The day was just starting for Kiara. She put on her best outfit for her first day to take photos, she wanted to be professional but comfortable. It was her first day at Francois Publishing and she gave herself a motivational talk, go in there and do what she needed to do, keep her mind focused on one thing and one thing only. Thankfully she didn't have to get on the train and bus to get there, Karla offered to take her. Karla didn't want Kiara to be on that train thinking too much and then be in a funk the rest of the day so she decided to take her little sister to her first day of work and to pick her up. Karla didn't mind babying Kiara, though she strongly needed it.

"Kiki,you ready?" Karla asked Kiara as she waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

Kiara came down in her baggy ripped jeans, black graphic tee and Air Force 1's. The outfit wasn't what Karla expected, she expected some jeans and a nice sweater and some sneakers but not that. She knew Kiara wanted to be comfy but not like this.

"Baby. No" Karla was disappointed. "Kiki, this is your first day. I know damn well you want to make a good impression on these people. What if he wants to hire you. Not only as a photographer but as a actual employee." Karla told her.

"This is presentable, it's not too baggy. My shirt is fitted, it's just my pants."

"Go change, put on a nice sweater and no baggy jeans, you can keep the shoes." Karla told her.

"K-"

"Aht aht, change." Karla demanded.

Kiara huffed and stomped back up the stairs to her room to change. She rummaged through her bags and found a white sweater and some dark wash jeans with small rips. She changed into the outfit and looked herself over, she decided to throw her hair up into a bun and add some earrings. She went back downstairs showing Karla her outfit.

"You happy?" Kiara asked annoyed.

"Yes, you look cute and work ready. Let's go." Karla said grabbing her keys and bag and then heading out.

The two girls got into Karlas car and began their commute to Francois Publishing. Once they reached it, Kiara was ready to begin but Karla stopped her.

"Have a good day, if you need me, call me, I don't have to work so I'll be home. Just go in there and do your thing." Karla told Kiara giving her a little motivation. That made Kiara feel a tad bit better since she was nervous, she just played it off as if she wasn't.

"You know the vibes." Kiara said hyping herself up causing Karla to laugh.

Kiara got out of the car and walked into the building. She walked up to the receptionist.

"Good morning, How can I help you?" The older lady asked Kiara, she looked as if she could be around Ms. Gonzalez's age.

"I'm here to take photos for the website. I'm Kiara Palet."

"Great! I'll call down Mr. Francois now."

"Julia I can't right now. The photographer is on her way, I promise when I get home later I'll make it up to you."

"Promise?" Julia begged. She was missing her man like crazy, she was handling some family business, her brother just got back from college and she wanted to spend some time with him.

"I promise." The phone began to rang. "Baby I'm gon have to call you back."

"K. Love you. Bye." Julia beamed over the phone.

"Ard see you." Khari said before hanging up the phone. He answered the office phone. "Hello."

"Yes, Kiara Palet is here to take the photos." His receptionist informed.

"Great! I'll be down in a minute." Khari hung up the phone and looked himself in the mirror and sprayed some cologne on his body before heading down. Khari has been waiting for this shoot for the website for a while. He was just ready to put his website out and get his money. Different emotions and thoughts ran through his body as he walked down to the receptionist desk. He's had an encounter with the young women but never said anything about it. Mostly because he didn't think it was that important that he rescued her from a potential rape, though he was glad she was okay, he didn't want to bring that up to her. Even if he wanted to, how could he tell her? Just blurt it out? Plus Khari never seen her after the fact, so there was no need.

Khari turned the corner to be met with the petite women sitting in a chair in the waiting area reading a magazine. Her hair was shiny and curly, her high bun sat perfectly on her head.

"Ms. Palet?" He spoke, grabbing her attention. Her head shot up as she flashed a warm smile. Her smile was as beautiful as she was, Khari thought to himself.

"Good morning." Kiara walked to the 6"2 man. His body smelled like YSL cologne and Kiara enjoyed the scent.

"Let's head up." The two began to walk to the elevator, once it came the stepped on and it grew silent. All you heard was the horrible elevator music.

"So what year are you in?" Khari glances over at the young women who had her colleges name on her lanyard.

"My last year. Senior."

That's dope, what's your major?" Khari asked.

"Business management. I wanna build my own business, photography." Kiara informed.

"You should, you're really good."

