Chapter 14

‘Of course I saw, I’m not blind! You’ve been putting on your makeup since half an hour ago!’ Monique Xander was wailing internally. Monique had always been good-tempered. She was already compromising by cleaning up the other areas first because Cindy Lee was already there putting on makeup when first she entered to clean the washroom. She requested Cindy to move aside because she cleaned everywhere except for the spot where she was standing. “Can you please move aside for a little bit?” Monique pursed her lips and asked politely. Cindy turned her face covered in heavy makeup and sneered with her bright red lips. “No!” She was doing it on purpose. She heard that Monique had a daughter and wondered whether she was chased out because she was someone’s mistress. She looked down on her. She decided to stay there for as long as she liked. Monique was getting nervous as her other chores were piling up. She had to finish them as soon as she could so that she could get home in time to cook for Little Nomi. All she was asking for was for Cindy to shift aside for a little bit. How annoying! Monique dunked a mop into a pail of water angrily, took it out, and swung it with force repeatedly. “You’re staining my pants!” Cindy hopped away and screamed, her eyes bulging. “Those with big barks usually have no bite.” Monique was relentless. It was clear that Cindy was blocking her on purpose so Monique did not intend to be kind to her. Although she had gotten used to being patient and tolerating insults, she knew when to draw the line. All bark and no bite. Cindy’s face was twisted with fury as she did not expect a janitor to be disrespectful to her. A sinister smile appeared on her face in the blink of an eye. “I heard that you have a daughter. Are you working as a janitor because you were someone’s mistress and you were chased out by his wife?” Cindy scoffed. Monique had no intention of wasting her time on Cindy as she was already immune to insults, all she wanted was to finish cleaning as soon as she could. She took the mop and started cleaning the floor where Cindy stood. Cindy grew furious as Monique was ignoring her. “Are you admitting to what I said? One must live with dignity, don’t flirt with someone else’s husband! Even mistresses have their resources! Look at you, you deserve to be a janitor!” Cindy insulted even further. ‘What a bully! How dare she accuse me of being a mistress!’ “So what if I’m a janitor? It is an ethical and honest job, unlike someone who puts on heavy makeup to flirt with rich customers while working as a waitress.” Monique returned with another blow. Monique was scornful. It was clearly Cindy who intended to hook up with rich men to be a mistress as she had worn revealing clothing and heavy makeup everyday. “I don’t have the time to argue with you.” Cindy turned and left with fury as if Monique discovered her secret. She walked to the café’s reception angrily with her arms crossed. She was extremely dissatisfied that an unwanted single mother and janitor disrespected her! She was crossed because she saw herself as a pretty student from the renowned H University. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She was standing at the cash register and plotting a revenge plan angrily when she looked up to see her manager, Sacha Long, walking toward her. Her gaze changed as an idea struck her and her arrogant demeanor was instantly gone. “Good morning, manager!” Cindy looked up and gave him an awkward smile, looking like a damsel in distress with her red teary eyes. She should be an actress so that her talent in acting would not go to waste. Also, she had a curvy figure which would be advantageous when dealing with straight men. Sacha noticed Cindy’s pitiful face and felt sorry for her. “My little Cindy, what’s the matter?” asked Sacha, his face ridden with concern. “I heard Monique Xander talking about you in the washroom just now and I fought with her because I felt bad for you. I didn’t expect that she would stain my pants with dirty water from the mop. I’m so mad,” complained Cindy while pointing at her pants and wiping a tear from her eye, there was a masked slyness in her eyes. “What did she say about me?” Sacha asked in shock. Monique had been a dutiful employee and she did not seem like the gossipy type. However, Cindy’s pitiful face did not seem fake either. “She… She said…” Cindy muttered. “What? Just say it.” “She said that you are a little gay…” Truthfully, Sacha had a delicate appearance and Cindy always called him a sissy behind his back. Those words were actually Cindy’s, not Monique’s. However, she looked extremely pitiful. No one would doubt the truth in her words. Sacha was exasperated. ‘I am a little delicate in appearance, but I am really masculine, okay? I’m not gay at all!’ He hated it when people called him a sissy. Perhaps she was talking poorly behind his back because he scolded her when she asked for leave? He was desperate for an opportunity to get her fired! Ring ring ring… The phone at the reception rang. “Hello, this is Mansion Coffee. How can I help you?” Cindy picked up the phone. She had to perform well in front of the manager. “Marriott Tower ordered 20 coffees and it’s urgent.” Cindy put the phone down and said to Sacha. “Get two of you to send them over!” instructed Sacha. 20 cups of coffee was not a small amount, it would be an impossible task for one person. Another idea struck Cindy. A cold ray flashed in her eyes as she looked at Monique who was cleaning a table in the distance. It was the perfect opportunity for her to make a fool out of Monique! “The café is pretty busy right now, we can’t assign that many people. How about we let Monique deliver the coffees by electric bike? I heard that she’s experienced because she has delivered many cups of coffee by herself before. I’m sure that she can do the same this time.” Cindy lifted her lips for a wicked smile and gave Sacha a wink. She was giving him a signal that it was a great opportunity to get rid of her. Sacha understood what she meant instantly and turned to Monique. “Monique, there’s a delivery.” “What?” Monique, who was busy cleaning tables, walked over when she noticed that her manager was calling her. “Marriott International ordered 20 cups of coffee and it’s urgent. You should deliver them,” said Sacha with a displeased look. “20 cups wouldn’t be easy to deliver if I’m doing it alone. They might spill.” Monique was astonished. Asking one person to deliver 20 cups of coffee was an impossible task! Also, there were a few other employees around. Why did her manager request that she deliver the order by herself? Monique smelled something fishy. She wanted to say something but Cindy interrupted with a weird tone, “Just go! Are you defying our manager’s order?” There was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. ‘Serves you right for offending me.’ “Hurry up, do you want to keep your job?” Sacha snapped. Monique could already guess that Cindy incited that judging by her pleased expression. Although she did not want to go, she had to because she needed her job. Monique had passed by Marriott International before but only at night. The building looked even more glorious and grand in the daytime. She walked through over ten wide French windows and a revolving door to see a few receptionists in formal uniforms who gave her a polite bow. The interior was even more extravagant to an unimaginable extent. Monique felt as if she was Jerry Mouse visiting Manhattan. She turned left and right but everything looked the same. She then lost her way as the place was huge. She had to find the way quickly as Cindy mentioned that the order was urgent. She suddenly remembered that Louise Lou, her female passenger from that night mentioned that she worked as a receptionist there. Monique then walked back from where she came to the reception to ask for directions.