyzing the world, and thick, dark braids cascading down her back. Despite her striking appearance, Rosette was the last person to ask for attention. She liked to blend in, dressing in simple jeans and plain tees, more interested in comfort than in turning heads.

As she hurried into the shower, she cursed under her breath again, "Why can't I just work from home like a normal person? Some freelance gig or something. Anything but this."

From downstairs, her mom's voice boomed. "Rossette! Chloe's here!"

"Coming, Mom!" Rosette yelled back, scrubbing the last bit of soap off. She finished her shower in record time, wrapped a towel around herself, and hurried to throw on some clothes—a plain white blouse and dark skinny jeans. She didn't have time to think about what she looked like, but she knew she was naturally stunning without effort. Chloe, on the other hand, was all about the attention. Blonde hair that was almost golden, styled to perfection, and fair skin that looked like it never saw a bad day. Chloe had the type of beauty that turned heads instantly, her blue eyes always sparkling with a mischievous glint. She loved dressing up, wearing outfits that showed off her figure, like the pink cropped top and high-waisted jeans she had on that day.

She flew downstairs, greeted her mom with a quick peck on the cheek, and grabbed a piece of toast. Chloe was already waiting by the door, tapping her heel impatiently, her perfect blonde hair bouncing with every exaggerated sigh. "Rosette, seriously? Again with the oversleeping?"

Rosette rolled her eyes, stuffing the toast into her mouth as she muttered, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Let's go."

They rushed out the door and hailed a taxi. Once they were seated inside, Rosette leaned back with a sigh. "I swear, I'm only doing this job because it's my internship. I don't even know why my mom couldn't get me something related to medicine. That would've made sense."

Chloe grinned, leaning in with her usual mischief. "She wants you to socialize more, babe. Plus, the restaurant is one of the most famous in town. Do you know how many high-profile people come through there? You could meet a real guy—maybe even a rich one." She raised her brows suggestively.

Rosette scoffed. "If I needed a boyfriend, I'd just tell my mom to get me one. You know how she is."

Chloe gasped dramatically, smacking Rosette's arm playfully. "Oh, don't be such a show spoiler, Mommy's Girl!"

Rosette laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

As they arrived at the restaurant, La Dolce Vita, they walked in to find everyone already seated for a meeting. Their boss, Mr. Ferraro, was standing at the front, his bushy mustache twitching as he talked, gesturing wildly with his hands. He looked like someone plucked straight from a bad mafia movie—short and stocky, with a belly that strained his ill-fitting suit. His tie was a mess, hanging crookedly as if it had a life of its own. His thick, black hair was slicked back with too much gel, giving off a gleam under the restaurant's lights.

Mr. Ferraro didn't even glance at them when they slid into their seats, still catching their breath from the dash inside. "Thank God," Rosette whispered to Chloe.