Chapter2
Fortunately, I had the anti–diarrheal medication Alpha Jason gave me.
Finally, no more diarrhea. I was feeling victorious as I pulled up my pants, but then- buzz buzz–Alpha Jason was calling.
I answered, my voice sweet as honey, but before I could even say hello, his voice came through, thin and furious.
“Kamelia! You absolute freak! Twenty–two hours on the toilet?!”
I winced, rubbing my sore legs. “Yeah, my legs are gonna need a massage now, thanks to you, boss!”
“Don’t give me that! What the hell
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happened?”
I gave a nervous laugh. “It’s just… my diet. changed suddenly. My body couldn’t handle it. A little too much fiber, I guess?”
“And what do you plan to do about it?”
“Well… any chance I can eat something decent? My intestines feel like they’ve been scrubbed with sandpaper.”
There was a long pause, then he spat, “Fine. But you better not ask me for anything again!”
The next day at lunch, I was starving.
My stomach rumbled louder than a freight train.
I was about to order my dream meal–an
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American hamburger, dripping with cheese, bacon, and fried onion rings, all sitting g happily on a bed of crispy fries. The momerant I was about to click “Order, my boss, the e walking nightmare, wandered over.
I froze.
The keyboard clicked like it was a lifeline, but t when I glanced at the screen, all it showed d was the hamburger ingredients.
“Are you really working?” she asked, hands on hips.
I straightened up so fast my spine popped. “Uh, absolutely, boss. Just writing a… report.”
She leaned over, scanning my screen. “Kamelia, the company is in the dumps, and guess what? You’re to blame.”
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“Me? But I’m just-”
“Don’t interrupt me. But, she paused dramatically, “I’m gonna give you a chance to redeem yourself. Do you know Adele?”
I froze. “Adele? The singer?”
She waved her hand like I was asking about the neighbor’s cat. “Yes, that Adele. Get her to be our spokesperson.”
“Wait, what?!” I pointed to myself, “Me? Ask her? Like, me?”
“Yes, you. And you’re going to ask her for $500 to do it.”
“Or maybe $100, if she’s a friend.” She winked, and I felt my brain short–circuit.
“I–I can’t do that.”
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Chapter2
“Can’t? You won’t. You know what happens if you fail? I’ll deduct your salary and freeze your benefits. You’re useless.”
I barely held back my tears, wishing I could punch a wall.
After she left, I sat there, feeling like a million dollars worth of crap. I wiped my eyes, but it didn’t stop the frustration. My phone buzzed. Alpha Jason.
“Kamelia, I’m about to throw my phone
against the wall! Why are you crying again?! I was about to make my move, and then–bam -you start bawling like a baby!”
I sniffed. “Alpha Jason, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. My boss just-”
“Yell at her! Slap her! What is this, you crying
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and doing nothing?!”
“I can’t…!” I choked, holding back sobs.
“Can’t? You’re embarrassing me. You’re turning into a whiny little sheep! Don’t make me come over there and-”
“Alpha Jason!” I interrupted, voice cracking. “If I do that, I’ll lose my job. She hates me.”
There was a deep, frustrated sigh on the other end.
“How good is this job that you’re willing to take this crap? How good is it? Tell me, Kamelia!”
“It’s $5,000 a month.”
There was a deadly silence.
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Then Alpha Jason hissed, “Five thousand? Kamelia, that’s chump change! Quit that job right now, and I’ll pay you five times that salary. No, ten times!”
“Ten times?” I raised an eyebrow, feeling a smirk tugging at my lips.
“Yes, ten times! But if you keep staying there, getting stomped on, crying like a loser… then you’re no better than them.”
I hesitated, but just for a second.
“Deal. But if I’m doing this, I need a one–time bonus for… emotional damages.”
There was a long pause.
