AMELIA

"Why is this in your bag, Miss Coleman?" The security man asks as Winter and everyone watches with condescension.

"I swear I didn't put it in there," I tell them, wrangling with my hands.

"So it walked itself into your bag then?" Winter throws sarcasm at me.

"I am saying I didn't know how it got there," I despairingly explain, knowing I didn't put the red bikini in my bag.

"You are going with the police."

I heavily question, "Why would I steal a panty?"

"A panty worth two hundred. What young girl wouldn't want that?"

"I will never care what it is." I was raised by my mother, who taught us to be appreciative of what we have. I live with very little and still feel like I have it all.

"Maybe we should check the security camera."

"The cameras hadn't been working for a week. I think this is all a waste of time. The police are here; she should go with them. They will decide on that," Alex said.

"I swear I didn't do anything."

"The cameras were restored last night," the security man announced.

"Really?" Alex asked.

"It won't hurt to confirm, and then we can hand her to the police."

"Okay."

The video is played on the computer. The hour clips on me are fast-forwarded to all the things I did today. My exchange with Cam, my minutes of crying in the dressing room, and my proceeding to work until the moment I was leaving; I hadn't walked into that locker room.

The security man decides to fast-play the clips from the locker room. The employees go about their business whenever they come into the room; no one goes for my locker. But then it happens around 1900 hours. Alex walks over to my spot, tries the numbers twice before unlocking it, pulls out the red underwear from his pocket, and plants it inside my bag.

"Motherfucker," Aiden curses next to me.

I am shocked as to why he would do that. I can't find the right words to ask him or the eyes to look at him.

This is the nice guy who always checks on me, who showed me through my job, who made sure I had a lunch break, and who just this afternoon when I came, told me settling in a new place will get easier.

Why would he do this to me?

"Alex, do you mind explaining-" Winter starts, but she doesn't finish when he speeds for the exit.

"Hold him," Aiden yells at the cops, and security runs after him.

My legs are glued to the floor. Nothing makes sense.

He is caught by the cops at the entry and dragged by the trousers to Winter.

"What is this imbecility, Alex?"

"I am so sorry," he says, but his eyes are on me.

"I trusted you. You have worked here with us for years."

"I am sorry," he repeats.

"Why would you do that to her? What did Amy do to you?" Aiden

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have," Alex closes his eyes.

"Answer the question," Aiden reprimands.

"Your boyfriend who came here in the evening wanted you to stop working here," Alex explains.

As he begins, I feel my blood stop rushing in my veins. There is this quiet, as though the stillness after a disaster.

"He wanted you fired. He said you live far away, as overworking all day. He asked me to do it."

My head hurts. I lose breath and balance, almost falling back. Winter holds me.

"You okay?" Aiden asks.

"I am so sorry, Amy. He said it's best for you."

"He bribed you, did he?" Aiden shoves him, and he keeps quiet, lowering his head. Aiden pushes him again; the police have to interfere.

I look over to Winter, who is still holding him.

"Am I fired?"

"No, honey, of course not," I exhale a sob. "But him? He's getting out of my place," she beckons at Alex.

"You can always come here," she smoothens my hair gently as someone who cares will, but I am numb to the feeling.

No one cares. Jake has left me all on my own with his inhumane friend.

"Can I go?" I ask, and she nods.

"I will take you home," Aiden offers, but I shake my head, "It's okay, I am going myself. Thank you," I smile faintly at him.

My legs carry me through the mall, the escalator, and the exit. It is like I am drunk; I am just walking, but I don't know where I am going. I don't know what is happening around me, but I can feel the pain in my chest; it is taking huge bites at me. My vision is blurry, and my ears are drumming.

He hurt me enough, but on top of that, he made me his plaything.

Are these the consequences of my disloyalty?

Why would you want to play with someone's emotions like this?

Half of the mall saw what happened, but a lot didn't get to know I didn't do it. How can I go back there?

How can he sleep knowing he is the reason Alex doesn't have a job anymore? How can he be so naturally brutal?

Headlights and horns blast my eyes and ears; I spin, and the car stops just an inch before touching my knees.

"Oh my goodness," someone exclaims.

My eyes are heavy and exhausted, and I fall on the car bumper.

"Is she okay?" someone asks.

"Amelia?" a panicked female voice calls.

I look up; Bree and Rose are standing by the driver and passenger side of the car that I was walking in front of.

"Are you okay?" Rose asks, and I nod.

"That was so scary. Come, we just bought some bikinis and going back to Deeja's party."

"No, thank you," I refuse as politely as I can.

"Come on. Everyone is there. Cameron too. You will have a free ride home from there," Bree says.