Lovebeam

Chapter 1

My fingers comb through my hair.

"Oh my god!" Zoe snaps from the bathroom. "Hurry the fuck up, Danielle!"

"I sigh loudly. "Zo, chill. You're not even ready either!"

"Well I don't care! You've been single for decades, literally your whole life. I'm tired of waiting!"

"You're not waiting."

"I'm waiting on you to get a man." She says, walking out of the bathroom with the mascara stick in her hand. She sizes me up. "You look...hot."

I look down at myself. I have on a skintight black dress that goes to my mid thigh, high heels, and makeup. Just enough to make my eyes smoky. My boobs are perked up, and my hair is curled.

"If you don't get fucked tonight, I'm going to be really pissed." She walks back into the bathroom.

I roll my eyes.

My best friend is a very blunt, brutal person, but we've been friends for like, four years.

I wouldn't trade her for the world.

I check the mirror to make sure I look good, and start grabbing things and putting them in my purse.

When I pick up my phone, I press the home button.

I have two missed calls and a voicemail.

It's a number I don't know, but it's a 754 area code, which is Hollywood, Florida, where I live.

I sigh. It could be one of my employees.

I'm kinda a bitch at work because I'm the manager of the 32nd floor and the only way to get in is if I unlock the gate and people there are pretty stupid. I'm always so stressed there, and well, I take it out on them. If I walk on the floor, which is all cublicles, every single conversation stops.

Everyone is terrified of getting fired.

And I have fired people before. I've screamed at them in front of everyone.

I don't have the tolerance, and I feel horrible, but I can't control it.

I go to my voicemail and punch in my password, and listen.

"Hi boss, it's Brody Barker. I left my notes in the office. I was wondering if you could stop by and let me in? Call me back, bye."

The voicemail ends.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I work for a fashion industry so people are making calls to have outfits sent and they're working on the phone with factories. Everyone is always on the phone in there.

He needs his notes to make sure he gets everything done before tomorrow.

I sigh.

"Zoe!" I say.

She comes walking in.

"What?"

"I gotta go." I sigh.

"What? Fuck no, hoe. I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing, but we have motherfucking plans!"

"I'll be back in a half hour, tops." I say. "I have to. I'm sorry."

I go into my room and take my makeup off and put on my normal mascara. I put my curled hair up in a bun, and I change from my dress and heels to my work clothes. I put on black slacks that complement my ass wonderfully, a red blouse with ruffles, and heels. I grab my purse and rush out, leaving my swearing best friend behind.

When I get in the car, I call this guy, Brody back.

I don't remember any of them. If I see a face, I'll know I hired them, but I don't know names.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Danielle."

He hesitates.

"I'm sorry, who?"

"Your boss." I say.

"Oh." He says.

"Yeah. I'll come by and let you through."

"Okay. When?"

Seriously?

"Now." I say, tapping my hand on the steering wheel.

"Oh, okay."

"Okay, bye."

"Uh...bye."

I hang up.

If I say I'm coming by to let him through, obviously I mean now.

I swear, everyone at my work stresses me out and pisses me off.

I drive to my building and wait outside the gate. I get out so I don't waste my gas and lean against my car on my phone.

I hear footsteps and then someone stops in front of me.

I finish my message to my Mom and lift my head.

Oh, I remember him. He's the guy that spilt coffee all over my shirt this morning.

"Let's go." I sigh, getting in my car.

He hesitates and gets in the passenger side.

I start it up and throw it in reverse.

The silence is suffocating.

Normally I shout at anyone that forgets their notes, just because I hate having to do this.

I use my badge to unlock the gate, and I drive through and park in my spot. I get out and he follows me.

"You can stay here." He says.

I raise my eyebrows.

Why the fuck...?

"It's fine. I left my phone charger in my office anyways."

He nods.

We take the elevator and I get my charger, and he grabs his notes, and he follows me out.

We get back in my car.

"I uh...wanted to ask you," he says carefully. "There's this lady that is trying to get a refund on a free shirt because it arrived unwrapped...I don't know what to tell her, because it was free. She won it in a contest, and there's nothing wrong with the shirt."

I hesitate.

"I mean, if there isn't anything wrong with it, she has no reason for a refund."

"Right. So what do I tell her?"

"Just...explain to her that if she wants another shirt, she's going to have to order it herself and pay for it."

He nods. "Okay."

I park. He gets out. "Can you just wait one second?" he asks.

I sigh. "Fine."

He goes to his car, and to my surprise, he walks back to my car with two beers.

He holds one out to me.

I hesitate before I actually take it from his hand.