Synopsis: Brenda begins to uncover some pieces of the puzzle from the office gossip during Cheryl's last day. What she didnt count on was Mario's eyes latching onto her and the danger lurking within their midst...

 

Runway
By
Arecee

Chapter 9

Brenda on the other hand rode the subway to and from work every day. She didn’t mind except when some pervert would pinch her ass. She was learning that being a girl could be an adventure and one that could be scary.

She pushed her key into the lock and entered the hallway.

“Brenda! How was your day?” asked Annie as she heard her favorite tenant enter the building.

Annie had made a habit of watching for Brenda when she came home. Annie worried about Brenda because she was too trusting. She knew that Brenda came from a small town in California and Brenda just happened to pull her motherly instinct out with her.

“It went great! I do have to ask you something though. Could you tell me where I could find a really good bakery?” Brenda asked. “Tomorrow is Cheryl’s last day and I really want to get the best cake I can find for her.”

“My word sweetheart! I’ll bake one for you. Why don’t you go upstairs and change and then come back over here and I’ll teach you how to bake a cake better than one you’ll find at a bakery? At least the ones in this neighborhood,” Annie laughed.

“Okay, let me check my mail and I’ll be right down.”

Brenda really liked Annie as she was becoming a mother to her and it seemed that she was learning yet another thing that women do every day from her. She wasn’t learning makeup or fashion - but a lot of the little things that a woman does every day of her life. Cooking, sewing, paying the bills, were among the various topics Annie would teach her - including men! Brenda couldn’t help giggling at Annie’s descriptions and trysts with the various men she had encountered.

Brenda was thoroughly enjoying what was happening to her. The hormones were kicking in big time although she couldn’t see a lot of growth in her breasts. She could feel it and, coupled with the excitement within her, she was flush with the joys of learning a new side of life! The maternal love Annie radiated and her changes were conspiring towards making Matt really disappear.

Brenda returned to Annie’s apartment ready to learn how to bake a cake. Brenda’s first one fell and when it did, she burst into tears. She had worked so hard to make it perfect. Annie comforted her explaining that cakes fell all the time and not to worry about it. They would bake another one. Brenda dried her eyes and wondered why she had cried in the first place?

The second attempt came out perfect and Annie was pleased with the results of her little girl’s labor.

“Your friend will definitely like this cake. She should feel proud that you baked it rather than buying one for her,” Annie said.

“I hope she does. And I hope Mario likes it too,” Brenda grinned.

“Who’s Mario?”

“The UPS guy. He’s really cute.”

Brenda blushed. She couldn’t believe she had just said that about Mario. She was even more surprised that she had said it to Annie.

“I didn’t know you had a boy friend.”

“He’s not really a boy friend. He already has a girl friend, but,” Brenda paused with a dreamy look in her eyes, “I don’t know, he’s just so cute.”

“It sounds to me that you like him a lot.”

“I guess I do. He makes me feel all funny inside when I see him.”

“Mm, mm, mm. Brenda has a crush! You be careful sweetheart. I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”

“I will. Nothing is going to happen as long as he has his girl friend and I know he’s just flirting. Cheryl says he flirts with all the girls in the building.”

“Well, find yourself a nice boy that doesn’t flirt with all the girls. It’s safer that way.”

“I will Annie. And please don’t worry. I’m not looking for a boy friend just now anyway.”

“That’s the most dangerous time! When you aren’t looking, all of a sudden, some man will come walking right into your life. You’ll fall in love and probably not even know it until it’s too late.”

“I’m fine Annie. I’m not going to fall in love and especially not with Mario. Thank you so much for all your help with the cake though. I don’t know what I would do without you,” Brenda smiled.

“You would go to a bakery,” laughed Annie.

