Page 8 of Conning Her Dragonkin Boss (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)
Chapter Eight
THE TOTALLY ETHICAL SICK DAY PLAN
Sunny Adlawan
“This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
Mei’s face fills my screen, unimpressed. “Really? The worst thing?” I grew up with Mei Tan so she understands that I need to vent and overthink about the smallest little thing before I can move on. And right now, it’s trying to figure out how I can get to my convention while also go to my work conference.
It’s Saturday. I’m wearing my pajamas and I have my fabrics spread out ready to finish my back up costume for the convention. And Mei is simply not feeling enough rage for me to properly enjoy this vent session.
“Yes, Mei.” I throw my arm dramatically over my eyes, sinking into my couch cushions like my entire world has collapsed. “The quarterly business meeting is the same weekend as The Wyvern’s Dawn next month. It’s even hosted at the hotel across the street. So close, yet so far. I am cursed.”
Mei squints at me through the camera. “You mean the work thing you do not care about is happening at the same time as the thing you are passionate about and have been planning for months?”
“YES.” I groan, rubbing my temple. “And no. It’s not that I don’t care about work. It’s just that—ideally—I would like to be able to accomplish both.”
A loud snort erupts from the other side of the phone. “You just want to avoid conflict, you little people pleaser, you.”
Like you wouldn’t believe, but Mei wouldn’t understand. I can barely say no to any work obligation, even when I’ve hated my job, let alone say no to a job I actually enjoy doing, working with people who actually appreciate me. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t just request the weekend off.”
“I literally think that’s what you can and should do,” Mei interjects.
I ignore her. “They’ll think I’m unprofessional. Or worse—unreliable.” Gods that would be the worst thing ever. “What if they decide I’m not serious about my job and fire me?”
Mei’s face is the physical manifestation of judgment. “Sunny.”
I clutch my phone tighter. “What?”
“You already had this trip planned before you got hired.”
“And?”
“And that means it’s a prior obligation.”
I huff, tossing my planner onto the coffee table, the calendar space where CONVENTION WEEKEND!!! glares at me accusingly. “Yeah, well, that might work in normal jobs, but I’m working for Otherkin executives now. I love this job, Mei. I don’t want to lose it.” I gesture around my cozy-but-corporate apartment.
Mei groans. “Oh my god. Do you think they’re going to fire you over a single weekend off?”
I pull my sofa blanket over my face. The idea of even confronting Harla or—gulp—Khanner for my time-off request is making me physically ill. Hell, I don’t even know how to request off from work. “Yes! If you only heard what other people were fired for before I got here, you would understand. They were walked out of here for the dumbest things. All of which revolved around one theme: irritating Khanner. I can’t say for sure, but I’m gonna guess that something like this might irritate him.”
I can’t lose this place. I’ve been here for barely over a week, and I’ve already gotten spoiled by all the amenities. They even have a 24/7 gym. I don’t ever use it, but the thought is nice.
“I live in New Vegas, Sunny,” Mei says. “Right next to Caldera Spire, where the actual cutthroat Otherkin business dealings happen. Trust me—your boss does not care about one weekend.”
I scowl. “Well, I can’t risk it. If I get fired, I lose my work-sponsorship visa and I have to leave Obsidian City.”
And I love it here.
The walkability, the magic-infused architecture, the fact that I don’t have to drive anywhere.
Obsidian City rose from the ashes of old Chicago, went through a messy vampire coup, and came out the other side as a flourishing, Otherkin-controlled metropolis.
It’s safe, it’s modern, and it’s home.
I don’t want to leave.
Not to mention that I actually have something in my savings account now. Just from the first week’s pay.
Mei stares at me for a long moment. Then she sighs. “Okay. Then just be sick.”
I blink. “What?”
She enunciates slowly, “Just. Be. Sick.”
I stare at her like she just spoke in ancient dragon tongue. “Mei, I’m not sick.”
Mei sighs again, this time dragging her hand down her face. Then she leans in closer to the camera, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“But you ARE sick. Hint. Hint.”
The realization hits me like a lightning bolt. “Oh. OH.”
Mei smirks. “There it is.”
“That’s brilliant!” I gasp, sitting up straight. “I’ve never taken a sick day in my life, so no one will even question it!”
“Exactly,” Mei says, flipping the camera to show the neon skyline of New Vegas, glowing against the dark peaks of Caldera Spire beyond. “Look at what you’ll be missing out on! You know you’ve had your heart set on getting those monster stamps in your passport book. And honestly? If you work your butt off leading up to your work conference, it’ll be so believable that you’re exhausted and sick that no one will even doubt you.”
I chew on my lip, considering it.
She’s right.
If I make sure everything is done in advance, I won’t even feel guilty. It’s not like I’m leaving anyone hanging.
The thought of disappointing Khanner after he went out of his way to compliment me on my meeting prep yesterday makes my stomach turn.
Of course, there’s one tiny problem with this plan.
“I’m a horrible liar.”
Mei snorts. “Oh, I know. Which is why I said you’re going to actually be so exhausted that you’ll earn the right to call out sick.”
I blink. “Earn the right?”
“Exactly. Start working late, sigh dramatically at your screen, rub your temples, drink tea instead of coffee. By the time we get to next Thursday, people will be telling you to take a break. Oh, and don’t forget that menthol stuff that your mom uses as a cure-all. It not only signals SICK!—it will also be an effective cover up for your scent.”
“My scent?”
“Yeah, you know, so the Otherkin won’t smell the lie coming off you. I don’t know how but they can tell when we lie. Something chemical inside of us changes.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I legit just said that I can’t lie to save my life and now you’re telling me yet another thing that will make me nervous around my bosses?”
Mei carries her phone over to her counter where she props it up so she can start her food prep. She gained some notoriety being featured on a viral cooking show that landed her tons of sponsorships and gigs. She’s a natural on camera and with video editing, so she’s been helping me with the video portion of my competition application.
I know that I’m beginning to annoy here when she starts chopping veggies. She might get angry at me, but she will never take it out on me. “Look, Sunny,” she says whittling down an onion with the grace of a ballerina, “the more you establish a base line now, the easier it will be to not-quite-lie to your bosses. Matter of fact, don’t even think of it as lying because anyone who knows you knows that you need more rest.” She emphasizes the last word with a sharp chop of her prized French chef knife.
The more I think on it, the better the idea looks to me. “I work hard, as I always do?—”
“As you always do!” she echoes
“—and then, when we get closer to the date?—”
Mei grins. “Boom. You’re so sick.”
I clutch my phone like it holds the answers to the universe. “This is evil genius level planning.”
“I do what I can.” Mei curtsies, while scraping her veggies into the mini wok on her stove top. “Now, let’s move on to important matters. Have you finished your costume?”
I brighten immediately. “Almost! I just need to finish detailing the bracers.”
“Oooooh.” Mei wiggles her fingers excitedly. “That warrior priestess set is gonna be lit, I already know!”
“Obviously.” It’s my turn to be a little self-satisfied. “And I still say Khanner would be a perfect dragon knight.”
Mei groans. “Oh my god. You so have a crush on him.”
I choke on my tea. “I DO NOT.”
“Uh-huh. Keep lying to yourself.”
“I—” I start, then snap my mouth shut.
Because arguing too much makes it seem true.
I don’t have a crush on my terrifyingly powerful boss.
I refuse.
I have a mission.
I am getting to that convention.
And I am keeping my job.
And No One Ever Has to Know.