Chapter 51
Joycelyn was still cleaning up fruit peels on the table when she heard a voice trying to strike up a conversation. Instinctively, she glanced up.
It was the man she had accidentally bumped into earlier.
Joycelyn didn’t want to cause any trouble. She briefly glanced at Leon, then quickly returned to her task, focusing on tidying up the table.
Even though she was doing menial cleaning work, Joycelyn performed it with meticulous care, making sure everything was spotless.
In such an elite circle, she stood out like a breath of fresh air, humble and unpretentious, treating her work with respect, offering Leon only a polite glance without responding.
At that moment, Ellison, who had been surrounded by people, noticed a familiar figure in the crowd.
Once he confirmed it was Joycelyn, he sent Haddy to handle the guests while he made his way over with a drink in hand.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Leon. How about we exchange WhatsApp numbers and grab some late-night snacks tonight?” Leon said, pulling out his phone.
The self-service area was relatively empty, and even though the music played softly in the background, Leon’s attempt at flirting was loud and unmistakable.
“Sorry, I’m working and didn’t bring my phone!” Joycelyn politely declined, looking up at him.
Normally, a rejection like that would be respected, but Leon wasn’t your average guy. He thrived on the challenge of someone who wasn’t impressed by him.
“No worries, I’ll stick around and wait until you’re done,” Leon said, his eyes full of affection as he gazed at Joycelyn. Before Joycelyn could respond, she saw a familiar figure walking toward her with an unmistakable presence.
Ellison had overheard everything and, with a swift motion, grabbed Leon by the neck from behind.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Trying to steal my woman?” Ellison’s voice was cold and filled with authority.
“Ah, Ellison, easy! You’re choking me!” Leon yelped, his handsome face contorted in pain, and even spilling his champagne in the process.
Joycelyn, who had been only a short distance away, overheard the conversation.
She thought, ‘I have already changed into the hotel uniform and was wearing a mask, so how did Ellison recognize me?’ Panicked, she quickly looked down and grabbed the cloth she was using to wipe the table, hoping to make a quick exit. “Where are you going?” Ellison’s deep voice called out to her.
Joycelyn froze, startled, and slowly turned around. Her eyes met his, and she nervously asked, “Sir, is there something you need?”
Her voice sounded distant, almost as though she didn’t recognize him.
This was a grand event, with Ellison’s friends and colleagues in attendance. If her identity were to be revealed, she could only imagine how badly things would go with all these wealthy onlookers.
Ellison’s brow furrowed, a shadow passing through his eyes. His gaze was sharp as he looked at Joycelyn’s clear eyes, clearly displeased.
Realizing her mistake, Joycelyn quickly corrected herself, “Mr. Grant.”
Even then, she still looked as though she was ready to flee at any moment. She had noticed Ruby and a few others coming closer.
“Let go of me, I’m going to suffocate!” Leon was still pleading, trying to get Ellison to release him.
“Call her Mrs. Grant.” Ellison’s words stunned both Leon and Joycelyn.
Joycelyn felt like she was about to drop the cloth in her hand. Everything she had feared seemed to be coming true.
She shook her head frantically, her eyes wide with panic as she tried to reject it.
Leon’s face was a mixture of shock and disbelief. “What? Mrs. Grant?” His voice was full of astonishment.
Joycelyn, mortified, wished she could stuff a cloth in his mouth to stop the noise. Why are they shouting so loudly? Joycelyn thought.
“Uh… I really need to get back to work,” Joycelyn said nervously, as she saw Ruby and the others walking closer. She quickly grabbed the cloth and tried to make her escape.
“Mr. Grant, is there a problem with this cleaner? Has she done something to upset you?” Ruby smiled sweetly as she approached them.
As she got closer to Ellison, the matching outfits of the two stood out even more.
Ellison released Leon from his grip.
He had changed into the suit William had passed to him and now looked completely different. His cold, expressionless face made him look more like a man in charge than someone attending a birthday party.
Ruby seemed slightly anxious.
Ruby then looked at the coughing Leon, shooting a glance at the distressed Joycelyn. She then turned her attention back to Ellison. “I paid for her to work here. She’s really terrible—she can’t even wipe up the spilled wine properly. Ellison has a thing about cleanliness.”
Ruby was deliberately making things difficult for Joycelyn in front of everyone.
Joycelyn, head down, quickly grabbed the cloth and moved toward Leon, trying to wipe the table clean and leave as quickly as possible.
The pressure of the situation made her break out in a cold sweat.
Ellison, holding his suit jacket, turned to Ruby with eyes that were cold as ice. His voice was chilling as he said, “If you know I have a thing about cleanliness, then two people should be handling the cleaning, not just one.”
Leon, hearing this, immediately snatched the cloth from Joycelyn’s hand. “I’ll do it myself,” he said, eager to avoid any further conflict.
Ruby, who had been eyeing Joycelyn with disdain, glanced at Leon and then turned to Ellison with a soft, affectionate look. “Ellison, don’t be angry,” she said, trying to soothe him.
Ruby then turned back to Joycelyn, her tone sharp and condescending. “You don’t even know Mr. Grant’s preferences? You can’t even do this small task properly. What good are you?”
Ruby was lecturing Joycelyn in front of everyone.
Before she could finish, Ellison interrupted her. “It is a small task. Why don’t you and Leon take over?”
His words stunned everyone, including Joycelyn.
But Joycelyn could tell that Ellison was genuinely upset.
“Mr. Grant, this is my job…” Joycelyn muttered softly. She was afraid of angering Ellison even more, and worried that she might lose the extra money she had just earned.
“Since you don’t know my preferences, let them handle it,” Ellison’s words were like a lifeline, a reprieve for Joycelyn.
Her head still down, she didn’t dare look at anyone. She just nodded meekly, turned around, and left as quickly as she could. Her steps were hurried, almost as if she were fleeing.
The atmosphere in the room became tense, with everyone wary of Ellison’s unpredictable temper.
Ellison adjusted his suit and turned to Ruby, who was now looking at him expectantly.
Ruby, thinking Ellison was now focused on her, smiled sweetly, hoping he had warmed to her.
Ellison, however, narrowed his eyes and said, “Ms. Wilson, that pink dress looks too old-fashioned on you. Don’t wear it again next time.”
Ruby froze, unable to believe what she had just heard.
“What?” Her face, once so perfectly composed, drained of color, her expression stunned.
Ellison didn’t even look back at her, turning to walk toward Haddy.
Back in the hotel’s cleaning room, Joycelyn heard Selene burst into laughter from behind.
“Joycelyn, I had no idea Mr. Grant could be that sarcastic! I’m dying,” Selene said.
Joycelyn, still shaken, patted her chest to calm herself. Hearing Selene’s words, she couldn’t help but think to herself, ‘Ellison’s mouth is just as sharp as his kisses—only with far less charm.’
In this chapter, Joycelyn finds herself caught in an uncomfortable situation, where Ellison’s protective actions take center stage. The dynamic between the characters becomes more tense as Ruby tries to undermine Joycelyn while Ellison’s cold responses add fuel to the fire. How do you think Ellison’s interactions with Joycelyn will develop after this event? Do you think his protectiveness is a sign of deeper feelings, or is it more about his authority and control?
