The early morning sun shines down on my red charger as I drive out of my parking garage. I have got to get some coffee in me as soon as possible. Yesterday, after talking with my mom I couldn't get my brain to shut off. I was up half the night thinking about what she said because she was right. Not only should I not be wasting my time on meeting with people who have no chance in hell with buying my company from me but I need to get back to doing what I love, creating makeup. That's why I started Mixed in the first place.

I pull into a drive-through on my way to work and order coffee for me as well as for Rye and Susie. They are passing me my order a few minutes later. I place the drink carrier on the leather passenger seat and start my cruise back to work. As usual, traffic is thick with everyone trying to get to wherever they are going.

Sliding into my parking spot, I prop my bag up on my shoulder and grab our drinks. My lavender pumps tap against the pavement as I scurry to the building's entrance in my black pencil skirt and white off the shoulder top. I take the elevator to the fourth floor where the offices and my studio are set up.

"Good morning!" I sing cheerfully as I approach Rye's desk. "I brought you coffee." After setting his coffee cup down on his desk I rummage around in my little shoulder bag for my keys. The thing is so small yet I still manage to lose my stuff in it.

"Someones in a good mood this morning," Rye says with a smile. "Did you finally get some male attention last night or come up with your next launch idea?" Laughing, I make my way toward my office and unlock the doors.

"Neither, I had a very good chat with my mother yesterday that has given me a new perspective on how I'm living my life and helped me decide what I want to do. Please give Devin a call and have him meet me here at his earliest convenience. Tell him I have my answer for him. Cancel all my other appointments. Give them my apologies then grab Susie and meet me in the studio."

"You got it, queen. I can tell you've got a plan brewing and I can't wait to hear it." He picks up his phone to begin making calls.

I hang my purse in my closet and make my way to the studio. Rye's soothing polite voice carries down the short hallway. It's been at least four if not five months since the last time I've been in here. Although I made a video letting everyone know I would be taking a break and explained why I feel like I've let my fans down. It has been far too long since I last made a video. This should have been my top priority. If it wasn't for all the fans I had gathered over the years I doubt I would be where I am today. Their support helped launch my career.

Placing my hand on the flat golden handle I press down and push open the glass frosted door. Inside are a few different areas all set up for recording. One area has a loveseat and coffee table set up for interviews or discussions. Another has a white back screen set up for photoshoots. After the models have been all set up we photograph them in here. We've only had three sessions so far. It's a lot more affordable and fun to do it on my own. I've gotten pretty good over the years with having to do my own photos and videos. Rye is also always here to help if I run into any problems. He's pretty good with technology.

The last place I have set up is my makeup chair and vanity. This is the very first vanity I bought at eighteen years old. I had been making a bunch from my youtube videos and this was my first ever big purchase. Over the years I've had many people sit in that chair and let me do tutorials on them. It gets boring watching me do my makeup all the time. Inviting people helped keep things exciting and mix it up.

I run my hand over the shiny golden metal of the vanity. A little bit of dust sticks to my fingers when I pull them away. Looks like this could all use a dusting. My poor neglected studio. I make a silent promise not to ever leave it forgotten for this long again.

"Alright, boss. Everything is canceled for the day and Devin said he can be here in a few hours. Do we have enough time to do whatever it is you have planned?" Rye walks into the studio with his coffee cup in hand. Right behind him is Susie. She's wearing an outfit similar to mine but her top is a white tucked-in button-down. She has a thick blue belt with a gold buckle wrapped around her waist and the blue matches the flats she's wearing.

"Cute outfit." I give her a wink and lift the second to last cup from the drink holder. "This is for you. We should have plenty of time for me to explain and shoot this video." I pass her the cup and take mine out. Tossing the drink holder into the recycling bin I have in here I make my way over to the couch and take a seat.

"Thank you for the compliment and the coffee. You look good too. I love that top." She points to it as she comes to join me on the couch.

"Thanks, hun. Alright, as of today I'm going to make some changes around here. It's mainly personal changes and since you guys are my friends I'll need your help with making me stick to it. The first thing to change is I'm taking at least one day off a week. Sunday's would probably be best. If possible I'd like to do Saturday and Sunday as most other people do." I start off.

"Easy," Rye says with a wave of his hand. Today he's decided to not wear eyeshadow but to just do a dramatic wing with his eyeliner and some very long fake lashes. "I've been trying to get you to take a day off for forever. You keep sneaking things into your schedule." He accuses me and I give him a guilty smile. I thought I was getting away with that.

"Next up is work, stays at work. No more bringing projects home. I have to separate my work from my home life or I'm going to end up driving myself mad."

