“So, each of us has something we want. And we get what we ask for.”
After a long silence, she looked up at me and said, “Mom, I’m going to City P with you.”
I nodded. Everyone saw different things, so they had different priorities.
The time of returning to City P had not been decided yet, but I must do my job in HL Area.
…
Perhaps because of the continued presence of the Kennedys and Nathan's care, I felt isolated at the hotel.
Where there were many girls, there were many rights and wrongs.
One day in the bathroom, I heard someone talking before I came out.
“Whose child do you say Clara is carrying? Could it be Leo?”
“No way. Aren’t they brother and sister?”
“There’s a lot of hooking up going on between rich and noble families. Don’t you think it strange that she, as a rich lady of City P, came to live in this small county with her child?”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think we’ve seen or heard about the child’s father. Could it really be Leo?”
“It’s possible. She slept with her brother and finally got pregnant and hid in this small town just to avoid suspicion!”
I couldn't help smiling. It seemed that no matter how we lived, we were not always free. People would talk!
A girl’s panicked voice came from outside, “God, I think I’m on my period. Which one of you has a tampon?”
“No. We didn’t even get our period today.”
“What am I gonna do? I’m gonna stain my dress. I forgot it was today, and I’m wearing a white dress.”
Girls seemed to get embarrassed pretty easily when things like this happened.
Pushing the door open, I handed her the extra tampons, washed my hands lightly and left without saying anything.
They were clearly embarrassed by my sudden appearance.
I seemed to get used to it, though. I’ve heard all the gossips I needed to hear.
Back at the office, I went back to filing, wondering how I should tell Nathan about my resignation.
“Well, thank you for that!” I heard the girl’s embarrassed voice, then she put a glass of milk on my desk.
I looked up and saw the little girl I had just met in the bathroom, blushing and talking to me.
“It’s ok!” I answered, almost unconsciously, because of my coldness. But after a while, I felt this was not very friendly, so I added, “You’re welcome!”
She looked down, gritted her lips, and said, “I’m sorry, I was...”
“Emily, we’re telling the truth. Why are you apologizing? We’re not the ones who are wrong. A bystander spoke, as if with
reason.
Speaking of which, I’d been working in this hotel for nearly two years and couldn’t seem to remember the names of a few of
my colleagues.
There was not much to eat near the hotel, just a few fast-food restaurants and snack bars. She chose a snack bar, ordered
food and found a table.
“Why don’t you explain?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Explain what?”
“Your daughter, and your relationship with Mr. Wilson.” She said seriously.
I smiled. “They have a right say what they like.”
“But if you don’t, they're more likely to think they’re right.” She seemed pretty nervous.
I smiled and looked up at her. “Do you think it’s true?”
She paused, a little embarrassed, “I’ve been hearing it for a long time and I think it’s true.”
I smiled. “I love the landscape of HL Area. When I brought Clariana to HL Area, I wanted to live alone here without thinking
about it too much.”
“What about Clariana’s father?” Young girls were always curious.
When the waiter brought the food, I smiled. “It’s getting late. We'll have to go back after lunch.”
At this point, she stopped asking.
Back at the office, I was still busy. There was not much going on at the hotel, but since I was doing two jobs, I needed to do a
little more.
Perhaps I was too preoccupied to notice the sudden silence in the office and the occasional abnormal cough.
About ten minutes later, my shoulder was sore and I got up to get some water.
Suddenly I saw the man standing behind me. I unconsciously froze for a moment, then said, “When did you come?”
I regretted it after I asking him, because the tone was too natural and casual. In the office, such a tone might sound
ambiguous to an outsider.
“Been a while.” Dennis said, with a warm look in his eyes. “Go get some water!”
I got up to get some water, and when I came back, he still pulled a chair and sat down beside me, looking at my paperwork.
People in the office were surprised, puzzled and curious. No one looked directly at me, but I noticed the glances they threw
from time to time.
Seeing me holding the glass, he raised his hand and took it, taking a natural sip along the place where I had drunk it. There
was a cough coming from the surrounding area, obviously abnormal.
I frowned and said nothing more. Then I returned to my seat and finished the rest of the work.
He didn't bother me, but waited quietly for me to finish. After a long time, I stopped.
He said, “Done?”
I nodded and put the papers away.
“What would you like for dinner?” He didn’t seem to notice any strange looks in the office.
I sighed. He must have done it on purpose. I thought the rumors about my fickleness were about to get even more intense.
“You make the call.” I looked at my watch. It was almost time to go home.
Nathan came in with the file, waiked straight up to Dennis, handed the file to him, and said, “Mr. George, this is the business
history of the hotel for the past two years. Please take a look.”
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