CHAPTER FOUR – TROUBLE AT THE WORKPLACE

By the time they reached Cassie's small apartment, she was already half-asleep. Tina managed to fish the keys out of Cassie's purse and let them in, gently depositing her friend on the bed. "Thanks, Tina," Cassie murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. "You're the best." Tina pulled off Cassie's shoes and tucked her in. "Get some sleep, honey. Tomorrow's a new day." As Tina quietly left the apartment, Cassie drifted off to sleep, the events of the day fading into a blur. The next morning, Cassie woke to a pounding headache and a mouth that felt like it was full of cotton. She groaned, rolling over to check the time on her battered alarm clock. Her eyes widened in panic as she realized she was already late for her shift. Scrambling out of bed, Cassie threw on her uniform and rushed out the door, barely remembering to grab her keys. She burst into Cheesy Fingers twenty minutes late, her hair a mess and dark circles under her eyes. Mr. Thompson was waiting for her, his arms crossed and a thunderous expression on his face. "Hartman! My office, now!" Cassie followed him, her heart sinking. As she passed the counter, she caught sight of Lisa, who was watching the scene unfold with a smug smile. Once inside the cramped office, Mr. Thompson rounded on her. "This is the last straw, Hartman. Late, looking like you just rolled out of a dumpster. I've had complaints from customers about your behavior, too. Care to explain yourself?" Cassie's mind raced. Complaints? She couldn't imagine what customers would have to complain about, unless... "Mr. Thompson," she began, her voice shaky, "I'm so sorry I'm late. It won't happen again. But what complaints are you talking about?" Mr. Thompson's frown deepened. "I've heard you've been rude to customers, that you smell of alcohol on the job. Hell, one customer even said they caught you trying to steal from the till!" Cassie felt like she'd been punched in the gut. These weren't just random complaints – this was a targeted attack. And she had a pretty good idea who was behind it. "Sir, none of that is true," she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I would never steal or be rude to customers. I love my job here. Someone is spreading lies about me." Mr. Thompson's expression softened slightly. "Look, Hartman, you've been a good worker up until now. But I can't ignore these complaints. I'm putting you on probation. One more slip-up, and you're out. Understood?" Cassie nodded, relief and anger warring inside her. "Yes, sir. Thank you for giving me another chance." As she left the office, she saw Lisa watching her, a look of disappointment flashing across her face before she schooled her features into a mask of concern. "Everything okay, Cassie?" Lisa asked, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Cassie took a deep breath, clenching her fists at her sides. "Cut the act, Lisa. I know what you're doing." Lisa's eyes widened in feigned innocence. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." "The lies, the rumors," Cassie hissed, keeping her voice low to avoid attracting attention. "Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?" Lisa's facade cracked, a flash of anger showing through. "You think you're so special, don't you? Little orphan Cassie, everyone's favorite. Well, guess what? This is my turf now, and I'm not about to let some foster care charity case steal my spotlight." Cassie reeled back as if she'd been slapped. "You don't know anything about me or my life. If you have a problem with me, deal with it like an adult instead of spreading lies." Before Lisa could respond, they heard Mr. Thompson's voice. "Less chatter, more work! These tables aren't going to serve themselves!" Cassie turned away, her hands shaking as she grabbed a pot of coffee. As she made her rounds, refilling cups and taking orders, she could feel Lisa's eyes on her, watching her every move. The tension in the restaurant was palpable throughout the day. Cassie found herself constantly looking over her shoulder, worried about what Lisa might be saying or doing behind her back. Her usual easy rapport with customers felt strained, as she second-guessed every interaction, wondering if they'd been poisoned against her by Lisa's rumors. During a rare lull in the afternoon, Cassie retreated to the break room, needing a moment to collect herself. She slumped into a chair, running her hands through her hair in frustration. "Rough day?" Cassie looked up to see Tina standing in the doorway, concern etched on her face. "You have no idea," Cassie sighed. She quickly filled Tina in on the situation with Lisa and Mr. Thompson's warning. Tina's eyes flashed with anger. "That little snake! Want me to talk to her? I can be very persuasive." Cassie shook her head. "No, that'll just make things worse. I need to handle this on my own." Tina sat down next to her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "You're not alone, Cassie. We've all got your back. Well, except for that blonde barracuda out there." Despite herself, Cassie chuckled. "Thanks, Tina. I don't know what I'd do without you." As they stood to head back to work, Tina pulled Cassie into a quick hug. "You're stronger than you know, girl. Don't let her get to you." Cassie nodded, squaring her shoulders as she prepared to face the rest of her shift. She had overcome too much in her life to let someone like Lisa bring her down now. As she pushed through the swinging doors back into the dining room, Cassie caught sight of Lisa whispering to a table of customers, her eyes darting towards Cassie with a malicious glint. Taking a deep breath, Cassie approached the table with her head held high. "Good afternoon, folks," she said, her voice steady and warm. "Can I get you anything else today?" The customers looked at her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, clearly influenced by whatever Lisa had told them. But as Cassie engaged them in friendly conversation, she could see their wariness melting away. As she walked away from the table, order pad in hand, she caught Lisa's eye. The other woman's smug expression had been replaced by one of frustration. Cassie allowed herself a small smile. She might be down, but she certainly wasn't out. And if Lisa wanted a fight, she was going to get one. The rest of the shift passed in a blur of orders, spills, and the constant dance of avoiding collisions in the cramped kitchen. By the time the dinner rush died down, Cassie was exhausted but determined. She had made it through the day without letting Lisa's antics get the better of her, and she considered that a small victory. As she hung up her apron at the end of her shift, Cassie caught sight of her reflection in the small mirror hanging in the break room. The girl staring back at her looked tired, but there was a fire in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "Bring it on, Lisa," she whispered to her reflection. "I've been through worse than you, and I'm still standing." With that, Cassie gathered her things and stepped out into the cool evening air, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow might bring.