"So you're finally sick of salad?", Annie asked, amused. A friendly frown appeared on Giselle's forehead, "Ah y'know. I like salad, just not in these piles". The blonde laughed and waved off. As predicted, she didn't mind the variation. The topic shifted quickly into something from work. Annie explained, "We're going to do this huge article on the merger of two huge tech giants and the primary journalist that researched the background has quit. Today! As you can guess, there's no research anymore. I've seen some previews of it and was convinced that it was good! Brilliant even! Yet now I'm stuck with nothing. Okay, not nothing since there are three more people with me. They have some of the data and they of course ran their own research, too. What's missing is the parts that link everything together into a huge story. When I told my boss, I could hear his teeth crunch together. Thirty years ago it probably would've been my fault, too. At least nowadays most managers seem to understand that you can't be responsible for your team. Not truly responsible, right?". The brunette nodded and intertwined her fingers with those of her lover. Annie had been working on two big stories for a few weeks now. Mostly supporting the journalists in their work, approving funds and keeping milestones in check. One of those two projects is stalled now. It didn't come as a surprise that the woman was worked up and quite shaken. The job at the magazine was something she liked.

The update on Giselle's decisions and the meeting at the bank came much much later, even after they had started to snuggle on the sofa and Annie put on the TV show. Last two episodes, she had commented. The brunette scrolled through apartments again instead, barely focused on the show. There was hardly a choice to make. In a week she needed confirmation for a new place. She didn't like the pressure, but there was nothing to be done and she gritted her teeth through the tough week.

Unfortunately the rental market got even tougher. She'd be able to see another apartment on Thursday afternoon. Unless someone stole it under her nose. This time the pictures were more appealing. The better the pictures, the less appealing the price tag it seemed. Same as everywhere in life. Except food maybe. She put her phone away and decided to give the show finale her attention. She'd missed a couple of scenes before, but that didn't seem to matter. The heroine got her husband to be and they walked into the sunset on a beach. "Fuck that was cheesy", Giselle said and immediately felt bad when Annie turned her head. Her eyes were glossy and she was emotionally rooting for the heroine. The brunette sunk down into the sofa and pressed her lips together. Today wasn't a good day to pick a fight and she wouldn't die on this hill.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The very next day at work Giselle found Laury in a better mood. They smiled at each other and after telling her a very guilty "Sorry", her friend hugged her and they were good. Another day went by and then another. Anxiety took root in Giselle's mind. The closer the deadline came, the harder it was for her to keep her cool. Thursday morning another message arrived. The apartment was no longer available. This brought her close to tears, yet what else was there? She'd put her stuff into the storage and live with her mom. Like a teenager. Thursday evening both Annie and her spent another hour trying their best to find something. There were many apartments outside of her range. If she could afford those, then the loan wouldn't have been a problem in the first place. On Saturday during the day finally something appeared. With Laury's approval, she left work and rushed over to a short notice showing of the place. Three minutes late, out of breath and sweaty, she made it. A group of three just walked away from a young business lady. Maybe mid twenties? Giselle didn't quite know, but it frustrated her to no end how all of these agents dressed up. They were selling rental apartments! Living space! Not the next penthouse. They just made her feel underdressed.

Taking a deep breath, she greeted the woman, "Hi, I'm Giselle, thanks for the short notice opportunity". The voice of the woman was pitched as high as a song bird. It was friendly, but at the same time so detached, that she appeared professional. "No worries, Giselle. I'm Bernadette. Shall we?", Bernadette, the agent, said. Giselle nodded and they walked into the building. The brunette didn't have time to look around the neighbourhood while rushing here, nor did she remember what the building looked like on the outside once they stepped into it. A light stairwell greeted them and they immediately walked past it into the right door. There was only one more door on the left with a huge sign attached to it: "Be still and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10".