The Warehouse
988 Words
Judes POV
We walk out into the floor, I head for my station to put my stuff down .
“Alright, so this is my station. I basically finalize all orders. If I were to guess you'll probably be over in packaging.” I point across the room where Toni and Bella are package products.
“Oh, ok” she says looking around the warehouse
I head over to the packaging station, “good morning Toni, Bella” I nod at the two women.
“Jude! How are you?” Toni asks pausing her work.
“I'm alright, this is Victoria, she'll be joining you tomorrow, when Jamie is back.” I explain, gesturing to Victoria behind me.
“Hi” she squeaks waving her hand.
“Victoria, this is Toni and Bella” I introduce the ladies.
“Hello” they both say waving.
“Jude? Is that your sweater?” Bella asks raising an eyebrow. She's knows it's mine, my f*****g name's on it!
“Wait, let me guess.” Toni says putting her hands up in front of her, ”Johnnie only had an ex-small shirt for you.” she guesses right looking at Victoria.
She nods slowly.
“He's such a pig. Thank God, Jude is a real gentleman!” Toni says giving me a hug.
“ Oh stop! You'll make me blush.” I joke hugging Toni back.
The girls all start laughing.
“Alright, alright, we gotta finish this tour so I can get some work done today.” I say stepping back for the group.
“It was nice meeting you,” Victoria sweetly says before following me to the back of the warehouse.
I show her the locker rooms, the break room,the bathrooms, the smokers bench (just in case, you never know).
I walked her through the entire production line. Showed her where the orders come in, where the products are made, then the inner package station, we waved to Toni and Bella as we walked past the final packaging station, past the pallets of completed orders awaiting the finalizing station, which is what I do. Quality and accuracy check before it's sent out into the world.
We end up back at my station right before it's time for lunch.
“So, that's the warehouse.” I shrug.”Any questions?”
She looks around the building, before turning back to me, “No, I think I got it pretty self explanatory.” She says giving me a small smile.
“Alright. Then it's time for lunch.” I inform her.
“Oh great! I'm starving.” She gives me a smile that makes my chest tingly.
We head to the break room. I stop by the locker room to grab my lunchbox.
When we sit down at the table she pulls a paper bag lunch from her purse.
“I'll talk to Johnnie about your locker.” I tell her. I felt bad she had to carry all her stuff around all day.
“No worries, but thank you. That'd be great.” She says unwrapping a burrito.
We ate in silence for the most part. But it wasn't awkward or anything. A comfortable silence.
“So now what?” She asks, gathering the trash from her food.
“Well, you saw all those pallets of orders waiting for me. You'll be helping me finalize them.”
“Oh? Alright" she says standing up, grabbing her things off the table.
I grab my stuff and we head back to work.
The rest of the day goes by fairly quick. Victoria caught on to the process fast and we breezed through all of the days orders. Before I know it it's time to go home.
Victoria gathers her things from under my desk, there wasn't anywhere else to put them since Johnnie hadn't given her a locker. We head to the office to clock out.
“ So? How was it Victoria? How was your first day?” Johnnies waiting at the time clock for us, well for her.
“It was good,” she says nodding at him.
“Jude was nice? Showed you everything? He asks looking over to me.
“ Yup, he was great. It's too bad I won't be able to work with him again.” She says looking up at me.
I can't help smirk at Johnnie.
That's right asshole. I can't help but think to myself.
“I just need the right size shirt and a locker and I'll be all set” she says drawing Johnnie's attention back to her.
“Oh yes, of course. I will have a shirt and locker assignment for you when you come in tomorrow.” He says not so casually dropping his eyes. Disappointment shadows his eyes as he sees she's completely covered by my sweatshirt.
“Thankfully Jude let me borrow this today.” Victoria says looking down as she holds out my sweatshirt.
“How sweet of him.” Johnnie compliments me with frustration in his eyes.
“Alright, well I gotta get home. My husband has to go to work.” She says slipping around Johnnie to clock out.
Husband? She has a husband? She's like 22!
Johnnie and I lock eyes at her statement.
“ Have a good night. See you tomorrow.” I say to her as she slips by Johnnie again headed out the door.
“Bye”. She waves before leaving.
“s**t! Married, that's a shame.” Johnnie says, shaking his head.
“Like you had a chance anyway.” I spit at him, shoving him to the side so I can clock out.
“f**k it,” he says “I'm still going after her. Did you see her in that shirt!! f**k!”
He grabs my shoulder as I walk by him.
“Whatever, Johnnie. See you tomorrow.” I say overy should, walking out the door.
- Writer
