Reina Mar blew the crusty old air from her lungs wishing for a better day of no sinuses. Her brother and Millie were most likely still curled in a love ball sleeping off the chills. Meanwhile, Reina perched on the steps of the dark emerald doorway mocking her misery.

From the droopy road, a single burnt yellow cab slurred to a stop meters from Reina. She gruffly creaked up to her barely five foot stature and hopped in thankfully.

"Where to?" the tired lull breezed into the warmth of the cab.

"63 Hines Avenue, is it too far?" Reina hesitated. She was not the most acquainted with city life. Bluff hills and rocky peaks were all she'd lived for; now she must learn to love the smell of car exhaust and greasy food in the morning.

"Nah, 10 minutes least? It's a 25 minute drive with the tourists." He shrugged. The stubble of hair itched Reina even though she wasn't close to him at all.

"Yes," she nodded and the man accepted and drove away from the wakening bustle of downtown Savannah. The blur of costly pedicured trees vanished into the untamed brick-a-brack of stores, boutiques, eateries and such. Her eyes flew to the strip of crumpled paper in her hand. The address was old to the region, and was a few miles away from the center point and especially farther than her home by the dreamy grass and bluffs.

The cab driver wasn't talkative at all except for a few whispers of lyrics oozing from the radio station it was currently on. Reina Mar focused at the task at hand. She was to meet Secretary Poppy Fargles. It was true her name was odd knowing the woman's obvious acceptation of it; she was extremely frisky and talkative; her voice was a high pitch call and the cold black of her eyes frightened Reina.

She was unsure of her anxiety levels rocking her ribs at the moment. It was an awkward introduction she'd had with Dr. Montgomery when she'd learned of her acceptance at Nocens' new facility. The area was heavily guarded but blended with the county shops of Savannah and the roaring engines of its visitors. The facility was like chocolate syrup on sundaes; it simply fit beautifully amongst the country setting.

"Tired, huh?" the driver spoke up as they waited at a red light already stacking a line of traffic being only seven in the morning.

"Yeah, you?" Reina eased. Her mind was now rumbling with last week's familial gathering. They were now across the state lined living their life in grassy rocks of earth and salty ventures near the bluffs of Hilton Island.

"Could be better. Didn't expect anyone this early." he mused. He wasn't entirely bothered since his client was as quiet as a tranquilized mouse.

"Sorry, work early." she offered a small explanation.

"Understandable." He replied. To live in West Jones, one must have the financial status, which was fairly new for the Mars, and career drive. Professor Lotkins lived a few houses down and was actually quite a socialite; she attended one of his speeches at an art college. He emphasized realism over abstract in his personal artwork, which intrigued Reina's knowledge of statistics and analytical thinking.

The car zipped to a stop by the security tower and stone fence. A caution do not trespass sign was prominent on the surface.

"Access?" the man tested warningly.

"Yes, sir." Reina echoed from behind the driver's seat and flashed a badge in the air.

"No cab, miss." he prohibited as he acknowledged the grumpy cab driver waiting through the exchange. Reina frowned but obliged nonetheless. The cab driver accepted his money  before leaving with a screech. Reina turned to find the gate open just for her and the security man. His security partner watched them warily from the tower.

"After you," he said curtly and they traipsed behind the opaque gates to find a looming neighborhood/ shop area peering hauntingly above before them. The building seemed smaller from afar but boasted three stories along with accompanying similar buildings that must have run on and on.

"Where are you posted?" he asked avoiding eye contact as if not wanting to encourage conversation.

"Suite 201. Dr. Montgomery." she responded as coldly as he did.

"Section 1, downstairs to the left second room on your... right I believe," he recounted hesitantly, "good luck with him."

She nodded half-heartedly noticing his solemn tone and tired eyes.  There were many things he could have meant. It was no secret  that Dr. Montgomery was polite but observant in a way that made your skin crawl. She followed the instructions given and carefully walked down the bright-lit hall until she reached the stairs. Above the crawling steps was an all seeing camera just like every corner seemed to have. Soon she reached her destination.

"Hello Ms. Mar." Dr. Montgomery smiled welcomingly. His white coat suited his gray handsome hair just right. A grey turtle neck hugged his healthy features.

"Dr. Montgomery." she acknowledged with an impish smile of her own. Books of unknown knowledge lined his fore-view. Everything seemed grey around him. Color evaporated until its ashes dripped on him like a dreadful bath.

"We begin on the samples of Prominsky," an uncentered yawn coughed out of his lungs across those pale lips. Reina felt a sudden need to find a napkin for the man. The thought of germs zipping around her just clean face unnerved her. She would not fall ill so quickly! Her nose crinkled watching Dr. Montgomery use his sleeve to shake his residue.

"Prominsky ?" she asked and slipped off her sturdy warm-brown coat from her barely tanned shoulders. Being the palest one in her family was an embarrassment she hated.

" Your first project of course." he turned testedly and revised the form in his old crinkly hands. She prepared a visual in her mind as to what she'd use for her beginning task: survey a general group or begin a Photoshop document.Although she was an intern she vaguely understood what exactly Nocens Enterprises actually did. Like advertising companies, they were known to experiment with media.

"Is Prominksy the name or..?" Reina asked.

"The name, Jackson Prominsky & Angela Prominsky's business website ." Dr. Montgomery summarized, "by the way call me Dr. Floyd, sounds chipper and less complicated."

