Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
"So you really wear the same tie every second Thursday of the month? That's... a little strange, isn't it? Do you have OCD or something? Or are you just one of those people who says you have OCD, but you actually prefer things to be neat or have one little quirk that's vaguely reminiscent of OCD but totally not actual, clinically defined OCD."
I stared at her. "Is there something wrong with you?"
"Nope," she said cheerily. "But it's okay. We can work on this whole small talk, big talk thing. We'll get there with time."
"We're not going to get anywhere," I said, voice cold.
She glanced at the elevator number, which was steadily increasing. "I'd say we're going up. You and me, Mr. Foster. We're on the way up. Together," she whispered dramatically.
Nobody talked to me like this. They were too scared to fuck with me. Something had to be wrong with Ember. Was her ability to feel fear broken? How the hell did she survive? Did she also walk in front of moving cars, pet lions, and swim with sharks?
"We're not going to have time to work on anything," I clarified. "Because today or tomorrow, I'll name a price, and you'll take it. Because you're apparently desperate enough to take this ridiculous job instead of contributing to society. Because I have something you want, and you'll happily take it once I offer you enough."
Something flickered in Ember's eyes. Defiance? Anger? Excitement? "Okay," she said sweetly.
"Okay?" I asked.
"What's the point in arguing with you, Mr. Foster? Why don't we just let things happen and see if they play out how you think they will? It sounds fun."
I felt my nostrils flaring and noticed her eyes focus on them. I tried to will them to stop it, along with the tension I felt between my eyebrows.
Ember's full lips twitched at the corners. "This is a long elevator ride, isn't it? Long and tense... Just how I like it."
Was this woman seriously...
The door dinged.
I had to use the back of my hand on Ember's shoulder to nudge her out of my way.
I turned and raised a palm to stop her from stepping off the elevator.
"You're not allowed on this floor," I said.
"See you tomorrow. Meet out front like this morning again? It's a date," she said, twinkling her fingers.
Once the doors closed, I let out a heavy breath and ran my hand through my hair.
Ember... The image of her haughtily confident smile was burned into my unfortunately picture-perfect memory.
What was she angling for? There had to be something. Anybody desperate enough to work a shit job like being a Hate Notes employee would jump at the chance for a few thousand dollars to not do their job. I knew because I watched dozens of them get fired for smaller bribes.
Ember was different somehow. I supposed it didn't really matter. She would have a price, and I would find it. They all had a price.
7
EMBER
Kora sipped her coffee across from me, eyebrows sky high. "Four thousand dollars? And you said no?"
"Dude," I whispered, leaning close and trying to ignore the looks my silly little "Hate Notes" uniform drew when I was out in public. The company's reputation was somewhere between "door-to-door vacuum salesmen" and "people who dress up as singing telegrams." "Cole is still paying my salary. I haven't been in the building for two weeks and am still on the payroll. And I'm getting paid by Hate Notes. Yes, it's minimum wage, but it's extra money I wasn't earning before.”
"Okay, but four grand? Wouldn’t that cover your rent for a couple months?" Kora asked, voice expectant.
“You’re not thinking big enough. Cole is a greedy, cheap bastard who hardly pays us a livable wage. Orion's employees are terrified of him, but he pays them well. Really well. If he offers me a job, I'll be rolling in cash, especially when Cole keeps paying my salary."
Kora pursed her lips in thought, then smiled. "I love the thought of Cole finding out you played him. Like, what's he going to do, go to the police? 'Hello, Police? My employee lied about the illegal espionage mission I sent her on and has been collecting two paychecks!'"
"We don't know it is illegal," I conceded.
"Okay, but at the very least, it's scummy."
"Agreed. Speaking of scum..." I sighed. "I have a few Hate Notes to read to this guy who runs a laundromat a few blocks from here. Compared to Orion, his Hate Notes are like love notes. This guy’s note for today is from somebody who is mad because the detergent gives him a rash. I mean… come on. That’s worth five bucks to complain about? Hasn’t this guy heard of just leaving a review online?”
"How is Orion, by the way?" Kora asked, stopping me as I was about to stand. Her tone was way too innocent.