Serene Royalty

Chapter 1

To the grammar police: something happened and some punctuation marks got deleted so don't come after me for it. I've been trying to fix it but it's a lot of work so bear with me.

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Monday. The day that everyone hates. Well at least people that I work with do.

My precious sleep has been disturbed by my noisy alarm and I cant help but scream into my pillow. I had

a late night finishing my portfolio for a job promotion application that needs to be submitted first thing

this morning.

I drag myself out of bed to the only shower in my one-bedroom studio apartment. I get dressed, style my

long box braids into something professional, and wear my mascara. I'm confident in my own skin and I

love the melanin God gave me. I know that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made and I don't need make-up

to feel beautiful. I say my daily words of affirmation in the mirror, blow myself a kiss and walk back to

my room.

I make sure I have the necessary belongings which of course, include my lip gloss and Bible. I mean,

who doesnt need those? I check the time. 7:30. Shoot. Im running late.

I quickly put my black stilettos on and rush out to my black Lexus UX Hybrid. As I start my car, I say a

quick prayer and play my favorite playlist on Spotify.

Minutes later, I approach the Abstract Art

Company premises. Weird name for a company, right? I thought so the second I saw the job vacancy two

years ago.

Apparently, the company is owned by a very successful heiress. Since Ive known, she has been kept a

secret to us lower people as people call us. The company is divided into three main levels.

The high

table, low table and underground. The high table is where the CEO, executive officers, board members

and any other higher status people of the company work. They occupy the 11th and 12th floors. High

table seaters are not allowed to talk to lower table seaters, vice versa. I dont know their selfish reasons,

but one thing I know for sure is that it is annoying. Anyway, the low table has the painters, musicians,

architects and all types of artists. We work on the 4th to 10th floor.

I know what youre thinking. Its a big company. The underground level has the marketers, publishers,

interns, yada, yada, yada. Like I said, were not allowed to talk to or meet anyone from the other levels at

all. The founder made sure it stays like this by giving each level its own underground parking lot and

elevators. So basically, I dont know anyone besides the people I work with on my level.

As I park my car, its 7:56. I freak out because I have to submit my application by 8. I rush out of my car

and make it to the front desk at exactly 8 oclock. My boss walks out of her office with a stack of folders.

I call out to her.