🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqtQb0nXqy
My alarm blares aggressively at 5:00am on the dot. But I'm already awake. Not because I'm a morning person, cause honestly, I'm not. But because the smell of burnt sugar and regret wafts up through the floorboards like a ghost haunting my dreams.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RCi694zn0
The Lavender Loaf is the bakery I and Ken run, and it opens for the day pretty early so we can obviously make our signature delicious pastries and coffee for our earlybirds.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBgQfH5tpQ
I can feel Ken downstairs already, probably preparing the buttercream. But why he's up earlier than me and why i'm smelling what I shouldn't be smelling all the way up here is what I still don't understand.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EChnL4BIp
God help me.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV51SgqgSR
I drag myself out of bed, throw on a clean hoodie and literally run downstairs. The bakery is still dark except for the glow of the oven light, where Ken is hunched over a tray of cupcakes like a mad scientist.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCCnU6G8rE
"What the heck is going on here?" I ask, flicking the lights on.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5YYX6VAPa
He jumps, nearly dropping the piping bag "Oh, It's you. Dobro Outro" good morning
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSdw63IRHb
I sight a tray of charred cupcakes that could double as hockey pucks. I mentally will myself to stay calm and wait for an explanation.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSOm5NcdiE
Don't jump into conclusions, Jess.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nkn6y8l3F
"Dobro Outro" I greet back.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRScXB4v5br
He sees me looking between him and the cupcakes, then grimaces.
"Uh, don't get mad. I kinda... messed up a batch"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbU53mnTne
"What the hell, Ken. Do you how much a gram of flour costs?"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdDshajRs3
"I'm sorry. I dozed off a bit, and woke up to the shit burnt" He adjusted his nose mask.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ93D3i6tXz
"You what!? Oh my God I'm gonna kill you, Ken. Why are you up this early playing with fire if you know you wouldn't be able to stay awake? You don't even have to wake up this early"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHuyxKDPjP
He shifts uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze.
"I know. It's just that I've been thinking about how hard you work, and wanna do more to help out here"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQWuYt4UzH
What a bad liar. I raised Ken. I always know when the twat is lying.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJIV5xgojL
"Bullshit. Tell me the real reason"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazx0qFcIKg
He sighs, dropping the piping bag "Okay, fine. You caught me. I've got an interview with a delivery company at eight. Was trying to finish up early here so I could make it on time"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ549YlSCKo2
My anger evaporates, replaced with something softer "Oh Ken. You should have told me"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iO6VFKHsn
"I didn't want to get your hopes up," he mumbles, staring at the floor. "We haven't exactly been crushing it in the interview department lately. So wanted to keep it a secret till the job's secured"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCttVMukww
My chest tightens. "So fucking what? You still should've told me. I'd have given you some days off to prepare. I could've even baked you a 'please hire me' cake to give the interviewer"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMABVbCoSps
He laughs "I'd probably eat it up before I get there"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8eoMjzUOx
"You got what to wear? Should I help y-"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd1KRKGRL1
He cuts me off with a wave, grinning "Relax, ma'am, I've got everything under control"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLhFV9UydQ
My voice cracks a little. "I'm so proud of you, you idiot. It's about time you got your act together."
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxmKNknGBc
He's about to go back to piping the cupcakes, but I stop him "Just leave that. I'll fix them. Go get ready for the Interview"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEbeSP8jV5
"You sure it won't be too much work for you? I've still got time" He says, though his eyes dart toward the stairs like he's already mentally rehearsing his answers.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGkamAU29v
"Get your ass outta here, boy" I snap, shooing him away.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9OmLzqzhM
He peels off his mask and gloves, tossing them on the counter, and bolts upstairs.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd4SbrINSm
I stare at the chaos he's left behind—smudges of frosting, scattered sprinkles, and that damn burnt smell.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxAx91wJDT
With a sigh, I quickly wash my hands and start organizing, stacking trays and wiping counters until the space looks less like a war zone and more like a functioning bakery.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbbxYC4Bmv
By the time im done organizing, the sun's barely up. I head upstairs to shower and properly prep to open the Bakery.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcVaiOMx6g
Im halfway to the bathroom when the front door creaks open, and Rachel stumbles in, her heels dangling from one hand and a half-empty bottle in the other.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Qx9i5N4k
"Hi Jeeeeeesssssssss" she slurs, her voice bouncing off the walls.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMoZgYF3yK
Oh God, she's drunk as a skunk.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOhVlbJHXu
"Morning, sunshine" I mutter, catching her before she face-plants onto the floor. She reeks of tequila, and her makeup is pretty much smudged.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcEjl3SoGP
I've always worried about her coming back at these ungodly hours. Always wanted her to get a better and non dangerous job, but try convincing someone who pockets atleast $300 a night to quit, and tell me how it goes. Its like convincing a raccoon to stop dumpster diving—pointless and mildly insulting.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkpHs0ckV8
I will admit, I do get tempted to join her in becoming a stripper instead of waiting for some miracle to happen in my job searching, but something always stops me.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVcLxzo0CH
Whether it's the fact that I've got the ass of a prepubescent boy or the certainty that I'd punch the first guy who looks at me like I'm a menu item. I don't know. Still figuring that one out.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiFePE8qfa
After tucking Rachel in and cleaning her up as best as I could, I continue to the bathroom for a quick shower and a tooth-brushing session.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1BlzSvvEQ
Feeling somewhat refreshed after my shower, I catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror and groan at the constellation of pimples forming on my right cheek.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf0SDlOoho
I knew I should have stuck to my trusty old Nivea face cream. But no, I had to fall for Zephora's '7-Day Propolis Rejuvenating Miracle'.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5TcvK67ZO
