CHAPTER THIRTY THREE – AVA’S PREDICAMENT

The familiar ringtone of her phone sliced through the quiet of Kayla's apartment that evening. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Ava, her younger sister. Relief washed over her – it had been a while since they'd properly spoken. "Hey, Ava," Kayla answered, her voice warm. "Kayla, thank goodness you picked up," Ava's voice crackled with urgency. "I need your help. It's really bad." Kayla's stomach lurched. Ava wasn't known for her dramatics, so her panicked tone was a cause for concern. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" "No, no, nothing like that," Ava stammered. "But it's work-related. I messed up, big time. And if my boss finds out, I'm toast. Fired, finished, career over." Kayla's initial concern morphed into a cautious curiosity. Ava, despite her occasional impulsiveness, was usually a responsible intern at the prestigious marketing firm she was working at. "Alright," Kayla said calmly. "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened." Ava, after a few more deep breaths, laun