“Here are the notes from Dr. Jiu’s class.” Sierra said, passing the stack of papers to her friend, Roxy.
“Thanks.”
“Do you know when you’ll return to classes?” Nailah asked twirling with her curls, then fidgeting with the silver ring on her thumb. It was a gift from Stephan and she found herself mindlessly touching it.
Roxy shrugged. “Soon, maybe next week. I’m still a little shaken.”
“You should be!” Missy blurted. “That sim could have killed you!”“Thank goodness Richard was there, otherwise…”
“Yes,” Roxy said with a faint smile. “He saved my life.”
“Where is he?”
“In the corner by the door.”
The women turned and gave the bodyguard a wave before continuing their conversation.
“How long is he going to be protecting you?”
“Until they are completely sure that all threats have been eliminated.”
“When will that be?”
“Who knows.” Roxy shrugged. “I like what you’re doing with your hair, Nailah.”“Thanks. I enjoy the short cut right now, it’s so hot. I notice that you’re growing your hair out.”
“Yea, it’s been a while since I’ve had it longer. How’s the business plan going, Sierra?”
“It’s going fine.” The woman said picking at her shirt. “Donna and I went to get the coin appraised and it’s worth a lot of simoleans, about fifteen thousand. With the no interest loan that Nailah is giving me and the money that I have, not to mention the money that Donna was able to find to invest in business, I hope I have enough for the down payment on the load. I have another meeting with the loan officer, which I need to leave for now, so wish me luck.”“I need to go as well, I have an interview with a law school admission panel and then Stephen’s taking me out for dinner.”
“Stay safe, Roxy.”
“I will, I have Richard.” She said smiling at the approaching man.
--------------------------------------------
Kimora silently watched as her coworker drooled over the client. Jamal had been to them before for work and she was used to the singer, but it was still funny to see others fall over themselves trying to please him.
“I really like how you packaged this.” Jamal said going through the proofs for the new ad campaign.
Kimora smiled, that’s one thing she liked about the singer, he went through his own campaigns, not some agent of his.
“Yes,” Kimora’s boss spoke up. “Simon has been hard at work on the campaign.”
“Simon?” Kimora and Jamal asked.“Uh…”
“Simon didn’t-“ Kimora started.
“Yes, Simon and Kimora worked nights on the campaign. I’m glad it’s to your approval.”
Kimora could feel her blood boiling. Simon did absolutely nothing. She worked on that campaign. She spent hours working until the sun went down, forgoing happy hours and dinners to get the campaign done. She narrowed her eyes, but saw Jamal slightly shake his head.
He knew the truth as they spent hours on the phone discussing the campaign and making changes to it.
“So, Simon, tell me, why didn’t you use lyrics from my hit single for the campaign?” Jamal asked.
“Well…uh, Kimora and I thought, well, Kimora, perhaps you should explain.”
No way, no deal. “Go ahead Simon, you explain it much better than I do.”
Kimora could see her boss get annoyed, but she was over it. If he wanted to give the credit for this campaign at the most to this bumbling idiot and at the least make it appear that she shared duties with him, then let his beloved Simon talk about the campaign.
“Kimora, perhaps you should explain.” Her boss tensely said.
Kimora pursed her lips in defiance, how dare he want her to help that idiot make his way out of the hole that he dug. Take that back, that her boss had dug for him.
Before she could speak up, Jamal’s phone beeped. “Excuse me,” he said leaving the room to check the message.
“Kimora,” her boss turned to her. “Why are you sabotaging this campaign?”
“What?”
“Our client asked a question and you better answer it.”
“Our client asked Simon a question. A very simple question that if Simon had done any work on the campaign he could answer, but since he didn’t he can’t!”
“Kimora, this isn’t about little u’s and big i’s , this is about the health of the company.”
“Why is it healthy to lie and say that we worked together on the campaign when we didn’t?”
“Kimora-“
“Sorry folks,” Jamal said sticking his head into the room. “I have to run. I’ll keep looking over the campaign and we can meet about it later, ok?”
“Of, course.”
