Priorities

Lenae stared at her PC, refreshing her email over and over again. I hope that at least one of my numerous applications has been accepted. Could the Wi-Fi be acting up instead? She thought to herself.

Janette stepped out of the bathroom in her bathrobe, drying her hair with a small towel. She noticed Lenae constantly clicking on her mouse. "One more click and your PC is going to jump at you for revenge." Janette teased.

Lenae laughed, curling deeper into her work chair. "I wouldn't blame it if it did though, we've both been through a lot together. Why am I not getting any emails? I've sent numerous across. Not even a rejection email, at least."

"What if you called your mother for help?" Janette asked, suggesting she run back to her mother like she always did in college. "You know she can always link you up, she knows somebody who knows everybody," Janette added, referring to Lenae's mum's ability to lobby her child through just about anything.

"No, Janey," Lenae responded fondly. "I want her to see that I've grown up, that I can finally take care of myself and make something of my career, without her interference. Besides, she wants me back in Seattle to work at her firm. Why would I go back to Seattle, after coming here?"

Janette held back laughter, "Lenae had such an opportunity, but she is dumb enough to neglect it," Janette thought. If she were in Lenae's shoes, she would work with her mother in her firm, and continue painting in the process. "How hard could that be?" Janette asked herself.

"Have you ever considered working in Seattle and also painting?" She finally asked Lenae after a long pause.

"You know I've always loved Los Angeles. Always dreamed about LA. This is the hub, the very center of art. I can't live my life outside LA." Lenae got up from her work chair and laid on the bed. They had both managed to get a bed big enough to fit two.

"If you say so."

"Don't be like that Janey, we've come this far in our career. We can't compromise now."

"You're right." Janette lied, lying beside her wearing an oversized tee and some socks. "We'll make it all worth it." She added, wrapping her arms around Lenae. In no time, they were both asleep, exhausted from the day's activities.

The beep of Janette's phone woke her from her nap. She had always been a light sleeper. It was a notification from a channel she had subscribed to months before. It read 'Bloom Anniversary: CEO announces the anniversary auction. Accepting entries for the next three days. Terms and conditions apply.'

Janette jerked out of bed, she turned to make sure Lenae remained asleep and rubbed Lenae's hair in the way she liked, so she'd sleep even better. This could just be the opportunity I had always hoped for, Janette thought to herself. She quickly turned on her PC and applied for the auction through the company's website.

Lenae turned and raised her head. She saw Janette on her PC. "Why aren't you resting?" She asked Janette.

"It's nothing, I just need to update my profile online. I've been thinking about it."

"Okay," Lenae said, still sleepy, so she went back to sleep.

Janette uploaded a picture of her painting and closed her PC, "smells like triumph", she said quietly, happy she had finally surpassed Lenae. "Fingers crossed, I'm certain my painting will be accepted." She added looking at sleeping Lenae cynically.

Janette quietly crawled back into bed, reconfirmed that Lenae was fast asleep, and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Ray's day wasn't going any better. It wasn't even three hours yet since he approved the auction announcement, and so many files containing printed-out applications already filled his table.

"For how many days did we say applications would be open again?" Ray asked Tim.

"Three days sir." Tim replied. "Here's your coffee sir," Tim added, placing a cup of coffee on Ray's table.

Ray took a sip, still focused on the applications on his table. "You're in a good mood today." Ray pointed out. "What's up?" He asked Tim.

"My sister sent me a goofy text a while ago."

"Rub it in my face that I get no goofy texts."

Tim laughed, and Ray just continued sipping his coffee. "I'll just look over the approved applications, help me sort the unessential ones out before I do," Ray said. Tim nodded in understanding, taking the pile of papers on Ray's table.

Ray scanned Tim from head to toe and Tim just stood there, frozen, with the files against his chest. "Why would you match the tie with the trousers?" Ray asked.

"I found them online, and I liked the combo, sir."

"Tim is too humble for my liking." Ray thought, "I can't even tease him without feeling bad about it." Ray cleared his throat and replied, "I was just teasing Tim."

Ray looked around his office and he could still see traces of his dad. His dad had built Bloom with all his heart, and Ray was determined to make it all worth it. "How beautiful," Ray said as his eyes lingered on a photo of his dad receiving the recognition award that turned Bloom around for the best.

Tim scurried back into the room like he always does when he has important gossip to share. Rose is here to see you, sir." Tim announced.

"What does she want?" Ray asked, already getting annoyed.

"She just wants to see you."

"Okay, let her come in."

She was one of Ray's admirers and her name was Rose. Everything about her breathed female energy; from her long black hair which she had styled in one of the trendy styles, to her black gown which was long enough for a professional environment but short enough to attract attention to her slim long legs. Rose was what anyone would call pretty.

