Chapter 50
“Joycelyn, I have a feeling Linda and that rich girl aren’t up to anything good. It seems like they’re targeting you,” Selene said with a knowing tone.
“No way. What do they want with me? Do I look like her?” Joycelyn looked confused, wondering if she and the rich girl really did resemble each other.
“Baby, not everyone gets to look like you. She may have money, but you’ve got the looks,” Selene added with a grin, then teased further, “And don’t forget that lovely C-cup figure.”
As soon as Selene finished, Aurelia nodded in agreement.
Just as Selene was speaking, Linda strode over with a stern face. “You two need to go change into your hotel uniforms. You’re both working overtime here today. Joycelyn, you and Selene will be in charge of cleaning up all the trash in the banquet hall. Make sure the buffet area and event space stay clean and tidy at all times.”
Linda’s voice was firm, almost dictatorial.
Joycelyn frowned slightly, asking, “Doesn’t the hotel have cleaning staff?”
“The cleaning staff is too old and ruins the aesthetic. If we upset the rich young heirs and daughters, it could embarrass Mr. Grant,” Linda responded, standing in front of them with an air of superiority, as if she could trample on Joycelyn’s dignity with a single word.
“But this is the hotel’s responsibility. We’re just here to help, not familiar with cleaning procedures,” Joycelyn protested.
“Ms. Wilson said she’ll give you three times your salary after the banquet ends. You should be happy,” Linda sneered.
Joycelyn stood up, her face showing dissatisfaction. “Sorry, I’m not suitable for this.”
“Right, I’ll speak to the hotel manager and ask them to send younger staff to do the work,” Aurelia chimed in.
At that moment, Ruby stepped forward. Dressed head-to-toe in designer clothes, exuding luxury, she walked over to stand a few steps away from Joycelyn and her colleagues, eyeing Joycelyn with a haughty look.
“If you can’t do it, then leave. You can’t even handle this simple, menial task—what use are you?” Ruby sneered at Joycelyn. Joycelyn’s fair face tightened as she glared back at Ruby. Ruby was deliberately trying to humiliate her.
Seeing that Joycelyn was too angry to speak up, Ruby smirked and said, “If you’re not doing it, then everyone can leave. I mean all of you.”
She swept her gaze across the group.
Joycelyn had already witnessed Ruby’s arrogance the day before. If her refusal caused everyone to be dismissed, she’d feel like she had let them down.
The tension in the air grew thick, and everyone was on edge, caught in the kind of humility that comes from facing someone of Ruby’s status.
Suddenly, Joycelyn smiled and said, “I thought I might not be good at it, but since Miss Wilson is so eager for us to help, I’m honored! After all, three times the salary is quite a deal. My monthly salary is seven thousand, so three times that would be twenty-one thousand. How could I say no? Thank you for your kindness. I’ll do my best picking up trash.”
Joycelyn then turned to Selene, saying, “Selene, let’s thank this beautiful lady, shall we?”
Before Selene could react, Joycelyn nudged her, and Selene quickly followed suit, saying thank you as well.
Joycelyn beamed at Ruby with a sweet smile, her tone warm.
Joycelyn, you’ve lost it. It’s three times your daily wage, not your monthly salary, Linda scolded.
Joycelyn looked at Ruby with her clear, innocent eyes, her voice sweet. “Well, that’s the company’s calculation. Today is Mr. Grant’s birthday party, and our lovely, generous hostess is offering us this benefit, right?”
Ruby, who was initially displeased, found herself in an awkward position. Joycelyn’s sweet words had raised her to an elevated level, and Ruby couldn’t act petty without losing face in front of so many people.
“Didn’t expect you to be so clever,” Ruby said with a smile, though her eyes clearly looked down on Joycelyn, thinking she was being overly cunning in a poor, pitiful way.
Joycelyn quickly pulled out her phone and urged Selene to do the same. She wasn’t hesitant or indecisive.
Since she couldn’t avoid picking up trash, she might as well make it worth her while.
Ruby had intended to make Joycelyn feel embarrassed, but Joycelyn had turned the tables on her with a clever play.
The bank transfer of twenty-one thousand dollars made Joycelyn feel quite pleased with herself.
Joycelyn thought, I would not have thought that picking up trash would bring in over twenty thousand in one day.
“Thank you, you really are beautiful inside and out. Mr. Grant’s taste is impeccable,” Joycelyn added, after receiving the money, not forgetting to throw a compliment Ruby’s way.
With Ruby gone, Joycelyn exchanged a look with Anna, both of them thrilled.
“After I’m done picking up trash, I’ll treat you to late-night snacks,” Joycelyn said, clenching her fist in excitement, addressing her colleagues behind her.
“We’ll treat too,” Selene said, practically jumping for joy.
Aurelia smiled helplessly. “Good thing Joycelyn was quick on her feet. You two come with me to find the hotel manager and change into the uniforms.”
The birthday party was originally set to start at 6:30 PM. However, Ellison delayed his arrival, and it wasn’t until 7:30 PM that he showed up.
Joycelyn and Selene had been busy at the party for an hour. During a brief lull in the action, Joycelyn took a moment to relax in a quiet hallway, drinking some water and nibbling on a snack.
Having finished her snack and thrown away the trash, Joycelyn prepared to put on gloves again, ready to check if there was more garbage to pick up.
Just as she turned a corner, she ran into someone.
“Sorry, I wasn’t looking. I hope I didn’t bump into you,” Joycelyn said apologetically, her eyes showing a hint of concern as she looked up at Leon.
Leon, who had been outside taking a phone call, had stepped in to continue his conversation.
Even a playboy who was used to being surrounded by women couldn’t help but be struck by Joycelyn’s pure, radiant beauty. His eyes lit up.
“No problem.” Leon waved his hand casually, his admiration for her barely concealed.
Joycelyn nodded politely, putting on her mask and continuing on her way.
The birthday party was in full swing with a dazzling display of lights, and the venue was filled with the city’s elite.
As soon as Ellison arrived, he was surrounded by well-wishers, receiving drinks and congratulations.
Ruby, dressed in a pink gown, stood close to Ellison, completely changing from her earlier haughty attitude to a more demure, almost clingy demeanor.
It was a perfect example of couple dressing.
Joycelyn, in her uniform, wasn’t part of this glamorous crowd, but she focused on her task with professionalism, cleaning up fruit peels or picking up trash on the floor.
While working, she also overheard some gossip about her husband.
“This girl, is she new? I’d remember a beautiful staff member like her,” Leon remarked, holding a glass of champagne as he walked over with a confident stride.
