Chapter 4 Hate this job

Katherine looks at the document about the product, however Ms. Clark and Ms. Perez have their own ideas. Mr. Miller holds his hand up to mute everyone in the room as Katherine is standing by his side, just watching everyone.

"Katherine, thank you for explaining everything to us about this new product. There is only I will add that I have two different factories that I can contact to make. There will be no cross contamination. You always carry your EpiPen around with you everywhere you go,"

"Yes, Sir I never know I might have an allergic reaction if I am not too careful,"

"That is smart of you, now everyone you heard Katherine say let this happen. And don't disappoint me I will not look like a fool of my company,"

"Yes, sir,"

"Dismissed,"

Everyone got up from their seat and grabbed all their documents of what they were supposed to do. Katherine again checks on her father to see him eating his lunch and watching tv again. As she was about to walk out of the meeting room. She must use the ladies' room; therefore, she left everything in her office to close the door behind her before walking to the ladies' room. Check the bathroom stall to see which one is opening as she walked inside and closed the door behind to do her business she heard someone come into the bathroom talking.

"You see how Mr. Miller called Katherine by her first name, but he always used our last when he addresses us," says the first lady

"Do you think she is sleeping with him to become his private secretary?" said the second lady

"I don't think so, I think Ms. Clark and Ms. Perez are angry that they can't be around Mr. Miller 24/7," laughed the first lady

"I know right, oh man it almost lunchtime,"

"You know Ms. Clark says we can't eat without finishing our work,"

"I can't think if I am hungry,"

"Maybe we can ask Mr. Miller if we can have lunch or something to drink,"

"Her lap dog Ms. Perez would stop us, too. We have one more person, Katherine, who is our last hope to get some food or drinks."

"Yes, we can ask her,"

The ladies wash their hands before leaving the bathroom. As Katherine left the stall, she also washes her hands after hearing the two ladies saying that they can't eat or drink anything after they finish their work. As she was coming out of the bathroom, she was about to head back into her office to do some paperwork for Mr. Miller. Her desire is to be kind to everyone.

"How can I help everyone?" asked Katherine

"Katherine, we are hungry and thirsty we want, something to eat but Ms. Clark and Ms. Perez won't let us do anything since we been working here,"

"I was thinking of going out for lunch. I can pick everyone food and drinks let me get a pad and pen,"

Katherine went into her desk to pull out a pad and pen, came back out.

"Now one at a time,"

"I would like Chinese food, chicken, and broccoli with any soda but not diet and make sure there are no egg or onions," said the first co-worker

"For me I would like Tantury Warps, with lemonade, no tomato, no onions," said the second co-worker

"Ravioli Lemon Parmesan with apple juice, you can leave everything as is, with a red velvet cake, if they have it," the third co-worker

"Poffertjes (Dutch pancake) with blueberry cider," First co-worker

"Greek chicken Gyros with apple cider," said the second co-worker

"For me I like French. This food I would like it's called French Mustard chicken with strawberry lemonade, make sure it only thighs and see if they have chocolate cake," the third co-worker said.

"I got everything order so let me get my wallet and will get going,"

"Thank you so much," said everyone

Katherine went into her office to get her bag so she could get everyone's food. She went to her boss's office to see if Mr. Miller wanted anything to eat. As she walked to his office, she was about to knock on the door waiting for her boss to say, "Come in"

"Come in,"

"Yes, boss, I want going out to lunch to get everyone food. Do you want anything?"

"No thank you, here used my card,"

"Okay, I have my money, and everyone can reimburse me."

Katherine left the office. She needs to hurry back before lunch, so she'll run down the stairs instead of taking the slow elevator and leave the office quickly. Since she was unfamiliar with the area, she needed to be careful not to get lost on the return trip. Katherine should have worn her sneakers instead of heels; now her feet will ache all day. Look at her list to see who is first and worked her way down the list until she finds this place by walking down the street, it's this building called The Golden restaurant. As she went inside, the AC is on that is making her cold; she looks at her list. The food in this place is making her hungry, she is thinking of eating later.

To fulfill everyone's orders, she went to a different food court. With a patient smile, Katherine detailed her coworkers' diverse food preferences to the cashiers, ensuring they understood the need for freshness and precise order accuracy. The Precious House Cafe upstairs boasted a lively atmosphere; the scent of various drinks filled the air, promising a customized beverage for each visitor.

"Hello, can I help you?" said the cashier

"Yes, can I have one lemonade, one blueberry cider, one strawberry lemonade, apple cider," said Katherine

"Will that be anything else?" asks the cashier

"Do you carry bottle drinks like soda, apple juice?" asked Katherine

"Yes, you can grab it from that fridge over there,"

"Thank you,"

She went over to the fridge to grab two-liter ginger ale soda and a two-liter apple juice and brought it over to the cashier to check with the other drinks that were being made by someone else.

