Chapter 13
By the time the last Visual Identity Design class wrapped up, it was nearly 5:00 pm.
Luciana grabbed a sandwich from the campus convenience store and rushed over to her shift at The Fable Fox. The moment she stepped through the door, Ben walked over, looking a little uneasy. “Hey, Luciana. You made it.”
“Sorry, traffic was a nightmare,” she said, heading straight for the locker room. “I’ll change real quick.”
But Ben didn’t sound in a hurry. His tone was awkward, like he was trying to find the right words. “Luciana… I’m really sorry, but the owner told me business hasn’t been great lately. We’ve got to start cutting hours, so… you don’t need to come in anymore. Your last paycheck will hit your account on schedule.”
Luciana froze. It took a few seconds for the words to sink in.
She glanced back at the front door, where a long line of customers was already forming. “Business is bad? But we’ve got people lining up every day…”
She had been working here for over a year, back when the place was still a hidden gem. Now, it was all over social media, with people flocking in non–stop. There was no way business had dropped.
Ben had gotten to know Luciana pretty well by now, and he genuinely liked her. Luciana was hardworking and polite, never causing any trouble. So, he hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and asked quietly, “Luciana, be honest with me–did you piss someone off recently?”
Luciana blinked. “L.. I don’t think so?”
Ben sighed. “Look, I’m just being honest with you. Mr. Hudson said someone made it clear they don’t want you working here anymore.
Someone with influence. So… we’re kinda stuck.”
It felt like someone had dropped a brick on Luciana’s chest. She stood there, stunned, for a long moment before finally nodding.
“I get it,” she said quietly, slinging her canvas backpack over her shoulder. “Thanks for telling me. If you ever need someone again, I’d really appreciate a call ”
Ben looked genuinely guilty. Jobs weren’t easy to come by these days, and he knew Luciana wasn’t just working for fun. At 20, most women were out on dates, buying new outfits, and living carefree lives. But Luciana? She was just trying to stay afloat.
Still, orders were orders. Ben could only nod. “Yeah… Of course.”
Luciana stepped out of The Fable Fox with no real idea where to go. Losing that job meant losing her biggest paycheck. Without it, she didn’t even know if she could make rent or keep paying tuition.
She wandered to the nearest bus stop and sat down on the bench.
Night had quietly fallen over Jaxwell, and the city lit up in a dazzling glow. Streets and alleyways shimmered under neon signs and twinkling lights like stars scattered across the skyline. The wide roads were packed with honking cars and bustling crowds.
Luciana sat there, staring blankly at the endless flow of people. Her chest ached like someone had driven a blade straight through her, the wound so deep she couldn’t even find the words for the pain.
Ben said someone had it out for her. But who? She had worked at The Fable Fox for over a year without a single complaint. In fact, she had gotten compliments–people even mentioned her name in their reviews.
She didn’t know how long she sat there on the bench. Eventually, her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. She pulled out the sandwich she had bought earlier and started taking small, slow bites.
Meanwhile, back at the biomedical science department, Thiago had just represented Altigo Group to sign a collaboration agreement with Kevin’s research team. He slid the signed contract across the desk, tapping the page lightly with a long finger. “Professor Dibble, here’s to a good collaboration.”
Kevin smiled at him. “Back when we were in Ubrurg, I knew you had something special. I mean, what kind of high school kid practically lived in the lab, messing around with CRISPR tech and trying to fix genetic disorders?”
Kevin had been a visiting professor at Meadows University for a few years. Thiago, when he was back in high school, used to sneak into his lectures all the time. They had known each other for years now.
“Yeats, that was me,” Thiago said with a lazy grin, leaning back in his chair. “Too bad I wasn’t good enough and ended up blowing up a whole lab with the wrong reagent. The cops nearly hauled me off, and my dad had to swoop in to bail me out.”
Kevin signed his name on the last page, then handed the folder back to Thiago. “With your talent, you don’t need to study under me for grad school. Tell me the truth–why are you here at Jorendale University?”
