Don't Quit Your Daydream

Don’t Quit Your Daydream ADRIAN J. SMITH EREKA PRESS, LLC Copyright © 2023 by Adrian J. Smith All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Darlin', don't quit your daydream It's your life that you're making It ain't big enough if it doesn't scare the hell out of you If it makes you nervous It's probably worth it Why save it for sleep when you could be living your daydream? ~ LILY MEOLA ~ Chapter One “I’m an entrepreneur.” Oh, God, she’s going to give me her whole life story in one elevator ride. Laura squeezed a little tighter on the paper coffee cup and glued her gaze to the crack at the bottom of the elevator doors. Maybe if she didn’t say anything this woman would leave her alone and shut up. She had six floors until she could escape, but she did not want to talk to some millennial who thought they could own the world one side hustle at a time. “I just moved into the co-op building because I needed some office space. What do you do?” Cursing inwardly, Laura tensed. Now this millennial expected an answer. Perhaps she could pretend she was deaf and heard absolutely nothing of what this bubbly woman said, except that wasn’t ethical. But it wouldn’t be the first time Laura had walked that line—all the issues in the office were her fault from when she had failed to make the right decisions, and now she was left to suffer the consequences. The coffee cup burned the pads of her fingers, but she wasn’t about to move or give any sign that she’d been paying attention to the young brunette next to her. Even if she couldn’t help but notice the energy that surrounded her. It was electric, as if she was on fire and ready to go in an instant in whatever direction the conversation went. Laura pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes, and tried to ignore the vibrant life next to her. Her brown eyes were so soft and warm, as if nothing had tainted her sweet life yet. Laura’s stomach swirled as she listed inward before pulling back with a wave of annoyance. She wouldn’t allow herself to be tempted by doe eyes and sweet smiles. She was so young. Is she even a millennial? Perhaps she was on the older side of Gen Z. That would ruin Laura’s day. They were getting younger and more naïve with each passing year. Had she ever been like that? Did it matter? Laura guessed this woman would end up on her ass and out of the co-op contract before the first six months were up. There was no way she could afford it anyway. Why is the elevator running so damn slow? Laura raised her gaze to the buttons on the right side of the doors. The sixth floor was the only one pressed. Were they going to the same floor? That was just perfect. Laura wouldn’t be able to avoid the child in her presence if that were the case. She closed her eyes and a whiff of something fruity reached her, taking over her senses. Laura raised her coffee cup and drew in a deep breath to erase it, letting the bitter beans do their work. Keeping her silence, she waited for the elevator to swallow her whole. “What company do you work for?” She’s pressing, Laura thought. She wasn’t going to be able to avoid the conversation. Clenching her jaw tightly and sighing, she dared a glance over. The girl’s brown hair was pulled tight into a ponytail, little loose short hairs framing her face. She had big curious eyes that were far too innocent. Her T-shirt was loose and had a flare of writing across the front that read “Unstoppable Today.” Her outfit ended with skintight yoga pants with mesh running up the sides. It fit her bubbly personality for sure, the sleek curves of her body that highlighted her youth and health, her pert breasts that probably didn’t need any help staying up where they belonged. Still, Laura would never dare to wear such casual clothing to an office even when she had been younger, and if she dared try something now Rodney would have her head. She hated working with him, but she was stuck with it, unable to find a way out. “I’m sorry. Are you talking to me?” “You’re the only other person in the elevator.” She grinned, her straight white teeth showing off in the dull light of the elevator like she didn’t have a damn care in the world. She belonged at a beach sipping cheap beer, not in an elevator to a business building. Laura envied that casual relaxation, something she had never managed to attain. “So, yes, I’m asking you. I’m Skylar.” Great, she even has a ridiculous name. Will this elevator go any faster? Laura pursed her lips, staring at Skylar’s extended hand and refusing to take it. She resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose and faced the front of the elevator again. She would ignore Skylar and her perky self if it was the last thing she did. It was rude, but they wouldn’t ever see each other again, so it would be fine. “I guess you must be rather busy,” Skylar stated, her tone dropping at the end. Laura didn’t mistake the ounce of hurt. She knew she was the cause of it, but she honestly couldn’t bring herself to do anything about it. She wanted nothing to do with this Gen Z entrepreneur who knew nothing of the real world. Everyone had to learn through their own struggles and mistakes, and she didn’t have the time or the energy to teach Skylar how to avoid making the