Sugar Sugar Baby Chapter 3 [3] Choice

The next morning, we all gathered in the main hall for one of Karen's briefings. The room was filled with interns, mostly guys, with a few girls scattered here and there. It was always tense when Karen was in the room, and today was no different. She stood at the front, her hands on her hips, looking us over with her usual no-nonsense glare.

"Alright, listen up," Karen started, her voice cutting through the murmur of conversation. "We have an event coming up next week, and participation is, of course, optional—" She paused, her lips curling into a smile that sent a shiver down my spine, "—but let's be honest, you're all going to want to participate."I could feel the unease ripple through the group. Whenever Karen said something was "optional," it rarely was. She always had a way of making it feel like if you didn't go along with her, you were on her shit list.She gestured to a rack of clothes being wheeled into the room by one of her assistants. My stomach turned when I saw them—dresses. But not just any dresses. These were the kind of outfits you'd expect to see at some risqué nightclub, not at a professional company event. Short, tight, with deep plunging necklines, and some were barely long enough to cover anything.A murmur of disbelief went through the room. One of the guys near me, Jason, raised his hand, looking uncomfortable as hell. "Uh, Ms. Phillips? What's with the outfits?"Karen's smile never wavered. "These," she said, with a wave of her hand towards the dresses, "are for our little talent show. You boys are going to have the chance to show us what you're made of. It's all about creativity and boldness."Jason shifted uneasily, looking around at the rest of us. "But... they're a bit, uh... revealing, don't you think?"Karen's eyes narrowed, her smile growing tighter. "Revealing? Jason, honey, it's called fashion. Maybe if you spent less time worrying and more time embracing the opportunity, you'd get it."A few nervous laughs echoed through the room, but most of us were just staring at the rack, unsure what to think. This was bullshit, and we all knew it. Karen's "optional" participation was a lie. There was no way we could sit this one out and still keep our heads above water in this internship.I felt the tension in my chest tighten as I glanced around. Everyone looked as uncomfortable as I felt. The guys were shifting on their feet, whispering to each other, while Karen just stood there, her smile not faltering for a second, like she was daring us to challenge her.One of the other interns, Mark, spoke up next. "Ms. Phillips, this doesn't really seem appropriate for a work event. I mean, we're supposed to be showcasing our skills, right? Not... whatever this is."Karen's expression shifted, and her voice dropped a notch, cold and dismissive. "Mark, do you know what sets winners apart from the rest? It's their willingness to step outside their comfort zone, to be bold. If you're not willing to push the boundaries, then maybe you're not cut out for this kind of work."Mark fell silent, his face turning red. We all knew what that meant. Karen had a way of singling people out, making them feel small, like they didn't belong if they didn't follow her rules. It was a sick game, and we were the pawns.I felt my jaw clench as I watched her, frustration bubbling up inside me. This wasn't about fashion or creativity. This was about control. She wanted to see how far she could push us, how much bullshit we were willing to swallow just to keep our spots. And we all knew it.Karen's assistant began handing out the dresses, her eyes sweeping over each of us with an unspoken command: Take it. Don't complain. Play along.When it was my turn, I grabbed mine with a reluctant hand. The fabric was soft but felt wrong in my grip, like it shouldn't belong anywhere near me. It was bright red, sleeveless, and tight. I stared at it, my stomach twisting into knots."What the fuck," I muttered under my breath. The more I looked at it, the angrier I got. This wasn't about fashion or a talent show. This was humiliation, plain and simple.Karen clapped her hands, drawing our attention back to her. "Now, don't forget. This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your personalities, your ability to adapt, and your willingness to push the boundaries. The company will be watching." She gave us all that same condescending smile. "And those who impress will definitely have an advantage when it comes time to make final decisions about who stays on board after the internship."There it was. The fucking carrot dangling in front of us. She was using our fear of failure against us, and we all knew it.Jason spoke up again, more uncertain this time. "So, if we don't participate..."Karen's smile didn't fade. "Well, it's optional, of course," she said, her tone as sweet as poison. "But let's just say those who do participate will be remembered. Positively. Those who don't... well, it's up to you how much you want to stand out." Her eyes gleamed with that same cold, manipulative light. "You're all adults. I'm sure you'll make the right choice."My stomach churned. I looked around at the other guys, most of them looking just as sick about this as I was, but no one was saying anything anymore. We all knew what the stakes were. No one wanted to piss off Karen, not when our futures were on the line.I stuffed the dress into my bag, my hands shaking with frustration. I wanted to scream, to tell her to shove this whole event up her ass, but the words stayed stuck in my throat. If I lost this internship, I'd lose everything. I couldn't afford to take that risk, not when I was this close to graduating.Karen dismissed us with a wave of her hand, and we all filed out, the tension thick in the air. As we left the room, I could hear Karen's voice behind us, light and cheerful. "Remember, boys, it's all about standing out. I expect great things from you."Her words followed me like a shadow, leaving me feeling sick to my core.