Okay, so I am posting this story again because there was a problem with the formatting or something (thanks so much to Raven of Blackbird Crew, and a guest that reviewed and let me know it was all messed up) so hopefully this will fix it :)

And this is only me second story, and I`m not sure how much i like it, so please let me know what you think and let me know how i can make it better, reviews follows and/or favorites are sooo very much appreciated!

Thanks so much :)
forevernever33

I put the edge of the cup up to my lips, desperately. Nothing. Damn, I'm gonna need another cup or three to make it through today.

Throw the cup in the can with the others as a sign yet another legal form. Cristina Cromwelt. I have my signature down pat by now, my C`s are identical and one fluid line with two squiggles both dots my i`s and crosses my t`s. That was kinda a motto for my life. To do as much as possible as quickly and as nicely as I could.

I went to law school, graduated as magnum cum laude, top female, second only to Anthony Adessi. Son of Lorenzo Adessi, owner of Adessi and Son. The biggest and most powerful law firm in New York, arguably the country.

You can just imagine how a spoiled, arrogant, womanizer like Anthony graduated top of the class at Yale, and you can also imagine the rivalry we had. And you can probably also imagine why that lead Lorenzo to hire me to his team of lawyers. He knows right well I worked harder and learned more than Anthony, and I deserved a role in his law firm.

I would have jumped at the opportunity to work for the intelligent, wise, and humorous old Italian man. Then Anthony flashed across my mind. God, I hate that guy. And it was more like a hop, I could not and would not decline such an amazing position because of one arrogant asshole. I have handled them before, and I always will, this place is full of them.

I`ve worked here three months and I am already pretty far up in the company, and here is what I have learned:

How to sign my name with incredible accuracy,

How to keep the bonsai tree on my desk alive

What it feels like for your headache to have a headache

And nearly every male lawyer is the same, arrogant, prideful, and angry a female has infiltrated their ranks.

Oh, and I forgot two things: what the sun looks like and what it's like to have free time.

But don't get me wrong, lawyer has always been my dream job, and I'm really happy, really. I just didn't anticipate the consequences, I was so used to being the strong, fun, wit-full girl everyone knew and loved. But it's not like that at all anymore, I can barely remember the last happy conversation I had.

I sign one last form and close the folder II have been working on all week. Finally.

I would explain it all to you, but this isn't law school, it's not the point, and honestly, it would most likely put you to sleep.

I move the folder to a small pile on the right hand corner of my large glass table and spin in my chair to look at the massive stack of folders on the left side and sigh. I need a break. And more coffee.

I quickly scribble a note down on a post-it, in case anyone needs me while I'm gone. Not that anyone will. And I grab my long black trench coat and basically run towards the elevator and out the door, smiling when the freezing wind blows my hair back, chilling my bare legs. But the sun is shining and I'm not thinking about how impractical this skirt is, how uncomfortable my shoes are, or the stack on my desk, just walking and enjoying the winter day, for the first time in a while.

We are encouraged to drink the coffee in the firm, but to be honest, its shit. There is an expresso machine on my floor for the higher level employees, but it's essentially the "water cooler" and the boys don`t appreciate it when I go there.

So instead I walk across the street to a little stop and shop and get their slightly less shitty coffee.

But not today. Today, I'm going to walk the extra 7 blocks and pay the extra money for the Sweet, long lasting Starbucks coffee that outranks them all.

I walk, trying not to think about anything except the sound of my heels on the pavement. But my brain cannot turn off, as I walk I notice every girl my age walking by. They all look so happy, off in the middle of the day, living it big in the city, probably on the way to meet a boyfriend or her best friend, and I'm envious, but I tell myself this is my life, and I have to accept it, I probably make more than them anyway.

I also notice every guy that walks by, most of them smile or wink at me, thinking I don't see them turning their heads to watch me walk away. Pigs.

I know what they are seeing, a tall, slender, young blonde woman, with nice legs and a pretty face, dressed well with a booty to match. But I also know what they don't see, what every guy has told me, an uptight, controlling, wreck that somehow manages to put on a façade to lead on unsuspecting guys.

That's why I have sworn away guys, at least until I am in a place where I'm not all of these horrible things, and I am able to take a breather and unwind. That's a long ways away. But luckily Starbucks isn`t.

The line takes forever, even with five baristas, that's New York for you. I order my usual, basically caffeine with an extra shot of caffeine. I slide my card and wait with the others. After what seems like forever, the barista calls Chris. Finally.

By the time I made it to the counter I saw some guy, presumably also named Chris, walk away with my drink. Hey. "HEY!" I yelled but he had headphones in, so I figured I would just wait for his drink. It was another ten minutes before his drink was on the counter, some fancy, high-flatulent drink. Great.

And I realized I was gonna be late for my lunch break. Even better.

I took a sip of Chris` drink as I stepped outside, looking for somewhere to eat. Hmm, not bad taste Chris. I hope you enjoy mine. He probably didn't, this didn't have any caffeine. I put in my headphones and sip the drink as I walk, hoping to just find a restaurant.

I`ve lived in NYC for three months and I don't even know where to get lunch, right down the road from my work. Pathetic Christina, just sad.

I guess the Imagine Dragons were too loud in my headphones because I didn't hear him until he tapped on my shoulder.

"Excuse me, ma`am."