Shes a cold hard bitch...

Joey had never been more aware of how he walked.

“Shoulders back,” Cassandra said beside him.

He adjusted immediately.

“Not like you’re marching to your execution,” she added dryly. “Relax. Controlled, not rigid.”

“I feel like I’m about to be judged by a panel,” Joey muttered.

“You are,” she said. “Just not the kind you’re used to.”

They approached Burger Chef.

Joey hesitated for half a second before pushing the door open.

The bell jingled.

And within three seconds—

Everything changed

It wasn’t subtle.

Conversations dipped. Heads turned. One guy near the counter straight-up forgot what he was saying mid-sentence.

Because Cassandra walked in like she belonged somewhere far more expensive than this.

Her posture. Her presence. The way she moved—effortless, confident, intentional.

And Joey walked in with her.

“Do not react,” she murmured without looking at him. “This is important.”

“I’m not reacting,” Joey whispered.

“You are internally screaming.”

“…Fair.”

From behind the counter, one of his coworkers leaned toward another.

“Dude… who is that?”

“No idea, but how does Joey know her?”

Joey heard it.

And for once… it didn’t make him shrink.

“Good,” Cassandra murmured. “Let them wonder.”

Then—

“Joey.”

Crystal.

She stood behind the counter, arms crossed as usual—but something was different.

Her eyes flicked to Cassandra.

Paused.

Then snapped back to Joey.

“You’re late.”

Joey glanced at the clock.

8:59.

He felt the old instinct rise—apologize, deflect, keep things smooth—

“Hold,” Cassandra said quietly.

Joey met Crystal’s eyes.

“I’m on time,” he said.

There was a brief pause.

Crystal blinked.

Not because of what he said—

But because of how he said it.

Calm.

Direct.

No hesitation.

Her gaze sharpened.

“You arguing with me now?” she asked, stepping closer.

Joey didn’t look away.

“No,” he said. “I’m correcting you.”

A couple nearby employees went very still.

Crystal stared at him.

Then—almost involuntarily—her eyes flicked again to Cassandra.

Who was watching.

Not smiling.

Just… observing.

Something shifted in Crystal’s posture.

Subtle.

But real.

“…Fine,” she said, her tone changing just a fraction. “Then don’t stand around. Grease traps need cleaning.”

Joey felt the familiar frustration rise.

Cassandra stepped slightly closer—not touching him, just within his space.

“Say it,” she murmured.

Joey exhaled.

“You’re not assigning that to me alone again,” he said.

Silence.

Crystal froze.

Completely.

There it was—that moment.

The line crossed.

But instead of anger—

Something else flickered in her expression.

Surprise.

Then… something warmer. Sharper.

Interest.

“You’re telling me how to run my shift now?” she asked, but there was less bite in it.

More curiosity.

Joey didn’t back down.

“It’s a two-person job,” he said. “You know that.”

Crystal held his gaze.

A beat passed.

Then another.

And slowly—

A smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth.

“…Mark!” she called suddenly, not breaking eye contact with Joey. “Get back there. You’re helping him.”

From across the room: “Wait—what?”

“You heard me.”

Joey blinked.

Crystal stepped a little closer to him now.

Too close for a normal reprimand.

“You’ve got more backbone than I thought,” she said quietly.

There was something in her tone now—less hostility, more… intrigue.

Joey felt it.

Didn’t fully understand it.

But didn’t retreat either.

“Just doing my job,” he said.

Her eyes flicked, briefly, to Cassandra again.

Then back.

“…Yeah,” she said softly. “Maybe you are.”

She turned away—but not before one last glance over her shoulder.

Joey stood there for a second.

“…What just happened?” he whispered.

Cassandra smiled faintly.

“You interrupted the pattern,” she said. “And now she doesn’t know where to put you.”

Joey glanced around.

People were still looking.

Not openly—but enough.

At him.

At her.

“…They’re staring,” he muttered.

“Of course they are,” Cassandra said. “You walked in with me.”

“That’s not helping my ability to be normal.”

“Normal is what got you here,” she said. “We’re aiming higher.”

Mark walked up beside him, still confused.

“Dude,” he said under his breath, “since when do you push back like that?”

Joey hesitated.

“…Since today,” he said.

Mark looked between him and Cassandra.

“…Yeah, that tracks,” he muttered.

As they headed toward the back, Cassandra leaned slightly closer.

“Did you notice?” she asked.

“Notice what?”

“She didn’t get angry,” Cassandra said. “She adapted.”

Joey frowned. “Yeah… actually.”

Cassandra’s smile sharpened slightly.

“She’s not just cruel,” she said. “She’s opportunistic.”

Joey paused mid-step. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” Cassandra said softly, “we’re not just dealing with someone who wants to hurt you.”

A beat.

“We’re dealing with someone who’s deciding whether she wants you instead.”

Joey nearly tripped.

“…What?!”

Cassandra laughed quietly.

“Welcome to your new life,” she said. “Where standing up for yourself makes you attractive.”

She glanced toward the back.

Where Crystal was, very subtly, watching him again.

“And interesting.”