***The day of the event was looming closer, and to my surprise—and disgust—most of the guys, and even a few of the women, had chosen to participate. I guess the pressure to stand out was just too much to resist. No one wanted to be seen as the one who didn't "play along," and Karen had made it pretty fucking clear that this was our chance to impress the higher-ups.I stood in the break room, looking at the other interns, all awkwardly trying on their ridiculous outfits. It was weird seeing a group of guys, usually in shirts and ties, squeezed into dresses that looked like they belonged in a club, not a corporate office."So," I said, trying to make conversation to break the tension. "What are you guys planning to do for the talent part?"Jason, the guy who had spoken up before, gave a half-hearted shrug. "I don't know, man. I'm thinking maybe some juggling or something. I just want to get this shit over with.""Juggling?" I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"Jason sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's not exactly groundbreaking, but it's not like I want to be remembered for this shit. I just want to get through it without looking like a complete idiot."A guy named Ben, standing nearby, spoke up next. He was already wearing his outfit, a tight silver number that barely reached mid-thigh. "I'm doing stand-up. I figured if I can get them to laugh, maybe they'll forget I'm dressed like this.""Good luck with that," Jason muttered.Then there was Dave, who seemed far too comfortable in his neon-green dress. He grinned at us, completely unbothered. "I'm going to dance," he said, his voice full of excitement. "You know, like a full routine. I figure if I go all out, they'll remember me for being bold. Karen said that's what they're looking for, right?"I stared at him, incredulous. "You're really leaning into this, huh?"Dave shrugged, still grinning. "Why not? The company higher-ups are going to be watching. This is my shot, man. If they like what they see, I'm golden. I'm not going to fuck it up by half-assing it.""Yeah, but... doesn't this whole thing feel fucked up to you?" Jason asked, voicing what we were all thinking but hadn't dared to say out loud.Dave waved him off. "It's just a game, man. You play the game to win. If you don't, someone else will. I don't know about you guys, but I'm here to climb the ladder, and I'll do whatever it takes."There it was, that eagerness, that desperation to impress. It made my skin crawl. Dave wasn't the only one who had that look in his eyes, like he was willing to sell his soul if it meant moving up in the company. But he was the only one saying it out loud. Most of us were trying to hold on to some shred of dignity, pretending this was just another work event. But Dave? He didn't care. He was in it for the long haul.I shifted uncomfortably, adjusting the hem of my own dress—a deep red thing that I hated with every fiber of my being. It clung to me in all the wrong places, and I felt exposed, vulnerable. But there was no turning back now. I had to go through with it. The fear of losing my shot was too strong."So, the higher-ups are really watching this, huh?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. The thought of some corporate execs sitting there, judging us while we pranced around like idiots, made my stomach churn.Ben nodded, pulling at the neckline of his silver dress, trying to make it sit better on his broad shoulders. "Yeah, that's what I heard. Apparently, Karen invited them all. This is like, some big internal event or something. They want to see how we 'handle pressure' or whatever bullshit reason they've come up with."Jason snorted. "Handle pressure? More like see how far they can push us before we break."Dave shot him a look. "Look, you can bitch about it all you want, but at the end of the day, this is how it works. You think anyone's going to care how uncomfortable you were when they're handing out job offers? No. They're going to care about who stood out, who took the risks, who wasn't afraid to be bold. That's what this company is about."Jason clenched his fists, clearly frustrated. "Yeah, well, some of us don't think selling out is the only way to get ahead."Dave just shrugged, still wearing that stupid grin. "Suit yourself, man. But don't come crying to me when I'm the one getting promoted, and you're still stuck doing coffee runs."I glanced around the room, seeing the other guys nervously adjusting their dresses, trying to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Most of them were like me—quiet, unsure, just trying to survive this insane game we'd been forced into. But there were a few like Dave, eager to play, ready to do whatever it took to climb the ladder, no matter how degrading it felt."Whatever," Jason muttered under his breath, clearly done with the conversation. "I'm just going to get through this and forget it ever happened."I wished I could be as optimistic, but the weight of it all was pressing down on me. This wasn't just some stupid event. It was a test. A twisted, fucked-up test to see how far we were willing to go. And the worst part was, we all knew it. Even the ones trying to act like it was no big deal—they knew.As we headed out to practice our "performances," I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just an event. It was a turning point. One of those moments where you either make it or break it, where you decide just how much you're willing to sacrifice to get what you want.I wasn't sure what scared me more—failing to impress, or becoming the kind of guy who thought this was all okay.Dave slapped me on the back as we filed out of the room, still grinning like this was the best day of his life. "Cheer up, man. It's just a show. All we have to do is put on a good one."I forced a smile, but inside, I was still churning with doubt. The line between playing the game and losing yourself in it felt way too thin.Q: Would you perform in this case or not?

Chapter 3 - [3] Choice

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