The dim light from a desk lamp illuminated the papers scattered on the bed. Leona Ivanov, still dressed in her work attire: a white blouse that refused to button completely, revealing a minimal but provocative cleavage, tight pants that highlighted her muscular legs, thick-soled black boots, and the gloves she'd barely taken off, muttered under her breath as she reviewed the contracts for her recent bodyguard jobs.

"Shit... Not one damn extra thank you."

A thin, dark harness wrapped around her torso, more out of habit than necessity at that moment. Every piece of paper she discarded was further confirmation that no one in that damned country knew how to value her work. "A million yen tip wouldn't have hurt them... At least then I could pay off that stupid debt a little faster."

Frustrated, she jumped up and walked over to the punching bag hanging in the corner of her room. Without warming up, she began punching it with controlled fury, each impact echoing with the same intensity of her irritation as her black hair, topped with blonde hair, shook with her movements.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

Just as the sack swung violently, the door opened.

"Leona…"

Her mother, a woman of average height but with a presence Leona found hard to ignore, poked her head in with a smile that was too calm for her liking.

"Yeah? What's wrong?" she snarled, still punching the sack.

"Go buy some milk. We're out of it."

Leona stopped her fist in midair and turned her head toward her, frowning "Really? Now? I just got here."

Her mother just smiled, with that expression Leona knew all too well.

"Well, you could bet the supermarket's still open… Oh, wait, you don't take bets anymore, do you?" She paused dramatically "All those nights your dad and I had to sell things because someone decided to gamble away the rent money."

Leona clenched her jaw "That was years ago, Mom!"

"Hmm... So you won't mind walking to the store?" Says her mother with a smile

A growl escaped her throat before she gave in "Okay, okay... Damn."

As she prepared to leave, she muttered to herself "I hate it when he does that."