The Wild Orchid

On the Job: Part 2

The next morning, the alarm buzzed and Zorell looked up to see it was a minute passed four. She silenced it quickly not wanting to wake up Leland. He needed rest. After all, he was looking after Shanee and taking care of her in a sense. It was time for her to take charge, and she jumped out of bed and headed to the shower to get ready for her day.

She spent a full hour fixing herself up. She wanted to look as professional as possible, so she pinned her hair back in a sensible style that was easy to manage. She pulled her long hair into a stylish bun that rested at the nape of her neck with her side waves covering her ears. She wore little makeup, just enough to not make her look ghostly. She always felt her skin was much too pale, and she always wore a shade or two darker than her natural tone. She tried tanning, but her skin always stayed the same. It didn't burn as long as she didn't stay out in the heat too long, but she didn't tan either.

She wore the simplest dress she had which was an off white solid color, but it was make of silk. The skirt hung freeing only modestly showing off her figure. It really didn't matter what she wore since she would be changing into a uniform when she got there. Once she was dressed and ready to go, she quietly walked into the living room where she saw Leland sleeping on the floor covered in a red blanket.

She wrote a quick note before grabbing her coat off the rack and sneaked out of the apartment. She closed the door quietly and headed for the stairwell. The brisk walk to the first floor as invigorating was and just what she needed to wake her up. She was still in a daze from yesterday, but managed to put a certain someone out of her mind. She thought logically about the situation and talked herself into thinking that she had no time for a relationship, even a casual one, and especially not with someone like Gavin. Still, he had the voice of an angel or a demon depending on what mood she was in at the moment.

Once she reached the outdoors, the morning breeze hit her. She would pick up some breakfast from the bakery down the street from Leland's apartment building and catch a taxi to the hospital. She thought about purchasing a bicycle to get to work in the morning. It would be good exercise and Leland wouldn't feel obligated to give her transportation. A cycle would be more practical and save money in the long run, and she wouldn't have to take cabs everywhere. She had more than enough cash to buy an inexpensive one, after she found her a place to live. That was her first priority.