Pearl's POV,

"Good morning beautiful!" Alexa's cheerful voice filled the whole room, and I knew it was time to get out of bed.

"Good morning Alexa," I drawled still half asleep.

"Happy 21st Birthday girl!" Alexa beamed reminding me it was actually my birthday, and that was enough to wake me up and a smile spreads itself across my face.

I lazily stretched my arms and let out a small yawn that I tried to stifle with the back of my right hand.

I got out of my bed and slipped my legs into my slipper that was in front of my bed before taking off my sleeping mask.

"Alexa, play it's my birthday by Will.i.am," and seconds later the song started blasting in the speakers of my apartment and I did a little happy dance before walking over to my bathroom to brush my teeth and also take my bath.

By the time I was done with taking my bath, it was already 7 30 AM and another random birthday song was blasting through my speakers.

I guess Alexa decided to play me happy birthday songs since I asked for one in the first place.

Seeing that it was almost time for me to get to my workplace, I rushed over and pour myself cereals in a cereal bowl and got the milk out of the fridge before pouring it over the cereals.

I grabbed a spoon quickly and ate my cereal in a hastened manner something anyone would consider very unsuitable for a lady.

I was having cereal on my birthday morning and I know how that might sound, but right now all I needed to do was get to work before I'm late again like always.

I'd hate for people to actually think I'm like that because I'm a merit employee which wasn't true but people always believed what they wanted to, and I always like to leave them with their beliefs.

I had just finished eating my cereal and was taking out the clothing that I was going to wear out of the wardrobe when I heard my phone start to vibrate on the bedside table.

I went over and picked up the phone, and put it on a speaker before dropping back on the table.

"Happy 21st Birthday baby!" The voice of my parents beamed through the phone and a wide grin spread across my face.

"We're so sorry we can't make it over to brewster for your birthday we had a charity event today," My mom apologized and I imagined my dad nodding in agreement to what she's just said.

"Oh, mom that's okay I'm not throwing a party anyway it's the weekdays and I have to be at the office," I informed them, with a broad smile.

"Okay honey you do take care of yourself okay? See you by the weekends," they both said and then ended the call.

My parents live at Fredericksburg, Texas, which was only a couple of hours away from Brewster, but they were always doing charity works, or doing some volunteer works now that they were retired.

I know they weren't always around unless it was the weekend, so I completely understand why they couldn't come over.

My attention went back to my outfit after the call ended, and I stared at the clothing that was laid perfectly on the bed which was a simple black fitted dress that hugged my form perfectly when I had adorned it last night.

I quickly applied some body lotion and some light make-up before putting on my dress. I stared at myself in the mirror for a moment and contemplated on whether or not to let down my hair or put it in a ponytail, and I later settled on having it in a ponytail because my hair was beginning to lose its curls that I did last weekend.

"You look gorgeous Pearl!" I beamed at my reflection before turning away to pick up the high boots that I decided would be a great match for my dress. I sat on my stool in front of my dresser and put the shoes on, before getting up to go.

I picked up my id card and car keys and sprayed my perfume before rushing out of my two-bedroom apartment in the completely unorganized state it was in.

I got into my car and backed out of my driveway before speeding off into the road and on my way to my workplace.

I arrived at the company minutes later, as there wasn't much traffic on the way to my office and the time on my car's dashboard read 7 59 AM which meant I wasn't late.

"Good work Pearl," I praised myself before getting off of my car.

I walked into the office building after saying a brief hello to the security guard outside.

I worked at a company that makes amazing shoes, I was part of the design team.

I've always been a sucker for great shoes, and I always used to imagine having to work in a great company that made amazing shoes.

I got the job right after I graduated college and I've only been working there for a few months now.

My dream was to make shoes that a lot of people would end up loving and feeling excited whenever they wear it, so when I applied for the job and got in, I was beyond thrilled.

I walked over to the two half doors that required workers to swipe their id cards before it lets them in and swiped my card before walking over to the elevator.

I pressed on the buttons and waited for it to open, when it did I walked inside the empty elevators and the doors were beginning to close when some yelled, "hold the doors!" I knew it was Mackenzie even before she ran over.

"Good morning Mackenzie," I greeted when she entered but she was busy trying to catch her breath so she couldn't reply immediately.

"Morning Pearl you look gorgeous this morning what's the secrete to your glow!" She exclaimed after managing to catch her breath.

"Self-love!" I replied and smiled before getting off the elevator after the doors opened.

Mackenzie was one of my colleagues at work, who also happened to be my friend. She was a pretty blond who was cool and adventurous although she might give off the mean girl vibe at first she's a sweetheart when you get to know her more.

We entered into our working space which was a large space with many computers and also working tools for creating samples, and everyone was already at the office except me and Mackenzie who were only just arriving.

"Good morning everyone!" I and Mackenzie greeted and everyone turned their attention to us.

"What's going on? Why are you guys together?" Sam, one of our co-workers asked and we both smiled and got settled into our working space.

"And what's wrong with that Sam?" Mackenzie retorted and we all laughed before getting back to work.

I was in charge of creating the virtual designs most times, so my work was basically with the computers, but sometimes I also join the team that bring the designs to life.

I had been expecting everyone to at least wish me a happy birthday even if they didn't get me any gifts, but no one did and I guessed they forgot, and I don't blame them because we've been so busy with the upcoming project.

I sat in front of my computer and decided to finish the design I was creating before lunch break.

***

I wasn't able to finish the designs before the lunch break, so I got back to it after eating lunch and I was just adding it's the last touch when everyone announced that they were going home for the night.

"I'll be leaving right after I'm done, you guys can leave without me," I said to them and they all left.

The office became eerily quiet after everyone left so I hastened up with the final touches and when I was done I got up and went to the restroom to pee before going home.

When I returned from the restroom, the whole office was pitch black.

"Shit! Are we having a blackout?" I asked myself and tried to tiptoe around the office so I could find my phone and turn on its touch light but a loud bang sound made me stop dead in my tracks and I swear I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach.

"Arg!!!" I let out a loud shrill.

***

Author's notes

Okay, I think you guys need to tell me what you think of this as a start in the comment section...

"Oh dear what happened to Pearl, did she get shot?" Well, find out in the next chapter coming right up.