Kimora narrowed her eyes at her boss. She thought that he always looked out for her, but now it seemed like things were different and he was only interested in promoting his little Simon. “I’m taking lunch now.” She said, leaving the room.
---------------
Sierra sat in front of the loan officer again. She had did everything he asked, found a partner and garnered a sizable down payment.
“Hmmm…”
Sierra gritted her teeth, she hated that sound. Why couldn’t he just give her a straight answer. To distract herself she thought about teaching her first class in her studio. Watching the students morph their bodies into the various yoga positions, discussing the importance of mind-body connections and how to successfully lead a healthy life.
“Well, there’s been some changes since I last saw you.”
“Yes,” Sierra nodded. “I found a business partner and got the down payment like you asked.”
“Yes, well, very well done on those issues.”
Sierra bit her lip, she hated being talked down to as if she were a child. “So, when can I sign the papers on the loan?”
“That’s one of the things that changed. “
“Excuse me?”
“With the various issues coming up in the loan industry, the banks are forced to change a lot of their practices. These changes have been difficult for our customers to accept and sometimes make favorable loans appear unfavorable.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Your loan application has been denied.”
“How? I got the down payment! I have the business partner! What is it? Do they want more money? A bigger down payment?”
“I’m afraid not. Your application was deemed too high risk for the loan.”
“What in the world does that mean?!?”
“It means they won’t loan you the money.”
“I know that, but why? Why was my application deemed high risk?”
“Your history. You have very little credit history and that spells danger.”
“So because I like to spend cash and not use credit cards, I can’t get a loan?”
“That’s about right.”
“That makes so little sense! It’s idiotic!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yea, well, thanks anyway.” She said leaving the bank.
Sierra sat in front of the loan officer again. She had did everything he asked, found a partner and garnered a sizable down payment.
“Hmmm…”
Sierra gritted her teeth, she hated that sound. Why couldn’t he just give her a straight answer. To distract herself she thought about teaching her first class in her studio. Watching the students morph their bodies into the various yoga positions, discussing the importance of mind-body connections and how to successfully lead a healthy life.
“Well, there’s been some changes since I last saw you.”
“Yes,” Sierra nodded. “I found a business partner and got the down payment like you asked.”
“Yes, well, very well done on those issues.”
Sierra bit her lip, she hated being talked down to as if she were a child. “So, when can I sign the papers on the loan?”
“That’s one of the things that changed. “
“Excuse me?”
“With the various issues coming up in the loan industry, the banks are forced to change a lot of their practices. These changes have been difficult for our customers to accept and sometimes make favorable loans appear unfavorable.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Your loan application has been denied.”
“How? I got the down payment! I have the business partner! What is it? Do they want more money? A bigger down payment?”
“I’m afraid not. Your application was deemed too high risk for the loan.”
“What in the world does that mean?!?”
“It means they won’t loan you the money.”
“I know that, but why? Why was my application deemed high risk?”
“Your history. You have very little credit history and that spells danger.”
“So because I like to spend cash and not use credit cards, I can’t get a loan?”
“That’s about right.”
“That makes so little sense! It’s idiotic!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yea, well, thanks anyway.” She said leaving the bank.
------
Donna walked slowly along the boardwalk enjoying the warm breeze and smell of the ocean and…dog fur?
“Would you consider donating to the Society for Pets?” a friendly face asked.
Donna smiled. “What does the society do?”
“We minimize the number of stray pets by maximizing the number of happy pet owners. Right now we’re trying to find homes for a few of our cute little puppies, such as the ones you see here.”
Donna glanced down at the tiny pups, one in particular caught her eye and she bent down for a closer look. She regarded the animal with open eyes and it did likewise, cocking it’s head to the side before placing its paws on the glass. Donna placed her fingers on the glass as well and they shared a friendly glass to glass moment.
“He’s a cutie, isn’t he?”
“He is.”
“He’s available for adoption today. He’s just waiting for the perfect pet owner to come along and adopt him.”
“What’s his name?”
“What do you think his name is?”
“Huh?”
“If you can guess his name, I’ll give you a lollipop.”
