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Chapter_99
Quinn slipped her finger into her mouth, the sharp, metallic taste of iron and salt flooding her senses. “Hey, no slacking!” Linda’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “If you can work, then work. If not, leave early and save us all the wasted time.”
Linda had a sharp eye for spotting even the smallest pause in Quinn’s movements. It was as if the woman could sense when Quinn wasn’t moving fast enough, her gaze always watchful—like a hawk circling its prey.
Quinn froze, still with her finger in her mouth. She knew Linda’s harsh words were backed by Alexander’s silent influence. But when Quinn remained unmoving, Linda would bluster and bark, but never truly act. Linda wouldn’t dare.
Quinn couldn’t help but think, Who knows what these rich people are up to? One wrong move, and if things settle down, I’ll be the one to take the fall.
“Did you hear me? Get up and wash!” Linda’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Quinn pressed her lips into a thin line and raised her pale face to meet the woman’s gaze. Linda paused. Her eyes widened as she took in Quinn’s almost ghostly complexion, momentarily forgetting her reprimand. After a beat, she cleared her throat and composed herself.
Quinn slowly stood, her head spinning, and made her way back to the sink, picking up the rhythm of washing dishes once more. The sting of chili and grease from the soapy water sank into her cut, causing her to grimace in sharp pain. Linda stayed silent, perhaps too worried that Quinn might collapse right there.
Quinn’s face had indeed taken on an unhealthy pallor, but somehow, she mustered enough strength to push through the rest of the afternoon. By the time three o’clock rolled around, the diner had finally emptied out, offering her a moment to breathe. Linda gave her a gentle pat on the arm. “All right, go grab something to eat. You can get back to the dishes when you’re done.”
Quinn nodded gratefully and headed to the staff break area. The only food left was some leftover pizza, so she grabbed a slice and sank into a chair. The television mounted on the wall was tuned to an entertainment news channel, where Getty appeared on-screen, hosting an event for the VX Games.
Quinn watched in surprise as Getty took on such a massive responsibility. Every time the camera panned over the audience, her eyes instinctively sought out Alexander. There he was—sitting straight, focused on the stage, occasionally meeting Getty’s gaze with a subtle smile, his quiet charisma unmistakable.
Alexander was given plenty of screen time. The organizers knew that his presence was more valuable on camera than the presence of ten others combined. The stage was meant for the fans, but those stolen glances at Alexander were meant for the investors.
“Did you guys see that hottie in the front row?” one of the staff members pointed excitedly at the screen.
“Yeah, he’s so dreamy!” another gushed.
“Who’s he? Does anyone know him?” a third voice joined in. The staff seemed completely taken with Alexander’s good looks.
“I have no idea, never seen him before,” someone responded.
“Hey, what if he’s the hostess’s boyfriend?”
“Wait, who’s the host? Did I miss something?”
“If you’re not into Dragon Vein Street, you wouldn’t know,” an employee added. “Just check Twitter, Getty’s posted tons of photos with her boyfriend but never shows his face.”
At that, someone pulled out their phone and scrolled through Getty’s social media, finding her romantic posts. “You know what… now that you mention it…” one of them mused.
“Yeah, if you cover the face, the build matches perfectly!” another exclaimed.
“Oh my gosh, yes! It’s a match!” they laughed.
Meanwhile, Quinn sat quietly in the corner, picking at the stale pizza and sipping from the leftover soup, her mind drifting as she listened to the staff chatter about Getty’s romance and how perfect the couple seemed. She considered returning to the sink full of dishes, but the thought seemed overwhelming for a moment.
After finishing her last bite, Quinn stood up and made her way back to the kitchen to finish the cleaning. A few of the girls exchanged whispers. “The new girl seems so out of place. She probably doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
