[MARINA, PRESENT]
"It is hot, it is hot, it is hot, it is hooooooooot!"
Marina woke up to her wolf's voice in her head. She threw away her sheets and walked to the bathroom.
"Cold, oh so cold." Lana, Marins's wolf said.
"Fucken Lana, are you kidding me? Why don't you pick one? Is it cold or hot?" Marina yelled.
"Hot, cold, hot, cold," Lana responded.
Marina rolled her eyes and took her shower; she heard nothing from Lana the entire time. When she finished, she opened her walk-in wardrobe, picked up a black skirt and black satin shirt, and laid them on the bed.
She tried her best not to pick up the phone that kept ringing.
"It is hot, are you sure it is not cold?"
"You are back," Marina complained.
"Hot, cold. Not sure anymore." Lana replied.
Marina sat on the bed and wiped her legs, "Lana?" She called.
"Hot." That was the only answer she got.
Marina checked on the watch on her wall and then outside, the sun shone brightly, and she would give everything to walk on it. But since she could hear the worry in Lana's voice. She knew she had to either run or swim.
With her head hung low, Marina untied the towel from her body and headed to her sitting room. She looked around and shrugged. She went to the back door, opened it, and headed to the swimming pool. Upon bending down and touching the water, Lana's voice came back, "cold."
"Just decide," Marina grumbled as she got on her fours and transformed.
"This feels like home," Lana said to Marina as they headed towards the forest.
Marina's house was in the middle of the forest, she brought the land years ago when she started her company in City Blue. It gave her the freedom she wanted with her wolf. They would run in no fear of the hunters or humans seeing them.
The land was protected by High Priestess Manne's magic, of course, Marina didn't remember this as she didn't remember even buying the house. 'Whoever or whatever' was taking her memories knew what to take and what to leave.
As the cold crisp leaves hit the wolf's legs, Lana felt alive. The need to howl was killing her. But she didn't want to alert anyone of her presence. Unfortunately, the compound wasn't soundproofed.
After thirty heavenly minutes for Lana, they returned to her house.
As they arrived at the backdoor, she transformed into her human self and headed to the bathroom to shower again. She ignored Lana as she explained to her what it felt like to be out there in the forest, running wild and free.
Marina finished preparing herself and finally decided to pick up the phone that kept ringing.
"Marina Mabel Fisher, I am going to kill you."
Marina removed the phone from her ear while rolling her eyes.
"Marina, Marina." The voice called.
Marina stared at the phone, and when she saw the name, she said, "Ivy, Ivy. What?"
"What do you mean what? I have been calling you for the past hour, the meeting is about to start and you are not here." Ivy complained.
"What meeting?" Marina asked, picking up her backpack.
"Are you fucken kidding me, the meeting with The Lakeside Corporation you moron, I swear if we miss this chance, I will hunt you down and torture you…"
"Calm down Ivy, I am almost there, don't you see me?" Marina asked as she locked her door.
"Almost there? Are you suddenly the key man to the company, you are in your house. Argh! Get your ass over here." Ivy said.
Marina ended the call and entered her black Kia K900.
She started the car and drove towards her gate. She stopped as her left hand got under her chair, she removed a note under there and read the numbers as she punched in the gate code.
She returned the note where it was and drove off when the gate opened.
*
One hour later, she was in her company's parking lot. Ivy Tanner was waiting for her with her hand on her waist.
"Good morning, beta." Marina greeted.
"Don't good morning me, Marie. We are late." Ivy said as she grabbed the keys from Marina's hand. She pointed it at the car and said to Marina, "you always forget to lock the car."
"Mmh. So, what is the ruse all about?" Marina asked, her left hand holding her backpack.
"The ruse? Good Lord. Just follow me." Ivy Tanner said and led the way.
She pushed Marina inside the lift and said to her, "you look like shit, let me lead the meeting."
"If you say so, ma'am." Marina joked.
Ivy Tanner spun around and said, "if you sassily say something like that in the meeting, you will be dead meat. Wait, are you okay? Your aura seems off."
Marina rolled her face and said, "now you are an aura reader?"
Ivy chuckled, and when the lift stopped, they headed first to Marina's office.
Clave, Marina's assistant, stood as soon as he saw Marina. He handed her the files he had ready for Marina and nodded at Ivy. Ivy walked behind them as she listened to Clave telling Marina her daily schedule.
When Clave told her she had a meeting with their lawyer, Marina asked as she pointed at the signature, "Now, now. Why do I have to meet the lawyer when he already approved everything?"
"Something about the water," Clave said, looking behind him.
When Ivy nodded, he explained, "you remember when the inspectors went to Lake Rimaria to test the water, and they said it was, okay?"
Marina hummed.
"They called the lawyer and said there was something about the water. The lawyer isn't sure if the mayor will approve the materials we suggested to make the new boats if he hears about the water change in Lake Rimaria."
"Ivy?" Marina called.
"Thank you, Clave," Ivy said.
Clave nodded at the two women and turned around.
They entered Marina's office, and before Marina sat, Ivy declared, "that is okay. It is for safety reasons. The mayor must approve, rules and all that. The lawyer is just worried. I will handle it."
"Okay, thanks," Marina replied.
Ivy mumbled, "what will you do without me, Marina Mabel Fisher?"
Marina's eyes twinkled as she walked to her chair, she sank into the chair and asked sassily, "now, now, what was that?"