Page 27 of Shameful Addictions

Charlotte yanked her eyes away from the hair and looked at her outfit. Thanks to the weight she had lost, her clothes were growing too loose to fit properly. She was beginning to look like a true imposter. Like someone dressing up as someone they weren’t. Maybe that wouldn’t have been so bad if not for the looks she was getting. She looked homeless, like she had been forced to get the cheapest items available at a secondhand store.

There was another look besides the homeless one, and that one was even worse. Some of her loose clothes now hung just the right way to appear sluttery. Her too-big pants hung off her hips, flashing her panties–and even wearing a belt did nothing. Her shirts might slope off one or both shoulders, showing her bra, showing more of her breasts than she was comfortable with.

The dress she had chosen for the day was of the second variety. The dress could hang on one shoulder, or the other, not both at the same time. No matter which side she pushed the dress to, the angle revealed nearly the whole shape of her dress and plenty of cleavage beside.

She stared at herself in dismay. If not for the length of the dress, she could have been any run-of-the-mill whore about to work the street corners. This wasn’t at all the image she wanted to convey, not for the place where she was going.

I need to change.

Charlotte left her bathroom and went to her dresser, but a glance at her phone stopped her. She was going to be late if she didn’t get going right then. That wouldn’t help her image at all.

She looked around in desperation and saw a jacket hanging on the back of her door. That would have to do. She pulled it on and shoved her feet into a pair of shoes and headed out.

A job fair was taking place downtown at a convention center. Many people from in and around the area were going to be there, searching for promising employees. Her hope was that, in such a public setting, her identity might go unnoticed. Then she could hand in her resume and maybe get a call or two. By that point, she’d have already won the potential employer over so that they might be willing to take a chance on her despite her reputation.

It was a long shot, but the fair was going to last all week, so she was getting a lot of chances there.

The center was packed, as she had hoped. Companies had set up booths all up and down the hallways, around which gathered crowds of hopeful people, all carrying copies of their own resumes and portfolios.

Charlotte pulled her jacket higher over her shoulders and ducked her head, and dove into the crowd.

Blend in,she told herself.Blend in and it will all be okay.

She cast glances out to either side, not wanting to show her face for too long at a time. She, and the others in the crowd in front of her, passed firms focused on data analysis, and companies wanting accountants and lawyers, and assistants, and secretaries. There was a veterinarian clinic, searching for lab techs, and a hospital looking to scope out a new round of nurses to take part in their programs. An architect was searching for an apprentice. A manufacturer of solar-powered devices was seeking help to fill out just about every department of his business.

Endless opportunities.

Charlotte made note of places where she could potentially be of assistance. While working as an assistant or secretary wouldn’t net her nearly enough money to pay what she owed Mamba, perhaps having a job could help her convince him to work out a newer, better arrangement. It would show him that she was worth more than the sum of her parts.

A few hours passed while she walked and browsed, mapping out the place, reading up on the different companies and what they offered. One place needed a social media manager and she had plenty of experience in that department. Her hopes lifted.

“Hey, did you see that girl’s hair?”

The whispered comment could have been about anyone. Charlotte knew that wasn’t the case. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, someone was talking about her. She slowed, keeping her head low, letting her thin hair fall around her face to help disguise her.

“Wow,” another voice murmured in response. “Pretty bold.”

“Wait. Is she who I think she is?”

Charlotte stiffened. A trickle of sweat ran down her back.

“Charlotte Aria.”

A gasp. “No fucking way.Shegot hair like that?”

Someone tapped Charlotte on the shoulder. Dread clawed at her insides. She turned. “Yes?” she asked, voice trembling.

Two girls stared at her, their eyes widening with judgment. The taller of the two exclaimed, “It really is you.”

Now others in the crowd were turning, drawn in by curiosity.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” the tall girl demanded.

Charlotte opened her mouth to answer.

She wasn’t given a chance.

“You thinkyoudeserve a job? What, it’s been a few months and you think you’ll be magically forgiven?” The girl jabbed her finger at Charlotte’s chest. “Fuck off.”

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