Inferno - Chelle Bliss by Chelle Bliss

“I’m not like most men.” I lean back, stretching my legs out until they’re straight. “I like to keep people guessing…curious, almost.”

“I’ll keep your secret.”

I smile at her, wishing I could reach out and touch her cheek that looks as soft as silk. “Thank you.”

She pushes her chair back and stands, taking her coffee mug with her. “I’m going to get dressed, and I’ll be ready to go when you are.”

“Give me ten.”

She places her hand on my bare shoulder. “I’ll pay you back for your kindness someday.”

I peer up at her, soaking in her beauty. “There’s no need, Opal. I’m happy I can help.”

Her smile makes my heart stutter a little as she gives my shoulder a squeeze. I obviously need to get laid because even the lightest of touches shouldn’t be affecting me the way it does.

I did my good deed for the year, and now I’m about to make every wrong decision to negate the shit out of it too.





6





OPAL





“Opal?” my boss calls from across the room.

I pop my head up over my cubicle divider, searching for her until my eyes land on her sour face. The woman never smiles and has perpetual resting bitch face. It wouldn’t be an issue if her attitude didn’t match her look so perfectly.

“Yeah?” I say softly, hating to be called out in front of other people.

The office has grown quiet, and while no one is looking at either of us, there’s definitely a tense vibe. I haven’t been here long enough to know what this means, but based on the reaction of the room, it’s not good.

“Come into my office, please.” She turns around, walking back inside her cramped and messy office, but leaves the door open.

“Sucks, man,” the girl with bright-pink hair in the cubicle in front of me mutters. “I’m sorry.” Her smile is tight. “Keep your chin up.”

I push away from my desk and stand. “What’s it mean?” I ask her, my gaze moving from her pained face to the open door.

“You’re getting canned.”

“Canned, as in fired?”

The girl nods. “Every time.”

Damn it. This is the last thing I need right now. I depleted much of my savings by staying in a hotel for a week while I found an apartment. Then there was the security deposit and first month’s rent. Don’t even get me started on all the little things and furniture.

I walk slowly, hoping if she has a few extra seconds to think that, somehow, it’ll all end differently. My stomach gurgles, threatening to rid itself of all the things I ate for lunch. I place my hand on my belly and hope I can keep everything down while my boss fires me.

I step inside her office and wait near the door as she keeps her eyes trained on her screen and her fingers typing away at her keyboard.

“Sit,” she commands.

My gaze moves away from her to the area across from her desk. There’s no empty space. Papers are everywhere, including stacks of them on the two chairs opposite her desk.

“Or stand,” she mutters when her eyes follow mine to the mess. “I hate to do this…”

I know what that means, and it’s exactly as the pink-haired girl had predicted. Nothing good starts with “I hate to do this.” Nothing.

“We’re overstaffed, and since you’re the last one hired, we’re going to need to let you go. I’ll make sure you’re paid for the rest of the day, but your services are no longer needed.”

“I don’t even get to finish out the week?” I ask, twisting my fingers together in front of me as I start to think of new ways to make cash.

She shakes her head. “No, Opal. You’ll get your eight hours today, and that’s it. You were a good worker, and you could’ve become one of the best in the office.”

I hold in my snort. This is a telemarketing company. It’s the only place that would hire me immediately and require nothing from me besides a one-hour training course and a driver’s license. They were the first to respond to my application online, and I took it because it was just something to earn cash while I found a real job.

“Well.” I clear my throat, hating that I’m being fired but suddenly feeling a new sense of peace. “I appreciate you giving me a shot.”

My now ex-boss gives me a little chin lift before moving papers around on her desk. “You can go now.”

“Leave your office now, or leave the office now?”

“The office,” she tells me. “Grab your stuff and go. My boss is coming in today, and he can’t see you here.”

“But won’t he see my paycheck?”

She peers up at me, and her eyes move around like she’s thinking about something. “Good point. I can pay you for the rest of the hour but not the entire day.”

Fuck. Way to go, Opal. I talked her out of paying me for the entire day in the blink of an eye. “Great,” I mumble.

I stalk to my desk, grab my purse, and head for the door without a goodbye to anyone. In the short amount of time I’d worked at ABC Telemarketing, I hadn’t bothered to make any friends. By the time our break rolled around, everyone was talked out and stayed glued to their own phone screens for downtime. Plus, I never thought I’d stay here long. Making calls to people who want nothing to do with whatever reason I’m calling isn’t something I want to do as a long-term career.