Brenda thanked Annie with a warm hug and carried the cake home with her. She couldn’t help but think of what Annie had told her about falling in love. Brenda wasn’t ready for that for obvious reasons. At the same time, she couldn’t help thinking about Mario. Why had he, of all people, had such an impact on her? It didn’t make sense. He was in love with his girl friend and yet all the girls knew he was just flirting with them as a way to tease them. All of this male - female interaction was having a profound effect on her libido. “But I do like his attention though,” she thought.

Brenda awakened the next morning feeling different for some reason. She remembered dreaming about a romantic interlude but nothing else. She couldn’t even remember whether the person she was in the dream was Matt or herself. Herself? Now that was something new in considering her dreaming!

She just seemed driven to dress a little nicer today - well maybe not nicer, but a bit more sexy. Extra care was taken with shaving her legs and underarms. She then fixed her hair and makeup. Black lacy panties were slid on next with a bra that enhanced her cleavage.

Brenda found the perfect dress to wear after some minutes of pondering through her closet. She topped it all off with a pair of four inch tan heels. Brenda then looked into the mirror and gasped at what she saw. I can’t go on the subway looking like this! I’ll be raped! Brenda had reached a stage in her development where she felt increasingly vulnerable. She felt alone with no way to fend off advances from men she wanted nothing to do with.

Brenda rummaged again through her closet and found a heavy coat to wear. “At least no one will see how I’m dressed until I reach work,” she thought as she slipped the heavy garment on. She then took the carefully sealed cake in the Tupperwareâ„¢ container into her hands and proceeded down the stairs.

On the first step down, she almost lost her balance. Shit! I should have taken my heels off and then put them on downstairs! I have so much to learn... Brenda took one more step down before lowering herself to remove the dangerous devices from her feet. She placed them on top of the cake container, picked the cake back up, and continued down the stairs with much more ease. She was almost to the bottom when she snagged her pantyhose on a splinter and ran them from her foot all the way to the top.

“Shit!” she shrieked, “I don’t believe this!”

Annie poked her head out of her door and asked, “What’s wrong dear?”

“I just ran my hose and I’ll have to change them. Could you watch the cake for me? Please?” she asked.

“Of course, why were you walking without shoes on?” Annie asked.

“My heels were so high that I thought I’d fall down the stairs. So I took them off and ruined my pantyhose.”

“You silly girls and your heels, I swear. I’m glad I stopped wearing them years ago. My feet feel so much better for it.”

“I know. But they do help a girl out in looks.”

“I’m glad that you’re the one who has to suffer and not me. Let’s see what you have on.”

Brenda removed her coat and all Annie could do was whistle.

“Brenda, are you after someone special?” Annie asked.

“No, I just wanted to look nice today.”

“Well, you certainly did that in spades! Be careful young lady. I don’t want to read about you in the paper.”

“Yes, mom,” Brenda giggled.

Brenda quickly returned to her apartment and removed her damaged hose. After finding a new pair, she put her heels back on not wanting to ruin another pair. She returned to Annie’s to pick up her cake.

“Thanks Annie! Do I really look alright now?”

Brenda’s insecurities were showing and Annie wanted to put her at ease.

“Sweetheart, if I had a daughter, I’d want her to look and be just like you. To be perfectly honest, I worry every time you leave to go to work. I’m so afraid something bad might happen to you. Even though I have only known you for a very short time I have grown to love you as my own. I have never said that to anyone before. And I’m very good at assessing what a person is like from talking to them. In you, I see a sweet caring woman. A little naíve at times, and you need some reassurance, but you will gain your self confidence, all in due course. Now off with you or you’ll be late for work.”

Brenda looked at Annie, her eyes filling with tears and said, “I love you too Annie!”

Annie grabbed a tissue and dabbed Brenda’s eyes and said, “Don’t you dare ruin your makeup,” and then hugged the frail young girl.

Brenda put her coat back on, picked the cake back up from the hall table where Annie had placed it. She continued her walk to the subway station for her commute to work.

