28 May 2012
Chapter 3 - Part 1
I walked up the hotels steps to start work. I was still humming the tune Id been listening to on the radio. It was upbeat and happy, infection like the summer sunshine. Id have to find out who it was by. My daughter Jasmine would know. She was good with music.
I pushed open the door and smiled at Cristina. She was Emilys mum and as our daughters are best friends, she had helped me get the job here after my husband left me. The hours fit in well around Jasmine's school times and during the holidays the girls would hand out together at the hotel, in the gardens or on the beach, whilst we both worked.
Hi ya. I chimed. Cristina frowned and her jaw twitched.
The large double doors slammed shut behind me. The hollow sound echoed down the corridor and with the sound came a feeling of dread. I made my way to the cleaning closet. I had to act normal. There was no way she could know about Dan and I. It had just happened the once; a stupid accident. I had told him I didnt think it right for us to continue being friends. I hadnt even spoken to him since. It had be something else.
I got my trolley of cleaning equipment from the cupboard and began making my way up in the lift to the third floor. It wasnt a big hotel but it still would take me all morning to get done. I opened the door to the first room. I began stripping the bed ready to put clean sheets on it.
I was tucking the corners in when I had that uneasy feeling of being watched. I looked up and there was Cristina at the door. She had the same inky black hair as her daughters, except shed paid to have a perm and hers only reached her shoulders where as Emily's ran down to her waist.
I smiled and again she responded with a thrown. Wipe that smug look off your face!
Like a slap to the face I became stone cold sober.
She started walking towards me, sauntering over, in her posh secretary to the manager style suit. I begin to feel uneasy. Is everything alright? I ask.
Peachy! Cristina said sarcastically, her frown knitting her brow together. She then forced a smile. Im just inspecting the quality of your work. Dont mind me. Carry on.
I knew that no matter what I did it would be wrong. She criticized the way the sheet was folded, finding a crease where there shouldnt, advising of a fold required where I should. She checked every surface closely for dirt. She stood over me whilst I scrubbed the toilet, making me do it over and over again. Her finger running along the inside of the I had wiped claiming their were soap marks that has been missed. Finally, she allowed me to leave the room.
She looked at her watch. Well, I better get back to the office. It looks like I need to record your first verbal warning. Your work is slow and careless. You have a week to improve your standards or well move onto a written warning.
Im sorry. I apologized, knowing what this was really about.
She brought her face up close into mine. Not as sorry as I am. She clenched her teeth together, causing her jaw to twitch again. She began to walk towards the stair case. Not as sorry as you will be.
3.1 Daisy Chain • Opuss № I