Chapter 2: The Uneasy Girl
Twenty three years later,
By the time the whistle finished shrilling, Abi was standing in front of her machine with dimmed eyes. She had thought that she had enough time to make four more pieces and earn two more shillings but she had been wrong, thoroughly wrong and now it would cost her another shift to pay for her mistake.
She dragged her exhausted body to the office of the supervisor. He was a grumpy man with a lecherous look. She ignored going to his office as much as she could since they would be alone there. But now she did not have a choice.
Her mother was sick and she needed money for the medicine. They already could not afford the physician and were depending on the old ways of Callie's grandma. But even those herbs cost money and she did not have one to spare.
Her eyes stared at the door as if, if she prayed enough. Her circumstances would change, a solution would come into her arms. And she would be free to this torment.
"Tsk! Abi. the door is not going to reply to you. The supervisor will. Now do not be a chicken." she cursed as she knocked on the door.
But when she heard the humming voice from inside she did not want to go in.
"Who is it?" the voice went cold and she chided herself for dawdling.
"It is me, sir Mark. Abigail." she forced herself in with hasty steps.
The man was sitting on his chair with a crisp white shirt and black pants. A cigar in his hands and an imprint look on his face but when he noticed the young girl in his room, completely soaked with sweat and clothes sticking to her thin body, his expressions changed and he smiled.
"Oh, Abigail. The one from shift one. Right?" he asked, feigning ignorance though he knew the woman well. She was the most beautiful girl of the crew. Too bad she never looked around her or she would have noticed that he was interested in her. Then, she did not need to dye clothes or cut them all her life. She could have achieved better, much better.
His eyes glowed thinking about what he could have received in return and his mood improved, "why are you here?" his voice was still cold but Abi could feel the change in his eyes. The man was talking to her while looking at her breasts.
The dress was tighter but that was all she could get from the thrift shop. It had never made him so uneasy before.
"I was wondering. If I can get some advance from my salary?" her lips went dry as she said those words. Though she knew well, the man would not offer her a single penny without his benefit.
But if.. Somehow he relented, she would have medicines for this week.
"My mother.." she started, failed, started again, "she used to work here too. But had recently left job. Her name was Martha if you remember?" When he did not respond, she licked her dry lips and continued, "she is too sick to continue and I need medicine for her. So, if it is possible. Can I have some advance to buy medicine for her." her voice was pleading, desperate at the end of her words but the man still did not respond.
It was stupid for her to think that he would help but she could not think of any other way.
"I.."
"How much money do you want?" her eyes widened at his offer. A look of pure disbelief and joy mixed with relief.. The look made him hungry and thirsty but for her. His eyes glowed but he only nodded subtly to her silent question.
"I.. five shillings would do." It was a pound. A hefty sum for a worker like her who only earns a quid for a week.
"That is a lot." The man frowned, unimpressed and she regretted being greedy. Perhaps she should have asked for one shilling. It would have been better than nothing. "You know that you can not get such a large amount for free. Right?" he pointed, making her blink.
Danger rose on her skin making her hair stand but at the same time, a hope to help her mother.
"Do not look at me like I am whoring you out, Abi. you came here of your own free will." he cleared his throat and adjusted to his seat. His hardness was making it difficult to concentrate but he knew that this girl would not give up easily.
And he loves the chase…
"How about you work night shifts too? If you produced twice the amount you were supposed to, I will give you a quid extra this week." he offered with a bright benevolent smile that made her skin crawl.
"That was it?" she confirmed. The devil told her the deal was too sweet to believe but when she thought about another coin, she could not stop herself from believing in it. Even if there was a slight chance, she would take it.
"Yes, you can take an hour break for your dinner and then return. But mind you, I will not let you go until you produce enough or you would lose that extra money." she nodded, she would work like ghosts had possessed her if needed but she would not give up on this job.
She was going to be here even if god would come and refuse her.
"Thank you.. Thank you kind sir."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone