Page 30 of Muted

Me: Chester

I can’t handle the Chaz thing. After long consideration, I changed my mind and decided it just doesn’t fit the serious bar owner. It’s too… playful. Silly even.

Theo: LOL

Me: I don’t have their phone numbers.

Theo: What if you need to call into work? How do you not have their numbers?

Me: I have the number for the bar. They didn’t offer me their personal numbers.

Theo: *contact forwarded*

Theo: *contact forwarded*

Adding Cliff and Chester’s contacts to my phone, I realize I do, in fact, already have Chester’s number.Oops. I should have probably messaged him instead of Theo.

The next bus arrives just as I’m replying. My ears ring when it stops, brakes squealing with a high-pitched noise. Getting a ride from Chester felt like a luxury, but I won’t take advantage of his kindness. As much as I hate the smelly city transportation, it’s cheap.

I quickly find a seat in the middle, frowning at how chilly the hard plastic feels as it seeps through my leggings, and then hit send back to Theo.

Me: Oh, wait. I did have Chester’s number. Just not Cliff’s.

Theo: Well, now you’ve got all of them. Would you like me to come pick you up?

Me: I appreciate the offer, but I’m already on my way.

Theo: Would you like me to drive you home tonight?

Bodies drop into the seats on both sides of me, so I turn my phone off without responding. Not that our conversation is anything interesting, but I don’t want to draw any attention from the passengers.

Another text comes through, vibrating under my fingers, but I ignore it for the next fifteen minutes until we pull up to the closest stop near the bar. Theo’s and Chester’s warnings echo in my head. The muscles in my upper back are tense as I strain to listen for anyone coming near or trying to talk to me.

Finally, we’re here and I toss my body down the steps and onto the pavement. I peek at the last text that came through and decide I’ll respond once I’m at work.

Theo: Susu?

Another one pops up and I smirk as I walk through the door.My God, this man doesn’t have anything better to do.

Theo: I’ll just talk to Chaz tonight and we’ll make sure you’ve got a ride. Be safe.

Before I get a chance to respond, the sound of my name is barked through the quiet space, and I freeze.

Cliff is on a fast track toward me, and he has a combination of anger and smugness radiating from him. I quickly glance around the rest of the space and don’t find anyone else in here.We’re alone. Fuck, why didn’t I check the cars in the lot to see who was here?

“You and I need to talk. Come with me.” This guy is nuts. He was walking toward me, then turned sharply toward the office, expecting me to follow. I’m not comfortable following him, not with the negative waves rolling off him. He feels like a threat. I’m accustomed to what this feels like, and alarms are ringing loudly in my head.

I drag my feet across the floor, fighting the urge to run away, but knowing that this man is also my boss.I have to go, don’t I?By the time I make it to the door frame, I just can’t take another step. So, I wait.

Cliff is digging through papers on his desk and then turns to face the couch, scowls, and then finds me waiting as far away as possible. “Get in here, Susu. We need to talk.”

The ice is already crawling up my spine and I shiver as I take my regular seat. The leather of the couch isn’t welcoming this time. It feels like I’m being sucked into tar and it’s closing in on me from all sides.

Thinking quickly as he does his best to intimidate me with his stare, which to be honest is totally fucking working, I yank out my phone and, with trembling fingers, type out a message.

‘I’m running a bit late and am supposed to be meeting for practice with Vance.’

He ignores it when I hold it out to him, refusing to read what I’ve written, and I deflate. Letting my hand holding my phone fall into my lap, I wait him out.

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