Chapter 256 Payback The manager was finally pleased. âIâm very impressed with your work, McKinnon. I hope that goodwill stays.â
Dispirited, Deirdre walked out of the managerâs office and stepped into the back of the restaurant. The cleaner had been waiting, so she rose from a crouch and approached Deirdre. âWhatâs wrong with you, Deirdre? Trevor told me he chose you, but you spurned him in return? Please, youâre not some run-of-
the-mill young woman. Donât you know that beggars canât be choosers? Seriously, are you really planning to be a spinster for the rest of your life?â
Her acrimonious tone somehow paled compared to the vitriol of her word choice. Irritated, Deirdre frowned. âLook. Just because I agreed to meet him, it doesnât mean Iâll agree to be with him, okay?â
âIâm only doing whatâs best for you! Do you really think another man would even like you as much as Trevor does? God! Heâs used to caring for other people. Thatâs why he wasnât bothered by the fact that youâre an ugly blind woman! Lord, heâs literally a nice guy! Bless your heart, hon. Youâre the entitled type who doesnât know when to count her blessings!â
Sure. Maybe Deirdre was entitled, as she was finally too fed up to humor the older woman. She raised her head in the cleanerâs direction and replied placidly, âMr. Carlson may be a nice guy, but it doesnât change the fact that I feel nothing for him. You canât force something to happen. If no one is interested in me, whatever. There is literally nothing to be resentful about. I appreciate what youâre trying to do, but you should mind your own business from now on, maâam.â
After saying that, she felt her way across the wall to the break room.
The cleaning lady had good eyes, apparently, because she immediately noticed the hickey on Deirdreâs neck even though her hair was draped over it. Enraged, the woman yelled sharply, âOh, so thatâs why! I thought you were one of those girls who cared about things like morality and dignity, but it turns out youâre one of those disgusting, shameless sluts who sleep around! No wonder you think a nice guy like Trevor is below you!â
Suddenly, Deirdre clenched her fists and shot an unflinching glare at the cleaner.
The older wornan froze. Deirdreâs hostility had come só out of left field that she backtracked a little.
She belatedly realized after a second that Deirdre was just a hapless, blind woman who could not possibly hurt her. Emboldened, the cleaner ranted sourly. âHow do you expect a man to want you as his wife or girlfriend when this is the kind of life your lead, huh? Youâre just a call girl to them at best! At this rate, no one will ever treat you seriously. Youâll never be in a serious relationship!â
âWhat is this hoo-ha?!â
The manager finally marched out of his office. Knowing this was her chance, the cleaner left in an ugly mood.
Deirdre shook her head and started toward the breakroom, though her rest was easily hampered by the front-desk girl a few minutes later. âUh, Deirdre? Whatâs going on between you and the cleaning lady?
She kept telling everyone youâre⦠Uh, letâs just say she called you a prostitute.â
Deirdre was so irate that her chest hurt. âHow could she?!â
âI know, right? I told her to stop saying that sh*t around and warned her about how little our manager tolerates bad blood between colleagues. Still, you should be careful-I think sheâs planning revenge.â
âHuh. Thanks, anyway.â
The front-desk girl patted Deirdreâs back encouragingly and left.
Deirdre checked her mood and made her way to the grand entrance. As she ambled along an oft-
traveled route, she felt her foot slipping in a puddle. Gravity grabbed hold of her, and she felt the world ramming against her back. Her arm struck the solid ground hard, elbow-first, and a jolt of pain seized her so hard that she burst into tears. She curled into herself in a fetal position, trembling.
âOh my God! Are you alright, Deirdre?!â
Someone rushed forward and tried to help her up. Their hand accidentally brushed against Deirdreâs elbow, and the poor young woman yelped reflexively.
Alarmed, they rolled up Deirdreâs sleeve and drew a sharp breath. âGod, we need to take you to a doctor right away! Itâs swelling!â
Deirdre pulled her sleeve back down. Her eyes downcast, she murmured, âItâs fine. Itâs time for me to work, so I have to get to the piano.â
âP-Pia-no, youâre not getting to no freakinâ piano!â They protested frantically. âAnd who the hell did this?
A puddle of soap water over smooth tiles? Itâs like building a goddamn ice-skating rink! How could anyone not slip?â
Deirdre slipped into a daze. A possible suspect materialized in her mind. Soap water? She had always been careful, so this was no accident.