Chapter 3: Morning
Sunlight peeked through the crack between the window sill and the bottom of the window shade as Em rolled over and moaned. Hearing the click of her stereo as it turned on, preparing to blare the music that served as her alarm clock, she reached over to the remote and reset the alarm for 20 more minutes of sleep.
It wasn't long enough.
Rolling out of bed, Em was already wishing her workday was over so she could relax.
Life is moving too fast, she thought as she plunked down on the toilet, rubbing her eyes, still heavy with sleep. And I'm only 20. After washing her hands, she glanced at the clock. Only ten minutes to finish getting ready and get to work on time.
Crap.
Work sucked the life out of her. Oh, there were times she enjoyed working with her mom, but she was barely in the office anyway, so Em mostly worked alone. She found it hard to motivate herself much of the time when alone.
Em ran out the door after hurriedly getting dressed, nearly forgetting to grab breakfast on her way out.
A few minutes late...what does it matter?
Bonita Reitsma Property Management, Inc. the sign read.
Her mother had started her property management company years before, managing two small apartment complexes in a run-down part of town. Her mother had built the business from the ground up on a reputation of integrity and a willingness to go the extra mile. Her mother was well known in La Marina as an honest woman, and well-liked by all the people she worked with. She had a strong personality and determination.
Em admired her mother as a businesswoman, but found it quite a different story to be her daughter, particularly daughter-employee. Her mother wanted to see Em do her best, to excel, at least in the way she thought Em should.
All throughout her childhood, Em felt like she could never live up to her mother's standards. There was always something she could have done better. In reality, Em did the things she was passionate about quite well. But she realized, better than her mother, that some things are worth putting your all into, and some things weren't.
Her mother put her all into her business, often working late, not realizing that Em and her brothers and sisters didn't care so much about the things than they did spending time with their mother.
It wasn't long enough.
Rolling out of bed, Em was already wishing her workday was over so she could relax.
Life is moving too fast, she thought as she plunked down on the toilet, rubbing her eyes, still heavy with sleep. And I'm only 20. After washing her hands, she glanced at the clock. Only ten minutes to finish getting ready and get to work on time.
Crap.
Work sucked the life out of her. Oh, there were times she enjoyed working with her mom, but she was barely in the office anyway, so Em mostly worked alone. She found it hard to motivate herself much of the time when alone.
Em ran out the door after hurriedly getting dressed, nearly forgetting to grab breakfast on her way out.
A few minutes late...what does it matter?
Bonita Reitsma Property Management, Inc. the sign read.
Her mother had started her property management company years before, managing two small apartment complexes in a run-down part of town. Her mother had built the business from the ground up on a reputation of integrity and a willingness to go the extra mile. Her mother was well known in La Marina as an honest woman, and well-liked by all the people she worked with. She had a strong personality and determination.
Em admired her mother as a businesswoman, but found it quite a different story to be her daughter, particularly daughter-employee. Her mother wanted to see Em do her best, to excel, at least in the way she thought Em should.
All throughout her childhood, Em felt like she could never live up to her mother's standards. There was always something she could have done better. In reality, Em did the things she was passionate about quite well. But she realized, better than her mother, that some things are worth putting your all into, and some things weren't.
Her mother put her all into her business, often working late, not realizing that Em and her brothers and sisters didn't care so much about the things than they did spending time with their mother.
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It's brewing at the moment...
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