Chapter Four
Feeling accomplished but exhausted after another long day at Sparkle Rose studio, Lila decided it was time for some well-deserved rest. She packed up her things, turned off the lights, and locked the studio door behind her.
As she walked down the quiet, dimly lit street to where she parked her car, a sudden rustling sound from a nearby alley made her pause. She squinted into the darkness, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Shaking off the unease, she continued on her way.
Pulling out her phone, she dialed a familiar number. "Hey Maya, what's good?" she said when the call was answered.
"Lila! I was just about to hit you up. How did the day go?" Maya's voice came through the phone, sounding cheerful as always.
"It was very productive. We're making progress," Lila replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
"That's what's up! You're doing an amazing job, Lila. Don't forget that," Maya said sincerely.
"Thanks, Maya. That means a lot," Lila responded, her heart warmed by her words.
They chatted for a while longer about their day, their plans for tomorrow, and everything in between. Despite the physical distance between them, their conversation flowed easily - a testament to their strong bond and friendship.
"Yo Lila, how was your day for real though?" Maya asked, switching to a more serious tone.
Lila chuckled lightly before responding, "You know how it is Maya, same soup just reheated. But we're getting there."
Maya laughed at Lila's response. "Only you could make the grind sound so poetic."
Lila ended the call after ending the call with Maya, Lila stepped into her car, a vintage Beetle that had seen better days but was her trusted companion. She put the key in the ignition, the engine sputtering to life after a few tries. With a soft sigh, she pulled out of the parking spot and began her drive home.
The streets of Brooklyn were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, casting long shadows that danced on the asphalt. Lila enjoyed these quiet drives, they gave her time to clear her head and prepare for the next day.
As she was crossing an intersection, a sudden movement caught her eye. A shadowy figure darted out from an alleyway, heading straight for her car. Lila's heart pounded in her chest as she slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement.
The figure froze in the headlights, revealing a stray dog looking as startled as Lila felt. It was a scruffy thing, its fur matted and dirty, but its eyes held a certain intelligence that tugged at Lila's heartstrings.
Lila let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She rolled down her window and called out to the dog, "Yo, pup! You tryna give me a heart attack or what?" Her voice was stern but held a hint of amusement.
The dog paused and looked back at her, its eyes reflecting the streetlights. It seemed to consider her for a moment before giving a small bark, almost as if it was apologizing.
"Next time, watch where you're going, aight?" Lila said, shaking her head with a chuckle. She rolled up her window and continued on her way, the stress the dog caused her slowly fading from her system.
When she finally reached her apartment, she was greeted by the comforting silence of her home. She kicked off her shoes, made herself a cup of hot chocolate, and settled down on her couch with a sigh of contentment.
As she sipped on her hot chocolate and stared out of her window at the city lights twinkling in the distance, she felt a sense of peace wash over her
However, the peace she felt was short-lived as her phone beeped with a notification that instantly wiped the smile off her face. The headline read, "Vane Couture makes 1 million dollars in sales within 1 month." Victor Vane's success was a stark reminder of the fierce competition in the fashion industry.
A wave of frustration washed over Lila. She tossed her phone onto the couch, the screen illuminating the dark room with the news of Vane Couture's success. She got up from her couch and walked towards her bedroom, her mind racing with thoughts.
Lila laid down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The news had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within her - frustration, envy, and a renewed determination. She knew she had a long way to go, but she was ready for the challenge. She closed her eyes, letting the silence of the night soothe her turbulent thoughts. Tomorrow was another day, and she would face it head-on.
*********
In another part of New York, far from Brooklyn where Lila resided, Maya Lee was also spending her evening in solitude. Maya, a 27-year-old journalist and Lila's best friend, was a vibrant and dynamic woman who had long, straight black hair often tied in a ponytail,
And she had a curvy and voluptuous figure which shows clearly from her dark complexion; she was a picture of confidence and charisma. Her wardrobe was as colorful and casual as her personality.
It was 9pm Maya was sprawled on her couch, wearing a pink bum shot from the latest "Urban Chic'' collection. The bumshot, with its vibrant color and trendy design, suited Maya's round figure bum shape.
Feeling a bit lonely, she decided to log into "Meet me", a popular dating app. As she scrolled through the profiles of attractive men, she became shocked and interested in many of the men she saw on the app.
However, while she was still scrolling a flurry of messages filled her inbox - some men saying hi, others complimenting her profile picture.
Then she came across a profile that caught her eye - Ryan Jones. His profile picture showed a man with a charming smile and twinkling eyes. Intrigued, Maya decided to say hi.
To her surprise, Ryan responded almost immediately. Their conversation flowed easily - they joked about their jobs, shared their love for New York City, and even discovered they both had a soft spot for Italian food. Maya found herself smiling at the screen, the loneliness of the evening forgotten.
As she continued chatting with Ryan, she couldn't help but feel hopeful. Maybe this unexpected turn of events was just what she needed. After all, life always had its own plans…