I log off and sit back in my desk chair. I know I set Cam and Em up and I am happy that Em is happy but... I don't know. I guess I'm a little surprised that they've hit it off so quickly. They're both awesome, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Ugh. It's probably this whole Will thing making me feel weird. I push away from my computer, climb back into bed, and throw my fuzzy pink covers over my head. Maybe a nap will help.
It's still dark out after I've slowly trudged into the store. I can't believe I have to work this early, but it's Black Friday, our busiest day of the year. Everyone comes in for coffee to keep warm and awake while they wait in line at electronics or toy stores or wherever else all the big sales are. I'm trying to mentally prepare for the day of craziness when I see a sleepy-eyed Em come in.
'Hey, Jane,' she says. She yawns and walks to the break room to put her stuff away. She comes back up front and helps me arrange the chairs.
'Tired?'
She yawns. 'Uh-huh.'
'I'll go make some drinks to wake us up.'
'Good idea.'
'Have you tried the maple macchiato yet?' I ask.
'No, but I'll drink anything this morning. I need something to kick me into gear.'
I step behind the counter and turn on the espresso machine. Derek comes out from his office and gives me a look.
'Jane, I need to see you,' he says.
Shoot. He looks pissed. What could I have done now? I follow him back to his office and take a seat.
'What's up?' I ask.
'Well,' he starts, 'I don't want to take the word of one employee over another, but if there is something going on I need to stop it right now.' I stare at him blankly.
'What are you talking about?'
'You've been doing well lately, Jane. Really.'
'Okay ...'
He sighs heavily. 'Are you giving out free drinks to your friends?' he asks.
'What?' I hope I sound shocked. 'No, of course not!
Who would say that about me?'
'I really shouldn't say,' he answers slowly, but instantly I know. It's that stupid middle-aged Botox-faced Daisy.
'Daisy told you that, didn't she?' I ask. Derek holds up both hands in protest.
'I really shouldn't say,' he repeats, shaking his head from side to side.
'You don't have to,' I say. 'I know it is her–she is totally jealous of me. And how can you trust someone whose face doesn't move when she talks? You wouldn't even know if she's
Derek smirks at this, but then quickly goes back to stone-faced.
'Okay, like I said, I don't want to take one employee's word over another's. But if you are giving away free drinks, you need to stop immediately. It is grounds for dismissal.'
'I'm totally not, Derek,' I lie, but mentally promise myself to never do it again.
'All right,' he says. 'Go on back up front and finish setting up.'
I nod and rejoin Em.
'Unbelievable,' I say in a low voice when I'm within earshot of her.
'What?' she asks.
'I'm going to totally kill Daisy when I see her. She told Derek that I'm giving away free drinks to my friends.'
'Omigod, what a witch.'' Em says. She stops refilling the cookie tray to look at me.
'Yeah, I can't believe she'd do that to me,' I say. I twist my hair with my fingers.
'Especially when I've seen her giving away low-fat muffins to her Jazzercise friends.'' Em says.
'Jazzercise?' I giggle at the thought of Daisy dancing around a room with a bunch of women. 'Yeah, I guess I can see that.'
'Well, I know why she did it,' Em says. 'Why?'
'She wants your job.'
'Really?'
'Uh-huh. Daisy thought she should have been promoted to assistant manager.'
'Why? I'm totally better than her and I've been here longer,' I say.
Em shrugs.
