Page 26 of One Lonely Night In Dubai
“Okay, I’ll go get that for you.” My tone was clipped, even as I gave her a smile and walked off before I was no longer able to control my temper. Yeah, I wasn’t as hotheaded as Angie, but it was really too early for this bullshit.
Angie let out a low hum as I passed, clearly getting triggered. I snickered, giving her a nudge to stop it. I disappeared down the middle aisle, grabbed the box for her, and headed back. Now the woman was on the phone talking loudly. I already knew she was about to get pissed off from the news I was going to tell her, but it was my job to inform her of her options.
“How much?”
“The pill is $49.99 plus tax, but I would advise that you consider trying Ella instead since it’s geared more towardwomen who are over 165?” I tried to explain, but she quickly cut me off with a wave of her hand.
“Okay. How much is that one?”
“Well, for Ella, you would need to have a prescription, but?”
“What you mean a prescription? Why would you even suggest it to me if I couldn’t just get it now? This is obviously an emergency!” she shrieked, leaning over the counter.
I took a step back just in case she got stupid.
“Girl.” I let out a bitter chuckle that should’ve been a warning for her, but she was clearly not reading the room. “It is recommended that you take Ella because the Plan B can be ineffective for women over a certain weight. I would hate for you to take it and think it worked, then you end up having a baby in nine months.” I tried to get her to understand, but the look on her face said I was only pissing her off.
“What the fuck taking so long?”
Sosa’s voice had my neck snapping in his direction, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from cursing. I’d been racking my brain trying to figure out what had made him start treating me different, and the last thing I considered was another woman, and a smaller one at that. He’d talked all that shit about me being perfect and trying to get me to spend time with him, just to be a typical ass nigga. A stupid expression covered his features when he recognized me, but I was already back in work mode and focusing on my ratchet customer.
“This bitch saying I shouldn’t get the regular Plan B, but the one she wants me to get, I need a prescription for!”
“It’s no need for that. Now either you want to take a chance with the Plan B, or you’re gonna go make a doctor’s appointment. Either way, I need you to make a decision so you can stop holding up my line,” I told her in the nicest way possible, even though there wasn’t anybody in line behind her.
“Aye, Bliss?” Sosa tried to speak, but I held up my hand to stop him, instantly noting how his ass had called me by my name instead of the nickname he’d been calling me. I really shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was, because clearly he’d talked a good game. I was just glad I hadn’t let my guard down enough to give in to him before he showed his true colors.
“Sir, either you’re buying or I’m gon’ need you and your future baby mama from hell to get the fuck out of my line.” I’d been handling the situation as best I could so far, but something about him resorting to calling me Bliss took me clear over the edge.
“Excuse you!Aye, somebody better get a manager over here right the fuck now!” his BBL bird started getting louder, drawing the attention of my coworkers.
Two of them, along with Angie, rushed over. I took the opportunity to slip out of their way and leave the area, ignoring Sosa calling my name.
A half hour later, I was sitting in my supervisor’s office, trying not to cry. I prided myself on my professionalism, and the fact that a nigga and some bird-brained bitch had taken me out of character had me disgusted with myself. My supervisor, Smith, cleared his throat and leaned over his desk with a disapproving scowl. I wanted to roll my eyes so bad, but I was already on this ice.
“Bliss, I’m not sure what happened out there, but I must say I’m very surprised. Obviously, Angie is beginning to rub off on you because having a screaming match with a customer is not how we do things here,” he said sternly, and I quickly wiped a tear that had managed to slip out.
I hated that I even allowed myself to let Smith, of all people, make my emotions spill over. The nigga was hardly able to handle his own job, let alone supervise his staff. But at the same time, having him chastising me was only making me feel worseabout the situation. “Under normal circumstances, I would’ve just written you up, but the fact that the general manager was here during the incident is going to require more severe punishment?”
“Smith, you know me! I would never intentionally do anything to jeopardize my job, and I don’t think one mistake should constitute me getting fired! If you just give me another chance, I promise nothing like this will happen again.” He was already holding his hands up to stop me.
“Who said anything about firing you? Since this is your first offense, we’re going to suspend you for a week. Hopefully when you come back, you’re in a better position to handle your duties with professionalism.”
“Oh, my God, really? Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Yes, really. Take seven days from your upcoming schedule and come back ready put this whole thing behind us.”
“Of course. Thank you again!”
I rushed from the room before he could change his mind, and ran right into Angie, who must’ve been standing outside the door, being nosy. “Oh, my God, girl. What happened? Are you okay?” She stopped me and held me by my shoulders.
“Oh, my God! Yes! Thankfully, Smith is only suspending me for a week since the general manager was here when that shit happened.”
“Ugh! Suspended? I should have slapped that hoe when I had the chance, but that nigga dragged her outta here too fast!” She looked genuinely pissed that she’d missed the opportunity and it had me laughing instead of crying like I wanted to.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad I didn’t get fired,” I admitted, knowing Smith had to really appreciate me to keep me on after the shit show. It could’ve been much worse, and then I’d have had to cut somebody.
“I know that’s right. Think about it like a vacation and get you something cute to sip on while you wait,” her messy ass encouraged, giving me a quick hug. “Let me get back over here ’cause I know he’s in there watching the camera now. Don’t forget to enjoy your time,” she ordered, walking away while flipping off the camera overhead.
