Don't ever sell yourself short,
sell your sad things
Accept the new,
don't mangle on the past
Believe yourself, trust your intuition
You're here for a reason, oh no.

A B E A U T I F U L E X I T
-Miguel

monday | october 7 | 10:47 am

"I think that's all you'll need to know for now. Unless something else comes up, you're all set to be a cashier. Remember these terms for later."

Issac finished explaining the different machines Victoria would use while working in the coffee shop. Her head was spinning from the truck load of terminologies she'd have to remember and apply by the end of the month. Nevertheless, Vic was a fast learner and was determined to cram the information into her head. As much as her brain was heavy with all the drama in her life, this was something she could deal with easily and without complaint.

Since Vic didn't have that much knowledge on the hundreds of drinks and foods sold at Heated Snowflakes, she won't start off as a barista. First, she'll have to study all of the different products sold in the cozy shop and then prove herself competent to Issac. For now, her place was behind the counter as the cashier and she was impartial with the position. It was understandable in her eyes. She was a newbie, after all.

'Newbie' she spit the word out quietly to herself, not liking how it rolled off her tongue. She hadn't been a newbie for a job in several years. It was strange to think about her new reference.

Victoria tried to come to terms with her fate as she stood behind the register, gazing at the people around the room. She was just a basic cashier now, a low paying one at that. No longer was she a certified chef. No longer was she a professional woman. No longer were her culinary skills needed. She bit into her lips slightly at the ideas.

The day went by with her assisting the customers and taking their orders. There were only a handful of rude people who gave snide remarks or unnecessary demands. Victoria was grateful for the drastic change from her last job, where complaining used to be the norm. Still, as she stood behind the register looking at the teenage girls and elderly couples, she couldn't help but begin to miss the unpleasant smell of the joint bathroom and oil stained floors of the catering company.

Before she knew it, Vic's shift was over and she found herself looking at her sunset phone screen. The numbers, "4:13" flashed across the device, and she became more nervous at the prospect of her future bosses arrival. She jittered in place behind the register anxiously and kept looking in the direction of the entrance to see if anyone who looked remotely important walked in. Surely, she'd get a phone call before the woman arrived, but Vic didn't want to take the chance of not noticing her if she just walked in.

Victoria untied her apron with sweaty hands and wiped her palms on her jeans. Her hands were shaking slightly and she scrunched up her face displeasingly. Vic didn't understand why she was so nervous; as if she was about to meet the President of the United States or the most famous person in the world. It almost felt like that to her though, since this was a very important interview that will determine whether she will eat frozen microwaveable food for the rest of the week or fresh chicken.

Vic decided to sit down in the back of the coffee shop and wait instead of standing there in the front smiling from ear to ear like a creep. She walked towards the secluded tables and plopped down into a seat, slumping her shoulders instantly. Vic pulled her phone out of her back pocket and preoccupied herself with a game. She was on the last level and was so concentrated that she didn't notice the new arrival in the coffee shop.

The bell in the front went off, and a woman entered the store. On her face sat a pair of fancy sunglasses that hid her facial features from the watchful eyes of the patrons. She wore a brown pencil skirt paired with a cream colored blouse. Vic raised her head from her bright phone screen at the loud clicking noise echoing from the woman's heels before returning her gaze back to the game. She was sure that the shoes on her feet cost more than her rent and swallowed the saliva that gathered in her mouth apprehensively. That definitely isn't my new boss.

"Welcome to Heated Snowflakes! How may I help you?" Victoria heard vaguely from across the room, still not raising her head from the game.

"Hello. I'm looking for a Victoria Samuels? I was told to ask for her when I arrived. I'm Aurora Sanders."

Vic instantly perked up at the name and swiveled her eyes back to the figure. That's Aurora Sanders! Vic didn't know that her future boss was a millionaire mogul! When Jesse mentioned her, Victoria never imagined it'd be the woman that was on the cover of every business magazine in New York. Aurora built her empire from a young age and became the first female investor in large enterprise sales. She was a female Steve Jobs in the making.

"Yes. Yes. I'm Victoria. That's me. I'm her." The jumble of words spilled out of Vic's mouth like a waterfall as she stood from her seat, nearly knocking the table next to her. She turned and apologized to the couple next to her for almost spilling their drinks. Vic cringed deeply on the inside.

"Nice to meet you, Victoria. If you don't mind, can we sit down and talk? These shoes are killing me and I don't think yelling across the room will be effective," Aurora laughed, and the sound was almost angelic. Vic saw no ounce of aggression in her so far or boss- like attitude. Maybe Jesse was exaggerating or tying to scare her.

Victoria began to nod her head eagerly. "Of course! I'm sorry. Please, come sit with me."

Aurora manuvered her way betweeen the tables, walking towards Victoria elegantly, as if she was on a pageant stage. When she was close enough to the table, Vic outstretched her arm for a handshake.

"Sorry for this informal location. I would've picked a Starbucks or something if I knew how crowded in here was going to be," Victoria sheepishly said, plastering a nervous smile on her lips.

Aurora shook her head, "Nonsense. This is perfectly fine. Let's sit and chat some. I've heard a lot about you."

"Really!" Victoria awed while sitting down ungraciously, "Good things I hope?"

"Definitely good things. You understand why we're meeting today, correct?

"Yes, to discuss my...future employment as an entertainer for your club, Delta Max."

"Exactly. I watched your performance from the open mic night and I have to say I was marveled at it. The emotion and the tone was so beautiful. You have one of those sultry voices, great for jazz. I think you'd be a wonderful asset to my team."

"Wow. Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am for this opportunity. I would love to be apart of your team. Please, tell me more about it."

