I wasn't hit with the usual air that would encircle my being upon entry into Jilly's, nor the homely feel that I was accustomed to.
Instead, I was met with the gloomy face of Allison, her attention placed on something onwards.
I caught figures in uniforms moving to and fro, bearing one thing or the other in their hold. Everyone appeared busy, such hard work that sure would be appreciated by Mrs. Jilly, except, none of them were clothed in Jilly's uniform.
All dressed in khaki top and bottoms, with a writing on the shirt that read "Bob's Services" they were pulling things out from every corner, moving it outside.
Whatever was going on?
The form of Louis was found stood at an end, eyes appearing dull, with an air of melancholy around the fellow. That ever cheerful face had been replaced with such despondency, it only left my heart churned.
My gaze beheld the figure of Adams coming from the backroom, his eyes taking in the people dismantling things everywhere in the shop.
I expected him to yell at them, ordering for it to be stopped, but those eyes only watched in silence, onlooking those forms taking down what took years for Jilly to build.
"Adams!" My voice had snatched his attention at once, and at my advancing form, he let out a breath, eyes wearisome, watching as I pulled up to him.
"What's going on?" I itched to know, taking yet another examination of what was going on in the space.
I caught the low sigh that left the lips of Adams. That sigh which only spelt ill news, still, I anticipated his utterance, impatient for him to foretell just what his lips bore.
"The cafeteria got sold"
Those words dropped.
With ears perked at the break of his voice, eyes gaped on at him, perhaps searching to find something that would make the harshness of those words mild.
"What are you talking about?" My words were low.
"We were just here yesterday and nothing of such was mentioned. What then do you mean by the Cafeteria was sold?"
"I'm as lost as you are, Zac. Believe me"
"Jilly's still trying to work things through. To see reason with—
"This is a joke. Come on"
I chuckled lowly, peering back into that gaze which held onto nothing but pensiveness.
Part of me awaited the moment where someone would jump from a corner, stating it was only a prank, but Adams only stared back at me in silence, his eyes beholding what I hoped not to hear.
"Jilly's has been bought, Zac. There's nothing I can do about it"
Despite how he managed to keep a blank face, I caught onto the gloom in his voice, gaze filled with dejection.
"Bought by whom?"
He fell silent, eyes doing enough to speak the words his lips couldn't pour out.
"That would be me"
That voice came from behind, soft and smooth, there lingered some familiarity in it.
The eyes of Adams had at once taken focus on whoever it was approaching, and the instant I turned around, that gaze remained peering back into mine.
"You've got to be kidding me"
Her lips bore a grin this time, but it wasn't the type I longed to behold a day ago.
This one was jeering, it mocked me.
No. It taunted me.
"Jilly owns the shop" I stated at once, eyes searching through hers. "You can not buy it"
"Well the documents in my hands say otherwise, Mister—She paused mid words, eyes narrowed at the name tag on my shirt, and in a second, that gaze soon took mine—Mister Barrett"
I think I was more bewildered at the mention of my name, than the sight of those documents which held all rights of ownership to the shop.
"What is going on here, Adams?"
I spun to him at once, deciding it much rational to speak to him.
"Let me tell you what's going on" Her figure came standing before mine, that grin still held on those rosy lips, my eyes were found lingering there for a second.
"I own the cafeteria now, which means you— her index finger shot out to me, eyes taking mine—Work for me" She finished.
Watching that soulless expression, I was struck with sheer horror, beholding the glee which crossed those winsome eyes.
"Bullshit!" I spat.
"Oh please, this is a working environment. Mind your language. Our customers may not like it"
How galling that grin was, yet how graceful she wore it.
"This is Wagner's now" She pronounced.
***
"They barged in here, tearing everything down"
That wavering voice belonging to Allison, poured out in whispers to my ears.
Her eyes beheld much sadness, arms holding onto mine, perhaps for support, but one thing that left me broken was such gloom you never were to find with her.
Eyes weary, they were lost peering on at the figure away, watching as that profile on-looked mine.
"What does she want, Zac?" Allison pulled even nearer, form next to mine.
"To nark me" I stated in a low voice, gaze never leaving that figure. "That's what she wants" Words poured out in a low growl, and with that, I had shot off hurrying to where she stood, with the form of Adams before her.
"You can't do this" My tone was adamant, like there remained some rights I wasn't aware of.
"You can't buy the cafeteria to get at me"
"Now why would I want to get at you?" Her arms were crossed over her chest, eyes narrowed at my form.
"Forgive me for being crude, but I only spend my time on people worth it" She let out.
That chuckle left my lips, eyes watching the irritation that crossed her gaze.
"Is that how low we've become?" My words earned a weak sigh from Addams, attention soon directed his way.
"So low, that we get to sell our stance"
"Jilly's working on it, Zac" He uttered to me. "Believe me it will all be fine"
"Why then is that sign out there being changed to Wagner's?"
"Because it's been bought" I refused meeting that prepossessing gaze, which did all to leave me vexed.
"Yes, you've mentioned that before" I called.
"Yet, you don't seem to get it through your head"
I finally pulled myself to gaze at that profile, and when I did, those eyes appealed to me.
My figure had pushed forward without warning, and at every step I took forward, she was sure to pull one back.
"Do I have you frightened?" My voice remained low, eyes watching hers with intent.
"Why would you have me frightened?"
"You tell me"
She had at once turned away, moving to Adams.
"I want all cleared before noon" She called, gaze shifting from one corner to the other, watching those figures tearing down the shop bit by bit.
"Don't tell me she bought you too" That scoff poured out my lips.
"As far as Jilly is concerned, we now work for her" Adams followed.
"Well, there might be a few changes" She pitched in, gaze turning to me.
"Oh, how much I longed to do this" That grin took her lips, eyes beaming on.
"If you're gonna fire me, do it already"
Perhaps my utterance left her amused, as that soft chuckle poured out her lips, with gaze taking in my entire form.
I just had caught onto what she meant. The scene before me, in fact, spelt it all out, I didn't need to fetch a translator to help me understand it all.
"Unfazed, I see"
"Not in a million years will I work for you" I pushed closer to her.
"Very well, then" She grinned.
"You're fired"
I had slapped the tag off my shirt at once, turning to leave, moving from whatever nonsense it was I had walked into.
"Please, Ma'am. Forgive whatever misunderstanding you might have with him"
"He is a stubborn one, yes he is, but Zac has been with us for a while now, he in fact is most adored by Jilly's customers" Adams followed.
"You might lose the people if you fire the strongest workers here"
"Some come here because of the great relationship they hold with them"
"Save your words, Adams" I called out to him, pushing further away.
But only a couple steps gone, and a few words from that lady halted me in my steps.
"I don't see what's interesting about this one"
It was the manner in which she spoke of me, like I was some sort of thing that begot me.
"What is this?" I chuckled "Some movie?"
"I wish it was, perhaps, I could work things the way I wished"
"You can save yourself the troubles" I began. "I wouldn't work for you, Anyway"
"Zachary"
That voice belonging to Adams followed at once, with eyes mentioning to me, to remain quiet.
"I refuse working for her"
I ignored his piercing stares, turning to the figure away.
"I can't" I added.
"Believe me, Jilly is working on it" He uttered in a low voice, pulling closer to my form.
"It will only be for a while, trust me"
"We'll get it back" His words were intent, hands patting my back.
"We will, Zac"
And with so much a burdened heart, and low breaths pouring out my lips, I had turned to that profile away.
"You're rehired"
Those hazel eyes peered on at me.