Chapter 1– Two Badnews In One Day
ROWAN >>
I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand as I stacked the last box of body lotion onto the shelf. The store was crowded today, and the air conditioner wasn't doing much. My shirt clung to my back, and my feet already hurt.
"Excuse me?" a voice called behind me. "Hello? Is anyone even working here?"
I turned quickly and saw a woman tapping her foot, her face twisted like she had smelled something rotten. She was holding a perfume bottle in one hand, her sunglasses pushed up onto her head
"I'm so sorry, ma'am," I said, giving her a polite smile. "How can I help you?"
She held up the bottle and waved it in front of my face. "This perfume says 500. But I saw it last week for 300."
I kept my voice calm. "We did have a promo on this brand last week, but it ended two days ago. The price is back to normal now."
She blinked, then raised her voice. "So? I want the promo price! I'm not paying 500 for something I could've gotten for 300."
"I really wish I could adjust the price for you, but the promotion's over, and we don't have access to change it manually."
"You're just being difficult!" she snapped. "Call your manager. Right now."
I opened my mouth to explain again, but she was already yelling louder. "Where is your manager?! This is terrible service! I came all the way here and this is what I get?"
A few heads turned from nearby shelves. My chest started to tighten. I hated when people raised their voices at me in public. It brought back too many memories I didn't want to think about.
"I'll get him right away," I said softly.
"No," she cut in, stepping closer. "You don't need to get him. I'll call him myself. Useless."
I tried not to flinch. I stepped aside and tapped into my earpiece to quietly ask for my manager, Mr. Jacobs, to come to the floor. I prayed it wouldn't get worse.
Mr. Jacobs walked over minutes later, his expression already tight. "What's going on here?"
Before I could even speak, the woman jumped in. "This man—this worker—was rude to me. And he tried to grab me when I told him I'd report him!"
My brain stopped. Grab her?
I stared at her, stunned. "What—?"
"He tried to assault me," she said louder, holding her wrist dramatically. "When I told him to get the manager, he got aggressive. I had to fight him off."
"I didn't touch her," I said, my voice shaking.
Mr. Jacobs looked at me, his eyebrows drawn together. "Rowan… did you touch this customer?"
"No!" I said quickly. "I didn't even go near her! She got angry over the price, and I tried explaining, that's all. We can check the CCTV—"
Before I could finish, the woman gasped loudly and held up her hand. A small streak of blood ran from her palm. "He scratched me! I was trying to defend myself!"
It was like time froze around me.
She actually cut herself just to make it look real?
"I… I don't understand," I whispered. "I didn't… I never touched you."
Mr. Jacobs looked horrified. At me.
"I can't believe this," he muttered. "You've worked here three years, Rowan. Why would you do this?"
"I didn't do anything!" My voice broke. "Please, check the footage. There's a camera right above this shelf. I swear I didn't even raise my hand!"
But he wasn't listening. He turned to the woman, trying to calm her. "Ma'am, we're so sorry. This is completely unacceptable—"
"Unacceptable?" she laughed bitterly. "You think I'll just let this go? This boy should be in jail. And you let him work here. That makes you part of the problem."
"Please," Mr. Jacobs said. "Don't take legal action. Let us make this right."
She folded her arms. "Fine. You want me to drop the charges?"
Mr. Jacobs nodded quickly. "Yes, whatever you want."
She looked at me, like she was staring at something disgusting stuck to her shoe. "Then I want the perfume. Free. And I want him—" she jabbed her finger at me "—fired."
Silence fell.
I looked at my boss, waiting for him to say something—anything—to defend me.
But all he did was nod. "You can have the perfume. Rowan…" He turned to me slowly. "You're relieved of duty. Please hand in your badge and uniform. Now."
I stared at him. "You're… firing me?"
"I don't have a choice," he said coldly. "We can't afford a lawsuit."
"No, please… please don't fire me," I whispered, turning back to my manager.
My knees felt weak, my voice barely came out. "I… I can be suspended, or punished in any other way, but please don't fire me. I need this job. I need it to take care of my family…"
I was begging now, hands shaking at my sides.
"Rowan, my hands are tied. The only person who can help you now is the customer. She's the one you hurt, not me. She's the one you should be begging."
"But I didn't hurt her…" I said quietly.
Still, I turned to her.
She was standing with her arms crossed, looking at me like I was nothing. I dropped to my knees in front of her.
"Please," I begged, the word slipping out of my mouth like a sob. "Please forgive me. I swear… I swear I didn't mean to do anything wrong. I'm sorry. I promise not to act that way again."
Even though I knew I hadn't done anything.
"You should've thought about that before you assaulted me," she said coldly.
"But I didn't—!" I started, my voice rising without meaning to.
Then I froze. I couldn't say that.
Arguing with her would only make things worse. She knew exactly what she was doing.
I stayed on my knees, head bowed, waiting for her to say something—anything—that might mean she was changing her mind.
But she didn't.
Mr. Jacobs stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Since you're already fired… it's best you leave now."
He wasn't even going to double-check the camera? Not even take five minutes to confirm what really happened?
"I'll send in your paycheck tomorrow," he added.
I swallowed hard and gave a slow nod.
I didn't even have anything to carry.
I walked out of the store like a zombie.
And then the tears came.
At first, it was just one. Then two. Then a stream.
I wasn't even trying to hold them back anymore.
This wasn't fair. None of it was. I worked hard. I showed up early. I stayed late. I smiled even when I wanted to cry.
And this was how they repaid me?
I stopped near the back alley, leaning against the brick wall. My chest was so tight I could barely breathe.
What was I going to say to Dad? What excuse could I give for coming home early?
"Hey Dad, guess what? I lost my job because someone decided to lie, and no one even bothered to hear my side."
Would he believe me? Or would he just sigh like everyone else and tell me to "move on"?
I wiped my face with the bottom of my shirt, trying to calm myself down, when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I ignored it at first. I didn't have the strength to talk to anyone. Maybe it was the store. Maybe Mr. Jacobs changed his mind?
Maybe he saw the camera footage and realized I was telling the truth?
That tiny hope made me pull out my phone.
But it wasn't my manager.
It was my dad.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Why was he calling me now? He usually never called unless it was something important. My hand hovered over the screen. I thought about letting it ring.
What if he asked why I wasn't at work?
What would I say?
I took a deep breath as I swiped the green icon and put the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
But it wasn't his voice that answered.
"Hello? Is this Rowan? Your father… he collapsed. He's in the hospital right now. You need to come quickly."