Conflicted

Chapter 3

Ada Johnson's P. O. V

Sliding the correct key into the slot, I turn it in the specific direction before opening the door widen open and stepping over the threshold. Bending down, I pick up my multiple grocery bags and then shutting the door behind me which makes a heavy thud as I make my way further into the apartment. Throwing the keys into a bowl next to the door, I place my bag down onto the counter along with all the grocery bags I have. Taking my time with putting the stuff away, my mind keeps going back to the numerous options I had with getting a new job. After a long day of searching and going from shop to shop, I realised that my options were very limited considering the fact that I didn't find a single job offer. Every place that had a sign up saying they were hiring ended up saying that the slot was already taken by someone.

I just hope someone else has good news for me. Maybe I can ask Denice if she knows anyone who's hiring.

Not even halfway through with restocking the kitchen, I glance up from the current produce in my hand as a sharp noise erupts throughout the room. A frown makes its way onto my face as I realise that it's my phones alarm which I've set since ages to let me know when I need to head out for my current job. Placing the produce down, I reach for my phone and silence the alarm while glancing back and forth from my room to the goods on the counter. Knowing Denice will have my head for being late, I let out a sigh as I leave the task at hand and end up rushing to the bathroom to freshen myself up in order to look presentable enough for work.

Without much time left, I pick the keys that I had thrown into the bowl not even ten minutes before and head out for work. Rushing down the busy streets in the afternoon isn't a new sight for me or anyone in this busy city as people push and shove past another all while I stick to the sides, not in any mood to be shouted and cursed at. Turning down a familiar path, I smile as the familiar sight of shops lining each side of the road greets my vision and slip into one of them which has huge glass windows with numerous unique and peculiar objects displayed in the window.

However that smile immediately slips off of my face as I manoeuvre past the many customers in the shop and over to a disgruntled Denice with her hands on her hips and shoes tapping against the floor in agitation. I have no chance of slipping passed her as she stands right in the doorway to the office where I need to sign in, her purposely standing there as I know I'm going to get scolded as soon as she notices my presence. My feet barely make it two further steps before her icy brown eyes meet mine and she makes her way over to the office, beckoning to me with red nails to follow after her. As soon as I reach the office, the door slams shut behind me as Denice towers over me.

"You're late." Her voice screeches at me as I take a timid step backwards, not liking how her face turns into a scowl, "You're an entire minute late Ada! You know how important punctuality means to this establishment." I keep my head low as my lips purse, not daring to say anything to anger her even more which is definitely an easy feat to do. When no more words come out of her mouth, I look up only to see she's done scolding me as I give her a timid smile, "Sorry. It won't happen again." At my words, Denice's eyes soften and I know nothing worse is to come now as she pats me awkwardly on my shoulder before turning around towards her desk. I turn to leave, knowing I should be at the till today but stop when Denice speaks up again,

"Have you eaten breakfast and lunch?" Looking across my shoulder, I nod my head at her words and am about to leave since a customer walks towards the till but stop when Denice turns around with a raised eyebrow, "You promise?" She asks once more, this time her icy brown eyes are soft and showing concern. Smiling at her, I raise my hand over my heart, "Cross my heart." This causes her to roll her eyes before shooing me away with her hands and towards the customer who glances around patiently, probably wondering where the staff are. Grinning, I head towards the customer in question and greet her warmly before ringing up her items and bidding her farewell when she leaves. And with that, I fall into a quick routine of greeting everyone who walks in and helping people here and there as much as I can.