Gabby had been thinking about it for weeks now. Working at the hotel had been steady, but her candle business was booming—so much so, she was struggling to keep up with orders while juggling her shifts. It wasn't a decision she made lightly, but after talking it over with Zay and crunching the numbers, she decided to take the leap.
One Monday morning, instead of heading into the hotel, she walked into her manager's office with her letter of resignation in hand.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I've got to focus on my own thing now," she said, her voice steady but firm.
Her manager looked surprised but nodded. "Good luck, Gabriella. You've always been hardworking, so I know you'll do great."
When she walked out for the last time, she felt free—a little nervous but mostly free.
Now, Gabby's days were all about her candles. She'd turned Zay's spare room into her workspace, with shelves filled with jars, scents, and labels. Orders were coming in from all over, thanks to a little social media promotion. Zay had even helped her shoot a couple of videos for her page, showing off her process.
"You really out here like a whole CEO," Zay said one evening as he leaned against the doorway, watching her pour wax into jars.
Gabby smirked, not looking up. "That's 'cause I am. Don't act like you ain't know."
He laughed, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I know. Just love seein' you in your element."
She tilted her head back to look at him, her smile softening. "You helped me get here, you know. I couldn't have done this without you."
"Stop playin'," Zay said, shaking his head. "This all you, Gabby. I just gave you a little push. You the one doin' the work."
Two Weeks Later
Business was booming. Gabby had gone from selling a few candles a week to having to restock her supplies every few days. The money was better than she'd ever made at the hotel, but more than that, it felt good to be doing something she was passionate about.
One afternoon, as she was boxing up an order, Zay walked in with a mischievous look on his face.
"Yo, come here real quick," he said, motioning for her to follow him.
"What you up to?" Gabby asked, narrowing her eyes but following him anyway.
When they stepped outside, her jaw dropped. Sitting in the driveway was a sleek black SUV with a big red bow on it.
"Zay," she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "What is this?"
He smirked, dangling the keys in front of her. "This your ride now, Gabby. I'm tired of you borrowin' cars or catchin' rides. You need somethin' that's all yours."
She stared at him, her heart racing. "You didn't have to do this."
"I know," he said, stepping closer. "But I wanted to. You been grindin', holdin' it down, buildin' somethin' real for yourself. This my way of showin' you I see you, Gabby. I see all of it."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she laughed, shaking her head. "You really somethin' else, you know that?"
"And you love me for it," he said, pulling her into a hug.
"You right," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I really do."
That night, as she sat in her new car, the keys in her lap, Gabby thought about how far she'd come. From the foster system to the shelter to running her own business and being with someone who truly cared for her, it all felt unreal sometimes.
But it wasn't a dream. It was her life. And she was just getting started.
To Be Continued...
