SIX

DAMON

With a bitter smile on my lips, I decided it would be better to park my car in the open parking lot. Parking in the basement car park would call undue attention to me and the employees I see every day would have more reason to taunt me as they have been doing for whatever reason known to them.

Once the parking was taken care of, I got out of the car and mentally prepared myself for the long day ahead.

I entered the administration building whose outside walls were painted pink and white and headed straight for Linda's office to get my costume and trays of sweets.

Yes, that torturous activity is not over.

As I ignored the snickering and intentional backbiting that trailed me as I walked, I wondered if my bear-dancing situation would come to an end soon.

Mr. Hands did not indicate how long I would do the embarrassing activity for.

At that point, I didn't mind the desk job which I always dreaded because of the people I worked with.

 Soon, my mind still raided with thoughts, I entered Linda's office.

"Hey, you. " Linda's voice dragged me out of my many thoughts and I faced one of the people that actually cared about me.

"Hey, Lin. How was your night?"

I walked past the stairs and took a seat.

A wide smile was instantly planted on her lips. It was so wide, it was almost creepy and I feared her lips would have a little tear.

I know... That's an exaggerated thought.  

"What's with the extreme smile?"

She clasped her hand, placed her elbows on her desk, rested her chin upon her knuckles, and said, "I might have gotten the best orgasm yesterday night." Linda looked like a happy child as she said those words.

"I see you finally got it done with that man."

"It was so fucking amazing. His lips worked on me last night. The way he sucked on my..."

"Linda!" I sounded like I was close to tears.

"I am saying this and you are going to listen. Because you are a virgin doesn't mean your mind or ears are."

Her point was valid. But I couldn't help but feel weird.

Linda continued her talk.

"When he first worked on my titties, I was like, I am having this dude's dick tonight."

I fake-coughed in response and she ignored me.

"When we kissed, I felt so high. He made me feel so good that I could barely take control."

I rolled my eyes and stylishly looked around for my work suit. I found it behind her seat with about ten trays of sweets in a cart and a money jar to go.

Do I love my job or what?

"He fucked me so good that I even injured myself. See..." She showed me the skin of her right wrist that looked scratched with red patches.

Note to self.

Don't do intercourse that would cause you undue pain.

"Does it hurt?" I asked as I got up to get my work things.

"It doesn't hurt. I hardly felt the pain yesterday. It was that good. Hey, how was the interview?" She suddenly derailed the path of her talk. As Linda stared at me expectantly, I found myself wishing she had just continued babbling about having sex with a stranger.

There was nothing much to say anyway.

"I had my niece's drawings instead of my documents."

Linda's eyes darted towards the ground as she wore pity all over her face. That sympathetic look is one thing I have grown to hate.

"Sheez, that must have been terrible." Awkward silence gradually found its way into the room and Linda began to rub her neck while her eyes kept darting away from my side. I watched her with a blank look on my face while I began to contemplate whether to put on the costume in that room. "So, I am guessing they didn't grant you the interview?" she asked further.

I shook my head.

"I am sure you'll get another interview," Linda said assuredly and I nodded while strongly resisting the temptation to tell her about Miss Selena.

"I should get going now." She hummed in response as I grabbed my stuff and left for my temporary office. I mean, my spot, which is outside and extremely exposed.

When I got outside, I walked towards a small corner to put on the costume. With my sharp sight, I guarded the trays of sweets that were hidden in another corner.

 Once I successfully wore the mascot's body, I grabbed the trays and uncomfortably tucked the head under my armpit

Thankfully, the sun wasn't intense yet, so my chances of dying while dancing in a bear suit were minimal.

Soon, I got to work.

My sight was limited so I used the netted eye holes to maneuver my steps, the money jar hanging around my neck like I was a merchant that jumped out of a cartoon.

So, there I was, dancing ridiculously.

Maybe I should have accepted yesterday's offer. Because the more I wave my hands and jerk my knees in the name of advertising some ridiculous product, I find my situation more and more humiliating.

While I bit back the urge to cry, although no one would see my tears, two girls came to my front.

I could barely see their faces as they reached for some sweets but I heard their talk despite the loudness of the speaker that was playing some light, feel-good music.

"This is such a ridiculous costume," one said.

"I know right?" A high-pitched voice that sounded too excited about life responded. "Why would anyone want to be dressed in something like this? It's so hideous. I can never be caught near this ugly thing."

After they dropped their money, the first one said, "I wonder why they chose an ugly costume. Maybe the person inside is as ugly as the mascot."

"I know, right?" The second girl giggled. "An ugly person for an ugly costume."

Their conversation took another turn but their words lingered in my mind.

They didn't make my heart ache, instead, their words annoyed me.

My movements which slowed down because of their words soon picked up and I resumed my dance.

As I admonished myself not to angrily take off the bear's head and smash it in their direction before they could walk further away, a voice said to me, 'There are some things you have to do, humiliating or not, to get to where you want to be.'

That little voice reminded me of the offer I rejected... The juicy offer the Dangerous Dame presented to me. The offer that came with insane bad energy hovering around it.

Quickly, I dismissed the part of me that was about to consider taking Miss Selena's offer.

As I trained my focus on what I was doing at that moment, two men in suits came over to me, took a whole tray of sweets, dropped some money into the jar, and dragged me.

Wait, what?

"What are you guys doing?" I quickly asked the men who played deaf ears while they used their buffy arms to drag me to a black car.

What kind of stupid question was I asking? 

 They were clearly kidnapping me.

Well, isn't my life wonderful?

I was being kidnapped in broad daylight and no one could do anything about it. Well, they actually can't because things like this happen a lot here.

 It is a freaking normal thing.

One can be going about his normal life, then boom! He is being bundled into the trunk of a car.

I felt my jaws clench when I reasoned within me that the woman called Miss Selena was responsible for my kidnap. I didn't get the chance to fight some more because the men settled me inside the car and hurriedly drove off.

"Remove that hideous thing." A deep voice ordered and I felt cool air bless my face as soon as it was removed.

With a deep frown on my face, I darted my sight furiously, stealing a look at every man in the car who all wore angry looks that sort of intimidated me.

"Where are you guys taking me to? Do you work for The Dangerous Dame?" I asked despite the growing fear inside me.

Surprisingly, one of them laughed. It was a short ugly laugh.

"Just shut up!"

"You better shut up if you love your life. Don't be too inquisitive either." Another man that was seated to my right said, his warning voice sending more fright down my bone.

My shoulders slumped, I gulped hard and I began to accept my fate.

Maybe I will become a mafia photographer after all.