Chapter 3
The question hung in the air: “How is it so far?” A whisper of a thought, directed to an unseen audience. I think it’s kinda boring till now…what do ya’ll think?
*One week later.*
Matthew’s POV:
“Matt, the new boss wants to see all of us, now,” Kyle said, pulling me along with the others toward the office. The urgency in his grip felt cold.
“Do you think he’ll fire us?” Kyle’s voice was a hushed murmur, his eyes fixed on the closed door. He stared blankly, as if the answer was etched into the wood.
“Let’s hope not.” I knocked firmly, and Kyle pushed the door open. Inside, a man lounged on the desk, smoke curling from a blunt between his lips. His feet were propped up, a casual disregard for authority.
[Image of the man as described in the original text]
“Is this all of you?” His voice was gravelly, scrutinizing us as if we were livestock.
“Yes, sir,” Aaron, the staff manager, answered. The boss nodded, his eyes raking over us, assessing our worth.
“Right. I’ll start. From today, I’m your new boss, and I mean business. I want money. Those who can’t make me money will get fired. If customers want to be pleased, you please them. If a customer wants to fuck, you jolly well let them fuck. If a customer wants a strip show or a lap-dance, you also do it. Any questions?”
The words hung, brutal and stark.
Kyle spoke up, pointing to my red band. “Sir, what about limitations? Some of us have them.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? If they can’t please my customers, they’re fired. Simple.” The threat was cold, efficient. The implication, terrifying. *Fired?* Where would I earn money? How would I pay for the hospital bills?
“F-Fired?” I stammered, the words catching in my throat. The fear was a vise around my chest. Tears threatened to spill over.
“Yes. Fired.” The boss’s voice was flat, bored. “So, judging by your red band, it means strictly no business. I can let you stay if you’re willing to at least satisfy them with whatever they want, no sex needed of course. So, can you?” He stared, his gaze piercing. The weight of the other men's eyes pressed down on me.
Unable to breathe, my knees buckled. I fell to the ground, unable to meet his gaze.
“Pathetic. You’re fired. Grab your things if you have any and go. Here’s your last paycheck. Anyone else wants to leave too? No? Good. Get back to work.” He dismissed us with a wave of his hand.
Kyle lifted me, carrying me back to our shared ‘dorm.’ Tears flowed freely, blurring my vision. I buried my face in his chest, unable to speak. *Now what?*
“Shhh…don’t cry, Matt. You’ll find a better job. I promise.” Kyle’s words were a hollow comfort. I knew he was lying. Who would hire a 25-year-old dropout?
“I’ve lost my job and my shelter, Kyle. Where am I going to go?”
“Here.” He pressed a stack of fifties into my hand. “This should cover a small flat for half a year.”
I shook my head, pushing the money back. “I can’t accept this.”
“Please, Matt. You need it more than me now. I have a job and a roof over my head. I can make more easily.”
“I can’t take it.”
“Please, just take at least a fifty. Please? We’re friends, right? Friends help each other when one is in need.” His voice was laced with desperation.
The guilt twisted inside me. I took the fifty, clenching it tightly in my fist. “Thank you, Kyle.”
“No problem, Matt. Take care of yourself. Come find me if you need help. I’ll be here.” He tucked the bill deep into my pants pocket, along with the pillow.
“Thank you for being my friend,” I whispered, pressing my forehead against his chest.
“Take care, kiddo.” I nodded and walked out into the streets. It was snowing. A shiver ran through me. Hopefully there will be some cardboard around. Walking to the back of the supermarket where I used to work, I found a large piece of cardboard. Luckily it was big enough to cover my whole body.
I laid the pillow on the cold metal bench and tucked myself into a fetal position, then draped the cardboard over me. Hopefully it won't get too cold tonight.
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Dylan’s POV:
“Daddy! Pleaseeee! Can we go to the park? It’s snowing and I need to check on the ducklings!” Caydon had been whining for an hour, even refusing his cake – his favorite dessert.
“It’s too late, Caydon. I’ll take you tomorrow.”
“No, daddy! I want to go now! Just let me check on the ducklings. Please? Just thirty minutes?”
“Ugh…fine. Let’s go. Grab your coat, gloves, and beanie.”
“Yeah!” He cheered, dashing to grab his clothes.
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~
“Where are the ducklings, daddy? Why can’t I find them?”
“They went home already, Matt.”
“Oh…daddy, look! Someone is sleeping there!” He pointed toward a bench, a figure huddled beneath a piece of cardboard. “We have to help him, daddy! What if he freezes?! We have to bring him home!”
“Caydon, we can’t bring strangers home. What if they want to be left alone?”
“Can we give him some money? He can buy a hot chocolate to warm him up, like you always make one for me when I’m cold.”
I was glad he was such a kind-hearted child.
“Okay, Matt. Here.” I handed him a tenner. He ran to the sleeping figure, lifting the cardboard slightly. After a moment, he covered him back up.
“He’s pretty, daddy.” He commented, running back to me.
“Pretty?”
“Yeah! But skinny…like Xavier.” He whimpered softly. Xavier had died from cancer half a year ago. “Do you think he’s going to die, daddy?”
“Let’s hope not, okay?”
“Okay, daddy.”
“Let’s go home.” I scooped Caydon into my arms, hugging him close. He kept his eyes fixed on the sleeping figure until he was out of sight.