She Framed Me at Work,So I Sent Her to PrisonChapter 1

The Labor Day long weekend was right around the corner, and my scheming coworker was waving the duty roster in my face.

"Hailey, I'm so sorry, but it looks like you're pulling the heavier load again this year."

Hope Fox pointed at the schedule like she was showing off a trophy. Five-day weekend, and she had two shifts while I had three.

I shrugged, completely unbothered.

"Fine by me. Triple pay means one extra day of work is one extra day of money."

Hope's eyes lit up instantly.

"Hailey, you really mean that? Then would you be a sweetheart and cover my—"

I cut her off with a sharp wave of my hand.

I knew exactly what she was scheming.

Last year she'd used a vacation as an excuse. When her shift came around, she played dead and claimed she couldn't make it back.

Mr. Greyson blew his top, and since I needed to keep my job, I gritted my teeth and covered for her.

Five straight days without a break. My body gave out completely, and I spent the next month on medical leave.

This year, I was not falling into the same trap twice.

——

I fixed Hope with a cold stare and slid the roster back across the desk.

The smile froze on her face.

"Hailey, you can't do this to me!"

She squeezed in next to my desk, her voice pitched high and wheedling, already reaching for my arm.

"Come on, have a heart! I already found discount flights to Miami. If I cancel now, I lose the booking fee!"

"And my mom hasn't been doing well lately. I was hoping to take her to the beach over the long weekend so she could relax..."

I lifted my gaze and cut her off.

"Save it."

My voice was ice. "Hope, you pulled the exact same routine last year. Said you were taking your mom to see a specialist. And what happened?"

"When your shift came around, your phone went straight to voicemail. You didn't even read my texts."

I stood up.

"You vanished without a trace, and I covered for you five days straight!"

"I passed out from low blood sugar in the subway station and spent over a month on medical leave."

"Forget the attendance bonus I lost. Did you reimburse me a single cent for the hospital bills?"

Hope's expression soured, her dirty laundry aired for everyone to hear.

Seeing that tactic wasn't working, she switched gears on a dime. Her eyes reddened, tears glistening on cue.

She didn't bother arguing with me. Instead, she turned toward the male coworkers, dabbing at her eyes.