"Yes, will be $35.50," said the cashier

"Thank you, can I have the receipt, please?"

"Here you go and here are your changes. It going to be a min for drinks to be finished,"

"I will sit over here,"

Katherine called her father to see if he wants anything special to eat tonight's dinner, but he didn't answer the phone, therefore she checks the camera. He wasn't in the living room, to let her father to have his privacy, she never put one in his room or in hers.

"Miss, your drinks are ready,"

"Thanks,"

Katherine notices the cashier is labeling each cup with its owner's name. With the cups secured in the holder, she proceeded downstairs to the food court. They gratefully packed all the delicious food into the large bag before leaving the restaurant, eager to return to the company. With her eyes fixed on the traffic light, she could hear the distant hum of engines and the occasional screech of tires as she waited for it to change to green. Everyone was crossing the street, so she did with a heavy bag in her hand trying to not to bump into people who were crowning the sidewalk, she finally made to the company building, gentlemen open the door for her as she steps in.

"Thank you,"

As she tried to aid to elevator, there was empty, so she stepped inside and put the button to the floor once the door was open got into the office, put a bag on the big table.

"Everyone, your food and drinks are here,"

"Thank you, Katherine. How much do we own you? Do you have a Venmo or cash app?"

"Yes I have Venmo,"

"Even better, we all have Venmo,"

Katherine informed everyone of the total costs of their meals and drinks, the co-worker Venmo money. The co-workers unpacked their meal from the bag, and upon opening their food containers, the room filled with the smell. They turned to Katherine, their faces filled with shock.

"Is everything okay? Did I miss anything?"

"No, everything is fresh and has a wonderful scent." "Where did you end up?"

"I found this place called The Golden restaurant. It's an enormous building that has different restaurants; luckily I got everyone's drinks from here too. Everyone looked at her like she did something wrong,"

"Katherine, that place is expensive, and you got our meals from that place,"

"Yes. Did you know you can get points from them? Now go ahead before your food gets cold,"

"Oh, Katherine, Mr. Miller wants you in his office,"

"Thanks,"

Katherine walked out of the lunchroom down the hall rechecking her camera at her place and yet her father wasn't there, so she called his cellphone again with no answer, thinking to herself that he had better not leave that apartment. Before entering Mr. Miller's office, Katherine knocked.

"Come in,"

"Mr. Miller, you need for something,"

"Ms. Clark and Ms. Perez, you say you brought everyone lunch,"

"Yes, I did. Why is their business? If not fair, if co-workers are working hard without no lunch. I bought lunch for everyone, and they repaid me. I didn't mind doing it. Why can't they do it?"

"There are rumors are going around say that Ms. Clark won't let anyone eat until they finish their work,"

"Ms. Clark, is that true?" asks Mr. Miller

"No, sir, clearly she is lying,"

"Mr. Miller, let me explain to you if your girlfriend or wife was working in a company where she wasn't allowed to eat her lunch and has a medical condition. What would you do?" asks Katherine.

"I would make sure she eats. Ms. Clark, I think it is best if you treat your co-workers with respect and allow them to have a 20 min lunch break. You, Ms. Perez, if you keep following Ms. Clark here, you will be kicked out of this company with her. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir,"

"Now leave me office,"

The ladies leave the office once again with this perfume is so heavy. Katherine thinking to herself that Mr. Perez keep spraying perfume on herself again.

"Katherine, while you are here. What is on my schedule for today?"

Katherine went to into her office to get her tablet, then came out turn it on then look at the screen.

"You have a two o'clock video called with Mr. Whiteless, he wants me to tell you that the ring is ready for you to pick it up. Mr. Nightstalker left a message saying to call him back and you need to bring a date to the ball. You have a business meeting in Canada with Mr. and Ms. Eagledane about join company together. That is it,"

"Thank you, that is all,"

Just suddenly starts to lightheaded again, and she forgot to eat something again, her legs almost give out until someone holds her up as she clears her head.

"Katherine, are you okay?"

"Yes, sorry, I didn't mean to faint like that. I forgot to eat lunch,"

"Lucas, order us something to eat,"

"Mr. Miller, that is alright I have a snack bar in my office that I can eat until I go home,"

"No, you will eat lunch with me,"

"Yes, sir,"

Lucas went out to order them something to eat and Katherine did her work for Mr. Miller until her cellphone rang in her pocket, look at the caller id it was her father.

"Dad, where have you been I calling you all day?"

"I just went out for a bit don't worry I wasn't drinking. I just went out for a walk. How is work?"

"It okay, my boss just orders us something to eat. Is there something you want from the market?"

