Only a few can understand the blissful feeling of sitting on a soft cosy couch while eating that one thing in the world that makes you happy.
Quinn sat across the couch with her legs crossed at the ankles she opened the delicate box. It was just a small fluffy strawberry shortcake but she was staring at it like it was the most precious thing in the world.
She broke a small piece with a fork and ate it showing a contented expression. Nothing in this world could possibly ruin her good mood at this moment. She was certain that this good mood would last well through the next day but who would have thought when she walked into the gym Travis would call her over to his voice?
One must understand that Travis's office wasn't a good thing. If you are called in there it must mean that you are either getting suspended or fired. Every other thing was discussed outside Travis's office and he barely used it. This is why everyone was staring at her like they were looking at a pig about to get slaughtered.
"Quinn… *sigh… this. I really don't know how to say it but… you can't work here anymore," said Travis as he sat down heavily in his chair. Travis's had dark circles all over his eyes with an intense smell of smoke all over his body like he had smoked two packs of cigarettes in just a couple of hours. His eyes were abnormally red and his breath despite taking plenty of mint candy still had an overpowering smoker's breath that made one's eyes water.
Quinn showed a self deprecating smile as she slumped into the chair opposite him. She clasped her hands with her forefingers resting on her lips. She should have seen this coming. She honestly thought that this woman after being angered would have sent her straight to jail but it seemed she had changed tactics and chose to cut her avenue to making money honestly.
The two of them stayed silent for a while with Travis lighting a cigarette and taking two long drags. He turned to Quinn and urged her to take it but Quinn shook her head. She leaned her head back and said, "It's okay. I wouldn't want to put you in a precarious position."
Travis blew out a puff of smoke as he leaned forward and asked, "I know you have a complicated past but how did you offend them? I don't mean to be gossipy and stuff but what on earth did you do."
Staring into blank space Quinn chuckled lightly before saying, "It's not them I offended but someone else."
Travis could only purse his lips before pulling the drawer and placing a thick white envelope in front of her. "It's all there... plus your year end bonus. I can't help you keep your job but this is the least I can do," he said and Quinn didn't bother counting it.
She stood up and said, "Thanks. I will be going now. I have to figure out my next plan." Travis didn't delay her any longer. She packed her things out of the locker under the sympathetic gazes of her fellow employees.
Quinn wasn't too heartbroken about it. She was the type that easily adapted. As long as she didn't get locked up she still had a chance to take care of her mother honestly.
When she stepped out of the gym she suddenly had the urge to scream at the top of her lungs. She naively thought if she left her grandfather's control she wouldn't have to mix in that circle again but like a vengeful ghost, it was haunting her. It was as though an evil spirit was urging her to walk towards the edge of the cliff.
A few blocks from the gym she suddenly felt something was wrong. When it came to such things she was very sensitive thus she picked up her pace recalling where the nearest police station was. As she turned the corner and headed for the city park her cell phone suddenly dinged.
She subconsciously pulled it out of her pocket and swiped it open. After unlocking it she found that her second job had sent her a message. "Fuck," she swore after she realised that they had also let her go. This was turning out to be a very bad day though in her books it was nowhere near becoming her worse day.
A figure suddenly appeared in front of her blocking her path. She raised her head to see who it was and when she saw that familiar ugly face she sneered. It seemed after the beating yesterday he hadn't had enough thus he came to find trouble with her and this time he had brought backup.
Quinn pressed the tip of her tongue on her cheeks as she took a small step back as though afraid but in truth, she was already analysing the situation. Memories of the dark room in her grandfather's mansion flashed before her eyes.
The day before she turned eight her grandfather dragged her by the back of her collar and locked her in that dark place for the first time. While she was being dragged away her mother was screaming at her father trying to save her but in the end, she was held back unable to free herself from the clutches of her husband.
Quinn was dragged all the way there but she didn't even make a sound. When that door was shut she was forced to fight a teenager twice her size.
She fought like her very survival was dependent on it. The next day she grabbed the keys from the teenager's pocket and walked out of that room looking like she had endured a thousand storms.
She stood atop the stairs staring dazedly at the guests celebrating her birthday without her. Her vision suddenly blackened and she collapsed. After that, her grandfather upgraded the training from one person to two then two to three, and so on. She thought all of this was behind her but it seemed there were always those who liked to tangle with the devil.