Despite all the effort, every elaborate breakdown explanation, backed by plenty of facts, analysis of all kinds and still it was a flop. Sandy tried so hard, yet the final outcome was failure. The conference isn't a rock band concert and she wasn't anticipating any standing ovation at the end of her speech, but there was no acknowledgment. No clasping, just ambient humming of quietly talking crowd, and shuffling paperwork of provided study materials. As she was going away from stage, not a single person approached her, let alone any potential investors. Sandy really wanted to hope that there still was a slim chance the department will eventually receive a call, trying to negotiate their support for the project, but with each passing minute she was facing an unshakable hunch of a full-blown Debacle.

The UNM expected a follow-up of her presentation, how it went. She was leaning against the wall, picked her phone and tried to call. She gazed into it for good two minutes, trying to formulate a message she'd leave for them, but could not make-up anything optimistic. She felt nothing more than utter resignation on her career, her accomplishments, and the project she was working on for almost two years. All the countless hours spent by diligent footwork, studies and tiresome research, experiments. The resources pooled and poured. And for what?! When this is over, and she shows up at the board, her career at UNM would be done. The research was going to get archived, and cancelled. Who knows- maybe scrapped. And her? If-and she meant -IF- she gets lucky by some miracle, They are going to reassign her to a support scientist role, likely under some new-hire teacher. Or, more likely... Tyler, her bespectacled piece-of-shit liaison slash ex-fuck buddy will pull some of his strings at the board, and She'll find her name on the list of staff fired by "right-sizing". He sure as hell doesn't want to have her breathing down his neck with charges of violation of workplace etiquette. He's got his new blondie sex toy, and in his paranoia, he won't think twice to keep his current affair under the radar, gunning down anyone who would even remotely endanger his career. And sure as shootin' she loaded the gun for him and painted a nice bullseye on her forehead by failing so spectacularly tonight.

She was done. She squatted in the hall, head in hands. She wanted to cry but not a single tear rolled. The people walking around, either paid no attention or passed by ignoring her.

The resignation on her career and the loss of project seemed to oh-so-conveniently overlap with the chash-and-burn of her private life. The timing was perfect. JUST perfect. She wasn't just giving up. The feelings were shifting most definitely to lethargy or even apathy. But then she remembered her brother. She stood up, walking towards the catering, expecting that would be the best spot to find him. And after a brief search she finally found him... With a woman.

The shorter hedgehog with white gala dress, glittery necklace and revealing deep cleavage, constantly inspected by her exuberant squirrel companion. They were both filling each other's glasses with champagne, judging by their clumsiness it wasn't their first glass. They were both loud, laughing and stirring commotion among reserved society of scientists and company representatives. She was looking at them from a distance, trying to figure out whether she should try to coerce her brother's insulting behavior or letting Randy's newly-acquainted "lady-of-the-night" do the babysitting. Sandy knew that the moment she tries to pull him out and drag him with her, his demeanor will inevitably reflect on her, but what was worse, her brother under the influence was prone to cause a scene.

She knew that her career at UNM was likely over, but becoming a persona-non-grata in front of scientific society as well as big corporate animals will efficiently eliminate any prospect of ever being hired on scientific post anywhere on Western hemisphere. But saving her brother, no matter how much he disappointed her tonight, was still worth sacrificing the rest of her life.

Sandy started walking towards the buzzed couple, while inaudibly begging her brother not to embarrass her. She was still some 30 feet away from them, trying to gently squeeze past an obese Rhino couple, blocking her path, when the hedgehog tiptoed, whispered something into Randy's ear and giggled. Randy giggled and shrugged, but the woman grabbed his hand with both arms and started dragging him towards the exit. Randy turned around, noticed and winced at his sister's shocked and angry face but, at that exact moment he got yanked by the flaring hedgehog, giving in to her attempts to push him towards the exit leading to valet parking. Sandy decided to follow them, forcing her way to catch up with them, confront him and that snobby whore glued on him. "Oh-just you wait, Randy. You'll remember the earful I'mma gonna give you" her inner voice was ringing in her head as her temper was reaching the boiling point.