More like '7-Day Skin Rebellion'
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogKd3qbPQu
Now I'm probably reacting to the crap all because I couldn't just stay without over spending on skincare.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzv5jtMAFz
I slather on some Vaseline, throw on clean clothes, do a quick makeup routine, and tie my hair into a messy bun.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xNWIjvEpf
And I'm ready to start the day.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2R1fVw9g8
In the kitchen, I grab a carton of orange juice from the fridge, snag my laptop and charger, and make my way down to the bakery.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bKdZlllFa
Once settled, I spot two charred cupcakes from my brother's earlier baking mishap. I decide there and then the cupcakes would be my breakfast, and proceeded to pour a generous amount of juice in a glass cup.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTNcR8ydUt
Lord bless this food, amen.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bj6h2ngkW
Call it a quirk, but I can't stand wasting food, even if it means eating something that looks like it survived 9/11.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9XVwLJdSk
And now that I think about it, I kind of like burnt cake. Really.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndDnuB5f8m
Feeling full and ready to take on the day's work, I quickly tie my apron, put on my face mask and wash my hands. I review the day's baking plan and immediately got to work.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE6WCvB4ib
Two-ish hours later, I'm done and proceed to set everything in the showcase glass. I stand back, admiring them and feeling proud of my work.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYJlyDkzPu
I've been doing this for three years, and I still feel the rush of pride seeing my creations. It's the passion.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jdfUGHa9N
It's almost 8 a.m, so I have the whole space cleaned and spotless, ready to receive customers.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqcjD5nj5J
I flip the door sign to 'Open,' whisper a quick prayer for a smooth day, and settle in with my laptop to check emails.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXIVWyXfMv
My inbox is empty. No rejections, no updates either. Thats better than straight up bad news, I guess.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPYcUbyogK
I move on to begin the hard and annoying part; Applying to jobs. Going through the listings, I sigh. Here we go.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BykUVgJXf
Seven applications in, I decide I was done with that particular job aggregator, and move to try another site a friend introduced me to some days ago.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HzMwJ2qyg
Going on there, I see a job listing from Valentus Technologies which catch my eye. I feel like I've heard that name before, but can't place where exactly.
They're looking for good marketers and the pay seems too good to be true. Surely, marketers aren't earning this much anywhere in the world. Right?
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIME8R4enYn
Who are these people?
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1TblMzkkN
I'm about to search up the company when the door chimes, signaling a customer coming in. I look up and see Stacy, my longtime regular and friend, rushing in.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGez4vDxCT
"Good morning, Stacy" I greet her with a smile, closing my laptop.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMIkGzTtdb
"Hey Jess! I'm so late for work. Please tell me the donuts are ready" She pants, barely catching her breath.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyisuocI43d
I laugh. Stacy was a walking tornado of chaos, perpetually late, but always full of energy. So I always try to have her donuts ready on time.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YjRabtagO
"Ofcourse. The usual?"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WzZ1Q9LIS
She adjusts her bra straps and nods "Yes please"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxChRRLn7p
"Coming right up"
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUDDoSIBPV
I quickly pack her order, while she swipes her card on the machine.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlmROpdINi
"Have a lovely day, and try not to terrorize your coworkers too much" I tease, passing her the pastry bag.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8NbOdlT2F
She laughs, flashing a frazzled grin and bolts, leaving the bell jingling in her wake.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5FYbuiOJ0
•••••
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtiPpU2rkz
The day went on great, with the cash register singing, espresso machine hissing, and the scent of fresh pastries and cake luring customers like moths to a flame.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfbkO4nS8j
This is why I love food.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuiTB9DMCY
By late noon, the display case is picked clean, crumbs and powdered sugar all that remain of my pastries.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRemgkrkij2
I've still got cake left though, so I contemplate making a new batch of pastries, but decide against it for no reason.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU4HMNtzZ7
Or maybe because I'm lazy. Whatever.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7uTk7dqQk
Laziness wins, so I decide to hop back on my laptop to work on some promotional materials for the bakery.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDHgu26hZg
I slump onto my corner chair and pry open my laptop. The screen flickers to life, still open to the job listing page I was on. I remember I was going to research more on the company before Stacy came in.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY2ZOSae1Z
Valentus Technologies.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnCtG2ObLa
That name gnaws at me—a half-remembered ghost. I type it into the search bar, and the results flood in like a dam breaking.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj2Woj4Xw4
No wonder it seemed familiar. This is THE Valentus Technologies.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fc32xYvl4
There was once a huge scandal. Eleven years ago, the CEO's 23 year old mistress allegedly committed suicide after news about her pregnancy got out. There were rumors about it being murder, like a corporate cover-up. Shit about the Valentus being responsible for killing her to protect their empire. I remember reading about it in school. The tabloids had feasted for months.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUyCE8DoJ1
But despite all that, Valentus is still one of the top three giants in the tech and electronics industry. And they aren't number three.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡath07BvKYW
They're a titan. A $120 billion Goliath churning out everything from kitchen appliances to industrial equipment to AI-driven tractors. They're really big, with immense reach and power.
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tbN5EnCuP
Why do billionaires exist, again?
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDjLqEhIMt
After checking out their website, and learning a little about the company, I scroll down further and my gaze freezes on a headline: 'New CEO, Roman Valentus Takes the Reins of Tech powerhouse, Valentus'
98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPhpHdrCIW
Oh, Nothing to see here. Just another grandson taking over from his predecessors. I click the article anyway.
ns52.15.96.123da2
