She didn't bother arguing with me. Instead, she turned toward the male coworkers, dabbing at her eyes.
Dennis Finch, the guy who orbited her like a satellite and brought her coffee every morning, jumped in immediately.
"Hailey Chavez, we're all coworkers here. Do you have to be so harsh?"
Dennis puffed up his neck. "She's got a real situation going on. You're free during the holiday anyway. What's the big deal about covering one shift? Show a little compassion, would you?"
I let out a cold laugh and locked eyes with him.
"Dennis, if you're so worried about your precious little bestie, why don't you cover her shifts yourself?"
"Two days over the long weekend, six hundred bucks a day in overtime. That's twelve hundred dollars, all yours. Go file the request with HR."
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
The second he realized it meant giving up his own holiday, Dennis's face turned the color of a bruised plum. He stammered for a while, then shrank back behind his monitor.
Nobody said a word.
With no one left to fight her battle, Hope clenched her jaw and stalked back to her seat.
As she turned, something vicious flickered behind her eyes.