8

It took me a while to put myself together enough to leave. I washed the best I could in the restroom, but my shirt was a mess of wrinkles, and there was no way to hide the wet patches of sweat in the armpits. However, the mirror showed the worst of my crappy reflection was my face. I was pale, fevered, still hyperventilating. My nerves were so on edge, a pin falling could’ve scared me literally to death. I looked like I’d just seen a ghost. Well, or like I’d been edged for a whole hour against my will, by no less than the boss of my boss’ boss.

I didn’t see a soul on my way to the stairs. The stiff lady at the front desk was gone, so was the security guard. My cramped thighs protested all the way down the stairs. Nobody in sight at the second floor, either. One of the vans that had brought the six pm shift was still outside the main access, waiting for the last operator from the afternoon shift. Lucky me, they were bound to my side of town, and they still had free seats.

Good thing ab