The Zipper Effect: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Dive into a riveting tale of corporate chaos and mysterious occurrences with "Unzipped Realities." Follow Olivia's journey as she navigates the intricate web of work, relationships, and a bizarre phenomenon involving metal zippers. As deadlines loom and personal struggles unfold, the narrative seamlessly weaves suspense, unexpected twists, and a touch of the supernatural. Immerse yourself in the gripping storyline that blurs the lines between reality and the inexplicable, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the nature of the unseen connections that bind us all. "Unzipped Realities" is not just a story; it's a thrilling exploration of the unknown, where each page promises new revelations and unforeseen consequences. Unlock the secrets within, and get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions in this uniquely captivating tale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223360063

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Zipper Effect (contos, #1)

Look, Olivia, you know Mr. Jacobson wants this first thing in the morning.

Which is why you shouldn't have waited until the end of the day to get started on your

portion of the spreadsheet.

I sighed.

I already knew where this was going.

I know, said Andrew, but I need this evening off.

It's Michael's fourth birthday I just can't miss the celebration.

You'll understand when you have kids.

I'll make this up to you.

You already owe me one, I said.

This makes two favors.

Heck, I should just take a few days off at this point and leave you to do my job for

me.

So you'll cover for me tonight.

Instead of Andrew with relief.

Thank you so much.

By the way, is everything okay at your place?

I'm hearing a lot of racket.

Yeah, don't worry, everything's just fine.

What about you?

You've got something funny on your neck.

Huh?

He responded.

A oblivious to the metal spec I noticed under his chin.

Never mind, I said, it wasn't my problem and I had worked to do.

I ended the zoom call and removed my headphones.

Lining back in my seat, I reflected on the evening ahead.

I had at least three more hours of work thanks to Andrew flaking out.

And I knew better than to even ask my supervisor and team leader, Mr. Jacobson for overtime.

And to make matters worse, my roommates, Mae and Gerald were having a loud enough argument

for my coworker to hear it through my computer.

I decided to break for dinner before resuming the tedious monthly budget analysis.

I opened the door from my bedroom to the cramped kitchen shared by the three of us.

Gerald was already inside.

I offered a casual hello, only to freeze when I noticed the bulging suitcase that he was

dragging to the side of the door that led to the driveway.

Oh, I muttered.

A bit startled.

Yeah, said Gerald.

He gave me a polite hug.

Hopefully it'll get a bit quieter around here for you now.

I hadn't realized that things between him and Mae have reached a breaking point.

Mae and I have been close once.

I guess this is what happens when your job sucks away all your energy.

You lose touch with people that you care about, even when they're among the only ones that

you ever see in person.

I helped Gerald to carry some of his belongings to his car.

As we hauled a box of clothes down the short outer staircase, I noticed a small piece of

metal jutting out from his arm.

Is your arm okay?

I asked him as we lowered the box into his trunk.

Yeah, why wouldn't it be?

I took a closer look at it.

It was a zipper.

But why