Cheryl had always opened the phones and Brenda would arrive thirty minutes later but since this was to be Cheryl’s last day, Brenda was to opening instead. Brenda arrived and brought her precious cake to the break room, placing it on the counter. She removed her coat and hung it in her closet. She then sat down at her front desk to start finishing some contract filing before her day of greeting customers and answering the phones began.

It was eight in the morning and she was the second person to arrive. The first was Carla in accounting. Carla always arrived at six so she wouldn’t be interrupted while making entries from the previous day.

“Good morning Carla, I’m here,” Brenda said as she spoke into her mouth-piece.

“Thanks Brenda.”

It was a slow morning and the phones were pretty quiet for a change. Brenda didn’t like it like that at all because time seemed to drag slowly. It was almost nine before Cheryl arrived.

“Good morning Brenda,” Cheryl said in her normal greeting and then her eyes went wide and she exclaimed, “Just look at you girl! Are you going somewhere after work?”

“No, I just felt like looking nice for a change.”

“Brenda, you always look nice. But this, you really did yourself up this morning. You look gorgeous.”

“This isn’t too much is it?”

“Honey, no. You look wonderful and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Stand up so I can see the whole you.”

Brenda stood and did a little twirl being careful not to trip on her heels.

“What a cute dress! I can’t wait to have my baby so I can start wearing something like that again. Where did you get it?”

“Macy’s. Are you sure this isn’t too much to wear?”

“Heavens no and it fits you perfectly. I’m impressed girl friend. I wasn’t sure you had it in you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You always seemed to be a little ashamed of your looks. Most of what you wore was boring - at least for a single girl, like yourself. If you were married, like me, they are fine. If you were trying to catch men’s attention, they weren’t going to notice you know. When they see the new you, girl, you’ll have to hire a body guard to keep them away!”

“I hope not. I just wanted to look a bit nicer, not have men chasing me.”

“Maybe not. But deep down inside, I think a part of you does appreciate their attention. Don’t be ashamed of feeling that way Brenda. We all like to feel appreciated even after we’re married off. It makes my day when a guy whistles at an old broad like me. It lets me know I still have it.”

“God Cheryl, you’re not that old. You’re what? Thirty-two?”

“And pregnant.”

“So?”

“You’ll understand what I mean when you get older. You’re still young. You’re what, twenty? And you look eighteen. I envy you. After I have the baby I’ll diet and hope I get my shape back. I’ve seen some women gain fifty pounds when they’re pregnant and it stays for years. I don’t want that to happen to me.”

“You care too much about yourself to let that happen.”

“I hope so. Today you get to give the orders because this is your desk now, what would you like me to do?”

“Just relax and enjoy your last day. You will never guess what I did last night.”

“What?”

“You have to guess?”

“You met a guy at the market and took him home and brought him to bed?”

“My God! No Cheryl… really, guess!”

“I have no idea Brenda. Tell me.”

“I baked a cake for you.”

“You baked a cake? Really? What kind?”

“A carrot cake - from scratch,” Brenda answered excitedly.

“Really? From scratch?”

“Well kind of. My friend Annie taught me how to do it. I do hope you like it.”

“If you made it I know I will.”

The front door opened and Mario entered the suite.

“Holy shi……” was all he could say when he saw Brenda.

Brenda blushed and her stomach grew tight as she gained eye contact with Mario. Damn! What’s wrong with me? Why does he affect me like this? He’s just a man. Well…a really handsome one… with big brown eyes…nice muscles…a sweet personality…*sigh* and such kissable lips! I just want to die whenever I see him! Now I know it! I was dressing for HIM! Oh god!

Cheryl was watching her new protégée and saw the effect Mario was having on her.

“Brenda, wow! What’s the occasion?” Mario sauntered, slowly drinking her form in.

“Its Cheryl’s last day,” she answered trying to guard her so obvious feelings. “Are you going to come by later for some cake?”

Mario paused a moment in thought.

“I really wish you would.”

