Generation 02, Chapter 04: Where am I?

The next morning, the sounds of the 7:00 tunes come on.  Damn, I slept in.  Quickly, I check the fridge for milk but find none so instead of cereal I grab an energy bar instead.  Then I change into one of my fancier shirt and skirt outfits, brush my teeth, gurgle some mouthwash, and head out the door with a mint in my mouth.

The subway is slow but I manage to make it to the office quarter to.  I see Blake standing at my desk with two coffees.

"Oh my God, thanks.  My stupid alarm didn't go off," I explain.

He nods and leaves.  I casually continue to sift through the file that Kar assigned to me yesterday.  It's now eight o'clock and I know that they're making the decision.

I tidy up my desk while I wait anxiously.  My hands shake as I shove everything into the trash bin.  The butterflies in my stomach start to flutter when Blake returns.  A big smiles grows on his face as he comes close to me.

"You did it, Calla, you're a partner and you didn't hear it from me," he winks.

I resist the urge to squeal and wrap my arms around his neck.  Instead, I shake his hand and calmly say, "Thanks, that's awesome."  

He leaves and I continue to clear my desk.  Only then do I notice a memo from a client of Rusty's.  It says I need to register a security document to Rusty's client, a large bank that is loaning §50 million to some materials company in Starlight Shores.  

As I skim through this unfamiliar document, my eyes flicker to the date of the deadline.  

No... that can't be right.  

No.  

No.  

NO!  

I sit down at my desk to think about things and organize my thoughts.  The date on the document was two months ago.  How could it have been sitting on my desk for so long?  How could it have just been sitting on my desk for so long?  I stare at the date again and it patronizes me.  I hold my breath.  

Oh.  My.  God.  

I just lost the bank §50 million.  50 MILLION.  

Panic hits me and I quickly file through the recycling and trash to make sure I didn't throw away anything important.  I check the file again to make sure that I didn't miss any loophole that'll release my from this panic.  I check the bank's website and call our contact for the bank but he just delivers bad news.  The bank tried to save themselves from the unsecure document but couldn't make up the §50 million.  It's a blow to the chest.  I've made the most basic of all mistakes a lawyer can make.

Griselda comes bouncing in to give me congratulations but I barely hear her.  I have to get out of it.

"I'm sorry, Griselda, I need to get some fresh air."

"Big news like a partnership can be rather stressful.  You go get some fresh air, I'll let others know if they ask about you," she says, oblivious to my predicament.

Somehow I manage a tight smile but I know I just look like I'm grimacing.  I quickly push my chair our and speed walk out of the the front door of the building.

When I'm a notable distance away from the building, I check my phone.  I've missed 20 calls in 15 minutes.  Is that even possible?  The most recent one is from Blake.  I force myself to replay it.

"Calla, we know about the bank.  Kar noticed the file when she went in to tell you about the partnership.  You really need to come back from wherever you are.  Now."

I want to go back.  Running away from your problems is not the way to go.  But it will be humiliating.  Especially since they thought I was worthy for partnership.

I scan the streets and walk to the nearest subway.  As if on auto-pilot, I take the subway to a train station and hop onto the nearest train.  I finally rest my legs and order a few beers.  If this isn't proof of my distress, I don't know what is.  My sister would have a cow if she found out that I was drinking.  I hardly ever drink so it only takes a few sips for me to get drunk.  And it feels good.  I'm barely aware of my surroundings and I subconsciously walk off at one of the stops.

I blink my eyes and squint at the scene in front of me.  I appear to be in some unknown town.  A very small town, that is.  On an island.  How is that even possible to get to by train?!?!  There must be a bridge or underground tunnel.  Automatically, I whip out my phone and call Blake.

"Calla?!  You need to get back here now.  Everyone knows.  There's no use hiding.  How the hell did you screw this up?"

"I don't know," I repeat over and over again.

"Where are you?  You really need to get back here.  I'm not joking.  Kar is in the worst mood ever and everyone is panicking."

"Iamsoooosorry...," I slur, partly from drowsiness, shock, and the alcohol.

"Have you been drinking?  Agh, never mind, seriously though, where are you?  Come back here as soon as you sober up."

"I can't!"  I scream.  "I need to thiiiinnnk.  Mooorrre.  I neeeed mooorre tiimmme!"

"Calla-"

I hang up on him.  I slap my face and try to sober myself up.

Then, with my head throbbing, I walk a bit until I notice a large house in the distance.

I work up the courage to ring the doorbell.

A skinny woman with a cigarette in her hand opens the door.

"Are you from the agency?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

NOTE

I'm extremely sorry about my lack of posts.  I have to admit, Calla's story doesn't interest me as much as it did.  But I'm not quitting, I just might take longer breaks.  As of now, I'm much more interested in some of my Facebook pages but I'm sure this is just a phase and will pass by quickly.

Thank you to those of your who have stuck by me even though I'm hardly posting.  I really appreciate the attention.

I hope you guys have a wonderful day! :)