I awake to the sound of ACDC blaring from my phone. Groggily, I sit up in my twisted sheets and fumble to stop the sound. A quick glance outside lets me know that I am waking up right on time.
After a bracing shower and a change of clothes, I sling my camera around my neck and lock the door behind me. It's a beautiful day, but I will be unable to enjoy it due to a gruelling schedule and an even more gruelling boss.
I stop, as I have for the past six months, at a small cafe on my way to the studio. Sara may be a bitch, but her taste in coffee is commendable.
"Hey, Fi!" John, the store manager calls from the back, "Ive got your order, piping hot!"
I nod, accepting the coffees from him and passing him a bill.
"Keep the change," I offer, as is my custom. I turn on my heel and sip from each coffee. Two caramel macchiatos, one for Sara and one in case I drop the other. At least I like her coffee, just in case I don't spill the original.
I sidestep the workers smoking outside the building and push through the heavy doors, nodding as the receptionist waves me on.
Sara rounds the corner as I sit at my desk and I hold her cup up so she can take it, avoiding her cold, blue eyes as I do.
"Appointments?" Sara's words slithered out of her mouth as if they were alive.
"I have the 11, 3, and 6 o'clock appointments," I answer,"Diane has the 1, 4, and 7. That leaves the 10, 2, and 5 up for grabs."
'For you,' I correct myself internally.
"I will take those and we need to discuss tomorrow's schedule."
"Sounds great!"
'Sounds absolutely dreadful.'
I smile up at Sara and begin packing my things. My first appointment is in an hour and a half. I am a half an hour away and I cannot be late; with setup times and preparation for the shoot, I need at least a half an hour before the client arrives. I learned that when Sara almost had Diane's head served to her on a silver platter for being precisely 2 minutes late meeting a client. I don't want or need that kind of scrutiny.
'This day will be as uneventful as every other,' I tell myself as I hurry to the park to meet my client.
'Mr. Richfield,' I remind myself, 'and his lovely daughter.'
YOU ARE READING
As the World Turns
General FictionAn abusive ex. An absentee father. The death of a loved one. Everything seems to always go wrong in Fiona's life. Nothing she says or does seems to be good enough for her overbearing mother. This is the story of a young woman struggling with the eve...
