A Mad Vampire Fell for Me

Quit the Job

Ten in the morning, the mall was quiet. By eleven, as lunch hour approached, the crowds began to fill in.

The milk tea shop was slammed. When traffic was light, Dorian could manage making drinks. When it surged, his movements weren't fast enough yet.

The other employees parked him at the register and buried themselves at the workstations, hands moving fast enough to blur.

"Oh my god. That guy behind the counter. He's stunning."

"Where?"

"There!"

"Holy shit."

Dorian took orders without distraction. He'd been hearing variations on this exchange for four years of part-time work. Receipts printed. "Next!"

"Bubble tea with taro, less ice, regular sugar, medium."

"That's fifteen."

"Can I get a photo with you?"

"Sorry. I'm on the clock."

Dorian deflected and called out again. "Next!"

The crowd grew, the noise with it, the whole space turning loud and chaotic fast.

"Orange blossom honey tea, thirty percent sugar, no ice, large."

"That's thirteen."

"Can I put your picture online?"

Dorian's hands didn't stop. "I prefer not to have my image circulated, and I'd also prefer not to double my workload."

"Please wait over here. Next!"

Busy busy busy.

First day on the job. Revenue matched what the shop normally made in two or three days. By closing, the staff's arms were too sore to lift.

Dorian had spent most of the shift at the register, so he hadn't taken the worst of it. He pulled a pack of pain relief patches from his bag and handed them out.

"You brought patches? That's thoughtful!"

"Thanks, man!"

"Thanks, kid!"

Dorian smiled. "Everyone's wrecked. It's just a patch."

Susan gave the place a final check. "Cleanliness is good. Everyone out!"

"Woo! We're free!"

"Done!"

"See you tomorrow!"

"See you!"

"See you!"

The driver was waiting in the underground garage. Dorian got in. "Let's go."

"Yes, sir."

Dorian walked into the Vane estate. Edmund and Eleanor were in the living room, seated like they'd been waiting.

He approached. "Dad. Mom."

Edmund hurled his tablet down. It hit the table with a c***k that filled the silence.

Edmund's face was dark. Eleanor's was no better.

Dorian picked up the tablet, puzzled. He swiped through a few screens. The content clarified itself quickly.

Photos of him at work. Posted online.

He set the tablet down, calm. Edmund's voice landed immediately.

"You will quit that job. It's beneath you."

He was shouting now. "You are the eldest son of the Vane family! What are you doing working at a milk tea shop? And letting people photograph you and put it online? You think this reflects well?"

"Have you no shame? What will people say about us? That the Vane family mistreats its own son? That you have to go out and earn a living to survive?"

"Quit. Now. Do you hear me?"

Dorian glanced at Eleanor, who had contributed nothing. He tightened his hand on his bag strap. "If I just make sure no one recognizes me, that should fix it. Right?"

Edmund's eyes bulged. "You still want to keep doing this? This is not a discussion. There is no bargaining here."

"In three days I'm holding a banquet to introduce you to everyone. Everyone will know what the eldest Vane son looks like. From that point forward, every move you make represents this family. Every single one. You will conduct yourself accordingly."

"I held back when you first came home. Your hands. Your ears. That whole look of yours. I haven't asked you to change any of it. That's been more than generous. Now I'm telling you to quit a milk tea job. Be obedient."

"My lord."

Eleanor spoke. Dorian's eyes shifted to her.

"The child just came home. There's no need to shout."

She turned to Dorian. "Ah Xing. Listening to your father is always the right choice. It's only a part-time job. You're the eldest young master of the Vane family now. There's no need to do that kind of… degrading work."

"Two days at most. That should be sufficient, don't you think?"

Dorian understood. Good cop, bad cop. Same side.

Before he could answer, Julian came down the stairs. His face brightened at the sight of his brother. He ran down. "Brother! You're back!"

Dorian glanced at him. "Mm." Flat.

Julian's mouth turned down, wounded. Edmund's face was still swollen with rage. "What happened?"

Eleanor beckoned. Julian pressed himself against her. "Nothing. Your brother found a job. Your father wants him to resign."

"What kind of job?"

Julian spotted the tablet on the table. He picked it up and scrolled.

"Is brother working because his allowance isn't enough? I have money. I can give him some of mine."

"Why would he need yours? Has this family ever denied him a single thing!"

If Julian hadn't spoken, the blast might have been smaller. Now Edmund went off like a lit fuse. "Dorian, you tell me. Has the Vane family mistreated you? What exactly are you not satisfied with?"

Julian understood his father. He knew exactly which trigger to pull. Every shot connected.

"My lord." Eleanor's voice was calm. "The child didn't mean it that way. He quits and the matter is settled."

"Isn't that right, Ah Xing? Listen to your father. I'll add twenty thousand a month to your allowance. Just don't go out and do that sort of labor."

Julian, sensing the fire could use more fuel, added his own. "Brother, if it's still not enough, I can give you money too. Just listen to Dad. Quit the job."

"Brother. You just got here. Don't make Dad angry."

Dorian caught the gloating underneath the words. He said nothing. He stood before the three of them like a defendant facing a panel of judges.

His silence registered as defiance. "Two days!" Edmund roared. "If you haven't quit by then, I'll send someone to do it for you!"

It was not a request. There was no right of refusal.

Edmund rose and disappeared into his study. Julian wrapped himself around Eleanor's arm and went upstairs. The last thing Dorian registered was Julian's smile, smug and victorious.

Why had he come back?

Oh. Right. They'd forced him. Never mind.

The next day, Dorian went to work as usual. He didn't call the driver. He walked two kilometers and caught the bus.

He put on a mask. It covered his face completely.

Susan asked, "What's with the mask? Your face is what brings people in!"

"That's exactly the problem. Everyone was dead yesterday. I thought covering up might help." His voice came through muffled.

Wendy laughed. "Hot and he knows it."

Marcus said, "Wish I had that problem."

The thought resonated.

"Wish I had that problem."

"Wish I had that problem."

"I…"

"Stop looping!" Susan broke the chain. "Tradition, everyone! We're opening!"

"Got it!"

"Ugh. Work."

"Hope we get fewer people today."

Not a chance.

"Next!"

"Jasmine milk green with boba, thirty percent sugar, less ice."

"Ten. Pickup here."

"Next!"

Dorian had picked up speed. He could keep pace with the lunch rush now. To avoid being seen, he stayed tucked at the back workstation. Customers who'd come hoping to catch a glimpse got a limited view. They took their milk tea and left without lingering.