Dani woke up smacking the phone like it was a retro alarm clock.

She knew that didn't silence the phone, but her tired frustration subconsciously wanted to hit something.

She sat up, grudgingly sliding the bar on the phone.

The alarm stopped...

...and then the app notifications flooded the phone.

She swacked the phone off the night stand.

That made her smile.

Dani got ready for the day.

Coffee.

Shower.

Brush teeth.

Get dressed.

…and then she pressed her palms into her eyes.

She was not a morning person.

She arrived early at work, with fifteen minutes to spare.

"That's fifteen minutes of lost sleep", she muttered.

Looking through her driver’s side window, she eyed the warehouse with dread.

Out of habit, she let out a loud sigh the moment she looked at her work building each morning.

Her job responsibility was the soul-sucking task of inventory sorting. It was tedious and repetitive work, but it paid the bills.

She exited the car. While walking, she slid on her neon work vest “uniform”.

Entering the building, she shook her head with disapproval as she walked past the vacant security desk.

After she entered the breakroom, she eased down onto a chair and closed her eyes for a bit.

She rubbed her eyes for a few moments. She was annoyed that she forgot the coffee tumbler on her kitchen counter. She needed a coffee pick-me-up but the office coffee machine has been broken before even started there. She had to clock in soon. She contemplated buying an energy drink...or perhaps a short ten-minute nap.

The other employees in the breakroom looked just as tired. Most of the tables around her had employees laying their heads on the table to rest their eyes. Everyone in the warehouse at the same shift.

At least we all suffer together as a team.

She grimaced.

She was hesitant to try an energy drink. The last time she tried it was years ago. She had been energetic for about an hour before she had about a 10-hour nap from the energy crash. That was years ago, perhaps she'll try another one. Just one more time. Perhaps she should quit her other job?

Which one should I pick? The vending machine offered so many flavors…

Her eyelids started to feel heavy.

“Morning Dani”

A man walked up and sat adjacent to her at the table. Her eyelids flew open for a moment before she ended up squinting.

“Good morning Brody”, Dani said unenthusiastically.

"It will be a good morning if things go according to plan". He threw her a hopeful smile. He placed an energy drink down in front of her.\

Dani rolled her eyes, "What do you want help with this time?" She popped on the can, "…thank you for the drink"

"If I'm ever going to get far within this company, I'm going to need your support. I’ve been planning all night. You're the only one here, besides me, who is a visionary…like me"

Why is he so full of energy then, he must've chugged a can. she thought while she took a swig.

Dani resisted sighing. Brody had been working for several years before she started. She wouldn’t consider him a friend, but she tolerated him. Brody talked to her because she was the only one who'd listen to him bitch and complain about his boss each morning. She often zoned out during his rants. She imagined that he must consider her a friend.

Perhaps a better word would be an ally

She took another swig while looking at the clock. He’s been talking to her every morning and lunch for months. Lately, he’s been spewing out plans on how to get himself promoted. Dani didn’t care, but she supposed it was her fault for being too nice and not shooing him away earlier. She really didn't care, she just nodded along to whatever he said most mornings, not really listening.

Brody continued talking, "You see, the top dogs don't notice me, let alone respect me because of one particularly stupid obstacle. A stupidly tall and ignorant obstacle"

Dani noticed he stopped talking and only caught on a few words of what he said, "Let me guess, you're talking about Rameriz''. Dani was well aware of Brody’s anger towards their boss. It’s one of the many complaints he won’t shut up about.

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"Yes, that jackass puts all the blame on me. Don't think that he probably blames you too. He'll blame everyone else for the low scores for this location, but I assure you, he'll never blame himself when the team doesn't meet the inventory quota. He recently told me that I needed to improve if I wanted to get far in this company. It’s all bullshit. Me, Improve? What is there to improve? What a jackass"

Dani was tempted to point out that it was only he, Brody, who had such an issue with the boss. Well, she assumed so because If anyone else was annoyed with their boss, they didn’t show it or say about it openly. Most of the other coworkers wore earbuds in their ears their entire shift, to tune out everything and everyone out.

She wasn't in the mood to add fuel to the conversation. She really didn't want this conversation to continue.

The main office door opened and Rameriz walked out into the breakroom. She could see this man's aura of confidence. The boss dressed to impress; fitting a well-tailored business attire. Ramirez faced the team with a perfectly practiced smile. He spoke with a loud clear voice, "Good morning team! We're about 5 minutes till it's time to clock in. I wanted to give you all a heads-up. The corporate head honchos may be stopping in today. I can't force you, but I'd appreciate it if you could give an extra 110% out there today. Don't overexert yourself, and stay hydrated. I want you all to follow safety protocols and procedures. Your pain is not a company gain. Hah. Anyways, let's hop to it team"

Ramirez walked over to the time clock and typed in his pin to clock in. The boss liked to be the first one to get through the doors to the main warehouse area. He walked in and then held the door open for the employees as they walked in single file. Most of the employees soft thanks walking past him after they clocked in.

