The Gold and the Forest

XI

Chapter 11: I Quit

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"I quit!" She screamed. "I don't want to do this anymore!"

"Vivien—"

She began stripping her uniform off briskly, tears forming at the edge of her eyes. Sean left the locker room, leaving her alone. She stood there, shirtless, and she let a tear slip down her face. She shoved her shirt over her head, grabbed her things, and ran out of the shop.

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They had to close early because they did not have a cashier. Sean sent Carl home, a dismayed look on his face. Before he let him go, he had stopped him momentarily for a talk.

"I really don't want her mom to come asking, or for her dad to get angry. So, please attempt to talk to her. I'm not sure what you two have going on, but just—let her have her way this once."

Carl nodded. Sean wasn't sure if that meant he was going to do it or if he was just nodding so he could leave. Sean made a note to hire more people as soon as possible and thought about making a bigger "hiring" poster.

Carl walked home, relieved. He didn't think talking to Vivi was anything he should prioritize. He found her spoiled and didn't feel the need to give in to her demands. She always had her way. He wasn't going to be another one of her lapdogs.

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She was planning to go home, throw a tantrum, and then get comforted by her mom. However, her plan was foiled being that Kade was the only one at home. He was on the phone with what she assumed to be Min, and caught her gaze outside his door.

"Alright, Cent. I think my fellow rich brat has an issue." Vivi heard him say as she waited for him whilst leaning against the wall next to his door.

"Ok, bye. Love you." He laughed, he waited for her to hang up before walking out and leaning against the doorframe. "How's work?"

"Bad." She pouted. "Very bad. But there won't be any more in the future."

"And why is that?" He began texting on his phone.

"Because I quit."

He looked up. "Why?"

"Because—" She inhaled deeply. "Because Wolfie! He's driving me mad."

"You're the only one that overreacts over him. We all know what he's like."

"Maybe you two know him really well!" She gestured to herself. "But I don't!"

Kade blinked slowly, giving her a flat look. "Well." He raised a hand up. "You have a point."

"But." He pointed at her. "You've gotten more childish since you found out he worked there. It was almost like a flip was switched in you. You have to admit that."

Her posture slowly slouched. She looked at the floor in dismay.

"Was I wrong?" Her voice had lost its fight. "Was it because I kissed him? Am I that bad?"

"You—" Kade choked. "You what?"

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Was it—was that it?" She sobbed.

"Whoa—Vivi! Hold on!" He ran off to go find tissues.

"But he kissed me back!" She started sobbing harder. "That's really misleading!"

He came back with tissues and handed them to her. "Ok, ok, let's go sit down."

He ushered her over to the nearest seat and kept handing her tissues.

"Why'd he run off on me!?" She wailed. "I don't know what he's thinking! One moment he's nice, the next he's not!"

He patted her back. "Yes, yes. Bad Wolfie."

"What is a girl supposed to do!?" She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. 

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