Chapter 207

Joe believed Skylar was uninterested in him.

The next morning, Janine rushed to the Jubilance Hotel. Glancing at her watch, she hurried; it was almost 8:30 a.m. Traffic was a nightmare; even the buses were stuck. Realizing she had only a few minutes before being late, Janine jogged the last stretch to the hotel. She hated being late, usually arriving ten minutes early.

As she was about to enter, someone blocked her path. Startled, she looked up and saw Sadie. Her expression immediately turned cold.

"Excuse me," she said coldly.

Recognizing Sadie further soured Janine's mood. Their past encounters had been unpleasant, and Janine had low expectations of her. This meeting seemed far from coincidental.

"Mrs. Williams, please step aside. I'm late for work," Janine said sternly.

Sadie looked at Janine's cleaning uniform with barely concealed disdain, though Janine clearly saw it in her gaze. Janine knew Sadie judged people by social status, but she believed in the dignity of honest work. She neither stole nor begged, and owed Sadie no explanation. Sadie's attitude was entirely unwarranted.

"I need to talk to you," Sadie said, frowning. Amidst the hotel's bustle, Sadie wore sunglasses and a mask to avoid being seen talking to a cleaner.

"Sorry, I don't have time. I have a lot of work to do. If you have something to say, find me during my lunch break," Janine replied firmly.

Sadie's face darkened. "How much do you earn? I can pay you a month's salary for thirty minutes of your time. Besides, I've already spoken to your manager."

Sadie wouldn't have approached Janine if Skylar hadn't been hostile to the Williams family. To Sadie, Janine, a widowed cleaner, wasn't worth her time.

Janine's expression grew colder. "You arranged for me to take time off without asking?"

"I said I'd pay you a month's salary. Give me your bank details, and I'll transfer it now," Sadie replied dismissively.

Janine's anger boiled over at Sadie's audacity. Sadie's brazen entitlement explained their treatment of Skylar.

"Drop your arrogance. Who do you think you are? If it weren't for Skylar, I wouldn't tolerate your presence," Janine said angrily, pushing Sadie aside. Years of hard work had accustomed Janine to physical labor. She easily pushed Sadie, whose high heels and elegant attire caused her to stumble.

"Janine!" Sadie shouted, her voice cracking.

Janine coldly walked into the hotel, knowing Sadie wouldn't have come with good news. She recalled Sadie's manipulative tactics, including faking illness to lure Skylar home. She harbored no illusions about Sadie's intentions.

"Do you even know what Skylar's up to?" Sadie called after her.

"She's working for Mr. Gardner Senior. His team is among the top in Jipsburg City for restoring ancient artifacts. No one gets in without expertise! But Skylar did. How do you think she managed that?"

"By using her body! I bet those fancy shoes you're wearing were bought with money she earned by selling herself! Don't you feel ashamed? Don't act like you know nothing. Did you push Skylar into this, for a better life? Do you even have any integrity left?" Sadie accused.