Note: In true supervillain fashion, Annbell thought altering another's circumstances for her own amusement would be a great birthday gift to herself. Consequently, every Monday this October, you should be able to read about past me and this new reality. If all goes to Annbell's plan, the 'grand' finale to this 'pilot' will be on the 30th, just before Halloween.

Chapter 1: I Need A Vacation

Nothing says 'I need a vacation' like waking up and realizing you have to get ready for a second time because your dreams are as burnt-out as the rest of you.

It's not even dawn and I'm already done with this day, but I couldn't give into my hangover. I just had to hang on.

Within 24 hours, I'd be sipping a piña colada and checking out hot guys whose standards were as low as their swim shorts. With that in mind, I rolled out of bed and oozed through my post-case morning routine.

I didn't feel human until I was showered, dressed, and on the road finishing off my coffee expresso with a ginger-lime jalapeño egg-drop twist.

Yes, that is a disgusting combo, but after last night's shenanigans, I was running on 2 hours instead of 6, so I needed this unholy coco motor oil concoction to function.

It isn't every day that a no-name junior partner of a small firm beats out a big company like GLK and H. Those slimy asswipes didn't know what hit them. Everyone had called my case unwinnable. Even Dennis had almost managed to sound impressed by my work. I ought to feel a shot of pride underneath my receding headache. No such luck, instead my brain was rattling thanks to my car suddenly blasting my work wife's 90's pop ringtone.

"Hey," I said, picking up.

"Don't stop for breakfast," Nikki's voice blared out of the car speakers. "I got you covered."

A cross between a wince and a smile tugged at my lips. "Thanks. You're a lifesaver, Nikki."

"Nah, I just work for one."

Okay, now I was smiling. "Flatterer."

"If it gets the bills paid," she quipped. "Anyway, I got us bagels with a side of Jeff's Coffee."

It was official. "I love you," I proclaimed.

"I know!" she replied. "See you at the office!"

Damn it, there went my shitty mood. But then, brooding wasn't my style.

I switched my radio from the morning news about some superhero nonsense to America's Top 40. Headache be damned, I was going to enjoy LA traffic the only way I knew how.

One karaoke session later, I was in my tiny office, nomming on my bagel while Nikki talked about all the casework I had to do before I could start my vacation. You know how it is.

Suddenly, despite today being slated to be a 'slow' day, everyone…and I do mean everyone, even the other Jennifers, seemed to have a task for me to do. I listened to Nikki and scanned my ever-filling email inbox at the same time.

Multitasking, a must if you ask me.

"Jen?" Nikki prompted. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"Jennifer F. wants a response to her email by 3 pm and you want me to bring you back a souvenir," I answered without my eyes leaving the screen. "Preferably, it should be something expensive, authentic, and pearl-related which doesn't give me a ton of wiggle room."

I could feel Nikki glaring at me.

"Just because I'm not looking at you, doesn't mean I'm not listening," I reminded her.

"Yeah, it just means I feel like I'm talking to a heartless girl-boss."

I huffed. I wasn't being heartless and unlike the rest of the office, I also wasn't blind. Of course, I'd noticed Nikki's expertly done hair and make-up, second favorite set of pearls, seemingly prim and proper navy suit that still managed to draw your eyes to all the wrong places, and those white leg-sculpting heels. Her outfit was just barely within our office's admittedly outdated dress code and Nikki was looking fabulous in it.

We both knew my normal reaction was to take in whatever bold fashion choice Nikki wore to the office with blatant appreciation, a touch of envy because I'm only human, and some phoned-in disapproval that I was obligated to tack on to any praise I had for the sake of our job security.

But today I could barely look at Nikki and her amazing ensemble because then she would get a look at my face and know something beyond a post-case hangover was bugging me. Nikki was just too good at sussing out secrets and lies and I wasn't ready to talk about it, not even with her.

Hell, I don't even want to get into it with you.

So, let's all just pretend me feeling off since yesterday is somehow the product of a little sexual frustration, my current hangover, and a whole lot of desire for a real vacation. Okay?

And look!

A convenient distraction!

"Hey Jenny-Sue," an annoying voice purred from the now-open door of my small office.

My eyes narrowed on instinct.

Dennis.

I knew he was going to show up at some point, but I had been hoping for a less aggravating interruption, like an office fire.

"I heard you were having a light day," he said, making it sound like I hadn't moved mountains yesterday, "so I was wondering if you would like to help out the firm by looking over some casefiles for me."

'No thanks, asshole' is what I wanted to growl at the senior partner who was a head taller than me in heels and at least three years younger than me. Instead, I turned to him smiling my best 'I'm friendly, approachable, and promotable' smile and made my voice sound Disney-princess chipper as I asked, "What files, Dennis?"

The oversized weasel masquerading as a sentient being grinned at me and said, "The Harrison v. Gurgler case."

"Uh…isn't that one of the vanished inheritance disputes?" Nikki asked. Her flat tone said what we were all thinking. This vanished case, or Snap case as you guys might call it, was a dime a dozen, going to be boring as hell, and reviewing it for Dennis was below my paygrade which is saying something considering how unimpressive my last raise was.

"That's the one," Dennis replied, barely glancing at her, "but if you can't handle a bit of legwork Jenny-Sue, I could always ask Ryan," a guy who had been in the same frat as Dennis and who was only slightly less obnoxious. "The Rye-man is always ready to do anything for the team in these trying times."

Uh-huh.

"No need," I said, "I have time." That was the only answer one could give in these 'trying times'. I fucking hated that phrase and Dennis and a subset of management kept using it like we were having a rough fiscal quarter instead of, you know, half the population being gone including more relatives than I wanted to think about during work hours.

"Great," Dennis lied. "I'll have Jennifer bring it your way. Be sure to send it back to me by Monday, okay?"

"I'll get it to you today," I promised. No way was I working on this during my vacation.

"Just make sure to be thorough," Dennis reminded me. "The firm can't afford any sloppy work, Jenny-Sue."

"My work is never sloppy," I replied.

"Oh really?" Dennis said suggestively.

I wanted to give Dennis my flattest look and the finger, but I managed to keep my hands to myself and my smile plastered on as I responded, "Yes, really. Anything else, Dennis?"

"Not right now, but I might drop by after lunch," he threatened. "See you on the flip side, Jenny-Sue." As a goodbye, he slammed the wall which always made me jump in my chair. Then he left without closing the door, probably so we could watch him stroll off with a bounce in his step.

"Jerk," Nikki hissed.

That was one word for it. I had others…SO many others. What I said in a clear voice for all the office gossips was, "It's fine. Nothing I can't handle."

Nikki gave me a pointed look.

"Close the door," I whispered just as pointedly.

"Oh," she said, "Right."

With privacy somewhat restored, I sighed.

"Dennis is such a prick," Nikki translated.

Again, that was one word for it. There were LOTS of words that could be used to describe Dennis, but none of them should be said in the office. The walls were too thin. "Don't let him get to you, Nikki. It's what he wants."

"Fine," she said deflating a bit. "I guess he can live another day."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," I said, feeling a reluctant and genuine grin spread across my face. Nikki was such a hothead, but that's sort of what I loved about her. She was passionate, open, funny, thoughtful, and as if you could not already tell, my favorite person in this place. Somedays, I swear Nikki was the main reason I made it to work. Speaking of which:

"Let's get back to it," I said.

Nikki complied and we made a plan for the day. It was a long list of to-dos, but like I told the office:

I could handle it.

At least the work would make the time go by fast and keep me distracted from…other stuff. I just had to tough it out for a few more hours. Then vacation.

God, yes, please give me that vacation!