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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!”

came and went. No

dragged by in a haze of cranky customers and broken price scanners.

Friday afternoon, worry was eating me alive

phone for the tenth

reached Mia! I’m probably doing something way more fun than talking on the phone, so leave

you when I remember!“*

made my chest ache. Where was she?

I tried texting instead.

Haven’t heard from

No response.

know

Nothing.

that money back

Still nothing.

promised. Cross her heart and hope to die, she’d promised

Friday.

It was Friday.

six o’clock, I clocked out and walked to the bus stop with dread sitting in my stomach like a lead weight. The ride home felt

stretching like

looked even more depressing than usual in the fading evening light.

garbage

like lead. Outside my door, a bright

My heart stopped.

18:36

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164 Chapter 164

An eviction notice.

door with shaking hands, my eyes scanning the typed

October is past due. You are required to quit and surrender the premises to the

*Amount Due: $450.00*

October 27th, or vacate

Sunday. Two days.

fumbled with my keys, nearly dropping them twice before managing

walls seemed to press in around me like a

couch and pulled out my phone, calling my

is… forty–seven

Forty–seven dollars.

four hundred

rent was due, and I had forty–seven fucking

morning, I swallowed my pride and went

over paperwork and looking as miserable as I felt. When I knocked on

with obvious irritation.

“What now, Sara?”

a favor,” I said, hating how desperate I

about getting more hours, the answer’s no. Corporate’s been breathing down my neck about labor

I stepped into his office, my palms sweating. “I need an

shot

Maybe three hundred. I’ll work extra shifts to pay

“No.”

like

He turned back to his paperwork, dismissing me.

my apartment,” I said

“Not my problem.”

純雞

164 Chapter 164

employee. I show up on time, I don’t call in sick, I cover

customers and cost me money,” Gary interrupted without looking

“That wasn’t my fault!”

was flat, final. “Figure out your money problems on your

top of his balding head. He didn’t look up. Didn’t acknowledge that

to go fuck myself.

“Fine,” I said quietly.

get back to

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