"I can eat anything,"

"I will talk to you later, see you when I get home,"

Finishing taking to her father, she got out of her cellphone back into her pocket, printed out some document for Mr. Miller, fixed up his work and personal schedule, dabbed her necklace around her neck. Katherine knows she lied to her boss that she has a husband who gave that gift around her neck.

Ms. Clark looked at Katherine at the printer, just daydreaming while touching her necklace around her neck after hearing Katherine talking to her father on the phone. Ms. Clark has a hot coffee in her hand, walks over to the copy machine as soon as Katherine turns around to walk away. Ms. Clark spilled hot coffee on her that burned her chest, making her drop everyone on the floor. Katherine using her shirt to clean the coffee off her chest.

"Ms. Clark, what's the matter with you?"

"My apologies, I should have been more careful."

Everyone came out of the office, like Ms. Clark, to pretend to fall on the floor with an empty cup in her hand.

"I say I was sorry, Katherine; you didn't have to push me down on the floor like that,"

"You are the one who spills that coffee on me, now my shirt is ruined,"

"What is going on here?" said Mr. Miller

Ms. Clark spilled her hot coffee and falsely accused me of pushing her.

"Mr. Miller, did you know Katherine's father is a gambler and an alcoholic? He is in debt with collector and now his daughter is working at your company probably came here to steal data and sale to another company to make money,"

Everyone in the office starts to whispering and pointing at Katherine..

"She got kicked out of her other job because of the same thing, it all the in the report, look it," Ms. Clark handed Mr. Miller the report as he looks at it.

"Is this true?"

"Yes, my father is a gambler and an alcoholic he wasn't always like this even since my mother passed away he went down the hill. I was working different jobs, just trying to take care of us. I never steal company date for money. I try to be nice to everyone in this company."

Mr. Miller went back to his office to see Ms. Clark about to walk back to her desk until the boss came toward her.

"Everyone back to work, now! You in my office," pointed to Ms. Clark.

Ms. Clark walked into the office with Mr. Miller, and he closed his door with Lucas inside, went back to his seat, and sit down.

"Where did you get this information from?" asks Mr. Miller

"I can't tell you because it is all true,"

"Yes, I know about her father," she told me. You are sticking your nose into someone else's business, now you have the end of the day to finish whatever Katherine was doing. And I want it on my desk before you go home. If you can't do that, you are fired,"

It's unjust that she receives special treatment. For months or years, the company had been stuck in a rut, until her arrival injected fresh energy and new ideas."

"Yes, I know. Now get out of my office," he hissed, the words sharp and cold.

Ms. Clark was angry. Deep down, she wants Katherine to get kicked out of the company. Katherine is sitting on the couch in Mr. Miller's office just looking at him then she remember of the last page of her mother "will" of an arranged marriage to Christopher Miller. Katherine knows she has to keep a secret. The identity of that person is crucial; she needs to know immediately.

Lucas came back into the office with food, and he bring it over to the table where she was sitting at, Mr. Miller came over and sit next to her.

"I didn't know what you would like, so I picked up Seafood Linguine with white wine sauce, Linguine with Clams and Creamy Cajun Shimp Pasta," said Lucas

"Wow, that sound good,"

"On the application you put down you walked at Blue Water Green Lake?" asked Lucas

"Yes, I don't mind working here, in addition to my waitressing position at the friendly Blu Water Green Lake. My boss sometimes left me to clean everything by myself at night. To avoid staying late, my coworker left early."

"You not scared staying there by yourself,"

"No, I have to go back and make sure the door is locked. But the other day, I saw someone crossing the street. My guess was that a homeless person was searching for discarded food. After verifying the person's departure, I went back to my cleaning duties."

"Your dad doesn't help you," said Lucas

Mr. Miller glare at Lucas for asking that private question but Katherine smiles at him, eats some of her pasta before answering his question.

My father is dealing with both a gambling addiction and alcoholism. He's draining all our money, and yes, I know I could let him drink himself to death. I promised my mother I'd be there for him, no matter what.

After everyone finished their lunch, Katherine threw the trash out because she had to finish her work; she forgot that Mr. Miller got Ms. Clark doing all the work for her. As days went on Ms. Clark came back into the office with all the work done that she has to do by herself to see Mr. Miller signing some paperwork then her eyes went over to Katherine who was on tablet doing whatever she wants.

"Mr. Miller everything is done like you ask,"

"Thank you, you could leave it right there,"

"Katherine can you look over this work that Ms. Clark did? Ms. Clark you can leave."

"Yes, sir,"

From the office window, Ms. Clark observed Katherine collecting the documents before resuming her work. This angered her further, and she pulled out her phone to make a call while walking back to her desk to gather her belongings and leave.