"This is how you chose to show up in my office, Rose," Ray said, referring to how she was dressed, and she smiled in understanding. "You do know that this is a corporate environment, don't you?" Ray added, acting oblivious to her intentions.

"Is that your cute way of saying you missed me?" Rose asked, sitting seductively in front of Ray. Ray held back laughter, smiling back at her. Ray detested women, all thanks to his unforgettable sorry story of a mother.

As Ray stared into Rose's eyes, he could see through her. All she wants is sex and my money. Women are so shallow, Ray thought to himself. Memories of his mother flashed before his eyes in that one moment. For many years, he had not been able to take the horrible memories of her out of his head, how she'd forced him as a little boy to do the unimaginable with her. All women want is sexual gratification, he added, already getting tired of Rose's presence.

Rose got a small box out of her bag, and put it on Ray's table," here you go", she said as she slid it closer to him.

"What's in it?" Ray asked, totally uninterested in what she had offered. "Could be a token for more money and sex," he thought.

"I saw it and I thought of you," Rose replied. Ray opened the box. In it was a bright red tie and a matching pocket square.

"Thanks." He responded coldly. "So what exactly do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious that I want you, Ray? We've been together for, like, what? Three years."

"You mean we've been having sex for three years."

Rose rolled her eyes, "Is that all we've been to you?"

"I don't know what else we've been, Rose. You tell me."

"You don't have to be so cold Ray, that's not fair."

"Why now?" Ray snapped. "Why do you want to define us now? What's gotten into you? We both agreed no strings attached."

Tim stepped into the office, and noticed the atmosphere was tense, "Sir, I have some news."

"Now if you'll excuse us, Rose," Ray said, waving for Tim to come closer. Rose just grabbed the box and left.

"Is all well sir?"

"Just cut straight to the point," Ray said, obviously annoyed. If anyone of Ray's many 'pleasure buddies', as he liked to call them, was to desire something deeper, it shouldn't be Rose. "She's the worst of them all." Ray thought out loud.

Tim kept a straight face to keep from annoying Ray. "Sir," he said calmly.

Ray looked up at Tim coldly. I'm sure this isn't the right time to talk to my boss when the news isn't urgent. I had better take my leave. Tim thought to himself. He gave Ray a brief smile and left the office.

It was already evening by the time Lenae woke from her nap. "I overslept," she mumbled. She checked for Janette, but the bed was cold. She has been long awake. Lenae thought. She checked her phone for updates but had none.

A nice aroma filled Lenae's nose, "that must be from the kitchen," she thought, jumping off the bed. She rushed to the kitchen and Janette was doing what she does best. "What are you making?" Lenae asked, smiling like a 2-year-old.

"Scrambled eggs, want some?" Janette asked, returning the smile.

"You bet!" Lenae said, excited. "It's my off day, and what better to do on your off day than have a nice meal?" Lenae thought, giggling as she drew closer to Janette. "Need help?" She asked.

"You can just serve us, I'm done," Janette said, taking off her apron. The gown she wore flattered her shape and accentuated her curves.

"She'd make a good model," Lenae mused as she served them both. She handed Janette her plate, and they went back into the room.

The sound of Lenae's phone ringing caught her attention. She rushed to answer it. "Hello?" Janette had already been subm her favorite movie.

"Hi, Leane. It's Buck." Buck was a guy she had met at work. He's a regular and they had become better acquaintances. "Why would he possibly be calling?" She asked herself.

"Hi, Buck. "What's up?"

"Have you seen Bloom's announcement?"

"Who?" For a minute, Lenae couldn't wrap her head around Buck's words.

"Go on your computer, silly," Buck teased. He was a lover of art and followed everything art online. Lenae had never taken him seriously though.

"Okay, I'm here."

"Go to Bloom's website. You'll be amazed by what you'll find."

"Okay, thank you, Buck."

"Sure, bye."

Lenae placed her phone beside her PC and then went to Bloom's website. Once on the website, there were business quotes by the company's CEO, Ray Stevenson, and pictures of him receiving different awards. "He looks young," she said to herself. "And single," she added and laughed at herself for getting distracted just like that.

"Whatever it is Buck wants me to find is worth it," Lenae said out loud, as she read through the company's website.

There it was, she had almost missed it. Just in the bottom left corner of the screen. Her eyes followed the words, she dropped her cup and leaned closer. Brows furrowed in concentration. I have to tell Janette, she thought. Maybe this would be it, the big break they had been waiting for. She held on a little bit and scrolled down slowly this time so she wouldn't miss any other treasures that were lurking in the shadows of her laptop screen.