He scrounged about for reading glasses and handed Reina Mar a binder filled with Prominsky's goals and forthcoming clientele; written cryptic results were obvious because Reina knew their was no new shop down in River Street, at least last she checked and Billinball Broomstick was not a real name.. surely?

Her back ached from creaking her neck across the bouldering binder. She steadied herself in the cubicle Dr. Floyd Montgomery had left her in as he vanished into the offices of other employees. He was sure to be upstairs with the Economic quadrant of Nocens. Money didn't just rain you had to squeeze it from every nook and cranny.

"Boring?" the voice melted into velvet waves and persuaded even the stubborn Reina to swivel in the direction of a firmly built figure. He looked a few years older; his eyes twinkled through a mist of grey unlike her own brown eyes she'd grown to accept. Jet black hair sucked her in like a black void eliminating all light.

"Just first day circumstances." she replied curtly and unsure. This man looked closer to Isaac's age she noticed.

"Mm sure, have fun." he waved sarcastically and walked away through a sea of small cubicles filled with antsy employees.

"I thought you'd be finished by now," Dr. Floyd scrunched with a frown and strode over to the young intern. His presence again felt like an ice boulder ready to crush.

"Sorry, sir." Reina shook her head feebly.

Dr. Floyd loomed closer and clicked his tongue humorously, "Ms. Mar that's a good idea." He pointed at the note where Reina had written notes to downplay the site's banner and a list of bitly codes to use.

"Thank you, sir." she understood and flushed proudly.

"Well then, I supposed we are finished today." Dr. Montgomery shrugged. It was a test. He waited for an outburst of humiliation from the new intern.

"Yes, sir. Seven sharp?" she accepted.

"No worries, tomorrow you'll tour Section 1," he pushed his glassy spectacles closer, "but for now. Au Revoir, Ms. Mar, don't forget to bring the files back." Reina took it as a change of pace. She held a mountain of folders containing lower clientele's information.

"Eight instead, though." Dr. Floyd Montgomery's lulling monotone drawl ticked her ears. She was escorted away from the offices and she waited patiently, this time for Isaac Mar who was furious to wake to a long gone sister. She'd forgotten to write a note of leave and never mentioned the exact time of departure. It had been four since she'd left.

"Why didn't you call or leave a note, Rein?" Isaac chastised from the driver's seat. He was parked by the entrance clearly flustered he didn't have private access.

"Didn't want to bother you and Millie." Reina shrugged off her brother's authoritative tone. He was always worried for her. It's not that it wasn't justified; Reina just felt burdensome at times.

"That so?" Isaac cleared his throat and drove them away from the pocket privacy of Hines Estates.

"Yea, besides, I bet you guys enjoyed my absence." Reina smirked presumptuously.

"What's that supposed to mean!" Isaac blushed deeply. His tanned skin prickled with the regret of asking Reina.

"Nothing. I just hope Netflix suggestions are clean today." Reina yawned. An innocent glint fluttered her lashes as her brother choked on his own spit.

"Shut it, it's not funny!" Isaac whined sheepishly as gusts of laughter riddled Reina Mar.

"Sorry, Zac. It's too easy." Reina guffawed through fits of muffled chortles.

After the teasing had died down, Isaac Mar spoke up again.

"You want to join me and Millie on a run to Sam's or?" Isaac asked politely. A few turns and they'd be back in West Jones Street.

"No, I have a load of files to sort through." Reina sighed and looked to the backseat. A leaning tower of Pisa threatened the survival of Reina Mar's work. She reached over and steadied the mass carefully.

"What on Earth are you doing? Estas loca?" Isaac cried trying not to fall into the wrong lane. His sister jumped into place.

"My work was falling, idiot!" a thick accent alluded their heritage.

"Dein Deutsch ist besser?" Isaac simpered. He looked back at his little sister.

"Nana would be proud!" he grinned and thoughts on the small road inconvenience passed.

"Ja ja, Isaac. Das ist die Rede des kindes!" Reina frowned. Her German, or Deutsch, was as developed as a kid's skill to plan a meal. It was simply garbage.

"Don't be so pessimistic. At least it's there, Angelo gave up trying." Isaac reasoned. Although Angelo was a star athlete and managed to snag amounting achievements, he refused to humiliate himself in his grandparents' foreign tongue. Abuelo Rudy was the last one to try to encourage the youngest Mar to try to speak it.

"I cheat. I use translate guides.." Reina gritted through her teeth. Isaac always found a way to dump on the youngest sibling, it had more to do with their brother rivalry. Angelo was athletically inclined whilst Isaac formed a promising future in law.

"Better than nothing." Isaac shrugged and parked the car beside the array of apartments. Millie Anderson stood waiting giddily. Her fiancé strode over with a quick kiss to her temple. Reina watched them hauntingly.
What would it be like to love like that?
Wait in the stinging air just for a kiss?
Wait an eternity for something?

No, it wasn't a notion she dared ponder of. As of now, marketing would be her love and saving grace. Poverty dared not strip her once again; she'd tasted providential, peeking success and she would not waste it to think over something that might never be.

With a happy smile and a thumping brain, she hoisted the boxes of files into her arms and dragged herself into a stupor of editing thoughts.

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Author's Note
Well, this was a fairly short but descriptive chapter. It gives you an easy introduction to Reina's new work environment. She already has a load of tasks to complete :))) sorry Rein...

ALSO... please don't forget to vote and comment. Criticism is greatly appreciated!