"Thank you. You're a really good poet."

"Thanks." The elevator door opened showing the glass offices and business people in their suits and pencil skirts. Khari began walking off. "My office is this way." He began to lead her. Khari opened the door for Kiara once they made it to his office and took a seat. Kiara looked around in amazement, this man had money, he had his own business and he was inky in his twenties. A young, black man running a successful business with his own employees, he was doing it and Kiara was even more inspired and intrigued into the man. "Would you like some water?"

"Oh, no thank you." Kiara responded snapping out of her gaze.

"So, I was thinking we could start with my office, then outside then the editors office. Take some pictures of the editors and the different positions everyone has." Khari has an idea for everything, he knew what his vision was and he was bond to make it happen.

"That's fine, how about we start with taking pictures of you first since we're right here." Kiara suggested, she began to take out her camera and some of her other things that were able to be taken along with her in her backpack.

Khari's office was filled with sunlight his whole office was, Kiara loved taking natural lighting pictures. It was a plus for Khari because his dark skin glowed perfectly when the sun hit it. His clear, dark skin was just a plus, his smile, his full beard captured his essence. He was a beautiful man and Kiara lived it. She loved his fashion taste, his scent, his body. She made sure to capture it all in her pictures. After finishing up Khari she began to finish the rest of task.

As Kiara was taking her pictures Khari couldn't help but stare at the beauty before him. Khari just stared as she took the pictures of his editors office and his employees. Khari was interrupted with his phone vibrating, he picked it up and saw he had a text from Julia.

🤤

Khari smiled a bit and then shook his head next sliding the phone back into his pocket. He walked over to his desk and began to write a new piece.

Khari said to himself as he read over his current lines. He was interrupted by his phone ringing. He looked at at seeing Leo calling him.

"Yo." Khari answered sitting back in his seat.

"You tryna go out tonight?"Leo asked. Khari could hear the drills in the background, Leo was a mechanic and was working on getting his own chain of shops but it was difficult to buy a shop so he was working as hard as possible.

"Nah I can't tonight man. Me and Julia going out, maybe Friday."

"Ard bet." The two began to catch up on things and just have regular conversation. Khari hung up the phone and continued to work. He stayed up to date of the latest trends. He was now scrolling down his phone and texting his dad about his mom. Khari and his father didn't like his mother but his dad always taught him to be respectful even though she was an ass at times. Khari heard a knock on the door and looked up for his phone seeing Kiara at the door.

"What's up? All done?" Khari asked sitting his phone down.

"Yeah. You have a really nice business." Kiara complimented as she walked towards his desk.

"Thank you. Do you mind if I see some of them?" Khari asked.

"Oh sure." Kiara walked around his desk and went to some of the pictures in her camera. "So this yours, I'm gonna go home and edit them and then I can send them to your editors and boom you'll have pictures up for your website." Kiara said excitedly.

"Great! Thank you, you did amazing." Khari thanked her as he opened his desk drawer.

"No problem. If you need anything else just give me a call." Kiara said as she threw her bag over her shoulder and beginning to walk towards the door.

"Wait, I gotta pay you." Khari stopped her. He wrote his signature down in the check next ripping it out of the check book, handing it to her.

"500? I only charged you 300." Kiara reassured Khari.

"I know, but take it. You deserve it. You did amazing." Khari smiled down at the small girl.

"Thank you." Kiara smiled graciously. She looked down spotting his silver Rolex. "Nice watch by the way." Kiara complimented.

"Thank you. Have a nice day Kiara."

Kiara got into Karlas car way happier then she was earlier.

"Hey, what you so happy about?" Karla giggled as she pulled off.

"I got $500 just for being amazing at photography. I was only supposed to get paid 300." Kiara said showing the check

"500? Girl you better be sharing." Karla joked as she glanced over at the check.

"Nope, this is going towards a new place." Kiara said.

"New place? You're thinking about moving out?"

"Yeah. I'm 22 living with my best friend and his mom, I have no family, I'm about to graduate college and I have a pretty decent career that can help me pay off my bills. It's time for me to step out and grow." Kiara informed Karla.

"I understand. Whatever you decide to do you know I'll support you through it." Karla told her. "And don't say you don't got family cus we are your family, maybe not biologically but we are."

The girls went back home and talked about their days and even began looking for apartments for Kiara. Troy eventually came home and joined them.