Chapter 13 - Vanessa Asked for a Uniform
I almost laughed.
“You want what?”
“A job.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“No.”
She placed her purse on the table.
“I don't want an executive position.”
“What do you want?”
She hesitated.
Then said, “Housekeeping.”
I stared at her.
“You think this is some redemption stunt?”
“No cameras.”
“No press?”
“No.”
“No social media?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Her answer came quietly.
“Because I don't know how people live when nobody serves them.”
I didn't trust her.
But Margaret surprised me.
“Give her one week.”
I turned.
“Margaret.”
The older woman shrugged.
“She won't survive Tuesday.”
Vanessa heard her.
“I'll survive.”
Margaret smiled.
“Six a.m. tomorrow.”
Vanessa arrived at 5:52.
By noon, her feet hurt.
By three, her back hurt.
By five, she had cleaned fourteen bathrooms.
Nobody treated her cruelly.
That was important.
They simply expected her to work.
On Tuesday, she returned.
On Wednesday too.
Thursday afternoon, I found her sitting beside Rosa in the employee cafeteria.
Rosa was teaching her how to remove coffee stains from white linen.
Vanessa was taking notes.
I walked away before they saw me.
Maybe people could change.
But Friday would determine whether Vanessa actually had.
Because a wealthy guest had just snapped his fingers at Rosa.
May you like
And Vanessa was standing close enough to hear it.
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