Chapter 28 Bad Fit #2
“I’m sorry, babe. Maybe you can use a rideshare app today?”
“Right, thanks. Bye.” I checked the wait times and gasped at the screen. The going rate for a ride to the mall was worth almost two hours’ work with the tip and rush-hour rate.
I might be better off calling in sick. But my sister hated when people ditched their shifts last-minute. And Giselle already didn’t love me. I frantically messaged a few coworkers through our scheduling app to see if I could trade with anyone.
Most of them ignored me. Others declined with the excuse it was too early, they weren’t ready, and they couldn’t make it in time.
Kat lived relatively close to the mall. Walking would take too long, though, and I wasn't much of a runner. I'd hate to call my parents right after declaring my independence.
Cursing, I ordered a ride from the app. Someone would be here within five minutes.
I messaged Giselle that I had car troubles, but I’d be there relatively soon.
The driver pulled up and asked, “Do you mind if I keep listening to my podcast while we drive?”
“That’s fine. I just need to get to the mall as soon as possible.”
The driver chuckled and glanced in the reflection of the rearview mirror. “Did you forget to get someone a present?”
“No, I’m late for my shift.”
“Ah, that’s what’s great about my job. I’m never late or early. I just hop on when I want and clock out when I’m done.”
“Sounds nice,” I said. They didn’t have to be on their feet all day or answer to a typical boss.
Once there, I hurried through mall security and got to the store about ten minutes after my shift was supposed to start, panting and sweaty. “Sorry I’m late. Did you get my message?”
Giselle plucked through dollar bills to count the cash box. “Yes.”
“So, should I get started by restocking the main display?”
“I recommend you freshen up and dry your hands before touching anything,” she said.
“Okay.” Wouldn’t want to damage the merchandise.
I worked extra hard to make up for my lateness, but my boss was eerily quiet throughout the shift. She ignored every smile, and evaded any attempt at small-talk. The silence was oppressive.
If only we had a stronger stream of customers to put her in a better mood.
The store phone rang. I went to answer, but Giselle snatched the receiver before I could get to it.
“Hello? Yes. Yes. Wait a moment.” She side-eyed me, then headed to the back.
Was being ten minutes late really that bad?
I texted Angel for a glimmer of reassurance.
Maybe he was still taking it.
This was going to be a long shift without visiting him. Maybe I could eat lunch with Kat for some perspective. Just as I started to text her to ask, Giselle strode back in.
Ah, scrubs. I hoped she didn’t catch me on my phone again.
I stuffed it in my pocket and approached the tangled thong bin. Stringy underwear didn’t intimidate me half as much as that woman did.
What was the worst she could do, though? Fire me?
Soon after, Meg came in with a giant tote bag, her normally pristine, shiny hair frizzy.
“Hi. I thought you weren’t scheduled for another hour,” I said.
“Yeah. Didn’t want to get stuck in traffic, I guess. I need a mirror.” She headed to the dressing room, presumably for better lighting.
Giselle snapped the register shut, keys dangling from her elastic bracelet. “Victoria, could you come with me, please?”
“Tori,” I reminded her on instinct, and she flattened her lips. Maybe she called me the wrong name on purpose to punish me for being late. I set down the panties to follow her to the back, bracing myself for another lecture.
She directed me to sit in the cramped little office, my legs tucked against a stack of boxes. All scrunched up like this, I felt like a grown-up in a kid's chair.
My boss propped her hand on her waist and looked down her nose at me. “Effective immediately, you are no longer an employee at The Intimate Closette.”
“Sorry, what?” I shifted forward and knocked into the tower of boxes. Feathers flew out of the top one. I tried to steady the tower and catch the feathers amid my confusion. “Are you firing me because I was late this morning?”
“I’m firing you for many reasons. Not that I need any. This is an at-will employment state, ‘Tori.’”
I’d never heard my name said with such disdain—and it wasn’t just the faint French accent.
I scrunched my eyebrows. “I thought it’d be better to come in late than call out sick.”
She crossed her arms. “You weren’t completing your duties as I deemed satisfactory.”
“But my sales have been improving so much. I think—”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. And I’m not saying that to be cruel or mean. This is my business, and I decide what’s best for it. You will be paid through your hours worked today.”
“Oh. Okay.” Was I supposed to leave? Give her an apology?
She stepped away from the door and cleared her throat.
I stood and grasped the ends of the loose measuring tape hanging around my neck. “Thank you for the opportunity. The Closette really made me appreciate…new things.” Like silky fabrics on my body. And blowing my boyfriend in a semi-public setting.
But mostly, it reminded me how nice it was to make someone feel good about themselves and take care of their bodies.
Giselle’s expression softened incrementally. “I’m glad to hear that. This just wasn’t the right fit. You can still shop here any time. No hard feelings.”
“No hard feelings,” I repeated, slightly numb and dizzy.
I put my coat on and went through security, who were waiting for me. The guard gave me a sympathetic smile and went through my bags and patted my coat to check for stolen goods. “Take care of yourself,” he said.
“Right. You too.” I sniffled.
I just wasn’t a good fit. For med school or underwear-slinging. So where did that leave me?
I wandered outside in the cold and adjusted my scarf only to realize I’d never taken the stupid measuring tape off my neck. Technically, I’d stolen it.
Ugh. Maybe Giselle was right to fire me.
I couldn’t imagine going back into the mall, passing our friends and now-former coworkers to find Kat. Especially since that security guard would be watching me. Nor could I call the rideshare again without being in the negatives for cashflow today.
So, I sucked up my pride and used my last resort: I called my parents.