Chapter 2

Ginger

“Me? Invited?” I can't believe the email says that, so I approach to see it for myself and make sure it's not a prank from Stella. I hope she's not lying because my heart has started racing and is beating a thousand miles per hour. I grab the computer and check it, after all, if I've been invited to the event on Saturday, it impresses me, but at the same time, it scares me. I don't want to meet my co-workers, I don't feel ready for that yet. I slide the computer to the side and look at Stella nervously.

“I can't believe it.”

“You have to go,” she says immediately, excited.

“I can't attend, I don't have any clothes, and I don't know anyone there.”

When I say that, I receive another email with two invitations, one for me and one for anyone I want to bring. Stella's eyes widen, and she smiles like the Cheshire Cat. I hate her smile, I hate it because I know exactly what it means, and I know she will want me to go with her. In fact, she's the one who will go with me.

“I have no idea how to get into that company, and I'm aware that everyone who works there dresses well and has money. We're not specifically the richest girls in town, and I love you, Stella, but I refuse to go.”

“No,” she snaps. "Your mom isn't here, your dad isn't here, and no one from your family is here. I'm here, and I'm telling you it's the best option you have. If you don't want to believe me, don't, but it's the truth.”

“I'll go,” I reply. “I need to get a suitable dress for the occasion, and I need to be prepared so that the work looks incredible. I'm not going there to watch everyone criticize the work I do.”

“Nobody's going to criticize it, you're the best,” she kisses my forehead and smiles warmly at me. She's right, it's the only thing I'm sure of when it comes to me, I'm good at what I do, and I've spent years perfecting my creativity for this moment. When I told my parents that I was going to study graphic design, I feared they would say it wasn't a good career choice. I was even afraid they wouldn't support me in the decision I was making, but it was the opposite. They were happy, and Mom said it was the best choice of my life. I graduated from college, and I had already met Stella, and we both moved to Los Angeles. We paid for an apartment for the two of us, and then I bought a house for my parents.

Since I can remember, I've wanted to live close to them, and when I had the opportunity to buy them a house to live near me, I was proud of what I had achieved. My job allows me to live comfortably, and Stella's job helps us have a life in excellent conditions.

I finished making my sandwich and went straight to finish my work duties. I spent all night working, didn't sleep a wink, and had all the frustration on top of me. I drank many cups of coffee to stay awake and stayed up watching videos at the end, wanting to feel like I had rested something, and I don't think it worked enough because I was already falling asleep during the first video.

The next day, I woke up at four in the afternoon. It was Friday, and I had lost the whole day sleeping. For a second, I remembered all the work I had to do until I saw the computer on the kitchen table and several cups around it. I always do that when I work, it's part of my personal brand and my messiness. The apartment stays clean only because Stella takes care of cleaning. I'm the cook in the house, and that's how we both share heavy responsibilities that no one wants to do at the end of the day.

It seems strange that she hasn't picked up the cups; it's four o'clock, and I don't feel her anywhere in the apartment. She must have gone out or must be at Maria's house. Sometimes when I sleep too much, she leaves to distract herself or just to change the scenery.

Byron is a beach on the outskirts of the city that actually feels more like a small town. It has a relaxed atmosphere, with supermarkets, clothing stores, nightclubs, hotels, affordable apartments that you can buy and stay in without paying, and a range of other things that are definitely worth checking out. I have a list of things I'd like to do in Byron; it's like the place I've always wanted to live. I wish my life was a beach movie where I could go wherever I wanted without fear or regret. I've thought a lot about what my life would be like there, whether I'd like to live near the beach or in town, whether I'd want to marry a sexy surfer or stay here in Los Angeles and fall in love with a famous model or actor. Sometimes I think I've burned out my brain from reading too many books.

My mind is flooded with thoughts of a perfect life. I think I have almost the perfect life I want, I just need a boyfriend and a group of male friends who will care for me as if I'm the most important thing in their eyes. Byron is my destination for when I have enough money to buy a car and another apartment and settle there.

“Ginger!” Maria shouts with excitement when she opens the apartment door. I hug her confused because I don't remember giving her the key, and then I see Stella enter behind her.

“I brought you a dress,” she announces.

I can't believe it.

I wasn't expecting her to bring me that dress, and my heart skipped a beat with excitement