CHAPTER EIGHT #2
The next store appeared to be worse than the first. Earlier, we’d walked into organised chaos, but here, it was simply chaos.
Not to mention the hairless cat that slunk around piles and wrapped its tail around our legs.
I released a disgusted shudder and stepped away.
Lucky would be pissed when he smelled that oversized rat on my pants.
He hadn’t even accepted that this new golden skin was his owner.
Last night, he’d slept in the living room and hissed at me when I came out for a glass of water despite making his favourite pstpstpst sounds.
‘Shit, this is going to take all day.’ Corey twisted from corner to corner.
My brain ached thinking how long it would take to search this place, and my fingers rubbed my temples. ‘Let’s ask first.’
Taking short breaths in an attempt to avoid the stale air, we followed the maze of filthy mounds of crap to the back. A man who’d combed the remaining three hairs on his head over the top in a pitiful attempt to cover his scalp smiled with a missing front tooth.
‘Find a treasure in the trove,’ he exclaimed, arms open wide.
‘Actually, we’re looking for something very specific. Do you know if someone brought in a black umbrella with aliens on it?’ I crossed my fingers and hoped.
‘They’re not aliens,’ Corey muttered.
‘Whatever.’ I waved my hand dismissively. It was the best description I could muster for the blurs I’d seen that night.
The man shook his head. ‘No, no umbrellas, sorry.’
My shoulders slumped from the slight hope I’d allowed Corey to talk me into.
‘We do have plenty of raincoats though.’ He pointed to a dusty pile.
‘No, that’s oka—’
‘Let me show you.’ His short legs hurried to the middle of the store.
As he reached into the pile, small bugs scampered across the floor in search of a new hiding spot. I grabbed Corey’s arm, repulsed and shocked that the health department hadn’t shut this place down.
‘We’re in a hurry, sorry,’ said Corey.
He tried to drag me into the maze, avoiding Scrotum Cat and, weirdly, all the cracks in the floor.
‘It’s here and ready.’ The balding man lifted a raincoat missing an arm.
‘Thanks so much, but we’re after a very specific umbrella.’ I held tight to Corey’s arm as I shuffled backwards.
‘You don’t like it?’ The man frowned.
‘It’s great, it’s just not what we’re after.’ My foot took another step back.
‘You can have it for twenty cents. Final offer.’ He thrust it forward, hope gleaming in his eyes.
This time, I took a larger step back so the milk-stained raincoat wouldn’t touch me. At least, I hoped it was milk.
‘Watch out,’ Corey squealed.
I stumbled over the box behind me and landed in a pile of unwashed towels, the back of my jeans dampening as they absorbed the moisture.
‘Why are the towels wet?’ I howled.
‘Ah, those were donated this morning after a litter of puppies were born on the street. Right there.’ He pointed out the window excitedly.
‘So, what, you’re selling dirty things covered in bodily fluid?’
‘Nothing a little wash can’t fix.’ He shrugged.
I bounced back to my feet refusing to cry, and tugged Corey’s arm to the exit.
I hissed at Scrotum Cat who padded along next to us, then immediately regretted it.
The poor naked thing was probably waiting for us to open the door so he could escape this shit pit.
Once we’d made it outside, I opened my mouth as wide as my jaw would allow and sucked in fresh air to replenish my starved brain while Scrotum Cat watched from the window.
‘Blink if you need help,’ I told him.
I stared into his emerald eyes until I was convinced he was okay.
‘We’ll try the next one,’ Corey insisted.
My shoulders sagged. ‘And then what? The next one, then the next one? When does it end?’
‘You can’t give up, just like your ridiculous password says.’ Corey placed his hand on my shoulder. ‘We don’t have any other options.’
His words were horrifyingly true. I tried not to let them wrap around my brain, but the lack of control over this situation crushed my soul one letter at a time and riled me up.
We don’t have any other options.
‘Don’t use my password against me.’ I shook my finger at him like an enraged mother.
‘Calm down, would you? I’m trying to help.’
After seeing him as my opposition for so long, it was difficult to remember we were fighting for the same goal.
I blew out a breath and nodded. He didn’t want to be me any more than I wanted to be him.
‘I know, it’s just… shit. Completely and utterly shit.
And even if we do find that umbrella, it’s almost summer.
