Chapter 111
“Girl
you’re crazy for doing
g the walk of shame on Ethan Steele, Maddie says while getting ready for work. She is dressing fast–too fast.
I look up from my breakfast, which really just consists of a Risifruttita Swedi
dish treat you would love it) and a vanilla latte. “Why are you in such a hurry? You don’t stan working at this time.”
A funny smile touches her lips. “I have an early morning date with a guy from Tinder. Wish me good luck!”
-sounds like fun. Go get them, tigress!”
Maddie sticks out her tongue and leaves. I finish eating my breakfast and head to work.
When I’m changing into my housekeeping outfit, the other girls round–up on me. They are all younger than my 30, not to mention taller than me, and Jeda who is glaring down at my face, is the scariest girl I’ve ever met
“Is it true!” she demands in a venomous voice,
I glue my back to my locker. “Is what true?”
She leans forward and enters my personal bubble without even a hint of remorse. “You gonna play dumb, ginger?”
I have absolutely no clue what she is on about, but I can tell she isn’t joking around. Her eyes are mad–this girl is definitely capable of murder.
I swallow hard, trying not to show how intimidated I am. “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, Jeda. Could you please explain?”
Jeda’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Word around the hotel is that you spent the night with Mr. Steele on his yacht. Is that true?”
My hear drops to my stomach. How did the girls find out?
Lum I stammer, not sure how to respond
“So it is true” another girl, Mia, chimes in. She looks hurt and angry. “You slept with Jeda’s ex–boyfriend even though she has been trying to get him back. I bet you did it to hurt Jeda’s feelings
“What? No!” I protest, horrified at the accusation. “I had no idea he was your ex–boyfriend!”
“Really?” Jeda digs her eyes into mine. “I’ve been talking loudly about him every single lunch break, and you were in the same room. I even asked you for tips on how to win an ex–lover back, you slurr
Did she do that? Shit. I’m too scatter–brained to remember important things like this. Not that remembering would have mattered. I don’t back down for anyone. Jeda isn’t my friend and if I had known about her history with Ethan, I probably still would have gone out with him. “Hey, I’m bad at remembering-
A sudden slap to my cheek shuts me up–Jeda apparently has had enough of hearing my voice and smirks down at me.
“How about you remember that, ginger,” she says, proud of the pain she has caused me if I’m to judge by her face. “I don’t like girls like you. You think too highly of yourself, and guess what? Nobody here likes you”
glare back at her and say, “What a damn shame because I was definitely waiting for my invitation to your mean girl club.”
Jedla opens and closes her mouth. She seemingly didn’t expect me to give her a piece of her mind, Eventually, she finds her voice. “You think you’re so smart, don’t your Well, the joke’s on you siner we all know you’re stupid”
When I say nothing, Jeda continues to destroy my self–confidence like the hotel, ginger. “That’s the epitome of a failure, and since you’re also a guy–stealing bitch, your life will only get harder from here. We won’t sit idle. girl she is. “You’re a trashy white girl in her thirties working at a Consider yoursell an outsider from now on
Jeda turns on her heels while I rub my stinging check. It hurts, laut none of the other girls cares. Her whole clan leaves with her, all of them giggling as though violence is the answer to everything—suculisgusting personalities, all of them
To think they called me ginger, of
3:20 PM
Chapter 111
Ugh, better not think of that and focus on work.
I try not to let jeda’s words get to me as 1 start my shift, but it’s hard. Her voice echoes in my head as I go about my tasks. Failure. Outsider. Trashy
No. I can’t let Jeda win. I’m not any of those things she called me. I’m just…a former housewife starting over at the ripe age of 30, and that is fine. I cannot let anyone tell me otherwise.
I throw myself into my work, scrubbing and polishing with vigor. By the time I reach the elevator to take it back to the cleaning supply room, I’m sweating. I honestly stink like a pig, but I at least feel better than I did this morning.
I press the button so deep in my head that I don’t realize I’m not alone inside the elevator. It’s only when a throat clears that I whirl around, startled
And there stands Ethan. He is hot like usual. The bastard probably rolls out of bed looking perfect, and his crisp white shirt only brings out the best in himthis muscles, duh). But what really catches my attention today is the adorable pour on his face.
Wait, why is he pouting?
“Oh! Mr. Steele,” I stammer, suddenly very aware that I’m sweaty and disheveled. “H–how are you!”
Ethan’s pout deepens. “Mr. Steele! Really, Freya?”
I blink, confused. “That’s your name?”
He sighs heavily like I’m being particularly dense. “After everything we shared last night, you’re back to calling me Mr. Steele?”
Oh OH
Heat floods my
cheeks as memories of last night flash through my mind. Ethan’s lips on mine, his hands exploring every inch of my body. he humiliated me with his dirty words…
Heat gathers between my legs, but I can’t let myself get horny at work!
I push the memories of him dominating me out of my head. “I… um… I thought it would be more professional.”
Ethan’s emerald eyes narrow. “Professional,” he repeats flaily. “Is that why you snuck out this morning without even saying goodbye!”
Wait
a minute. Is that why he looks so grumpy? Because I left!
“I didn’t sneak out,” I’m lying like Pinocchio himself. “I just had to get to work.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shoot u
- up. “Ar5 AMP”
the wa
Damn. He is right. I left so early that I even had time to sleep a few more hours at Maddie’s place. Still, I try to plaster on a smile and say, “I’m… umm. I’m very dedicated to my job?”
Ethan doesn’t look convinced. In fact, if anything, he looks even more annoyed. It’s kind of adorable, actually. Makes him look boyish..well, if you ignore the fact that he is built like a linebacker
“Fine” he growls and fishes up his card. Within seconds, he has used it to stop the entire elevator from moving. “If you want to play boss and employee, thien let’s play, Ms. Smith”
My Smith? Oh no, we are not doing this dance,
“Ethan,” I say softly, taking a step towards him. “I’m sorry-
But he is already removing his belt, and my breath catches when he lets it drop to the floor. He then walks forward, towering over me with an emotionless face until his large frame is directly in front of me.
“On your knees, Ms. Smith.”
