= Sarah POV =

  I woke up with a start and looked around confused. I was still in the parlor, but it seemed a lot darker. I was lying down on the couch with a pillow under my head and what looked like water and some pills on the table in front of me.

  “Oh good, you are awake. I called my GP and he checked on you and said you were just passed out from the alcohol. Can you sit up?” I heard Heather ask me from across the table.

  I slowly sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Heather pushed a cup of water and the pills towards me.

  “The doctor left these for you, take two with some water, and your headache should subside a little”

  I gratefully accepted the medication and water, popped two pills, and washed them down with the water.

  “Molestation, alcohol poisoning. Do you want me to add anything else to the report?” Heather asked as she went back to typing into her open ptop across from me.

  “No! No I…”I said and calmed myself “ I wasn’t resisting. I…I didn’t…mind?” I said cautiously.

  Heather smmed her ptop shut, startling me.

  “You didn’t mind? Are you out of your mind? So, if I was to come over and jump you, you’d be fine with it too?” she asked, furious.

  “I mean no I…” I said and shrank back into the couch, drinking more water and trying to think carefully about what I said next.

  Heather rubbed her forehead. It seemed like a very common gesture of hers at this point.

  “ Ok, so, this is a workpce. At work, there is a standard of conduct that everyone needs to adhere to. This does change things if you are agreeable to Ms. Jun’s advances, but it cannot happen on company premises” Ms. Heather expined “However this is also Ms. Jun’s house, so I struggle with maintaining order here, because of how much Ms. Jun is able to skirt the rules, being the sole owner of the premise”.

  Heather got up and started pacing, then she cpped her hands together.

  “You know, what I really need more than a cashier is help with data entry. That way, I can keep an eye on Ms. Jun’s whereabouts, and she won’t be able to get her cws on you while you are under my care,” Heather said, turning to me. “ Sorry for the sudden change, but how are you with Excel?”

  “Average, however, I am a quick learner,” I replied, putting down the empty cup of water.

  “Alright so it’s settled, you’ll work in the back office with me, the sary will be a bit more as it is more of an accounting position than the cashier, and I think I’ll get Amber to handle the cashier permanently as she seems to be able to handle that position quite well so far,” Heather said and walked towards the door “ By the way, sorry for the te introduction, but please called me Heather. I will get the new contract ready for you to sign, so please wait here for a moment” Heather said and left the room.

  I looked down at the offensive food that Ms. Jun had served me. It looked like the cake had been completely smashed as if several people had examined it, leaving crumbs everywhere.

  “Hey, Sarah?”

  I jumped and found Ms. Jun leaning into the room from the doorway.

  I immediately stood up; my hands clenched into a fist.

  “Please, don’t come near me,” I said; I was tired and a little fed up at this point.

  Ms. Jun pouted and acted like she was going to slip out of the room, but at the st minute, slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.

  “Look. I’m sorry. Actually, a lot of my specialty cakes have alcohol in them. I didn’t think that you would get drunk from that bit of the cake” she said, walking slowly towards me.

  “Yeah but what about the Latte? Heather said you added baileys to it” I pointed out.

  “Oh! Well, I wanted you to rex, and it tasted really good, didn’t it? There was a shot of expresso in it as well, I promise, I just forgot to mention the baileys” Ms. Jun replied, trying to look innocent as she kept moving towards me.

  I crossed my arms. I could do this. I could have a serious talk with another human being about work pce retionships, right?

  “Ms. Jun, I am really grateful for this job, however, how long have you been in business?” I asked.

  Ms. Jun stopped, and then thought for a moment “About five years”

  “And who did you start it with?” I asked.

  “Oh Heather, she is great, much better than me at running a business” Ms. Jun said and smiled, taking another step forward.

  “Then why are you trying to make it all go down the drain for a few seconds of pleasure? After all the work Heather has put in, is this really worth it? Ruining the business that both of you have worked so hard to create?” I snapped, looking up at Ms. Jun defiantly.

  Ms. Jun stopped, looking genuinely surprised, then for the first time, she started to look nervous.

  “No, I don’t think….but we have, a connection, I can feel it. Don’t you want me?” Ms. Jun asked, bluntly.

  I was taken aback. I never expected her to just come out and say it. But I was on a roll, I wasn’t going to be shaken by my own lustful desires right now.

  I ran a hand through my hair, flipping the few flyaway strands back to give me an air of confidence, and said, “ I want the hardworking, strong woman that I met who offered me a job, not some predator waiting to pounce and ruin my chances at a successful career. What kind of job would this be if even the CEO is not serious about its success?”

  Ms. Jun’s jaw literally dropped. She took a step back. Her eyes turned red, and she averted her eyes, looking as if she had just been spped.

  “I. I’m sorry, you’re right; I am setting a bad example,” she said in a low murmur.

  “That’s right, stick it to her,” Heather said as she strode back into the room with my new contract in hand. “You know what, I’m starting to like you, Sarah.” Heather grinned and walked towards us, kicking Ms. Jun in the shin while she passed her.

  “Oi! Damn it, Heather, I need to be able to stand if you want me to run the kitchen,” Ms. Jun said as she hopped around, clutching the sore leg.

  “I’ll kick the other one if you don’t hop out of here right now. Who told you to be such a damn embarrassment?” Heather chided and gred at Ms. Jun.

  “Alright, I’m going,” Ms. Jun said and pouted as she hopped towards the door.

  At the door, she straightened up and looked back at me. “ From now on, I will strive to be the woman you saw in me because I want to make you fall in love with me,” she said and grinned, and then left the room.

  Heather rolled her eyes and handed me the paper. “ She. Says. That. To. All. The. Girls,” she said, emphasizing every word with a hand cp.