Brenda blushed all the more and looked down at her desk in embarrassment. She really didn’t have to tell the world what her wishes were. The invitation for cake was enough. But now, she was practically begging this man and hoping to God that he would say yes. Brenda nervously fingered her bracelet waiting for an answer.

Mario saw pretty women all day long and loved flirting with them. Of course, they all knew he had a girl friend. But, it was always in fun. This was different though. Seeing Brenda - it was as if his entire world had stopped just ever so briefly and had taken his breath away. A spark had been lit inside his brain and it simply refused to be ignored or extinguished.

“I’ll stop back by after I do my rounds. It wouldn’t be right, if I didn’t say goodbye to my second most favorite girl.”

Brenda’s heart jumped! He is coming back! Thank you, God!

Brenda signed the delivery receipt and Mario left.

“God Brenda, I thought you were going to faint when Mario came in. Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she meekly replied.

“You like him don’t you?”

“It’s that obvious?”

“Well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone fall apart quite so fast as you when he came through the front door. The way you blushed was just so cute! And did you see him? That is the first time ever I have ever seen him speechless. I think he MORE than likes you!”

“No he doesn’t” Brenda protested trying to slough off the insinuation..

“Oh yes he does!”
Brenda glared at her friend for a moment before turning back to her desk.

“You need to think things through and watch yourself Brenda. Or you just might end up like me - over-weight and pregnant. Even worse, as a single mom!”

“Yes Momma!” Brenda squeaked out in a guilty little girl’s voice. Both girls started giggling.

Their conversation was interrupted by the phone.

“Universal, how may I help you?” Brenda said.

“I’d like to speak to Melissa please.”

“Ms. Benson isn’t in yet. May I take a message?”

“Yes. This is Margaret Voss and I have to speak with her right away. Do you happen to know when she will be in?”

“No ma’m. I’m sorry I don’t. Do you have a number where you can be reached back at?”

“She has my cell. Have her phone me the minute she arrives!” she ordered. The phone line went dead.

“Cheryl, who’s Margaret Voss?”

“Margaret? She’s the designer of the clothing line the girls were displaying yesterday. Why?”

“That was just her on the line. She seemed very upset that Melissa wasn’t here.”

“Margaret’s always that way. She’s a very good designer, but she is sometimes nasty with people. Did she say what she wanted?”

“No. Only that she was in a rush to speak with Melissa.”

“I hope it didn’t have anything to do with the show.”

The models began arriving for their meetings and assignments for the remainder of the week. Tiffany was the second to arrive.

“Tiffany. Margaret Voss just called and asked to speak to Melissa about yesterday. Did something happen?” Brenda asked.

“No. Not that I’m aware of. She seemed to be very pleased with the show. She even stopped by afterwards to thank me personally,” Tiffany smiled.

“Margaret thanked you personally? She never does that - with anyone! The whole world revolves around her, as far as she is concerned,” stated Cheryl.

Melissa came barging through the door with a scowl on her face.

“Fucking cops!!! Some son of a bitch just gave me a ticket for an illegal U-turn! It’s the same one I’ve been making for over three years now. And, and, this prick thinks he can give ME, ME! a ticket!”

Melissa stopped walking long enough to look at the three of them and finish, “I even let my skirt slide up almost to my panties! He looked in through the window at my legs and asked if I was getting cold. The nerve! He must have gone queer on me or something! My legs never failed me before!” Melissa grumbled.

“Good morning Melissa,” Cheryl and Brenda said in unison.

Melissa walked past without acknowledging either one of them and slammed the door to her office.

“What a bitch! I warned you Brenda. She can be sweet as honey when she wants to, but let something set her off, then she becomes a lioness looking for a kill,” Cheryl said.

“I’d better let her know that Margaret had called.”

Brenda rang Melissa’s office.

“What now?” she spat into the phone.

“Margaret Voss called and said that it was very important that you call her back immediately.”

