Being a stand-in supervisor has its ups and downs.

  To me, the job is simple. It’s about teamwork—about showing kindness to your colleagues and helping each other understand that what we do benefits everyone. We’re all here for the same reason: to earn money. So we make sure the shelves are clean, the stock is packed out, expired items are removed, and everything looks presentable.

  And above all else, we treat our customers with respect, love, and kindness—because without them, there would be no business at all.

  Simple.

  At least, it was simple to me.

  Not to my superior—Gammie.

  A loud announcement blasted through the store intercom.

  “Can all shelf packers please make their way to the staff room.”

  I sighed. Meeting time. Again.

  Another one of Gammie’s daily meetings about how terrible our department supposedly looked.

  When we arrived, Gammie was already standing there, arms crossed, face tight with frustration.

  “Hello everyone,” he said sharply. “Welcome back to yet another meeting. And guess what—it’s the third one today.”

  A collective groan filled the room.

  Gammie continued, motioning toward the doorway. “This is Isha. From today onwards, she’ll be joining our department. She will no longer be on the frontlines because her supervisor complained that she puts talking before working.”

  Isha stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, arms stiff at her sides.

  “I’ll say this in front of all of you,” Gammie added firmly. “Isha will not get away with foolishness here. She should understand exactly where she is—in Gammie’s department.”

  His eyes locked onto her.

  “I will be watching her every move. If that’s what it takes to make sure she does her job, then so be it.”

  A hand shot up.

  Of course—it was Lance.

  Why he was even in the meeting, I had no idea.

  “You should pay attention,” Lance said casually. “He actually does that. Watches every move. Walks up and down the store all day taking pictures of staff.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  There was a hint of mockery in his voice.

  Gammie snapped instantly.

  “Lance,” he barked, “no one asked for your opinion. In fact, what are you even doing here? And why do you feel the need to repeat what I just said? Are you that lonely?”

  He pointed sharply toward the door.

  “Please leave my stock room and return to your department.”

  Lance didn’t move right away. He just stood there, staring at Gammie with a blank expression.

  I felt a pang of pity.

  Lance and Gammie were always at each other’s throats. Lance worked alone in his department and constantly needed help from shelf packers—but Gammie never made it easy for him.

  “I’ll leave,” Lance said finally, “when you give me a shelf packer.”

  The room went quiet.

  “You have Isha now,” he continued boldly. “So give me Layla.”

  Gammie scoffed. “Are you out of your mind? If I let Layla go with you, you’ll stop working and start complaining about your problems immediately.”

  Lance had no response.-

  “And besides,” Gammie added, “Layla needs to train Isha in Health and Beauty.”

  Before anyone could react, a sharp voice cut through the room.

  “Isha is not working in my section.”

  It was Jess.

  “I’m not letting my shelves look untidy and messed up. No, thank you.”

  Jess was known throughout the store for her Health and Beauty section. From my very first day at Pick Your Product, she had been my trainer—and perfection was her standard. That section brought in the most money in the entire store, and Jess guarded it fiercely.

  Isha snapped back. “Do you think I like being a shelf packer? This is literally the worst position in the store. I loved working on the frontlines—the hours were better, and so was the money.”

  She mocked Jess’s tone. “Oh, my shelves are messy and untidy.”

  Then she rolled her eyes. “Shut up. You guys work yourselves to death for barely anything. Get over yourself, Jess.”

  Jess didn’t back down.

  “How dare you,” she said coldly. “It’s because of us—and my section—that this store makes any money at all. If we don’t stock up, customers wouldn’t even make it to the tills.”

  She pointed sharply.

  “Guess who they walk past first? That’s right—our department.”

  The tension was thick enough to choke on.

  Gammie raised his voice. “Enough.”

  He ran a hand over his face. “Do you think being a supervisor is easy? It’s stressful. Before I became one, I actually slept at night. Now I sleep with one eye open.”

  A bitter laugh escaped him.

  “I walk into the office smiling, and by the time I leave, my face has changed colors. Mr. Adams compliments me one minute and insults me the next. I don’t even know whether I should be smiling or crying anymore.”

  The room fell silent.

  “I am the supervisor,” Gammie said firmly. “And I say Isha will train in Health and Beauty. Jess—deal with it.”

  He turned to Lance. “And Lance, you’ll manage on your own.”

  Finally, his eyes landed on me.

  “I need Layla for assistance. She’s my right hand.”

  And just like that, the meeting was over.