It could be months before there’s another storm. ’
‘Unless we try electrocuting ourselves with the umbrella?’
My mouth dropped at his suggestion. ‘You can’t be serious. And risk killing ourselves?’
‘You’re right, you’re right.’ He blew out a large breath then widened his eyes. ‘Oh, shit.’
My forehead scrunched as his face whitened, so I followed his line of sight until my gaze landed on the bald man of my work nightmares. Red-faced with narrow slits for eyes, his gaze lasered on me.
‘I fucking knew it,’ he spat out as he crossed the road.
I couldn’t believe Corey’s boss and his lack of professionalism.
‘There’s something you should know about my boss,’ Corey began.
Before he could say another word, the bald man’s lips were uncomfortably close to my face.
‘How many times do you think you can pull this shit?’
Oh Jesus, Corey must take a million sickies, and now I’m the one paying for it. ‘Um, no more than I already have?’
Corey sighed and dropped his head in defeat next to me.
‘Think you’re funny? Gonna be real funny when you find yourself in a cubicle smaller than the shitter while some other dickhead spreads himself in your office.’
My top lip curled in disgust at the incredibly unprofessional visual. This is exactly what Mum taught me to stand against; men thinking they’re untouchable once they reach a powerful position.
I raised my chin and held his gaze, refusing to blink no matter how much I wanted to cower. How dare he threaten Corey with a demotion. ‘I’m entitled to a sick day.’
‘When you’re actually sick.’ His finger stabbed my chest with each word.
My hand involuntarily rubbed the sore spot he’d poked. ‘I am.’
‘Don’t look very sick. You looked sicker when you lost that deal last month.’
Corey flinched next to me and released a large exhale. ‘Low blow,’ he muttered.
‘And who the hell are you?’ He turned to Corey, pausing once he noticed the petite figure next to me. ‘Taking a sick day to entertain a girl?’
‘I’ve taken a sick day because I’m sick,’ I repeated, louder this time.
‘I expected more from you.’ He hoisted his pants over his large belly and shook his head. ‘Your mother is expecting you on Friday. This sickness better be gone before then. I won’t have the maid taking martinis into the bedroom all evening because you didn’t show up. Again.’
‘I—’
‘Say you’ll be there.’ The bald man insisted.
‘I’ll be there.’
Corey’s boss was seeing his mother?
He gave Corey one last disgusted glare, from his – my – long black hair to the white sneakers he wore, then turned away and stormed off.
‘Your boss is seeing your mother?’ My forehead creased.
A laugh burst from Corey like the air of an untied balloon. ‘My boss is my father, who is married to my mother.’
‘Your boss is your father?’ My mouth dropped and I shook my head. ‘I knew it. You’re a nepo baby.’
Corey tried to rake his hand through his hair, barely getting to the end of his scalp before all my black hair knotted in a giant ball around his fingers. He tapped his right toes against the ground and bit his lip. ‘None of this was my choice.’
Corey was exactly who I thought he was – an entitled rich kid.
‘Yes, how sad. To be given a job earning way more than you probably deserve, locked away in a penthouse with city views and takeaway containers in the bin. We had a deal for our final exam, that I would admit you deserved your position if you scored higher than me. How could I ever think you deserve your job now?’
‘I deserve my job because I work my ass off.’
I tried to laugh, but it was borderline sad at how out of touch with reality he was.
‘But you didn’t work your ass off to get there.
Not like I have. It was like climbing a staircase for you.
You simply lifted your foot, and it landed a step higher.
For some of us, our feet are glued to the same step. ’
‘You have no idea what it’s been like for me.’
‘I’m sure that man over there would sympathise with you.’ I pointed to a man who possibly hadn’t bathed in weeks, huddled in a brick corner with coins scattered across a towel in front of him.
‘Yeah, yeah. I get it.’ He rolled his eyes.
‘No, Corey. You don’t,’ I snapped. How would he ever understand that every man I met seemed to glide through their careers without any obstacles, and I was desperate for the same?
‘It’s not my fault.’
‘You work with numbers, so understand this. My give-a-fucks are in the minus region right now.’ I crossed my arms and walked to the car.
The audacity of that spoiled brat. Whining about working for his father who rewarded him with a pay cheque big enough to afford a freaking Lexus when mine didn’t even pay child support. I may never make it to Forbes Magazine, but at least I had my dignity.