FIRST DAY RUN

VERA'S POV

I tossed from side to side as the noises in the room grew louder.

"Hmm..." I mumbled, curling into a ball. I rubbed my eyes with the backs of my palms before sitting upright.

The girls were taking turns using the bathroom, and the room was already in chaos.

"Okay, ladies! We only have thirty minutes. Pick a number!" Helen called.

"One!"

"Two!"

I raised my hand and turned to her. "What's happening?" I whispered.

Helen chuckled as she approached me. "What's happening is that you're number seven, Vera."

"All right, ladies! Three minutes each!" she announced.

I watched the girls scramble towards the bathroom as though they were competing in a chicken fight. It was quite amusing.

"Funny, ayy?" Helen said in her Australian accent. "Well, it won't be so funny when you're late. Mrs Edward doesn't tolerate—"

"Mrs Edward?" I interrupted.

Helen raised an eyebrow. "She's the head of recruitment. The woman who brought you here yesterday."

"Oh." I nodded.

A paper bag crackled against my hands as she passed it to me. Inside was a uniform, along with a pair of shoes and socks.

"Thank you," I murmured.

I had never needed much time for my morning showers, so I managed to keep within the three-minute limit.

Soon, everyone was dressed in their uniforms. The dresses fell just above our knees, while our long socks covered our legs almost to the hem.

Most of the girls seemed uncomfortable in their uniforms. I glanced at myself and tugged at mine. It hung loosely on my slender frame, and the little skin it revealed only reminded me of my blemishes.

I drew in a sharp breath and touched the dark circles beneath my eyes before quickly withdrawing my hand.

A woman approached us.

Immediately, the girls straightened.

"Good morning, ma'am!" we greeted in unison.

She stood before us, her serious demeanour making the room fall silent.

"Good morning, everyone. Some of you already know me, while others don't. Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Mrs Edward, and I am in charge of recruitment."

She paused, allowing her gaze to sweep across the room.

"I have only one rule. There are no mistakes. If you must make one, it must never be in front of a customer."

Her eyes briefly met mine.

I swallowed hard.

She placed a bowl filled with cards on the floor.

"Pick one. It will tell you your assigned duties for today."

The girls hurried forward, each drawing a card. When my turn came, I nervously reached into the bowl and pulled one out.

Helen leaned over to see it.

"Oh, wow! We're on the same team. Kitchen and Fine Dining!"

She twisted her fingers into a funny shape, holding her little finger apart from the rest. I couldn't help laughing.

She had no idea how relieved I was to have her beside me on my first day.

---

The morning passed quickly. We cleaned the restaurant until it was spotless, then moved to the kitchen to wash glasses and utensils.

From there, we headed to the back, where we washed tablecloths and enormous kitchen pots.

Everywhere I turned, there was another task waiting for us.

And everywhere I went, there was another delicious smell.

I closed my eyes, savouring the different aromas drifting from the kitchen. My mouth watered, and my stomach let out a loud growl.

Helen burst into laughter.

I turned away, embarrassed.

Just then, her phone rang. She answered, nodding several times before ending the call.

"Bummer. The room-cleaning team needs extra hands. But let's have our meal first."

"Meal?" My face brightened.

"Yes, Vera!" she laughed, taking my hand as we headed to the staff dining lounge in our accommodation building.

Several girls were already there, some eating and chatting while others waited in line with their plates.

I took a bite of the tiny piece of beef on my plate.

It's not the same as the food I saw earlier, I thought.

Helen glanced at me and chuckled, as though she had read my mind.

"I know, right? It's a free meal, Vera. It's all we get during our shift. When our salaries come in, we contribute towards buying a fat turkey from the restaurant."

"Ha! Ha!" We laughed together.

I couldn't help smiling. Helen had been so kind to me, and I was grateful to have met her.

After our meal, we returned to work.

I had never imagined a five-star hotel could be this enormous. By the time we had cleaned what felt like a hundred rooms, I had lost count. Helen, on the other hand, moved around as though she had done this a thousand times.

Every time the elevator doors opened onto another floor, I found myself staring in amazement.

By the time evening approached, my feet ached, and my eyelids felt heavier with every passing minute.

The next shift of workers began arriving as ours prepared to finish.

"Come on, let's go to the kitchen," Helen said.

My eyes widened. "Are we on another duty?"

"No." She blushed. "I'm going to see my boyfriend."

I stared at her in surprise. I wanted to ask whether relationships between workers were allowed, but the squeal that escaped her as she spotted him made me keep my questions to myself.

I stood a little distance away while they greeted each other, feeling awkward.

All I could think about was sleep.

I wandered closer to the kitchen, intending to wait for Helen there, when a delicious aroma drifted towards me.

My feet carried me towards the back door almost against my will.

I stepped inside.

For several minutes, I stood mesmerised by the trays of food arranged across the counters. Everything looked delicious, and my stomach ached at the sight.

Suddenly, someone pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Take this!"

A chef thrust a tray into my hands.

"This dish goes to table sixteen," he said, blowing a kiss towards the delicacy he had just prepared.

"No... um, I'm not..." The words caught in my throat.

"Per favore, signorina," he urged in his Italian accent.

"Huh?"

"He said please, Vera."

Helen had returned to the kitchen and was now holding a tray of her own.

"Looks like they're short of waiters tonight. Come on, let's serve these and head back."

I hesitated, but eventually nodded.

---

The dining hall shimmered with extravagance. Golden decorations reflected the lights overhead, while laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the air. Women in elegant dresses sat beside men in tailored suits, their jewellery glittering beneath the lights.

I stood in the middle of the hall, searching for table sixteen.

Finally, I spotted it at the far end.

For some reason, my legs grew heavier as I approached. By the time I reached the table, my hands were trembling beneath the tray.

The man seated there was engrossed in his phone. His rich brown hair reminded me of the bark of a healthy tree, and a gold watch rested loosely on his wrist. The waiters passing nearby seemed careful to keep their distance from his table.

I gently placed the dishes before him.

He didn't even look up.

Without saying a word, he stood and walked away, still focused on his phone.

I stared after him, confused.

Would he really let all this food go to waste?

I glanced around before beginning to clear the dishes, placing them one by one on my tray.

Then I saw it.

The most beautiful dessert I had ever laid eyes on.

Tiramisu.

My eyes widened, and my lips curled into a smile. I stared at the dessert, my mouth watering as I imagined what it might taste like.

I had never tasted anything like it before.

Without another thought, I scooped up a spoonful and put it into my mouth.

"Oh, goodness..." I murmured, closing my eyes as the flavours melted across my tongue.

"Wow!"

I opened my eyes in delight. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers melted in my mouth, followed by a rich layer of mascarpone cream.

I savoured every bite, trying to identify each flavour. The sweetness, the soft texture, the delicate dusting of cocoa powder...

It was heavenly.

Just as I took another spoonful, a voice cut through the room, sending a jolt of fear through me.

"What are you doing?”