Sandy made it past the exit and into the downpouring darkness of a night, just to see them both disappearing inside the slate gray Corvette parked next to the driveway to an adjacent parking garage. Her walk turned into the run, but the beaver boy which worked as valet got in her path, asking "Maam- Can I help…" Revving 10-cylinder engine made her go bananas, uttering "-git-" while shoving valet off her way. The kinetic energy of accomplished squirrel runner made this young boy slip on the wet carpet, pirouette and fall on the ground with face depicting terror. Sandy was unable to get to the vehicle on time, however she received the spray of water, left by tires of a speeding Corvette. She stood there in pouring rain, staring into the dark, empty street.

That was it. The proverbial last straw broke and all she felt was rage. After today her career was now in ruins, her ex is whoring with an exchange student and plotting a way how to get her removed, her reputation as a scientist in shambles, and most of all, her brother she cared so much for, after all the effort she put to save him, all the sacrifices she made, he gets shitfaced at the conference full of patrons, and leaves with some rich twat he saw for the first time in his life, leaving her in the rain by her lonesome. She felt broken and betrayed by someone she cared about more than anyone she knew. But above all, she felt tired.

Sandy went back inside the catering, and aimlessly wondered for several minutes, not sure what to do, where to go. She was cold, her fleece jacket got wet. Than she noticed the waiter walking among guests, carrying a tray supporting tall glasses filled with champagne. "Here it is- the poison my brother loves more than anything in this world" Sandy hummed for herself. "The essence, granting escape from harsh reality of life, the numbing agent of pain and anguish." She reached out, grabbing the tall glass. "Well, Randy- Y'know what? Two can play this game". She took one sip, and after recognizing this ain't the most disgusting taste, she emptied the cup in one swig. Even after drinking another two cups it wasn't exactly the pleasant flavor, however, in all fairness it was a far cry to a repulsive taste of Taylor's semen every darn time he decided to dispose it in her throat.

She didn't mind getting laid when he decided to call her to visit him. Neither did she when he emptied his ballsack in her. There still was a good amount of gratification in love-making. However, she despised the moments when he grabbed her head and started thrusting, not letting go of her ears until he heard her gagging and gulping down that nasty shit. He knew that she hated it with every fiber of her body, yet he compelled her to comply more and more, ever since she decided to shelter her brother... Taylor... that sick piece of a worthless hide was actually enjoying punishing her. She managed to grab a glass from a table, promptly emptying it to wash away the imaginary rancid aftertaste.

The waiter in reserved tone asked her to leave the champagne glasses for other guests and suggested it would be a good time for a ride to take her back to her place. "A'right- A'right!" Sandy lifted her hands, theatrically gesturing surrender. "If Y'all can- pardon mah leave." she waved and slowly walked outside to the center of the rainy street where her fink of a brother vanished with that perfumed pompous slut.

"Thank you, Randy, Ohh... dont mind me... I'll walk m'self back ta da Hotel,! " She said aloud, at the intersection and then started heading towards the direction where her hotel was supposed to be. The rain was getting heavier, her coat was now drenched wet, however she wasn't feeling too cold, thanks to... she started counting on her fingers 3 cups or 4 cups (maybe?) of that bland piss of champagne.

The walk towards her hotel wasn't that long, but it was unfortunate that the sulking brown female needed to make a quick stop at the bathroom, really badly. "There ain't much opened at this time-anyway... what's the time?" she murmured. Her phone buzzed with at least half a dozen notes and messages in random intervals, and she really didn't feel like looking at her phone, fearing the inevitable fallout of her disastrous conference, and didn't care for her brother's excuses to leave her stranded on the streets of Seattle. So she turned it off.

Judging from sparse traffic on the streets and resurfaced individuals pushing carts filled with empty cans and assortment of belongings of dubious value, Sandy was guessing it was past 10PM, making a logical choice of waltzing into a bar with an appropriate name. "Damm the weather"-the name said. "You're darn tootin' right. The Pacific northwest weather sucksss-Yessireee." As she asked for the direction, she was informed that it's for guests-only. "Hands on me pa's bible- I'mma buy somethin' "she replied with smile, trying to look sober as much as she could perform for the hipster looking Foxterrier bartender with well-groomed beard and small bowler hat with an Irish green lace. The restrooms were clean, however the walls were covered with weird grafittis. She hoped whatever's on the tap will be better than the decorative taste of this joint. Upon washing her hands and face, and walked towards the nearest chair next to the bar.

"What'll it be, lass?"-the Foxterier asked.

"You got sumthin' from Texas?"-she asked with intentional southern draw in her voice.

"Aye, we do. Lone star whiskey and… Marshall's gin" -the bartender looked at many labels "but nei'r of them is a girly choice" he said, while he turned, looking at her.

"I reckon you see some girlie, somewheres?" Sandy pretended searching someone behind her, as the mocking bartender was certainly addressing someone else. "How 'bout bit-o-both. "

The bartender quietly whistled and quipped in a recognition "coming right up." while pouring liquid into two individual shot glasses. Sandy took a swig from the first one, sending the burning hot sensation throughout her body. She shook a little, the bristles on her furry tail got fuzzier. She hesitated for a while, gandering at the second shot glass. Although Bartender pretended to be looking busy, with corner of an eye he was checking the progress in preparedness of that proud squirrel girl. Sandy noticed that, and without further ado she emptied the volume on first try, shaking some more as the fluid burned her throat, making a cough.

The bartender heartily laughed- "Aye, there's no missy at this hour". He measured her with his look and acknowledged: "Like the green on yer skirt, lass. You sure you ain't a fellow potato-eater?".

She still was processing the last dose of liquor replying "Naw, but I gots me sum Scottish roots- Whew." The intense warmth was spilling into every part of her body. The wet fleece jacket on her shoulders was causing some discomfort, so she wrapped it around her waist, closing her eyes, giving way to the warm oblivion.

"Would Ya wish to wet yer whistle som'more?" The bartender asked, trying to sell more rounds before coming closing time.

"Don't mind if I do" Sandy chuckled as she tapped with her finger on the bar surface.

She was considering walking away, her rational self was desperately trying to convince her it's in her best interest to sleep on it, trying to salvage whatever shards of her happiness could be saved, instead of following the footsteps of her brother. She tried to save him, but she failed. Now her logic keeps telling her she needs to save herself. She felt sick and tired of saving, tired of succeeding in her field of study, dominated by males. Tired to sell herself on behalf of her employer. And DEFINITELY tired of saving the ingrate drunk pervert brother of hers. From the responsibilities of an upstanding adult male, from their own father, but from his own destructive way of life. In the wake of saving, she lost all she had. Her career, her private life- all gone. The rage started to take her over, consummating Sandy's common sense.

She opened the eyes and wanted to order one last drink, she noticed the stare of a stranger sitting next to her. He was gazing with the same stare as Randy was several hours ago, and clearly inspecting the contours of her breasts, as her bra was showing through her shirt. She was furious. She straightened herself on the bar chair, inhaled and pronounced her chest. "Gonna take a picture too?!- Y'know what ?!- I'mma take my shirt off fer ya-Hell's Bells!- how 'bout seein' me bare, like sum' of thems Prize cattle. Sure as shootin' you won't be the first guy seeing my loins today!" -Sandy slammed her fists on the bar, furious beyond her own beliefs.

The bartender quickly tried to defuse the situation, and calming down the ruckus of approving whistles of several other drunk patrons. He chastised her for the outburst of inappropriate verbal innuendos, while prompting her to go back home.

"To hell with you-Nuthin' but pervs, all of ya!" -The leaving squirrel addressed the guests in her considerably imbibed state.

She started shuffling to the hotel, trying to rein-in her volatile mood. Somehow her train of thoughts got fixated on the humiliating event preceding the conference. "Even Randy"-she muttered for herself. He's just the same. That look on his face. He saw me naked and he was feasting his eyes on me. "Why am I shocked... he... he's always been like that." -She clenched her fists when she remembered. By far the most humiliating day she experienced while she was back home, in Texas.