Chapter 2: Mondays and Idiots.
Present Time.***
KIKI.
I don't like Monday mornings or people who like Monday mornings.
Do I also hate my jobs? Heck yes. But do they afford me the ability to go on lavish vacations and buy anything I want? Also, no. Now, will I stop doing these jobs? Absolutely not! I mean, there's no job anywhere so I'll take what I get. It's not my fault, I just do not like stress. It's really not me, it's just how I was born. But then, this world? My reality? All it ever throws at me is stress and hardships not even a single lemon so I can make some freaking lemonades!
"Oh my God! It looks like we are throwing a freaking party in here!" One of my coworkers exclaimed as I walked out of the restroom only to find more customers in the store.
It's not like this doesn't happen on clearance weeks but we still can't seem to get used to it despite experiencing it so many times.
"Well, if only boss here can do what's necessary and hire more staffs, we wouldn't be so crowded." I said ignoring the glare my boss was throwing at me.
"If we get more staffs, your salaries reduce and if it reduces, you don't have enough to spend and if you don't have enough to spend then you won't be able to afford the cobbler's appointments to fix that same heels you've been wearing for the past three years over and over and if you can't afford to fix those heels then you'd be coming here on slippers and if you show up to work on slippers, you get fired. Now, do you want to get fired, Kiki?" Sam, my boss asked rhetorically while I just rolled my eyes at him because all that he just said sounded to me like, "yeah, so we're gonna be short-staffed forever so if you can work yourself to death, that'd be great!"
I have worked as a sales associate in the same luxury brand company known as Callisto, one of the renowned and influential luxury brands in the world, and also a genuine global reference for fashion and accessories for over five years and as sales associates, we are typically the first touchpoint that potential customers have to the company. Not only do we gain hands-on experience selling directly to consumers, but we also have the opportunity to represent the company and achieve valuable knowledge about products and services.
I took a walk towards a woman who had one of the very expensive mini bags in our store in her hands, a man who I presumed to be her boyfriend or husband was right beside her looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"Good day ma'am. Would you like to own that bag you're holding?" I asked politely.
"Of course, why else would It be in my hands? Is it the most expensive? I want the latest and most expensive Callisto bag in this store." The woman said, talking in an undoubtingly berating manner but I was used to it.
Working in a luxury brand store as a sales associate, I've had my share of wealthy people always talking down on me, I've been insulted several times both in person and on call when I decide to stand in for one of my friends in the customer service section. One thing that was common amongst the fans of this luxury brand is their pride and unnecessary need to make others feel less of themselves just to make them look more high class. Of course, there are amazingly sweet, polite and respectful ones amongst them, but they are like a drop of water in a mighty ocean.
"I'm sorry ma'am but this handbag is not the latest nor the most expensive in the store." I said as I began to walk towards the opposite section as they followed me. "The Callisto Verona crocodile shoulder bag is the latest and most expensive. It costs fourty thousand and five hundred dollars. It has only been bought by Princess Vittoria of Savoy, the famous Italian princess and Grace xumberg, one of the famous Hollywood celebrities. It is available in limited colors also, navy green, sky blue and burnt orange." I explained as I carefully took the bag off the shelf.
It was a sky blue bag that has a crocodile skin and if I would be honest, wasn't even all that. It was quite ugly and all but trust the fans to always buy them. The brand name is of utmost importance to them and maybe their longevity also because of the original materials they use in making them, but if I was asked if it's worth it, I'd honestly give a big fat no. That was one money that could rent me a very comfortable house in Texas, heck, forget housing, it'd even do a whole lot in my unorganized life as a whole. And that money is about to sit in someone's closet as a damn bag.
The gap between the rich and the poor is just so huge. What a world.
I handed the bag over to the woman as she stared at it in awe. Her boyfriend simply rolled his eyes at her action not understanding what was amusing about the bag. And then he looked back at me, it was then that I noticed the winks he had been throwing at me. I simply smiled in an awkward manner as I quickly averted my eyes, I found myself unconsciously drawing the collars of my shouldersirt together even when my cleavage wasn't out in the open.
"Tell me you did not just smile and flash your tits at my man!" The woman suddenly snapped as I looked at her in instant shock, not understanding how she even deduced that.
"What do you mean, ma'am? Why would I do such a thing?" I replied trying to remain as polite as possible.
"Baby, did she not just flash her damn brown tits at you?" She asked her so called man, adding a bit of racism that I decided to just ignore.
"Uhm... Yes. She did, she has been winking for a while now."
"Wait, what? What the heck are you talking about? Wink at you?" I exclaimed, ultimately shocked.
"Hy, ma'am, sir... and Kiki. What is going on here?" Sam asked as he stepped into the situation. I was still trying to check if this was some kind of prank or something.
"Why don't you ask the whore that you employed as a salesgirl, huh? Is she here to sell luxurious products or her fat body? She sure as hell can't be doing both!" The woman snapped yet again, succeeding in gathering people's attention this time. .
" Ma'am, you have to stay calm. Kiki, what happened?"
"I don't even understand this situation either. I was here trying to sell the Callisto Verona crocodile shoulder bag to her when all of a sudden she said I was flashing my tits at her man and her man also added that I even winked at him even though he was literally the one who did that not me." I explained, almost sounding out of breath.
"Oh please, why would I wink at you when I've got this amazing beauty right beside me? Its like leaving barbie and going for shrek. Come on, that makes no sense at all." The man mocked. I heard a familiar voice snicker behind me as I turned to see Sarah, the one and only bitch of a coworker that I had.
"Uhm... Sir, we are really sorry for whatever she did. We apologize for her wrongdoings, we'll be sure to get her punished for it. Kiki, apologize to the couple." Sam said after throwing me the look of unapproval as usual.
"Oh, hell no! No no no! Not today! I won't let you just throw me under the bus. This couple just accused me of what I didn't do, proceeded to insult me vigorously while at it and you're telling me to apologize even when they are wrong? That customers are always right phrase does not count in this part, Sam, it doesn't. It wouldn't cost anything for you to check the CCTV and see who the liar is. There's only one slut here and it ain't me. Oh, including Sarah so make that two."
"Kiki, are you on drugs?" Sam asked.
"Oh, dear boss. You and I know that you do not pay me enough money to even have drug problems." I replied with a sickly sweet voice.
"What a rude bitch!" The woman contributed yet again.
"Kiki dear. Your shift is over already. Don't complicate issues, please." Rose, my friend whispered to me as she begun to drag me away from the scene.
"Watch how the sales associate of the year take care of the situation." Sarah said as she walked onto the same spot I was standing with the biggest smile on her face.
When we got into the employees' room, I immediately let out everything that I had been struggling I keep in.
"Gosh, I have never been so embarrassed for a while now. I can't believe she accused me of falshing my beautiful tits at that sorry excuse of a man. One that I would never even give a second look even if he walked up to me. And all the people giving approving nods at what she said? Gosh, if idiots could fly, this place would be a freaking airport! You know what, screw this job and every single customer and employee in it!"
"You keep saying that yet you continue to show up for work everyday and even on time." Rose said with a smirk on her face.
"No, this is different. I'm damn serious right now, I don't even care anymore, I am done."
"Wait, let me count how many times you've said this, oh yeah, a million times yet you keep working so hard each passing day."
"Stop rubbing salt on my wound, girl. You're so annoying, I hate you so much." I snapped at her, hating the fact that she was right.
"Oh, I know damn well that you mean the opposite of that."
"Fuck you. I'm leaving!" I said as I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the room."
"Wait, you didn't change out of the employees' t-shirt." I heard her say but I was too pissed to even go back.