“Oh? Thanks Brenda. Look, I’m sorry I took my ticket out on you and Cheryl, especially since today is her last day. And, you look especially nice today! Do you have a date after work or something?”

“No ma’m. I just wanted to look nice today.”

“Well, I like it when my girls look nice. Keep up the good work.”

Brenda disconnected the phone and smiled at Cheryl.

“Melissa apologized for being rude.”

“She probably didn’t mean it. But, it’s better than none at all.”

Melissa rang Brenda after her call to Margaret.

“Brenda. Is Tiffany around?” she asked excitedly.

“I believe she’s in the break room with some of the other girls.”

”Please go get her and ask her to come to my office.”

“Yes Melissa.”

Brenda found Tiffany talking to Donna and told her that Melissa wanted to see her.

Tiffany entered Melissa’s office and stood next to the door. She was afraid that maybe she had done something wrong and Melissa was going to tear up the contract.

“Close the door and sit down here Tiffany,” Melissa said.

Tiffany’s empty stomach began to churn. She was hungry and now nervousness made it worse. “I’ve only had one assignment and now she wants to fire me.” was all she could think.

“Tiffany, I just got off the phone with Margaret Voss and she told me how pleased she was with your performance yesterday. She as much as stated that without you, her line would have been a failure.”

“Really, she said that?”

“Yes she did! But even more importantly, she wants to use you for her national ad campaign. She said that she has never worked with a model that shines like you, even when she was with Taylor. She wants you this afternoon for a photo shoot at her studios on twenty-ninth street. Gather your things and head right on over there. Don’t be late.”

Tiffany exited Melissa’s office and saw a look of concern on Brenda’s face.

“What happened, are you in trouble?” Brenda asked.

“Nope. You won’t believe what just happened. Margaret Voss called to tell Melissa that she loved what I did and wants to use me for a national ad campaign!” Tiffany said, with excitement in her voice.

“Oh Tiffany, that’s wonderful! I was so worried that you might have done something wrong,” Brenda said.

“I have to go over to Margaret’s studio right now. They are starting to shoot today. God! I’m so excited!”

“What about Cheryl’s party? Won’t you be able to say goodbye?”

“Don’t worry about me Tiff. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just give me a hug,” Cheryl said.

Tiffany walked to Cheryl and gave Cheryl a big hug before taking her bag and exiting the office.

“Can you believe that? Tiffany just started here and now she has a top assignment! Looks Like she’s going to be a special person in this business.” Cheryl enviously stated.

Connie was walking by when she overheard Cheryl speaking.

“That bitch had better watch her ass! I’m the number one girl around here! She better never forget that!” Connie spat, with venom dripping in her voice.

Connie was looking bad this morning. She hadn’t put on any makeup and the strain of late nights and drug use was beginning to show on her once beautiful face. She went into Melissa’s office and slammed the door shut.

“Wow! What was that all about?” Brenda asked.

“That was Connie being Connie,” replied Cheryl. “She wasn’t always like that. In fact, when she started here not too long ago, she was actually a very nice girl. But something changed her about six months ago when she started having these meetings with Melissa in private. She goes into the meeting all bitchy and nasty, but when she comes out she seems calmer. You’ll see.”

“Are all the girls like that?”

“No. Some of them have private meetings with Melissa, but they aren’t nasty like Connie. I’m not sure what her problem is.”

“I know what her problem is,” stated Donna who just happened to enter the room, “She has a broomstick up her ass!”

The girls erupted in laughter with that remark, especially coming from Donna. Donna was always the kind, sweet, outgoing girl that got along with everyone. Maybe it was because she was older and knew she would be ending her career on the runway that she was more emboldened her in her comments. It was just a surprise though, that those words were actually coming from Donna’s mouth.

