[https://em.wattpad.com/a06d26b32c960f2ecbf49ad40994933c1dd90391/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f414a544e712d6667476f30366d413d3d2d3836333033373936342e313630346531316264303437643934353336333331323032363936342e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720]
Tala suddenly woke up from a realization. She hurriedly changed from her normal pajamas to her professional green jumpsuit. A staple uniform to signify she was in work mode.
Tala was meeting someone for a big job offer, but she had never really met this person nor heard about this person. All she knew was a job was being offered. That means money or a trade of resources.
Tala could smell something good from the other room. As usual, Lin loved to make delicious broths. Her broths were the best of the best. Meanwhile, Tala’s specialty was making bread and cooking meat.
“Tala, are you done or are you trying to look pretty for the employer?” Lin shouted from their studio-sized kitchen.
“Oh, come on, Lin. It’s not like I am trying to seduce the employer with my charming and dashing smile!”
Lin rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, don’t lie to me. I can smell your hormones from here.” She pointed at Tala with her wooden spoon.
“Keep lying and one of these days it’ll get you killed.” Lin turned off the stove and waited for Tala to finally move.
Tala sighed, “Your jokes are crude as ever.”
Tala approached the table and took a seat. Lin set down their bowls and poured the velvety broth in their two wooden bowls. Lin grabbed the bread that Tala made the day before and set it on the table. They shared their meal and bantered even more at each other.
After Tala finished her meal, she realized that she had to go. Tala and Lin went downstairs to their mechanic shop called Tala’s Garahe. The workshop was scattered with solar panels waiting to be fixed, pet projects waiting to be finished and random junk waiting to be trashed. As Tala navigated through the mess, Lin begrudgingly picked up the random junk on the floor.
“If you’re gonna do overtime, may as well clean your shit up,” Lin said.
“My bad, I’ll clean up my mess when I get back.”
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Tala pulled up the garage door to show that the shop was open. Lin isn’t interested in the whole engineering affair, but she helped around as much as she could. She isn’t the best employee due to her sharp tongue. She wasn’t getting paid solely because she lived with Tala.
“Take care of the shop while ‘M away, kay?” said Tala.
“Yeah yeah, I’ll make sure not to bite anyone’s ass today,” Lin replied.
Tala chuckled and ruffled Lin’s black hair before leaving. Lin clearly didn’t appreciate that gesture, but she just huffed as her response before going back in their shop.
Tala knew she was fucked as she ran around the City Hall. She wasn’t familiar with the place since she rarely cared for political affairs. She didn’t even know why her employer wants to meet her here.
Tala was in such a rush, she accidentally bumped into someone. The woman in front of her dropped her things. Tala quickly apologized and tried to help the woman pick them up. “I’m so so sorry, miss--”
[https://em.wattpad.com/d78d93803e0bc6fc3675d740cfbefba7d514a48d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4c6f6a6d4d5057486a6b52337a673d3d2d3836333033373936342e313630653730323437313334303263363339313439373934373231302e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720]
As Tala apologized, she was quickly interrupted. “It’s alright, I am fine but, please, watch--” The woman paused as she stared at Tala. Tala also realized the woman was a beauty to behold. She had never seen a woman as beautiful as this woman in front of her. The woman looked like a middle eastern princess. Although, it looks like the woman seemed speechless herself. Their eyes locked for a few moments. The woman went back to being composed. She cleared her throat and gracefully dusted the dirt from her long dress.
Tala snapped out from her trance and apologized again, “I am really sorry for bumping into you!”
The woman gracefully put her hand up to halt Tala from apologizing any further. “Again, it is quite alright, I have forgiven you. But please, next time, watch where you are going.” This woman said calmly.
“Thank you, miss.” Tala then realized that maybe this woman is familiar with the room where she was supposed to meet someone.
“Ah, may I ask for directions around here? I am not really familiar with this place,” Tala said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
“Oh, of course! I will gladly help you,” The woman smiled. It melted Tala’s heart, but she has to suck it up and act normal. “Which room is it?”
“Thank you! It’s, uh, B21?”
The woman’s expression changed to a confused look. Tala swore that she heard the woman talking to herself, but she couldn’t decipher it.
The woman scanned Tala from top to bottom. She finally asked, “Are you an engineer?”
Tala replied, “Yes, I am an engineer?”
The woman looked around before gesturing to Tala to follow her. Somehow, Tala felt off with the woman’s sudden caution. They walked for a little while before the woman began talking in a low tone towards Tala. “Do you specialize in anything?”
“Yes, I can repair, reprogram and restore anything! Right now, I’m trying to restore an old car I bought from a trader. To avoid gasoline I am replacing the old engine with an electrical and retrofitting anything I can salvage. Eventually I’d like to assemble a PV module so the car can charge as it idles. ” Tala hoped that impressed the woman.
The woman stopped. Without looking at Tala, she said, “Good.” She opened the double doors and walked in the room. “Then this project is for you.”
“What?” Tala said, dumb-founded.
The woman turned to face Tala, “Good morning, I am Alena Alinejab and you are the engineer I hired...” Tala’s eyes widened. Alena frowned and said, “...also, you are late.”