Chapter 6. Thief
1228 Words
The next day, as soon as Jessica arrived at work, Lves came to apologize to her for what happened last night and said that he did it involuntarily.
Jessica just smiled knowingly, "It's not your fault. It's alright."
Then, Lves said timidly, "Mr. Richard said that you need to clean up his room as soon as you arrive at work."
Jessica had expected such things, so she smiled and nodded. That bastard was going to make her life hell for the next year, but she would bear it like she had endured everything else.
When Jessica reached the penthouse suite, she found the door open, and a woman's voice could be heard, "Roger, I didn't bring my clothes and jewelry here, so I will go shopping today. I am homesick. Can you come back with me to visit my mom and dad? Roger…"
Ruth was chattering without pause.
Jessica heard a quiet mumble whom she guessed to be Roger.
"Really? Roger, I love you!" Ruth squealed at whatever Roger had replied.
Jessica, who had been standing at the door, decided to clear her throat. She did not want to see Ruth kissing Roger. For some reason, her heart ached when she heard Ruth talking to Roger like they were a couple. Well, Jessica, they are a couple, a voice pinged in her brain.
"Oh, you're here!" Ruth scowled at her. "If anything happens like that again, I'll make sure your salary will be deducted for a month!" Ruth spoke furiously.
Jessica simply nodded, trying to avoid looking at Roger who was looking at her impassively.
Jessica sighed as they both left her alone in the grand suite. She knew Ruth looked down at her because many people who stayed in the Penthouse Suite were the same - arrogant and narcissistic. Shaking her head to clear her brain of her musings, Jessica set about to clean the room, trying to make sure it was impeccably clean for the royal highnesses.
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Roger had an unexpectedly busy day at work with meetings and phone calls so much that he could not spend time with Ruth as he had promised. Therefore, Ruth had ended up going shopping and home to visit her parents alone. And that was probably for the better, Roger thought. Her family had not approved of Roger and they disliked him, so the least amount of time he spent with them, the better.
He was looking forward to being alone and spending some time relaxing. He got tired of Ruth's constant chatter, which gave him headaches.
Roger opened the door and frowned when he saw the room was in complete disarray. The bed was unmade, and there were dirty dishes on the table, he could see the garbage cans were still full!
What the hell! Had Jessica not cleaned their room this morning?
Lves, the hotel supervisor, and Jessica were standing in front of him, yet again.
Jessica knew it was not her fault. She had cleaned the room, and Lves had checked it. The room had been spotless! He guessed it was Ruth who had returned to grab some items before leaving again. However, Lves dare not say this, so he said that he would deduct Jessica's salary.
Jessica was fuming because it was not even her f*****g fault!
"I had the room spotless this morning! I don't think my salary should be deducted for something you did yourself!" She countered back spitefully.
Roger looked at Jessica with mock surprise, "Is this your attitude to treat your guests? You are accusing them of lying!?" Roger was internally smirking. Seeing her angry made Roger delighted. Revenge was sweet. And he was just getting started.
Roger decided to turn it up a notch. "My watch is missing too. Who was in the room except you?"
Jessica's eyes turned into slits, "I do not steal!"
"Oh, really?" Roger sneered. "Are you sure about that?"
Jessica clamped her mouth shut, knowing what Roger referred to. But she DID NOT steal his watch! She knew that asshole was just making things up, deliberately finding faults to get her in trouble.
"I did not steal it!" Jessica reiterated.
"Bring her bag!" Roger ordered the hotel supervisor, who immediately left the room.
Jessica was in disbelief; she knew Roger had set this all on purpose to trap her. She had cleaned everything this morning, and she damn well did not steal anything!
Her bag was brought in, and Roger dumped the contents on the bed.
A shiny golden watch fell out of the bag. A men's wristwatch. Roger Richard's watch.
Roger smiled triumphantly and glared at Jessica with victory in his cold, hard eyes, "Looks like you do steal. You're a little thief!"
Roger continued, "So, not only do you not do your work, but you also steal!" He guffawed as if trying to prove to everyone in the room how she had done something horrible.
Jessica was rooted to her spot, not having the energy to say a word in response. After all, what could she say? Could she say that she had not done anything, that she had cleaned the room, or that she had not stolen? How could she defend herself when the evidence was so obviously placed to frame her?
"I did not steal!" Jessica spoke up, finally. She then looked at Lves and the hotel supervisor in desperation. Both were looking at her dubiously though she noticed a look of pity on Lves's face. Did he know that she had not done anything?
"Everyone, OUT!" Roger yelled loudly, pointing towards the door. "Leave now! I have never been treated like this ANYWHERE except here! I don't know what kind of hotel we're running here, but we are going to change this!" Roger shook his head angrily, almost forgetting for a second that this had been all planned…by him…no less.
Jessica, Lves, and the hotel supervisor immediately turned around and walked towards the door with their heads bowed. Jessica scurried behind them, not even caring that the bastard had her bag. She just wanted to get out and forget this ever happened.
"I did not say YOU could leave!"
Jessica heard a livid voice bellow from behind her. She paused mid-step and turned around, looking at Roger incredulously. What did he want now? Lves and the hotel supervisor gave Jessica pity looks.
"You two can go," Roger waved at them. "But you!" He pointed a long finger at Jessica, the same finger that she had envisioned many times…snap out of it, Jessica! Now is not the time to be thinking about these things, she muttered to herself, slightly blushing at her dirty mind.
She stood stock-still and watched in disbelief as Roger walked behind her, giving her a slight shove and locked the door. He then sauntered over to the seat and sat down as if a King sitting on his throne. She had never seen any emotion in them other than contempt for her.
"What do you want from me?" Jessica crossed her arms and glared right back at him.
"I want an apology, first of all."
She frowned, an apology!? "For what?" Jessica retorted. "You and me both know that you planned all this. I never stole your watch."
"That remains to be seen," Roger replied cryptically and stood up.
- Writer
