Page 7 of Obsession

Fuck, I spoke too soon.

I hear the sarcasm in her tone, and my blood begins to boil. But I say nothing and pretend that I’m focusing on the screen.

“You don’t need to pretend like you can’t hear me because I know you can.”

I angle my head up and scan the store floor, Aiden is busy helping some customers.

“Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but just leave mealone,” I tell her.

“I don’t have a problem. Not anymore anyway, and that’s because you listened to what I told you.”

I clench my fists and I hear them both crack, then I turn my head to face her, and our eyes connect.

“I don’t think you realize just who you’re speaking to. I’m your boss, and I willnottolerate you speaking to me like this. So, consider this your first and only warning. You speak to me like this again and I will have you dismissed, immediately.”

“Is that a threat,boss?”

“It’s a warning,” I reply.

I don’t wait around for a reply, instead I head to the back room, grab my keys and wallet, then step back into the store. Kora is still standing behind the counter, and when she sees me emerge, she gives me that stupid, wicked grin of hers. I proceed to wander past the counter when I hear her voice.

“Oh, Aiden?”

Aiden stops talking to his customers and looks over at Kora.

“Could you come over here for a moment when you’re free, there’s something we need to discuss,” she tells him with that smile of hers.

The little snake.

“Just give me a moment,” he replies, going back to his customers.

I close my eyes, then take a deep breath in, count to three and exhale. I then turn around and move toward the counter.

“Keep. Your mouth. Shut!” I warn her.

“Another threat,boss?I don’t think HR would appreciate multiple complaints about the same employee whose only been here a short period of time.”

What a fucking littlec—

“You wanted to speak to me about something, Kora?”

Aiden appears before us, cutting through my insult.

“I was just going to say that Cody—”

“Is fully prepped and ready to go for inventory tomorrow. Kora has gone through everything I need to know, and I was just saying how amazing she’s been toward me since I started working here.”

I think I’m going to be sick. I’ve never had to lie through my ass so quickly before. But if it’s the only way I’m going to shut this bitch up, then so be it.

“That’s really good to hear. I’m glad,” he acknowledges. “So, you’re all confident then?”

“Yep, no problem,” I reply.

“Was there anything else, Kora?” Aiden asks.

She glares at me, with pure satisfaction on her face and I give her a pleading look.

“No, Aiden. That’s all. I just wanted to make sure that everyone was on the same page for tomorrow to make it all go smoothly.”

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