Notes saying Robert aced each task at work were great at first. He basked in the glory that came with notes that said he was the best Courtesy Associate his Walmart had ever seen. It’s not often he was noticed for anything. The change of pace filled him with energy each morning; waking up with purpose put a spring in his step. And then he found a note on his bed. It read “Great work out there today, I loved it.”

He took the note as a silly joke. One of his coworkers put it there. What a laugh! he told himself. He went downstairs to get something to drink, opened the refrigerator door, and saw another one on the oat milk. “Make sure to drink up! We can’t have you running dry on the job.”

He lurched back. “Hey! If you’re still here, not funny. What kind of person goes through a man’s fridge?”

He took out the oat milk, shook his head in disbelief, and went to get a glass. Another note, right on the glass he usually used. “Hey handsome, meet me outside if you want a reward.”

He locked all the doors. He went back to the kitchen; poured a glass of milk. About halfway through, he saw another note on the window. “If you won’t come out to play, I might come in.” Just then, he heard glass brake in the upstairs bathroom. He ran to grab a baseball bat by the door. Bat in hand, he went upstairs. The bathroom was empty with glass on the floor from the window.

A womanly voice came from behind him. “Hey there, sweet stuff. You can bring the bat if you want, but I’m not sure we’ll have use for it.”

He turned, but before he could see who it was his vision started to blur.

“How did I know you’d still drink the oat milk?”

He took a step and tried to swing the bat, but fell, his body going numb.

The woman stood over him. “Another attention starved male. Don’t worry, I know how to treat a hard working man.”

He woke in a trunk, bound and gagged. The hum of the wheels against the road let him know they were going somewhere. After hours, he found the car to stop.

The hood opened to a face he knew all too well. A lady who worked in the deli seemed to like him at work. He’d never thought much of it, but now she was staring down at him.

“You know, I do like you. The question is if I can get you to like me.”