It was still dark just before dawn. No one was awake at this hour, so she took advantage and took the car keys.

"How about I practice a little driving?" Sienna opened the door and took the driver’s seat. In her past life, she learned to drive from Lina, who used to give her secret driving lessons when Tom was not around.

It was still dark, but she needed to get out of that house. Sharing the same roof with Hunter was becoming unbearable for her.

Not in a bad way, but...

Urgh.

She sighed in frustration and started the car. The plan was to pick up Lina and then go around the city.

Initially, she was driving with slow speed, but after some time, she started enjoying it as she increased the speed.

"Whoa!" She giggled while driving on the deserted roads, "Driving was never this fun!"

Once she reached Lina’s apartment, she started honking the horn.

"Are you trying to wake up the whole neighborhood, bitch?" Lina threw her bag in the backseat and turned to wear a seatbelt, "Good God! This is beautiful, Sia," Her gaze was running on the interior of the car, "Is it Hunter’s?"

Sienna gave a small shrug as she pulled back onto the road, "I don’t know," Her eyes stayed on the road, "Hunter says it belongs to his friend, but I seriously doubt it."

"Doubt it?" Lina patted her shoulder, "Why, hun? He’s broke, and that’s not even a secret."

"I know," She said with a frown, "Sometimes I feel..."

"You feel what?"

Her friend’s query made her pull the car to the side. She killed the engine and leaned back into her seat, "I think... the guy is not being honest with me."

"And why do you think that, girl?" Lina slid her glasses down the bridge of her nose and looked over them.

Sia made a pout and closed her eyes, "I dunno. Just a hunch."

"Don’t be stupid, Sia..."

When Sienna didn’t move, Lina slapped her shoulder, "Talk to me! Wake up!"

With a tired sigh, Sienna straightened in her seat, "Okay!"

Lina rolled her eyes, "Girl! You’re overthinking for no reason..." Lina leaned a little into her friend, "Is he abusive like... that prick?"

Sienna was aware of whom she was referring to.

"No! I don’t mean like that... but Lina... the way... he works on his laptop... he doesn’t look like a man who has nothing to do..." She shifted in her seat to face Lina, "Sometimes I feel... he knows more than me...you should look at him when he’s there in my office. The way he carries himself... sometimes I feel like..."

"Like..." Lina’s eyes widened in anticipation, "Like you’re falling for him?"

"What! Lina! You must be out of your fu*cking mind!"

"Why? Don’t you feel attracted to him?"

"Hell! No! It’s just that...sometimes I feel he owns the office. My subordinates listen to him more than me. They understand his orders. They are more afraid of him than me. I feel like ..."

"Hey, hey!" Lina raised her arms in exasperation, "Your emotions... they are all over the place, Sienna. Breathe! Relax!"

Sienna let a frustrated sigh and made a pout, "That’s how I feel in his presence. He might be a secretary, but I feel like..."

"Are you fu*cking stupid?" Lina snapped at her, "This is all a mind game. Don’t forget you’re the boss, Sia!"

Sia shook her head. No surprise that even her friend couldn’t understand her.

"Hey, Sia. Listen darling... Do you trust me?" Luna reached out and held her hands, "Tell me."

Sienna nodded at her, "No one but you."

"Great!" Lina squeezed her hands, "Now listen to me... drill this into your head, Sia. You are you... Do you hear me? You are the boss, and he is your secretary. Nothing else but your secretary. He doesn’t pay you. You pay him for his services. Okay?"

Though Sienna wasn’t a fan of TED talks, she still didn’t remark. Lina was a god-sent gift for her. She was the only one who could restore her trust in herself.

"Yeah... you’re right..." Sienna squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, "I pay him. How can I forget that?"

"Right?" Lina snapped her fingers before pushing her glasses back, "Now drive the car, bitch. Listen!" She pointed towards her tummy, "Mice are wrestling in there... I’m starving! How about Joe’s?"

A slow smile formed on Sienna’s face, "I went there last night. Their caramel syrup ran out. How about we get that now?"

"Yuck. Caramel syrup? Nah. I just want their creamy veggie sandwiches. Now drive!" Sienna jerked when Lina growled.

"Sure!" She started the car and ran a quick hand over her hair that was tied in a ponytail. This morning, she had just thrown a hoodie over her pajamas.

The darkness was slowly giving way to morning.

***

I guess I made a mistake coming here.

That was the first thought that crossed her mind when they reached Joe’s. Whenever she passed Joe’s, all she could think about was warm croissants dipped in caramel sauce. But not today.

Today, Hunter’s face filled her mind. Along with his dark shades.

"Crap!" She whispered to herself. Lina had already jumped out of the car to get her hands on her favorite sandwich.

Sienna tried to hold her yawn and felt her wallet in her hoodie’s pocket when suddenly someone knocked on her window.

At first glance, Sienna thought he was a junkie. Instead of rolling down the window, she asked him using signs, "What?" She mouthed.

He kept asking her to come out and check the back wheel. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Shit! If something happened to this car, Hunter’s rich friend might kill me," She mumbled and came out to check the back tire.

"The tire seems fine!" She told the guy a little sternly and quickly tried to get away from him, but he was quick to grab her.

"I know..." He laughed, "Just wanted to tell you that your bum is sexier than this car. Ha-ha."

Using all her might, Sienna pushed him, "Get off, you fucker!"