Chapter 3

3

“Still working, Hadley?”

As everyone else packed up to leave, Fallon blocked my path with her arms crossed.

I had no desire to waste my breath on her. I tried to walk past her, plan on washing my hands, and then head upstairs to meet my dad.

Seeing me ignore her, Fallon stepped directly in front of me, her temper flaring.

“Who said you could leave? Are you clocking out already?”

I almost laughed out loud. Even my dad did not force workers into mandatory overtime, yet here she was acting like she owned the place.

I turned around and met her bossy glare. “What, am I not allowed to leave?”

“Don't you dare talk back to me, Hadley! Supervisor Briggs is my uncle!”

I narrowed my eyes. “Your uncle, huh?”

That explained everything. Over the past two days, Fallon had taken hourly bathroom breaks and slacked off constantly while Leonard turned a blind eye. They were family.

When I finally pushed open the door to my dad's office, I collapsed onto the leather couch, closing my eyes in exhaustion.

“Oh, look at you, completely wiped out,” my dad said softly, walking over with concern. “You look like you've lost weight. I'm going to tell your mom to stop this nonsense. An eighteen-year-old girl shouldn't be grinding on an assembly line. Just stay home and rest, sweetie.”

A few days ago, I would have taken his offer in a heartbeat. But running into Fallon made me want to stick it out.

“Don't worry, Dad,” I replied with a grin. “I actually find it kind of fun.”

Honestly, the physical work was not that bad compared to sitting through grueling twelve-hour study sessions in high school. It was dealing with Fallon's constant schemes that was mentally draining.

Besides, I got a private ride to and from work with my dad every day, shielded from the heat and rain, with total flexibility. My situation was already a luxury.

The next morning, the moment I set down my bag in the workshop, Leonard locked his eyes on me. Right behind him stood Fallon, wearing a smug, expectant grin.

“Hadley, look,” Leonard began in a loud, lecturing tone. “You've been here less than a week and already switched departments. On top of that, everyone stays for overtime while you vanish. I'm only keeping you around because you're Fallon's classmate.”

“Really? Then I should thank Fallon properly,” I replied dramatically. “Without her, I guess I wouldn't even have this wonderful job!”

My sarcastic tone clearly rattled them.

Her uncle might be a supervisor, but he only managed this single packaging line. Even if he wanted to fire me, Fallon would stop him because she wanted me around to torment.

“You…”

Before Leonard could finish, I turned on my heel and sat down at my station.

Since I had publicly snapped back at them, I knew they would try to find another excuse to target me.

Sure enough, it did not take long before Leonard paced over with his hands behind his back. His eyes drifted straight to the plastic tote behind my chair.

“Hadley! I'm trying to cut you some slack, but this work is totally unacceptable!”

He raised his voice deliberately, drawing the attention of every worker nearby.

“How can a young girl be this clumsy? Or is it… just a terrible attitude?”