Donna continued, “Connie feels threatened by Tiffany because she’s younger and more of a fresh look. We could all see how she took over at the show yesterday. It was a special moment for us to witness a super star being born. Of course, there was a certain air of jealousy from all of us. I mean, because we all want to be like Tiffany. We get over it though. And the least we can do is be her friend. Connie doesn’t work that way. She’ll hate Tiffany until her dying days because Tiffany outshined Connie in front of that crowd. Connie’s ego conflicts with the idea of being a supporting model while Tiffany garners all of the attention. Connie seems to be a very vindictive woman. Her and Melissa are close. While Melissa is a shrewd business woman, all she can see is nothing but money coming from Tiffany. As long as she is young and brings in contracts, I know Melissa won’t do a thing to Tiffany. Connie though, is a different story.”

“What would Connie do if Melissa needs Tiffany’s money and shoves Connie aside?”

“She could do a lot of things! Trust me! Connie is a bitch on the outside, but she’s even worse on the inside! About six months ago there was a model that worked here who was murdered and I think maybe Connie might have had something to do with her death.”

“Connie?” Brenda asked.

“Yes. Connie.” Donna stopped talking as the door to Melissa’s office opened and Connie exited. Her look, in fact, had changed. She seemed calmer with a sly smile and a distant sort of look in her eyes.

“I’ll talk to you all later. When do we cut the cake?” Donna asked.

“Right after lunch.”

Brenda had heard her first lead and knew she had to talk to Donna again soon to find out what else she knew. Also, she had to warn her friend about Connie’s potential. Tiffany could be in serious danger this very minute!. Brenda knew that once Cheryl was gone it would be easier for her to make lists and keep track of things without tipping anyone off as to her real purpose for having this job.

Ron came by for his usual daily visit. Cheryl started giggling when he came in and his mouth just dropped when he saw Brenda. She was going to miss all the drama going on at the agency.

“Checking the air balance in the coffee room again Ron?” Cheryl asked.

Most of the girls hung out in the coffee room when they had nothing to do, so, Ron made it a habit to spend most of his time in there too, unless he was doing something in Melissa’s office. It was a well known fact that Ron had a crush on Melissa and she flirted with him mercilessly. Melissa played with him like a cat plays with a mouse before she eats her prey.

“Yeah. I think I’ll check the air balance in here today,” he replied, all the while staring at Brenda.

“From the look on your face, I think you’re checking something else out too,” Cheryl said.

Ron turned bright red knowing he was busted. He couldn’t draw his eyes away from Brenda. He was used to seeing the models - they were all beautiful, but seemed to lack in the figure department. Brenda though, had curves and was pretty. She was also a lot shorter than most of the models and you didn’t have to be six-foot six to look good with her. Brenda had never dressed to show herself before and Ron had just kind of looked past her. Now that she caught his eye, there would be a lot more air balancing going on in the reception area.

“Today is Cheryl’s last day Ron. We’re cutting the cake a little bit later. You’re welcome to come by if you’d like,” Brenda demurely lined as she gave Ron her biggest smile.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” he drooled as he talked to the roundness of Brenda’s breasts rather than to her.

Ron put his measuring devices away as he slinked along down the hall.

“What a pig! For a minute I thought your breasts had eyes! He’s one person I definitely won’t miss,” Cheryl said.

“He doesn’t mean anything, really. He’s just being a man.”

“And a creepy one at that! Maybe if he got laid he wouldn’t be that way. Of course, what girl in her right mind would want some guy talking to her tits all night long?” Cheryl quipped, as they both erupted again into laughter.

Brenda’s face turned serious as she thought about what Donna had said about Connie. Had Connie really killed Natalia? Or was it just a supposition on Donna’s part? Brenda had to learn more about Connie.

“Cheryl? Do you know anything about what Donna was talking about earlier? You know, about Connie killing that girl?”

“Brenda, Donna’s a really sweet person, but I think her imagination gets carried away sometimes. Some of what she says makes sense, but I don’t know about Connie having anything to do with Natalia’s death.”

