For the rest of the day, Cora stayed as busy as possible, even volunteering to stay late and clean up the clutter that had accumulated.Wasn’t like she had anything else to look forward to.The day was beyond mentally exhausting and all she wanted to do was go home and flop on her bed.When she was done, she went to her employee locker and twirled the dial until the door popped open.She reached for her purse when suddenly, a fist came from nowhere to slam it shut.Startled, she spun around, coming face to face with a male she’d seen around the office but never interacted with.Standing next to him was Ranelle.She slowly looked from one to the other and the fury on the other woman’s face had her taking a step backward.However, the wall of lockers prevented her from retreating further.
She focused on Ranelle.“What do you want?”
“You fucking talked back,” she explained coldly.
Cora blinked.“What?”
“You’re going to get down on your knees and apologize.Then, you’re going to give Steven here a blow job for helping me discipline you, and I’m going to film it.”
She shook her head.“You’re crazy.”
Ranelle leaned closer.“And you’re not going to be working here after today.”
Fear sluiced down her spine, but she refused to cower in front of these two.What had she ever done to them?She needed this job.It wasn’t fair.
“Why are you doing this?”she asked.It was impossible to keep her emotions inside, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Aw, are you going to sob?Just look at you, all pathetic, crying like a baby.”
“What have I ever done to you?”
“You exist.”
Cora would never understand mean girls.The perceived threat on their territories making them lash out like children wanting dibs on a toy.She reached behind her and grabbed the broom leaning against the wall, then turned and jabbed the end into Steven’s gut.He doubled over with an oof and Cora raised it above her head, coming down so hard it split the wooden handle.He fell flat.She grabbed the broken ends and held them like shields.
“Walk away, Ranelle,” she warned.“You’re on the security feed, so if you walk away now, I won’t point this out to anyone.But if you bother me again, I will tell upper management what you were threatening me with.”
Ranelle glanced up at the ceiling and Cora waited for her to spot the small camera in the corner.Giving an irritated growl, she hauled Steven up.
“You’re gonna regret this,” she snarled
Together, they left.Only then did Cora relax, the adrenaline leaving her shaking.Her shoulders slumped because in a matter of days she’d had a one-two punch to the gut.
“Yeah, probably,” she mumbled to herself.
Slipping on her coat and hat, she picked up her purse, locked her locker, and headed out.The only person at the front was the night security sitting at his desk.She waved at him and scanned her badge to leave the building.The chilly night air wrapped around her, and her coat clearly wasn’t able to block out the cold.She shivered a little and realized she missed her bus.She would have to walk two blocks to catch the next one.Burying down into her coat, trying to find any bit of warmth she could, her mind wandered to Ranelle.She was going to have to report her and Steven, despite her promise not to, because if she didn’t, she knew they would strike first by saying she antagonized them, instead of the other way around.
“Miss Charles,” a voice called out.
So deep in thought, she startled and spun, losing her balance.Arms encircled her, preventing her from having a nasty fall, and she stared into dark, fathomless eyes.The eyes of a stranger.It was too soon since watching a woman fall to her death and she struggled to free herself.Once he made sure she was steady, he let her go.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, holding up his hands.“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“That’s what all the serial killers say.”
That seemed to catch him off guard and one corner of his mouth turned upward.By the stilted gesture, Cora got the impression he didn’t smile often.“What if I promise I’m not a serial killer?”
“Pretty sure they would say that, too.”
“Very well, what can I do to convince you I’m a nice guy?”
Suddenly, all the levity in her face fell, replaced with absolute terror.Her breathing grew shallow, near to the point of hyperventilating.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Please, d-don’t hurt me.I promise I-I didn’t see anything.I just want to go home.”
All the levity disappeared, and he looked very confused.She glanced from him to the man behind him, seemingly standing guard, and back.He looked familiar.“Who are you?”
