His Evil Ways

*Patricia's POV*

My head aches as I think of ways to complete the one hundred blueberry cheesecake order of Stuart. Even when Miss Marjorie explained to him that his order was impossible because of the capacity of our chiller in the bakery, he still insisted and even warned my supervisor that if I failed to complete the task, I would lose my job. I can't lose my job because it is very difficult to find a job nowadays. Besides, I still need to pay my obligations in the bank by the end of this month. If I lose my job, I will lose everything.

"I am sorry, Patricia," Miss Marjorie sadly approached me, "I did what I could and even thought of assigning an assistant who can help you complete the task, but the CEO demanded that he wants you to complete the task alone."

I don't know if I will consider this a compliment or not. Compliment because knowing that he wanted me to bake all the cheesecakes by myself could mean that he likes the taste of my recipe; however, it may not be the case. He may have thought of making things hard for me because he did not like my presence in his company. If it was easy to get another job, I would not wait for him to fire me. I heaved a sigh and just nodded before I headed to the stockroom. I needed to check if I had enough supplies to create one hundred pieces of blueberry cheesecakes.

While preparing the ingredients, I thought of ways to finish the task. I smiled, thinking that if I started now, I could complete the orders. This task will not make me quit my job.

"I'm sorry, Stuart," I told myself with determination, "you can't make me quit my job because I am going to face all your challenges, and I am going to prove to you my worth!"

I created blueberry cheesecakes by batch. I thought that while the first batch was being set in the chiller, I could start working with the second batch. As soon as I am ready with the second batch, the first batch will be prepared to be transported to the nearby branches, where it can be further chilled. This way, I do not need to worry about the capacity of our chiller in the branch because I can use the other chillers in the other branches. I was lucky that my supervisors were very supportive enough to reserve every available chiller needed for me to complete my task. Cool right? I smiled at the thought that I could get through this challenge. I knew Stuart was just trying to make things hard for me, but I was not backing out.

"He wants war?" I smirked, "I'll give him war!"

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"Hey Patricia," Rea called, "aren't you going to take a break? It's already three in the afternoon, yet you have not taken your lunch."

"I am okay," I replied. "I need to finish the third batch to catch up with the delivery truck and have the second batch of cheesecakes in the chiller delivered to the nearest branch."

The truth is, I am already hungry, but there is nothing I can do. Besides the fact that I need to finish assembling all the orders today because these cakes need to be in the chiller for at least a day before we can sell them, I also don't have enough money to buy lunch. I needed to budget the remaining cash to survive the rest of the week. I sighed again at the thought and hoped that pastries would be declared as TA or throwaway, so I would have something to eat later. Throwaways of the bakery are still edible and not yet spoiled. The bakery just wanted to sell goods of high quality, so if the product is no longer soft or has lost its quality of being freshly cooked, the quality assurance manager will declare it a throwaway and give it to employees as free snacks.

I was finishing the third batch of blueberry cheesecakes when the delivery truck driver entered the kitchen and returned the ten layers of blueberry cheesecakes, which I asked him to deliver to the other branch.

"Why are these returned?" I asked.

"I am sorry, Ma'am," the driver scratched his nape, "Sir Stuart scolded me since he said these are not included in the delivery list, so they should not be in the delivery truck."

What the –! I was glaring with anger as I marched out of the kitchen to have a word with my monster boss when I learned he had already left. I could go to his office and fight him, but I cannot let my efforts go to waste. I needed to take the chilled cheesecakes to the nearest branch before it was too late. I went back to the kitchen, secured the ingredients so I could come back to it later, and delivered the ten layers of cheesecakes to the nearest branch myself.

I bit my lips when I checked my wallet. I realized I did not have enough money. If I use what is left, I will have to skip all my meals for the rest of the week, but there is no other way. Either I sacrifice my meals for the week or lose my job. I heaved a sigh and finally called a taxi. A week's sacrifice is still okay, rather than losing a job and not having anything for a month or so. Since I only had enough for one trip, I decided to simply deliver the cakes to the nearest branch and then walk my way back.

Ryan and Rea helped me load the cakes in the taxi. I was told that Stuart had instructed my supervisor to forbid my co-workers from helping me. That is why I hurried to deliver the cakes because I still needed to return to the kitchen to finish the last few batches of cakes.

I quietly sat on the passenger seat as I watched the busy streets of Makati. I may look calm, but my heart is bursting with anger. What was his problem with me, and why must he treat me this way? I have already accepted that I can never make him love me, but he could have at least given me the respect that every woman deserves.

It did not take long for me to reach the nearest branch. As soon as I arrived, I immediately had them placed in the chiller. I looked at my watch and realized that it was already four-thirty in the afternoon. This meant that I had to hurry back to the main branch to finish the rest of the orders. I started walking back to the main branch when I heard a snap.

I quietly cursed when I looked down and saw that my shoes had given up on me. This is probably my most hell week of the month. Hungry and tired, I walked the streets barefooted. Who would have thought that I would bag all the world's misfortunes today? I just hope this will be the last bad luck of the day.

______________________________

"Pat? Why are you not wearing anything on your feet?" Rea asked when I arrived at the main branch, but I was too tired to answer.

I saw my monster boss in the dining area of the shop, and I bet he was here to make sure that I did everything with no one's help. I guessed he was also here to see me suffer, so I held my chin up high and walked confidently towards the kitchen. I will not give him the satisfaction to see me weary.

"Are you okay?" I did not notice that Rea followed me.

"I destroyed my shoes," I explained. "they are too old and worn out anyway," I continued as I changed into my kitchen uniform.

"Are you going home?" I tried to change the topic, "You better not wait for me. I still have a long way to go."

"O-okay," is the only answer that Rea can give. She was obviously worried about me, but we both knew that there was nothing she could do to help.

"I'll come back later to lend you one of my shoes," Rea said before turning her back.

I quietly watched her leave before hurrying back to the working area. It was almost dark outside, but I needed to finish one more batch of cakes. It was good that Miss Marjorie offered to deliver the chilled cakes to another branch. She said that since she'll be passing by another branch, it won't hurt a bit if she'll help a little.

It was already very late when I finished. I walked lifelessly towards my locker when I saw a pair of old shoes in front of it. I knew it was the shoes that Rea promised, but I could not help but feel sorry for myself. Part of me wanted to burst into tears, but I couldn't; I was done crying. Two years ago, I promised to never cry again. Tears represent weakness, so instead of crying, I ran. I will let all my frustrations out through running. Besides, I have no more money to pay for my fare. I would run and arrive home tired, then be sleepy enough to feel hungry.