"You don't have to worry about that. You're already mad." Susie jokes as she sips her coffee. Bumping her shoulder gently the three of us laugh. "I completely agree. It'll be good for you."

"The last few things are I'm going to start up my videos again. At least once a week. They don't take very long to do and I miss making them. I'm also going to get into the lab three times a week. If I don't I'm never going to come up with new products. It's also something I love to do. I need to get back in there. Lastly, no more meetings from people who want to buy my company or have proposals for me but aren't serious about being in the makeup industry. It's time wasted that I could be in the lab or making a video and quite frankly I'm just so tired of them." I finish with a sigh.

Looking back and forth between them I wait impatiently for a response. Thankfully, unlike last time it doesn't take forever and there isn't a long chunk of silence. Susie wraps an arm around my shoulder and Rye takes a seat on the arm of the sofa next to me then does the same. I wrap my free arm around Susie and rest my head against Rye's.

"These are all great ideas that I'm glad we are going to start doing. You deserve a break and a life just like the rest of us." Susie tells me softly.

"You also deserve to be happy. That means doing what you love but in small doses or else you're right. You'll drive yourself mad." Rye adds making me laugh. "We can do all that easily and we'll help you with all the others. Even if it means we have to tie you to a chair in your living room to get you to stop working." My laughter grows and I feel Susie chuckling against me.

"Thank you for being so supportive guys. It means the world to me." We stay holding onto each other for a few more minutes soaking in the comfort. Rye and I have been friends since middle school. He had moved out here with his mom to live with his grandmother after his parents had gone through a nasty divorce. We were in seventh grade and I was asked to be his buddy. Show him around, help him to class, explain how things worked.

He was a very quiet guy but I think that was because he was trying to figure out who he was. Struggling with his sexuality. Feeling as if he didn't have anyone to talk to since he had just moved. As we grew closer he opened up to me bit by bit. I didn't rush or push him. Instead, I let him take things at his own pace.

As he became more confident in himself and who he was it was like watching a caterpillar emerge from his cocoon as a beautiful butterfly. When he came out to his mom and grandmother he was so relieved when they accepted him. I can remember the look of pure joy in his eyes along with the glimmer of tears. After he came out he felt he was finally free. He stretched his wings and flew.

Susie I've known for much less time. We only met when I hired her to work here and help me with my finances. She can be pretty analytical at times but she's always there when I need her. Even if she's always trying to spout numbers, odds, or which options are the most likely to occur.

"Shall we get this video started?" I ask them.

"I suppose so. We are here to work after all." Rye says as he gets up from the arm of the couch and goes to set up the video camera.

"After I meet with Devin, we'll have to talk, Susie. I'm going to see how much he thinks I'll end up getting. It won't be a precise number but at least it'll give us something to work with and we can come up with a potential budget for the hairline."

"Sounds good. Give me a call when you are ready to do that and I'll be there." She gives me a kiss on the cheek and makes her way to the door. "Good luck with the video." She calls out from over her shoulder.

The next hour we spend making my video. It seems as if Rye and I have gotten a little rusty since the last time we did this but in the end, we figure it out.

I let my fans know that I'm back and will be posting weekly content once again. Then I apologize for having disappeared for so long. By the end of the video, I probably apologized about a dozen times.

"Lastly, leave a comment below letting me know what kinds of tutorials you'd like to see. I'll look through the comments and choose some of the ones that are asked for the most. Thank you all for sticking with me and I am so excited to start giving you all new videos. Stay tuned guys." I give the camera a goodbye wave.

"That's a wrap," Rye says from behind the camera. I lower my hand and dash over to him. "I'll upload it and send it to you for editing." A knock from the open door draws our attention from the camcorder.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting. No one was at the front desk so I thought I would just follow the voices." Devin stands in the doorway where he nearly has to duck because he's so tall.

"Holy shit." I hear muffled from beside me. I gently elbow Rye in the ribs and give him a look that says, that's my ex, quit it, with wide eyes. He mouths he's sorry but he doesn't look sorry to me.

"You have perfect timing. I just finished taping my video which Rye needs to send me now." Hearing his name must snap him out of his spell because he jumps slightly and makes his way to the exit. He walks past Devin and I notice him skim his arm against his chest.

I put my hand over my mouth to cover up my smile. Nice one Rye. I really can't blame him for that. He wears these tight shirts that make him look amazing. It's hard to resist temptation but I'll be doing it easily. I already know where that road leads and I'd much rather keep my heart intact.

"Follow me to my office. We can talk there." I quickly close the studio door behind me and walk back down the hall to my office with Devin close on my heels. Let the negotiations begin.