THE PLEASURE TRADER

all. And though she made sure that her hair was always smooth, she could only cope with stress by smoothening

flight attendant’s uniform and heels for blue jean pants and an unzipped black leather jacket over a cropped t-shirt. She pretended to be oblivious to the longing looks

. She had called Eve earlier that day to tell her that her mom’s condition was deteriorating. Fortunately, she had been on h

mom. She boarded a cab back to her place, and felt powerless be

a slow elevator. She made it to the fourth floor where she stayed without breaking a sweat,

anic in the back of her throat as she felt the wall for the light

light switch, t

Y BIR

ve really registered was her mom. She stood erect, even higher than the last time they had seen each other nearly

ith a fake smile. She might have been happy, but she was furious as well. She hid her

ed her eyes and

t a job that I was gonna let you spend your birthday at it. Besides, you would have found

red, and this only got more giggles out of Olivia. Sadly for her, she thought

e to the point where she had forgotten her birthday. Though her time in the p

after Olivia, and E

fondly. “You’re c

y, holding her at arm’s length. “You should be asha

artass,” Her mom retorted with a smirk

fists with Olivia, to which

’s mom said, and Olivi

said, and made her way to the b

he wasn’t the type to let her birthday go uncelebrated, and she felt obliged

e high school, and he had been trying to ask her out for just as long. But for some reason, maybe his crazy and unfounded high levels of confidence,

g and hugging people whenever it was necessary, until she spotted Olivia. Olivia was chatting casually with J

g planned for the aft

st and opened her m

rms questioningly. Olivia had most c

a stop underestimating me, girl,” She said.