Maybella found herself with only $200 remaining after settling the $500 rent for her studio apartment, along with the payments for water, electricity, and her phone bill. At the dollar store, she surveyed her shopping basket, which contained frozen sandwiches, egg rolls, pizza, canned vegetables, and dog food for her two pets, Hank, a Beauceron, and Dash, a Belgian Malinois. With a sigh, she remarked, "Something must change; Hank and Dash need a yard to play in, and I require healthier food options." After completing her purchases, she walked the short distance back to her apartment. As she neared her front door, a faint "Meow" caught her attention, and upon looking down, she discovered a young orange kitten. Her heart softened, and as the first clap of thunder echoed, she realized she could not leave the kitten outside. She gently picked it up and brought it inside. Hank and Dash eagerly sniffed and licked the newcomer. Maybella fed her dogs and rummaged through the cupboards for something suitable for the kitten, ultimately finding a few cans of chicken. Once she placed an open can in front of the kitten, it devoured the food eagerly. She then microwaved a frozen sandwich and heated a can of green beans in a small saucepan. Glancing at the clock, she noted it was only 3:20 PM, and the rain was pouring outside. Grateful for the day off from her job at a small Cajun restaurant, she appreciated her $1,000 monthly income but recognized the need for a better position. Although her siblings held well-paying jobs, she had not been in touch with her family recently. While dining at the table, her phone rang, and upon seeing the caller ID, she felt a wave of nervousness; it was Westbrook Enterprises. She answered, and a woman on the line inquired, "Is this Maybella Maverick?" Maybella replied affirmatively, and the woman continued, "Your application has been approved, and you will start on the 1st." Overwhelmed with gratitude, Maybella thanked her profusely. After the call ended, she fell to her knees, expressing her thanks to God for the assistance she had received. Maybella received an email notification from Westbrook Enterprises, which stated, "Our boss, Mr. Mark Hoffman, has approved a payment of $100,000. Considering your current living situation, the funds should appear in your account within 5 to 10 minutes." Precisely six minutes later, she received a bank notification confirming that the $100,000 had been deposited into her account. That evening, she went to bed feeling elated and resolved to begin her house search the following day. Before drifting off to sleep, she remembered that she needed to name her kitten. Upon realizing she had received this wonderful news after bringing the kitten inside, she decided to name him Charm after confirming his gender.
On the first of the month, Maybella arrived dressed in a stylish denim skirt, a denim blouse, and cowgirl boots, having confirmed the dress code with the receptionist at Westbrook Enterprises. After bidding farewell to her pets, she stepped outside to her red Subaru, glancing back at her house with a smile, still in disbelief that her new position at Westbrook Enterprises had enabled her to purchase a two-bedroom home with a medium-sized backyard for her dogs. She reached Westbrook Enterprises by 9 a.m., where she was warmly welcomed by the receptionist, Mrs. Linda. As Mrs. Linda escorted her down the hallway to her designated workspace, she spotted the boss, Mr. Mark Hoffman. Mrs. Linda introduced Maybella, saying, "Mr. Hoffman, this is our new employee, Maybella Maverick." Maybella took note of Mr. Hoffman, who appeared to be in his mid-40s, with dark brown hair and blue eyes, and found him quite attractive. Mr. Hoffman extended his hand, and as Maybella shook it, he said, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Maverick." A shiver ran through her at the sound of his voice, and she noticed his gaze lingering on her chest before he slowly scanned her figure. Maybella replied, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hoffman." After an enjoyable first day at work, she made her way to the large exit doors. Just as she reached for the handle, she heard a voice behind her say, "Let me get the door for you!" Turning around, she saw Mr. Hoffman, who held the door open for her as they exited together. He then inquired, "Ms. Maverick, how old are you?" Maybella responded, "23, Sir," to which Mr. Hoffman replied politely, "You look older." He accompanied her to her car, wishing her a pleasant remainder of the day. As she drove home, Maybella thought to herself, "He's too old for you, Maybella." Upon arriving home at 5:30 p.m., she prepared dinner, fed her pets, and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.