Teach Me To Pray

Chapter One

~Chapter One~

*Two Weeks Earlier*

"You want me to do what?"

"You heard me Smith. I need that editorial written, typed, edited, stapled, and on my desk no later than one this afternoon, and yes, that's an order." Sabrina Palmer clacked through the office on a brisk Monday morning. As Sean Smith followed behind her, Sabrina briefly nodded to everyone she passed. Most people in the office tried to avoid her, but the unfortunate ones that happened to catch her brilliant blue eyes, softly murmured their hellos.

"Mary-Ann, coffee." Sabrina demanded as soon as she made it into her office at the end of the hallway.

"Yes ma'am," Mary-Ann replied, handing Sabrina her usual vanilla latte with no whipped cream and extra vanilla extract. Sabrina didn't respond, but instead turned back to Sean.

"Now Smith, you understand the importance of this editorial, right?" Sabrina sat down at her desk and turned to face the window, causing her back to be to Sean.

"Yes Sabrina, I understand. Your career, and mine, is riding on this editorial. It means a lot." Sabrina turned back around.

"It means more than a lot, Smith," she spat. "It means a hell of a lot." She turned back around and looked out the window. "And don't ever use the words 'a lot' in a piece of writing. It's amateur." She turned back to her view of Times Square, and as Sabrina watched the square fill up with busy passerby's in the early morning, she found herself thankful for her job and her amazing office.

"Yes ma'am," Sean replied. "I'll get on it right away. In fact, I'll have it to you before one, and it's going to be one damn good essay."

"Editorial," Sabrina corrected, but for the first time all day, she smiled, and as Sean Smith left her office to go work his ass off, Sabrina was thankful for a second time that day; She was thankful for Sean, and for all of the hard workers around her.

Bursting through the Starbucks doors, Sabrina quickly checked her watch and got in line. It was a quarter past twelve, and she was already running late for an afternoon appointment.

'I just need a quick pick-me-up,' she thought, hurriedly checking the time again and moving up in line. Sean had called ten minutes ago saying that the editorial was on her desk, and she had replied that she would be there in five. Now, because of traffic and her obsessive need for coffee, she was late.

The man in front of Sabrina was taking longer than he should have to order a coffee, and Sabrina found herself quickly becoming annoyed. She put her hand on her hip and began tapping her foot on the hard tile floor. The man, after ordering, turned around and glared at her.

"I have some place to be," Sabrina hissed at the man, and she went up to the counter to order a Venti coffee-black. "I need that ASAP," she said to the man as she was paying.

"Right away miss," he replied, and he went to make it himself. One minute later, Sabrina got her drink, and as she was walking out, she gave the man that had been in front of her-who was still waiting-a small smirk.

Eventually, Sabrina made it back to the office. She was twenty minutes late, and when she barreled into her office, she received a surprise. The editorial was not on her desk where Sean had said it would be.

"Sean!" She yelled, slamming the door open and marching to his cubicle. All of the other employees turned away as she walked by, but when she was past, they all stuck their heads around their cubicles and watched the mad-lady barge through the office.

"Sean, where the hell is my editorial?"

Sean stood up as soon as she marched in, and now he was slowly trying to back around her, as he didn't want to be stuck in a tiny cubicle with Sabrina blocking the way.