Chapter 2: Desperate for work

I have been to so many places in search of work but wasn’t hired, not even as a cleaner or an errand girl, so one afternoon I gathered the courage to walk into Silver Palm Hotel, holding my neatly folded job application. My heart pounded with every step I made, I knew Vivian worked here, but I was desperate. I greeted the receptionist politely and asked to submit my application for the cleaner position. Before she could even respond, Vivian walked in. The moment her eyes landed on me, she froze, then faked smiles at me .

“You?” she scoffed loudly, drawing attention. What are you doing here? I came to apply for the cleaner job, I said softly, trying to stay calm. Vivian burst into laughter, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. Cleaner? In this hotel? Do you think we are running a charity? Some staff looked on with surprise. A few whispered, but no one said a word.

She walked closer, her voice dropping into a cold hiss. “You’re too filthy for this place, Riley. You don’t belong here. Guards, show her out.

“Vivian, I’m your sister, " I screamed with a broken heart .

She turned sharply and shouted, “I don’t know you.

The guards hesitated, confused, but pushed me gently outside. I stumbled onto the floor, humiliated. I stood there, tears dropping from my eyes , when a fine black car pulled up. A tall man stepped out well-dressed, confident, eyes cold. He saw me crying.

He asked, Who is she, and what was she doing here

“She was denied a job, " one of the staff said. The man looked at me. You. What’s your name?

“Riley,” I replied, wiping away my tears 

He stared for a moment, then said, “Tell the manager she’s hired. Report tomorrow, he said to me, I blinked. Was he serious?

“Congratulations,” someone whispered beside me. “That’s the CEO.”And just like that, everything changed.I went home that evening as the happiest girl alive. For the first time in years, something went right. I had a job, a real one. Vivian wasn’t happy about it, she became bitter and meaner to me. On my way to the kitchen to get a drink, I paused when I heard her angry voice. “Mom, can you believe Riley came to my workplace looking for a “cleaner job” The audacity! And the worst is, the boss forced me to hire her. Like who does she think she is? I froze for a moment. Her mom, Madison, laughed coldly. “Don’t stress over it, my daughter. She’s just a cleaner, nothing more. Vivian hissed, “I don’t even want the staff to know she lives under the same roof with me.” Hearing that broke me. But before they noticed me standing by the door, I quickly rushed inside my room.

The next morning, my first day at work, I was running a little late. Just as I rushed down the street, I saw an elderly woman beside a stalled car. She looked worried. “Excuse me,” she called out gently. “Can you help me call a mechanic? My phone is dead, and I’m on my way to see my son. I hesitated . It was my first day. But I couldn’t leave her stranded.

“I’ll be quick,” I said went across the street. I finally found a mechanic, explained the situation, and brought him over. He fixed the car and got the car running again. The woman smiled warmly at me, “Thank you so much she said, God will bless you for this.”

I nodded and hurried off, my heart beating so fast, but I was late. At the hotel, I barely stepped in before Vivian’s sharp voice echoed. “You think you can stroll in at 8:15 and be treated like staff here?” Without warning Vivian slapped me right in front of the other workers. I was heartbroken Just then, the CEO, Dylan Hart stepped out of his office with his mother beside him.

“What’s going on here? He asked. “Vivian, what’s with the slap this morning, “She came in late, sir!” Vivian stammered.

Before he could reply, his mother stepped forward, eyes wide. “That’s her! That’s the young lady I told you about my savior. She helped me fix my car this morning.

She turned to Vivian and said. She was late because of me. Please don’t blame her.

Dylan’s gaze softened as he looked at me. “Thank you for helping my mom. I truly appreciate it.”

He held my eyes for what felt like forever. I whispered, “Thank you, boss,” and looked away.

Vivian was fuming. Her anger burned hot, but she forced a smile in front of them. As soon as they walked off, she looked at me and hissed, “I will deal with you. I just stepped back in fear and walked away.