🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
139Please respect copyright.PENANAukwz21NLYw
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA1cl68bhBu9
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAIJFQTVbWvN
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA3vIyb7abfO
God help me.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAWisru9dZaw
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAjyUoE9KL7U
"What the heck is going on here?" I ask, flicking the lights on.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAtJAO6HG3s4
He jumps, nearly dropping the piping bag "Oh, It's you. Dobro Outro" good morning
139Please respect copyright.PENANArh2cOIYnUu
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAfdhoYD7rm9
Don't jump into conclusions, Jess.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA7NU2ZInPf2
"Dobro Outro" I greet back.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAsCjrsRO4Tm
He sees me looking between him and the cupcakes, then grimaces.
"Uh, don't get mad. I kinda... messed up a batch"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAIBlNWuQZrq
"What the hell, Ken. Do you how much a gram of flour costs?"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAtExlKKdJUx
"I'm sorry. I dozed off a bit, and woke up to the shit burnt" He adjusted his nose mask.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAJJYHrOin0c
"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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANA9NZSWuAQS9
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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAjxFXKKoIKf
What a bad liar. I raised Ken. I always know when the twat is lying.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAsiPUGKBk2w
"Bullshit. Tell me the real reason"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAoBigzYjxrH
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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAugcgGLeORQ
My anger evaporates, replaced with something softer "Oh Ken. You should have told me"
139Please respect copyright.PENANA4jjX9mlgvF
"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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAy4ayMhGNfF
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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAHZwiqK3uv4
He laughs "I'd probably eat it up before I get there"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAcT59pw945l
"You got what to wear? Should I help y-"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAPCu7XIejNj
He cuts me off with a wave, grinning "Relax, ma'am, I've got everything under control"
139Please respect copyright.PENANATP2GNRX45t
My voice cracks a little. "I'm so proud of you, you idiot. It's about time you got your act together."
139Please respect copyright.PENANAzsObsF3vjv
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"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAjbedLeF8Vj
"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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAh7Tn76MZzJ
"Get your ass outta here, boy" I snap, shooing him away.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAC0dNiz0jxw
He peels off his mask and gloves, tossing them on the counter, and bolts upstairs.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAuATWozOcyJ
I stare at the chaos he's left behind—smudges of frosting, scattered sprinkles, and that damn burnt smell.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAgFiXaSTtUj
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAyxerskJ914
By the time im done organizing, the sun's barely up. I head upstairs to shower and properly prep to open the Bakery.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA7yOcZmSYeb
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA7VpVkCQEFc
"Hi Jeeeeeesssssssss" she slurs, her voice bouncing off the walls.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAAE7wV6qmr7
Oh God, she's drunk as a skunk.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA5DqNPd39Ks
"Morning, sunshine" I mutter, catching her before she face-plants onto the floor. She reeks of tequila, and her makeup is pretty much smudged.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAA0qIBxt74d
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAebELuzbD5Q
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAXaA0pI1Z5G
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA3NriqqIncb
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAZux0qf2gDN
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAhhg2fj76ud
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'.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ3DEtgAe9
More like '7-Day Skin Rebellion'
139Please respect copyright.PENANAN5Zo5a2y5J
Now I'm probably reacting to the crap all because I couldn't just stay without over spending on skincare.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAjnd59RZ56M
I slather on some Vaseline, throw on clean clothes, do a quick makeup routine, and tie my hair into a messy bun.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAa5EBfiK1js
And I'm ready to start the day.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAtGFzwFG0fy
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA9wVpcaClFO
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAq7FIsld2NK
Lord bless this food, amen.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA9aEqxuMRop
Call it a quirk, but I can't stand wasting food, even if it means eating something that looks like it survived 9/11.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAnNlPVn7oKN
And now that I think about it, I kind of like burnt cake. Really.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA0ex4qKV3TH
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAVA4HWOcHAu
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANApok4IBJ3Jf
I've been doing this for three years, and I still feel the rush of pride seeing my creations. It's the passion.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAB1mMYz4Uy5
It's almost 8 a.m, so I have the whole space cleaned and spotless, ready to receive customers.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAui3YG5pktH
I flip the door sign to 'Open,' whisper a quick prayer for a smooth day, and settle in with my laptop to check emails.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAK9RZFhg1Bw
My inbox is empty. No rejections, no updates either. Thats better than straight up bad news, I guess.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAth2sQJ7yq6
I move on to begin the hard and annoying part; Applying to jobs. Going through the listings, I sigh. Here we go.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAf4VfmnlnN7
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAsS10CX2gGO
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?
139Please respect copyright.PENANAsbk1otcqp2
Who are these people?
139Please respect copyright.PENANAlEW6MBjoMt
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA4QIiAOW5Ch
"Good morning, Stacy" I greet her with a smile, closing my laptop.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAT0dzkXnS9f
"Hey Jess! I'm so late for work. Please tell me the donuts are ready" She pants, barely catching her breath.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAnwcBHhmHtG
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAs2AuDRgOOY
"Ofcourse. The usual?"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAbnukF8AayE
She adjusts her bra straps and nods "Yes please"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAD2ukDT89Fv
"Coming right up"
139Please respect copyright.PENANAToaEfwJwFL
I quickly pack her order, while she swipes her card on the machine.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAt5PHrsLvHO
"Have a lovely day, and try not to terrorize your coworkers too much" I tease, passing her the pastry bag.
139Please respect copyright.PENANA8CS6gE0pEd
She laughs, flashing a frazzled grin and bolts, leaving the bell jingling in her wake.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAKVipSCWSQP
•••••
139Please respect copyright.PENANAHFpWwbfbcU
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAL9EIhtMaP9
This is why I love food.
139Please respect copyright.PENANADSNLBD7XoE
By late noon, the display case is picked clean, crumbs and powdered sugar all that remain of my pastries.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAc6m3E666m5
I've still got cake left though, so I contemplate making a new batch of pastries, but decide against it for no reason.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAhXPSJQaKJp
Or maybe because I'm lazy. Whatever.
139Please respect copyright.PENANArbPP2n5CX7
Laziness wins, so I decide to hop back on my laptop to work on some promotional materials for the bakery.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAA99swK7QJQ
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANApAxaQqwTrK
Valentus Technologies.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAmrVgCDB19j
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAeUosS6ce0c
No wonder it seemed familiar. This is THE Valentus Technologies.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAR84PL5Cnbm
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAEoUi0g7LB5
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAlsYb5gWv1R
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.
139Please respect copyright.PENANAbEXmIw9Fuy
Why do billionaires exist, again?
139Please respect copyright.PENANA0knW38IgyQ
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'
139Please respect copyright.PENANAmadw7HRhkS
Oh, Nothing to see here. Just another grandson taking over from his predecessors. I click the article anyway.
ns3.132.215.146da2