“I’m sorry. It just scares me thinking I might have to work here with a killer.”

“God Brenda! Connie’s not a killer. She certainly wasn’t ever strong enough to cut Natalia’s throat and dump her body in the river. Donna has a wild imagination.”

“Still, why would Donna say something like that?”

“You’re going to learn that all the girls here strive for attention and will do and say anything to be noticed. And I think maybe this is one of those times. Connie isn’t a killer.”

“Why would Donna suspect Connie then?”

“It goes back quite a ways, even before I started working here. The girl before me filled me in on what was happening around here and warned me stay out of both Connie’s and Natalia’s way. She said they hated each other and would do anything to ruin the other’s career. After she left, I could see what she meant. All they ever did was snipe at each other and try to get on the good side of Melissa at each other’s expense. Now here is where things got real strange. There was a party about three months before Natalia died where a lot of cocaine was being passed around. Natalia wanted nothing to do with it, but from what I’ve heard, Connie pretty much sniffed up half of Colombia. After that, I heard Connie started using the stuff almost every day. That was about the time she began visiting Melissa for her meetings.”

Cheryl adjusted herself in her chair before continuing.

“This infuriated Natalia because she wanted to be Melissa’s favorite and knew that Connie was using coke by the plane load. So she went to Melissa and told her all about Connie’s nasty little habit. I saw Natalia come out of Melissa’s office and her face was red with anger. She turned around and said, ‘If you’re not going to do anything about it, then I’m going to go to the police and let them handle it,’ and slammed the door shut. I never saw her after that. And I, like everyone else, thought she had run off with one of her boyfriends. The next thing we heard she was dead.”

“Did you tell this to the police?”

“No, I didn’t think it was important and it was the farthest thing from my mind because I had just found out that I was pregnant.”

“At least I think I can see why you don’t think Connie had anything to do with it. But, what if Melissa had told her about Natalia’s threat?”

“Maybe she did. But how was I to know? And besides, if I said anything to anyone about it she might kill me too. Some things are better left alone Brenda. I had a baby to worry about, not whether Connie was a killer or not.”

“I can see your point. Maybe it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie. Hey, it’s lunch time! Let’s cut your cake.”

The cake was cut and shared with all present and by the end of the day it was gone. Cheryl departed soon after eating her slice of the cake, declaring that it was the best carrot cake she had ever eaten.

“Brenda, you’re missing your calling. You should open a bakery! It would sure beat catering to a bunch of spoiled women like you’ll have to do around here,” Cheryl laughed.

All the girls giggled at that remark knowing it was true. Cheryl made the rounds kissing and hugging each girl as she did. Last was Brenda. Cheryl had come to love her. Her bright eyes and special smile made Cheryl’s last days here bearable. Cheryl had found a true friend in Brenda.

“I’m going to miss you Brenda,” she said as her eyes misted with tears.

Brenda held her friend and tried to speak, but the lump in her throat wouldn’t let her. She just held Cheryl tightly to her while the both of them let their tears flow.

When they finally broke their embrace, Cheryl started to giggle again.

“It looks as though I’ll have be here a bit longer while Brenda repairs her makeup.” she said.

Brenda looked at the wall mirror and gasped when she saw the two black lines running down her cheeks.

“Oh God, I didn’t get this on your blouse did I?”

“No silly girl. And who cares if you did? It’s maternity wear, not some fabulous blouse that I want to wear over and over. Now go freshen your makeup.”

Brenda did as she was instructed and returned to give her friend one last long hug.

“I’ll call you Cheryl, and you had better let me know when you have the baby or I’ll never forgive you,” Brenda said.

“I will, and watch out for Mario. He really doesn’t know how he feels about you yet, but when he does, look out! Bye Brenda!”

With that Cheryl turned and left her job far behind. She had a new one to start, being a mom.
 
 
Edited by Sephrena Lynn Miller