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Chapter 1

E in sick

The flu Cramps Measles Dysentery Mental health day Whatever

At the very least, she probably should have waited until after therush hour Or perhaps snuck in the back door of her office building along with the water cooler delivery guy

But E life’s little hiccups inconvenience her

Although

She supposed one could argue there was nothing so little about the fact that her apartone from completely normal to entirely flooded in less time than it took her to curl her eyelashes

And as for the fact that said water catastrophe had resulted in her entire building losing powerwell, that was pretty ht-up apocalypse

Still There orse things than co wet and your makeup nonexistent, dressed in a hot pink brides that was the only dry ite

Emma had barely bothered to look in the mirror before she’d dashed out of her apart of F-bombs from her frazzled landlord But then, she didn’t need to look in the lamorous for the office, one part street rat

Besides, who needed a mirror when you had friends like Julie Greene?

Ee that would let her pass through security at the Ravenna office building where she worked when Julie strolled up behind her, Starbucks cup in hand, smile firmly in place as always

“Hi, E off in horror as she took in Emma’s appearance

Eave Julie a droll look “You like?”

“I don’t even understand what’s happening here,” Julie said, her voice mystified She held out her Starbucks cup “Here Take my caramel macchiato You need it more”

Eive a disht, accepted the offering Her friend was right She did need it more The Incident had happenedon a caffeine deficit

She took a sip as Julie continued to stare at Emma’s outfit in dismay

“Explain?” Julie said

Ehed “The apartment above me had some sort of water disaster My entire apartment looks like the set of Titanic, minus the nubile Leo”

Julie eyed Emma’s wet hair “So, is your hair wet from, like, dirty pipe water?”

“No,” E the cup back as she located her badge “Fortunately, I’d showered before the pipe burst and Imy hair wasn’t an option”

“Right That whole electrocution thing,” Julie said as they swiped their badges and headed to the elevators”

“Uotten electrocuted even if I wanted to,” E the up button “The poent out”

Julie’s brown eyes bugged out “Seriously? Flooded and you have no power? Is everything ruined?”