He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

[Daisy’s POV)

For a moment, I genuinely thought Tessa was joking.

Not because it was funny.

But because my brain refused to process the sentence properly.

“The manager fired you…”

I stared at her, then blinked once. Twice actually.

And then my heart started to race, “What?”

Tessa looked uncomfortable immediately.

“I’m really sorry-”

“It’s because I missed yesterday, right?” I cut in quickly. “I know I missed my shift, but I came to apologize. I was literally coming to apologize right now. I can even take extra shifts.”

I laughed nervously. Actually laughed.

Which was concerning.

“I’ll even take multiple shifts,” I continued quickly. “Seriously. Weekends too. I’ll do all the terrible hours nobody likes. I can’t lose

this job.”

Tessa’s face somehow looked even sadder now.

And that scared me more.

“Please,” I said quietly. “Can I talk to him?”

“The manager isn’t in.”

“Oh.”

My voice came out small and then I swallowed hard.

“Okay,” I said quickly. “Then when will he be back? Because I really need to explain-”

“I don’t think he’s the one you should be talking to.”

That stopped me.

I frowned slowly.

“What do you mean?”

Tessa hesitated, then sighed.

“I think Mabel had something to do with it.”

Silence.

Actual silence.

Even the café suddenly sounded farther away.

“I saw them talking earlier,” she continued carefully. “Her and the manager. Then after she left, he came over and told us that once you got here, we should tell you not to enter because you were fired.”

Something inside me clicked instantly. And suddenly I was back in that classroom, Mabel staring at me, smiling.

“You know what? Let her go.” She had said and that time, I thought she had just gotten bored.

But no.

No, she had already planned this. This was the punishment.

My throat tightened painfully.

“Oh,” I said quietly.

That was all.

Just: “Oh.”

Because if I tried to say anything longer, I genuinely thought I might start crying in front of everybody.

And absolutely not.

Not here.

Not in front of people holding iced coffee and croissants.

Tessa looked genuinely sad, “I’m sorry.”

I nodded once, then again.

“It’s okay.”

Lie.

Massive lie.

“It’s not your fault.”

Another lie.

Well.

Technically not her fault.

“We’ll still see in school,” she added softly.

I nodded again.

Then turned around before my eyes embarrassed me publicly.

Outside, the evening air hit my face immediately. And somehow that almost made things worse.

Because now everything felt too real.

I stood there for a moment beside the road, gripping my phone tightly.

Then I opened DeLuca’s chat.

“I’m heading home early. I’ll take an Uber, so don’t worry about picking me up.”

I stared at the message for one second.

Then sent it before I could rethink it.

I didn’t wait for his reply.

Because if anybody asked me how I was feeling right now, I genuinely might collapse.

I booked an Uber instead and the ride home was quiet.

Painfully quiet.

I stared out the window the entire time while my brain replayed the sentence over and over again.

“You’re fired.”

Great.

Fantastic.

My life was genuinely starting to resemble a sadly written drama series,

At this point, I was expecting thunder and tragic background violin music every time I entered a room.

By the time I got home, the apartment was still empty.

Which was good.

I didn’t feel like talking.

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