“A lollipop, huh?”
“No sim has been able to guess his name.”
Donna regarded the pup. “Can I take him out of the glass cage?”
“Of course.”
She squatted down to meet the puppy face-to-face and he licked her hand before circling her and sniffing her clothing.
“Lucky.”
“What?”
“His name is Lucky.”
“Whoa! Did he tell you that?”
“No, why?”
“That’s his name. Congratulations, let me get your lollipop.”
“Forget about the lollipop, how can I take Lucky home?”
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi, Stephan.” Nailah said smiling.
“How was the interview?”
“I think it went well.”
“Here, Sierra said this was waiting for you.” He said handing her a thin envelope.
Nailah’s heart went in her throat, it was from the University of Supreme Law, her first choice school. She nervously opened the envelope.
We regret to inform you that your application has been denied. We would-
Nailah wiped away a tear.
“You ok?”
“Yea, my first rejection letter.” She said waving the letter at him.
He took the letter and read it, his face hardened and he slowly folded the paper and replaced it in the envelope.
“It’s not that bad, Stephan. I appreciate you trying to sympathize with me.” Nailah joked.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were applying to schools outside of Pahala?”
“What? Why should that matter?”
“How are we going to have a relationship if you’re eighteen hours away!”
“What relationship! We’re supposed to be friends!”
“Nailah, how can you continue to deny this?” He painfully asked, his voice cracking. “We’re good together.” He continued taking her hand.
“I know, but…it’s still too much.”
“Don’t push me away…please…” He said grabbing her other hand.
“I can’t promise anything.”
Donna walked slowly along the boardwalk enjoying the warm breeze and smell of the ocean and…dog fur?
“Would you consider donating to the Society for Pets?” a friendly face asked.
Donna smiled. “What does the society do?”
“We minimize the number of stray pets by maximizing the number of happy pet owners. Right now we’re trying to find homes for a few of our cute little puppies, such as the ones you see here.”
Donna glanced down at the tiny pups, one in particular caught her eye and she bent down for a closer look. She regarded the animal with open eyes and it did likewise, cocking it’s head to the side before placing its paws on the glass. Donna placed her fingers on the glass as well and they shared a friendly glass to glass moment.
“He’s a cutie, isn’t he?”
“He is.”
“He’s available for adoption today. He’s just waiting for the perfect pet owner to come along and adopt him.”
“What’s his name?”
“What do you think his name is?”
“Huh?”
“If you can guess his name, I’ll give you a lollipop.”
“A lollipop, huh?”
“No sim has been able to guess his name.”
Donna regarded the pup. “Can I take him out of the glass cage?”
“Of course.”
She squatted down to meet the puppy face-to-face and he licked her hand before circling her and sniffing her clothing.
“Lucky.”
“What?”
“His name is Lucky.”
“Whoa! Did he tell you that?”
“No, why?”
“That’s his name. Congratulations, let me get your lollipop.”
“Forget about the lollipop, how can I take Lucky home?”
-----
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi, Stephan.” Nailah said smiling.
“How was the interview?”
“I think it went well.”
“Here, Sierra said this was waiting for you.” He said handing her a thin envelope.
Nailah’s heart went in her throat, it was from the University of Supreme Law, her first choice school. She nervously opened the envelope.
We regret to inform you that your application has been denied. We would-
Nailah wiped away a tear.
“You ok?”
“Yea, my first rejection letter.” She said waving the letter at him.
He took the letter and read it, his face hardened and he slowly folded the paper and replaced it in the envelope.
“It’s not that bad, Stephan. I appreciate you trying to sympathize with me.” Nailah joked.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were applying to schools outside of Pahala?”
“What? Why should that matter?”
“How are we going to have a relationship if you’re eighteen hours away!”
“What relationship! We’re supposed to be friends!”
“Nailah, how can you continue to deny this?” He painfully asked, his voice cracking. “We’re good together.” He continued taking her hand.
“I know, but…it’s still too much.”
“Don’t push me away…please…” He said grabbing her other hand.
“I can’t promise anything.”