Brody was in deep thought. Dani was about to stand up to get clocked in as well but then Brody leaned over to Dani and whispered, "Here’s the plan. Today, I’m going to have those corporate guys notice how unqualified Rameriz is as a warehouse manager. So incompetent in fact, that they’ll have to let him go. Obviously, I've worked here for so long, they'd have the hire someone else to fill the position…who is qualified and has seniority. Luckily, as you may know, so happens to be me”

Dani just shook her head in disbelief. Brody didn't register her visual disapproval.

Brody continued, "I'm going to go over the details with you during lunch-"

Or, maybe you don't and let me eat alone for once. She thought.

Dani sighed internally before she realized-

She put her palm out towards him. "Whatever you're planning to do, I can't stop you. Make sure it doesn’t involve me."

Brody was about to speak, but she cut him off, "This mad plan of yours could backfire, which will not only get you fired, but more importantly, could get me fired. Don’t tell me what you're doing and leave me out of it. Do you understand?”

Brody frowned, “What you should be saying right now is; Hey Brody, what’s this plan, and what's in it for me”

Dani rubbed her eyes, “OK then, what’s in it for me?”, Dani said dryly.

Brody hesitated for a few moments but he offered his hand. "As your new boss, each year I'd make sure you'll get a more significant gradual pay raise compared to the other coworkers"

Dani shook her head but she couldn't help but smile. She stuck out her hand to shake his.

She knew his plan would fail.

She knew Brody would fail, but at least it would be entertaining to watch him fall hard on his ass.

Dani would just deny any association with him once his plan backfires.

“Brody, you got yourself a deal. What did you need me to do?”

Dani and Brody sat at a corner table in the breakroom during lunch break. The breakroom was lively today, very loud with coworker chatter. Low music played from the speakers. The corporate visitors bought catering for the whole warehouse. This caused the breakroom to be a little louder than usual with warehouse employees to be in good spirits, as they conversed with free food. Brody felt confident that no one would hear their plan. The table felt isolated because one of the building's main support pillars next to the table helped the table appear hidden at an angle. In addition to the table hidden by the pillar, and being in the corner, it was next to vending machines. It was a perfect table for talking privately. Brody and Dani still talked in hushed tones, just as a precaution case.

From where they sat, the only blind spot was the row of vending machines around the corner of the table. Their spot was perfect, but it was the best option they had. Compared to all the other tables, this one was the best spot to have a private conversation.

"So Dani, I need to know that you are serious about doing this for me. I'm confident on the plan but I need to be confident in you. I want to be sure you won’t bail on me” Dani stared at him with her arms crossed. She had little faith in him, but he had to bring up the fact that he did give her a birthday gift card each year when no one else at work did. She felt obligated to help now, especially since she’d never given him a gift, let alone a birthday card. Dani should’ve expected Brody to have ulterior motives by giving her birthday gift cards the last few years, she didn’t expect he would use that as a bargaining chip for this. Dani sighed, “It’s the least I can do, now hurry up with the plan”

Brody nodded and smiled, “So I found out that one of our coworkers, Latana, just happens to be the daughter of one of the corporate guys who will be showing up later this evening to observe the warehouse operations. Yes, I double and triple-checked the corporate big suits are stopping by, anyways, this morning I took stealthy photos of Latana working on the floor with this mini photo print camera" He pulled out of his pocket a tiny 1x1 inch camera.

Dani just stared at him with squinty eyes. “How long did you have that camera” “I’ve had the camera for a while, in case Rameriz slips up I can have some photo evidence-” Dani got up.

Brody grabbed her arm but immediately then let go. She could tell he was regretting that action with his expression.

"Dani please hear me out. I need your help, you're the only one I can rely on. Look, (He places some tiny photo prints on the table). They weren't pervy pictures. it’s just bland pictures of her looking at her PDA or driving a forklift. Yes, taking pictures of her without her consent is wrong, but I promise you it's just a small sacrifice and she won’t know. She’s not getting her and I’ll make sure she’ll pay raises as well, I’ll make up reasons when I’m boss."

Dani cut him off, "It’s still super creepy, and I still don’t know why you took the pictures and now lunch is almost over and I haven't eaten all day. I wanted to grab some lunch before clocking back or I’m going to be pissed off all day"

Brody sighed, "I'll hurry up ok later today I'll take a restroom break. That’s if anyone asks. Where I’ll be at is in Ramirez’s office. I'll stick these photos around his monitor, and for good measure, I'll leave some questionable web tabs open."

Dani pondered this for a moment. She felt uneasy about knowing about the photos, She just had to focus on the one time Latana cut her off on the highway and she flipped her off. Dani just had to tell herself that this should make them even. Plus, if this worked, she could use a pay raise and I’m sure Latana would like a pay raise too. Sure Ramirez would lose his job, but she felt confident that he could easily find employment somewhere else.

An hour has gone by since lunch ended. She was scanning the barcodes when she suddenly remembered the time.

Where was Brody?

She scanned another crate and then jumped in surprise as she felt a gentle pat on her shoulder.

Brody gave her a thumbs up and a toothy smile as he casually walked towards the break room doors.

Dani hoped she wouldn't get fired for this.

She liked to keep her hands clean.

She focused on the thought of what she'd do with a pass raise as she kept scanning crates at a steady pace.