Page 6 of Loved by the Orc (Hidden Hollow #4)

5

HARMONY

I got back to the office in time to fix the documents for Mr. Price. Of course, he wasn’t happy with my work—he never was—but this time I was able to let his criticism roll off my back.

“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry, Sir,” I said, nodding automatically when he yelled at me.

He frowned and narrowed his watery, pale blue eyes at me.

“You seem awfully composed, Miss Ward, for someone receiving a dressing down from her superior!”

I opened my eyes wide, trying to look innocent.

“Do I? I’m sorry, Sir.”

“You look just like a cow when you say that!” he snapped. “A stupid, fat cow who will never understand anything about the work we’re trying to do here at Bentley Pharmaceuticals!”

I have to admit, that little piece of nastiness pierced the happy bubble I’d been walking around in ever since leaving Hidden Hollow. I could feel myself deflating.

It’s so unfair—it doesn’t matter how smart or accomplished you are—if you’re plus-sized, some mean, nasty person can always just call you “fat” or some derivative of it and make you feel like dog shit. Even if you just won a Nobel Prize or aced your Organic Chem final or whatever. It doesn’t matter the circumstances—“fat” always stings.

A mean little grin appeared on my boss’s face when he saw me wilting. For the first time I wondered if Tark could be right—could he be a “Sin Sucker” after all?

But no—it was a ridiculous idea, I told myself as I left his office. I wished I could fight back—that I could tell him off once and for all. I knew what would happen if I did, though. I’d get fired and suddenly owe Bentley Pharmaceuticals over a hundred thousand dollars. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to finish my degree—that would be a disaster.

So I just had to take it…which was what I did.