I’m eating lunch now, and stop to listen as I hear a client speaking. I can’t usually hear things back here, but the door is cracked open, and my earphones are sitting on the table unused.
“Where is this new alterations person everyone is speaking about, Cordelia?” she asks loudly. There’s a nasal-like quality to her voice, and it raises the hair on my arms as I swallow hard.
Coughing lightly, I take a sip of my water, waiting to see if I’m needed. I decided to eat my lunch with the lull in people in the store. However, Daphne is working on a wedding dress that had a strict deadline, and she asked not to be disturbed.
I get it. The wedding dress is important, so I could be pulled in to help this creepy client. I’m sure she’s completely harmless, right?
I can’t hear what Cordelia is saying now that they’re further in the store, and I force myself to take another bite of my sandwich.
I have to eat now, or there won’t be another chance until my shift is over. My appetite is finally back, and my blood sugar will kick my ass if I neglect myself.
“Winter?” Lena sticks her head into the back room, and I wave at her as I take a final bite. “No, please don’t rush. Cordelia and I are helping Mrs. Larson. You have time before you’re needed. I just wanted to let you know she’s very petite, and always needs things altered.”
“Thank you,” I say once I’ve swallowed. “I’m almost done.”
Lena gives me a smile as she leaves, shutting the door behind her. It gives me a bubble of safety, and I sigh as I take another sip of water.
“Mrs. Larson touches too much,” Daphne says, surprising me. “Don’t spend too long alone with her. I wish you’d worn pants today.”
Glancing down at my fluffy skirt, I sigh as I hear the implication.
“It’s been raining today, so I actually did shove a pair of pants in my bag,” I admit. “I’m going to change so I won’t have to worry about being goosed at work.”
“I think that’s a good idea. She comes in often, buys a few pieces at a time, and then needs it all altered. The woman has too much money, and a husband who overindulges her,” she says. “It wouldn’t be an issue if she wasn’t constantly touching me.”
Daphne makes a face at me, and I understand completely. She’s a beta, but no one likes to have their personal space encroached on.
“Thank you for the heads up,” I murmur, pulling the gray cotton pants from my bag. Moving quickly, I head into the bathroom back here and change.
I’m wearing a loose white top today, and I carefully tuck the front of it into the pants. I’m wearing a necklace that works well with it, and my closed toe shoes are cute too.
The very idea of being touched inappropriately is making me twitchy, and I have to remind myself that I don’t have to allow it. I can set boundaries nicely.
Right? I can do that, right? Fuck.
My anxiety is making my hands shake as I wash them just to have something to do. I also dry my hands slowly to give myself time to pull myself together, because sticking Mrs. Larson with a pin would suck.
I refuse to lose my job today.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I walk back to my bag and pull out my new phone. Abbott insisted that I have my own since I’m working. They made a Pack Chat for us to communicate throughout the day, and I smile as I read some of the messages.
Abbott
How’s work going, Winter?
Me
It’s busy. I have a client that’s known for being difficult in a second, so I’m trying to hype myself up.
Cassidy
Who?
Me
Just a regular. It’ll be fine.
My pack is too murderous to tell them about Mrs. Larson when she hasn’t actually done anything to me. Who the hell knows what they’ll do to her?
