Love Unspoken

Patience had worn thin for Alexander, and his words came out as cold as ice. "How can you not know? You have a fondness for dishwashing, don't you? Well, then, go wash them." Quinn's lips tightened, her gaze latching onto him, probing for any hint that he was jesting.

Regrettably, he was not.'This man has a knack for holding grudges. The last time I disappeared for half a month, toiling away at that steakhouse, washing dishes, he didn't even bother to check on me. Now, he's using it as ammunition against me,' Quinn mused.

At times, Quinn found herself envious of Getty. Despite her unofficial status, Getty was the recipient of Alexander's fervent love.

Getty had the freedom to work when she pleased, even had the liberty to become a star if she so desired, and Alexander would back her every step of the way.But Quinn? She was relegated to dishwashing. Quinn gave a slight nod, as if in agreement.Alexander's countenance darkened. "It seems you genuinely take pleasure in that job.""From this point forward, you'll be in charge of your own living expenses, including those of your maid," he proclaimed, before making his way up the stairs.

A short while later, he descended the stairs in a different outfit and exited the villa.His departure after changing clothes was unusual, suggesting that even rules could be bent.The following morning, Kyle arrived to escort Quinn to work.He drove her to a five-star restaurant, directly to the back kitchen, and handed her off to a rather plump woman named Linda.

Kyle bestowed upon her a complicated look, advising, "Quinn, take care of yourself. If things become too difficult, apologize to Alexander."Before Quinn could fully comprehend his implication, Kyle had already taken his leave. Linda approached and gave her a tug.

"So, you're the new girl, huh? Get moving and wash those dishes. We need them out there! From now on, you're on dish duty-be quick and don't dawdle, understood?"Quinn suddenly grasped what Kyle had meant. This wasn't Alexander arranging employment for her. It was retribution. Yet, she was at a loss as to what she had done to deserve it.'Perhaps it's because I interrupted his video call with Getty last night,' she speculated.

As she pondered, Quinn approached the sink, where a multitude of plates awaited, and the bins on the floor were brimming with more to come.In the bustling restaurant, a mountain of dishes was the norm.Linda outlined the dishwashing procedures. She was to wash them three times, sterilize them, and if she broke one, it would cost her between $100 to $500. Yet, Quinn's daily wage was a mere hundred and fifty dollars.From NôvelDrama.Org.

There was no time for Quinn to quibble over the numbers or ruminate on the impending fatigue. She had to provide for both herself and Juliet, so she steeled herself and got to work.Positioned by the sink with a dishcloth in hand, she methodically cleaned each dish.

The hot water was relentless, and within an hour, her hands were blanched and beginning to prune.Quinn yearned for gloves, but Linda was too preoccupied to heed her."Hurry up! If we run out of clean dishes, it's on you. And your paycheck will diminish," Linda warned with a stern look before striding off.Biting her lip, Quinn had no choice but to persist.

The lunch rush hit, and the pile of dirty dishes multiplied. Alone, Quinn couldn't keep pace. As the hours ticked by, all ten of her fingers turned white and wrinkled, aching at the slightest touch. Linda kept pressuring her, hastening her more, only adding to Quinn's disarray until her grip faltered, sending a plate crashing to the floor, shattering.Linda didn't shout. She merely noted the broken dish in her ledger and said, "That's one. Clean it up and keep washing."

The dizziness from Quinn's lingering cold intensified with the long hours of standing. She braced herself against the sink and took several deep breaths.Crouching to pick up the fragments, she was about to toss them into the trash when someone bumped into her in their haste.A sharp pain lanced through her finger. A deep cut on her ring finger began to bleed profusely.