The Finest Thing Money Can't Buy

new beginnings ⊹₊⟡⋆

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

lovesong - the cure

perfume - the dare

danger zone - kenny loggins

↺ |◁ II ▷| ♡

⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

My alarm went off at 5:30, just as planned. I stretched my arms and swung my feet off the bed and into my plush slippers. My morning routine is simple: wake up, breakfast, yoga, shower, skincare, get dressed, hair & makeup, leave. I make a mental note to stop by the store on the way home. I need groceries and the like.

I made my way to the metro station near my building and got on the subway. If you looked at me, you could easily tell that I was just so excited. For what? You'd never know.

New York is such a magical city. If you see a 22-year old girl on the subway looking like she's about to pop, there could be a million things. New job, new boyfriend, new house, a promotion, got engaged, getting married, new friends.

For me? It's everything.

"You honestly thought I'd go out with you? You're dumber than you look!"

"No one would ever want to date someone like you."

"You should've stayed on the farm."

"No real man would want to date such a loud girl."

Fresh start. Fresh start. Fresh start.

I step out of the elevator into the office. There's men in suits yelling into phones, men in suits yelling at each other, men in suits yelling at their assistants, men in suits yelli-

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" and now, a girl in a skirt and blouse spilling coffee on a man in a suit. Well, on the ground, but in close proximity to the man in a suit. A very attractive man in a suit.

His eyes are empty and soulless as he takes off one side of his headphones.

"Don't do it again."

"Of course, Mr...?"

"Bateman. Patrick Bateman."

"I'm Catalina West. Everyone calls me Kitty. Or KitKat. No one calls me that besides my mom. Why did I say th-"

"I don't care."

"Oh, okay. See you around?" He's already gone.

Why did I say that? He did not need to know my mom's nickname for me. So much for a fresh start.

I walked over to my desk and sat down, beginning to organize. Papers in the bottom drawer, files in the middle drawer, purse in the top drawer with the stapler, paper clips, and extra staples. Pens go in the cup on the desk, next to the phone and the fax machine.

Just as I was about to kick back, a man with slicked back hair came up.

"Catalina, right?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Paul Allen. I'm your new boss."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Allen."

"Please, just call me Paul."

"Of course."

We continued to exchange pleasantries until something flipped in him, like he realized we were supposed to be working at work.

"Cat- I'm gonna call you Cat- I need you to schedule a reservation at Dorsia for Friday at 8:30pm. Do whatever you can."

"Will do."

"Also, check out my business card."

"Very nice, Paul."

"It's got a watermark."

I smile and nod, following the greatest advice mom gave me.

"Kitkat, you're going to be surrounded by these powerful men, day after day. You need to stay on their good side as long as it's their name on your paycheck. Smile and nod, feign interest. Stroke their ego. Make them feel important. They thrive on that."

"Get to work."

"On it."

an: i'll try to give an update at least once a week. it may be less with school, we'll see.