"You'd mainly work on the weekends so that's Friday night to Sunday night and maybe weekdays if there is a event. It's a four hour shift and you'll just be the entertainer for the club before the night scene. During the night scene, we have a designated DJ but some people like to start their partying earlier in the afternoon so you'll be there for them."

"So I'll work from..."

"4PM-8PM."

Victoria thought over her words, liking everything she's been saying so far.

"Do I choose which songs I'll sing or is there a set playlist that I'll have to follow?" Vic questioned, secretly hoping she'll be able to pick her own songs. That would be ideal.

"That's a great question! In the beginning, you will have a set playlist. But as time goes on and you establish yourself, you'll be able to pick your own music."

"Great okay, so...if you don't mind me asking about the pay..."

"Yes! You'll be paid $80 an hour. Plus, you may get tips from your performance which is yours to keep as well."

Victoria's mouth fell open, completely amazed at the amount of money she'd make. "That's- wow! Alrighty, uhm sorry I'm just so shocked right now."

"It's understandable. Most are when I approach them with an opportunity like this," Aurora hummed, clasping her hands together on the table. "So, Victoria Samuels, what do you say? Can you be an entertainer for my club?"

Victoria slammed her apartment door shut with a huge smile, squealing like a school girl. She couldn't remember the last time she was this excited; this happy. Her mouth stretched to accommodate the wide grin she wore. The air smelled different, the room felt warmer, the sun shined brighter. Her life didn't seem so bleak anymore.

"Cosmo! I have wonderful news, baby!" She shouted into the air, thrilled about telling someone about her new job as an entertainer. Vic was bursting with energy, and needed to expel some of it to someone. She wanted her dear feline to be the first one to get the scoop.

When only the sound of her thermostat clicking repeatedly around her apartment was heard by her ears, Vic realized her mistake. Cosmo was gone.

"Yes, you're not here anymore. I keep forgetting," she mumbled to herself, feeling a bit dejected. She missed that cat like no other.

Victoria wanted to tell someone about the job so much. It didn't make any sense to hold such valuable and exciting news to herself. She contemplated calling one of her friends, but the idea was instantly shut down when she realized that none of them knew that she was fired from her last job. Vic could only suspect how surprised and angry they'd be if she called with this random news.

Kaliyah's name popped into her mind, and Victoria instantly knew that was the person she wanted to share the announcement with. She immediately pulled her phone from her back pocket and flipped to the contacts section. Vic found Kaliyah's number and began to dial.

Someone answered on the other line, but didn't speak. Victoria pulled the phone away from her ear to double check that they didn't spontaneously hang up the phone.

"Hello? Kaliyah?" Vic spoke into the phone, waiting for her friend to respond.

"This isn't Kaliyah," came the deep voice of a man that Vic knew all too well. His voice will always be recognized by her now.

"Jesse, why do you have Kaliyah's phone?" Vic asked, walking to her living room couch in order to sit down.

"She left it in the employees lounge. This place is prone to sticky fingers so I'm watching over it."

"Alright. So I'll call back later then. If you see her, tell her I called please." Victoria was about to remove the phone from her ear when he spoke again.

"Did you get the job?"

"Yes, I did." She exhaled the response, turning her body to lay down on the sofa.

"I knew you would," He murmured, and Victoria wanted to mute the phone call so she can squeal some more. Instead, she held in the girly noise and controlled herself.

"Did you now?"

Jesse scoffed, and shuffled around on the phone, "You still don't believe me when I say you have true talent."

"I've leaned to not believe a lot of people in my life, unfortunately."

"Well, believe me. Remember what I said before. I don't lie. I don't care for liars either."

"I guess." Vic answered, and they both fell silent. She was content with just hearing him breathe through the phone, oddly enough.

Jesse cut through the silence, "So, what are you going to do to celebrate?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is a major milestone. Surely you're doing something with your friends to commemorate it."

"No, not quite. I'm probably going to order in some Chinese food and call it a night. Maybe watch another episode of something."

"Wow," he breathed, "That sounds really boring."

"Hey! Some of us like spending our time watching Game of Thrones and eating oily food. What's the harm in that?" Vic felt somewhat offended at his disapproval.

"It's boring."

Victoria sat up from her laid out position, licking her lips, "Alright then, mister 'it's so boring,' what do you think I should do to celebrate?"

"Come here."

"Where's here?"

"Delta. Where else would I be? I'll buy you a drink."

"Oh, really now. You'll buy me a drink. Are you sure I won't get too drunk and lose my balance again? Maybe run into a few doors for fun?" Victoria snickered, running her fingers through her hair. He had to be pulling her leg.

"I'll make sure you don't get too obliterated. Actually, I'll make sure Kaliyah stays with you the entire night. I'll cover for her."

Victoria sat and thought over his words. He was being unusually altruistic. It made her heart beat a little faster and her lips tilt up at the ends in a small smile. She liked this side of Jesse.

"Why are you doing this, Jesse?"

"Why are you questioning me?" She shook her head but stopped once she realized he couldn't see her.

"I just, this is rather odd of you to suggest."

"I had a shitty day and I just wanted to help someone else have a slightly better day than me."

Vic sighed and began to stand up from her seated position, "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll be over there soon...in about an hour or so."

"Alright. Look for me when you come." He sounded distracted all of a sudden, but Vic didn't pay it no mind.

"I will."

•••••

Time for a sappy authors note:

I think it's important to acknowledge all the people that have helped me in any shape or form on this platform. I appreciate everything you've done and all your kind words. You have no idea how much you motivate me to write and to actually try to pursue what I want to. I took a long break from this site but I'm going to slowly come back. Sometimes, I don't think that I have the talent or the skill to be a writer but some people have shown me that anything is possible and that the world is in my oyster. Thank you for all that you've done, truly. Even if it's just a little comment here and there or a vote. You make my day, week, and year with your sweet words and acts of kindness.

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