Page 14 of Hate Notes

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.

I paused, giving her a curious look. "Fine."

"You just tucked your hair behind your ear," she said. A slightly predatory smile began to spread across her face like a cat who just caught the canary wearing a sign that said "Please Eat Me."

"Sometimes hair needs tucked."

"That hair didn't need tucked."

"You can't prove that."

"It was perfectly fine where it was. That was an unnecessary tuck, Em."

"You're policing my hair tucks, now?" I asked, voice slightly higher pitched than it should be.

"You and I both know you tuck your hair behind your ear when you're horny. I asked you about Orion, and you tucked. That means you're horny. He makes you?—"

I reached across the table, planting my palm over her lips and smiling awkwardly at a scandalized mom and her little daughter who were passing our table.

"Mommy, I don't see horns on that girl. Why did—" The little girl and mother passed out of earshot.

I bulged my eyes at Kora. "Do you mind? I get enough nasty looks as it is in this outfit."

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