After a few days of getting used to being back, she started working. Hallson Inc. was pretty much the only employer left in town and most people who earned any money at all worked there or for the people who worked there.
Ava arrived on her bike, wearing her baggy outfit that did its best to conceal her flabby look. She wasn’t sure, but she was under the impression that the constant climbing and descending the stairs and the biking was helping her. She had gone slow so as not to be sweaty, but she was on time. Her mom had helped her with her make-up, which was as reduced as possible.
Because of that strange “Don’t look so you don’t spoil the surprise”-rule, the mirrors in their home were covered with blankets. As a result, she had to accept her help. Still, she checked herself on her phone, found that it was okay and grabbed her lunchbox. Then she headed inside.
The place was labyrinthine. The Hallson family had started over a century ago as chemists and snake-oil salesmen, more of the latter, less of the former. Their fortune had grown organically, just as the factory. Instead of tearing the entire thing once in a while, they had just added building after building. Some of the older parts were not being used right now and who knew what was going on there.
Ava was greeted by her new boss, a short, obese man named Kurt.
“Hi! Nice to have you here. I’ll just show you around and then, we’ll get you to work, shall we?”
“Sounds great, sir.”
“Just say Kurt. We’re all a big family.”
“Okay, Kurt. I’m Ava.”
She would have liked a bit more distance, but when in Rome …