PART OF THE PLAN. *Book One*

BUSINESS!

CALLIE'S POV.

2:00 pm.

Breathe in, breath out. Pause. Breathe in, breathe out.

How do people do this?

Breathe in. Breathe out.

How long was I told to do this again?

Ten minutes a day. It has been about thirty seconds and I'm already declaring this irrelevant.

I had my first therapy session today, after my best friend Sara signed me for it about a week ago, calling me a workaholic and in need of an inner detox. After I told my therapist what my regular day looks like, I was signed for a year. It can't be that bad, after all, I have a proper day off after every two weeks. An afternoon off. Which is today, and I am not a good liar. Especially with Dr. Xin, she sees into my soul.

Breathe in, breathe out. Cheekily, I opened my right eye and peeked at the time. 2:03 pm.

I groaned out loud, and mentally slapped myself. These are the very things I am supposed to be working on.

She said," Release all the negativity as you exhale, clear your mind, and find inner peace."

Breathe in. I remember my main cause of stress, my personal assistant Rita. I'm glad she hasn't called me in the past fifteen minutes. Well, that might have to do with the fact that I told her that she shouldn't call me unless my restaurant is burning. If she calls me for anything else, I will fire her. I have told her this several times before but she still calls. And I never fire her.

Breathe ou-

My phone starts ringing. " Incoming call from RITA," my google assistant says. I grind my teeth and ignore it.

Breathe in. She is not calling me, it is accidental. Breathe ou-

"Incoming call from RITA."

I press the red button again. I close my eyes and try to calm down.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe-

My phone pings a couple of times, simultaneously.

"I open one eye and look down at my notifications.

RITA: Pick up, this is an emergency.

RITA: AN EMERGENCY.

I ignore her again. I made it clear. Unless my restaurant is burning, I don't want to be called.

"INCOMING CALL FROM RITA, TWO MISSED CALLS FROM RITA."

I tried. I did. I get up from the yoga mat and make my way to the minibar.

The last time she called me this much was in the middle of the night when she was drunk telling me how miserable she is that all her three sisters, all younger than her, got married before her, and her mother told her she will die alone. I told her to learn commitment, and to stop basing her standards on Wattpad mafia men. I don't think she remembers though, judging by the changing lock screens she has had the past month. Who's gonna tell her?

Anyway, I swear if she is calling me to tell me about work, I will fire her. Then rehire her instantly because she is good at what she does.

"Is my restaurant on fire?" I began complaining as I poured myself a glass of the walking man called John. I just heard sirens in the background, and I gulped the contents of my glass in preparation for the worst.

*FIVE MINUTES LATER*

"What do you mean its on fire?" I thundered as I made my way to my Cadillac.

I jinxed it. I was practically begging for it.