"I'm sorry, sir, but is it possible for you to drive faster? I don't want to be late," I said as I glanced at my watch.
I had an interview with Estelman & Associates—an international law firm owned by Christian Diaz, one of the wealthiest men on the planet. As rumor had it, his law firm was expanding, so they needed twenty new employees to fill their vacant positions.
Lisa, one of my best friends, pulled some strings and got me an interview at the company. Working there wasn't my first choice. However, due to the fact that my mother and sister were unable to make ends meet, I was forced to find a job in order to survive. It was enough to make me shudder just thinking about it. Sitting in an office was something other than what I saw myself doing, at least not long term, but girls got to do what a girl gotta do.
From a young age, I always felt destined for something more than living in squalor. My father skipped out on us shortly after I was born, leaving my mom to care for my older sister and me. After my father left, my mother made it a point to become more in touch with her human side; being a wolf, in her words, was a curse. As a child, she did not regard being a part of the supernatural as anything more than a nuisance, so she would switch the topic whenever it came up.
I love my mother, no doubt about it. However, the mere fact that she allowed herself to be dragged along by this mediocre life, which I despise, makes me angry. We lived in a small two-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the Lightborne pack, and we were not on the best side either.
I know it sounds like I'm being a bitch, but honestly, who doesn't want more in life? The idea of not pursuing your goals or dreams has never appealed to me. I busted my ass to get a degree in both business management and business administration; I sought something to fall back on. My ultimate goal was to be wealthy, rich, and powerful. Although I know it sounds wrong, if it meant betraying my family and pack for what I wanted, I would. After all, no one ever gets anywhere in life without having to step on some toes.
On the other hand, my mother was content with what we had. Whenever I would tell her about my goals, she would smile lovingly and then say, "Rubi, sometimes it's the simple things in life that mean more than big houses, fancy clothes, and jewels. That materialistic stuff doesn't always bring happiness but pain; trust me, I should know."
Although I know it's wrong to frown upon our living situation, and one should always be thankful, I can't help but wonder if there was something more to my family. And for whatever reason, my mother just gave it up. Regardless of the underlying cause, I would change that, no matter what it took.
As I stared out the window, I saw old, decaying bodegas crumble away and be replaced by brand-new, shiny buildings. This was a clear indication that we had moved from the poor side of town to the rich side. This was the side of the city I longed to be a part of, and someday, no matter how much it cost me, I would.
For some reason, it doesn't make sense to me how some people, like my friend Lisa, get up every morning and have everything they want. In contrast, I have to scrounge around for pennies to buy the food I need. If it wasn't for Lisa and the hand-me-downs she gave me, it's highly likely that I would end up dressing like my sister.
Honestly, there were so many aspects of Lisa's life that I was envious of, except for her looks. That's the one thing I had over her; that was the only card I had in my favor. Lisa wasn't that unfortunate; she always kept her shoulder-length, mousy-brown hair neat and shiny, and her brown eyes were always warm and caring. Lisa stood five feet six inches tall and had a very petite athletic figure. Her naturally tanned skin was golden and held a dewy, light appearance.
I was grateful to the moon goddess for blessing me with long black hair, stunning blue eyes, and a figure like no other. Although I was only five feet five inches, I did not complain when every guy wanted my attention. The saying says that sex sells; well, I made sure my appearance and sexiness worked for me. Taking that into consideration, today, I was going to use all my assets to ensure it worked in my favor.
"We have arrived, Miss," said the driver as he pulled up to a five-story building.
"Thank you," I said as I exited the car. "For driving so fucken slow," I muttered under my breath, closing the door. I know it wasn't the driver's fault, but with all the new technology, the cab company would likely invest in better navigation systems. After taking a look up at the building, it was impossible to resist sighing and shrugging my shoulders. "Here we go," I thought as I approached the double doors and entered the building.
As soon as I stepped inside, I looked around for a moment before approaching the reception desk. In spite of my approach, the receptionist was so focused on typing that she did not look at me.