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164 Chapter 164

164 Chapter 164

Seraphina’s POV 1

The next morning hit me like a sledgehammer.

My alarm screamed at six AM, dragging me out of a restless sleep filled with dreams about empty bank accounts and angry landlords. My

body ached like I’d been hit by a truck. Every muscle protested as I rolled out of bed.

Everything would be fine by Friday.

The walk to work felt longer than usual, my feet dragging against the cracked sidewalk. The morning air was crisp and sharp, cutting

through my thin jacket like it had a personal vendetta against me.

I pushed through the automatic doors at exactly 7:58 AM. Two minutes early, like always. No matter how shitty my life got, I was never

late.

Gary stood behind the customer service counter, his face already red with whatever crisis had ruined his morning. When he saw me, his

expression soured even more.

“About time,” he grunted.

“I’m early,” I pointed out.

“Don’t get smart with me.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Mia called in. Family emergency. She’s taking a few days off.”

My stomach dropped. “A few days?”

“That’s what I said. Which means you’re covering register two and three today. Think you can handle that without attacking any

customers?”

The jab about yesterday

incident made my jaw clench. “I can handle it.”

“Good. Because I’m not in the mood for any more drama.”

I stared at him, processing what this meant. Two registers. Double the work. Double the stress.

“Will I get overtime pay for covering Mia’s shifts?” I asked.

Gary looked at me like I’d suggested he donate a kidney. “Overtime? You’re not working overtime. You’re just doing your job.”

“But I’m covering two registers–”

“You’re covering one register. Register two. Mia’s register. Same hours, same pay.” He turned away, clearly done with the conversation.

“That’s not fair,” I said.

Gary spun back around, his face purple with irritation. “Fair? You want to talk about fair? How about the three hundred dollars I’m taking out of your paycheck because you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. Other employees were starting to stare. I could feel their curious gazes like little needles in my skin.

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164 Chapter 164

I walked to register two with my cheeks burning and my hands shaking with suppressed rage, Other employees looked away quickly, pretending they hadn’t witnessed my humiliation.

But I needed this job. I needed the paycheck, even if it was pathetic. Even if Gary was a power–hungry asshole.

I turned on the register and forced my face into a customer service smile. “Next!”

and went.

by in a haze of cranky customers

eating me alive from the

phone for the tenth time that week. It

doing something way more fun than talking on the phone, so leave a message and

you when I remember!“*

my chest ache. Where was she? Why wasn’t

I tried texting instead.

okay? Haven’t heard

No response.

know

Nothing.

back today. My rent is

Still nothing.

stared at my phone, my hands trembling slightly. She’d promised. Cross her heart and hope to

Friday.

It was Friday.

the bus stop with dread

minute stretching like

depressing than usual in the fading evening light. Peeling paint. Broken

garbage

third floor, my legs feeling like lead. Outside my door, a bright pink slip

My heart stopped.

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164 Chapter 164

An eviction notice.

off the door with shaking

notified that your tenancy is terminated. Rent for the month of October is past due. You are required to quit and surrender the premises to the owner. If you fail to do

*Amount Due: $450.00*

by Sunday, October 27th, or

Sunday. Two days.

keys, nearly dropping them twice before managing to unlock my door. Inside,

seemed to press in around me like

out my phone,

current balance is… forty–seven dollars and thirty–two

Forty–seven dollars.

needed four hundred and

rent was due, and I had forty–seven

pride

looking as miserable as I felt. When I

with obvious irritation.

“What now, Sara?”

you a favor,” I

answer’s no. Corporate’s been

about hours.” I stepped into his office, my palms sweating. “I need an advance on my

eyebrows shot up.

hundred. I’ll work extra shifts to

“No.”

me like a slap. “Gary,

He turned back to his paperwork, dismissing me. “We don’t do paycheck advances. Company

lose my

“Not my problem.”

純雞

164 Chapter 164

up on time, I

interrupted without looking up.

“That wasn’t my fault!”

shift is your fault. His voice was flat, final. “Figure out your money problems on your own

moment, staring at the top of his balding head. He didn’t look up. Didn’t

to go fuck myself.

“Fine,” I said quietly.

get back to

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