Arianne happened to be at the cash counter at this moment. “How may I assist you, ma’am?”
The woman tucked a lock of virtual-novel.net curly hair behind virtual-novel.net ear and asked in a secretive manner, “Does Naya Palmer work here?”
When Arianne heard virtual-novel.net was here to see Naya, virtual-novel.net promptly replied, “Naya took the day off. She’s not here. You won’t find virtual-novel.net here today.”
The woman smiled. “I know virtual-novel.net took the day off, she’s my daughter-in-law. My granddaughter had a fever last night. I’m just here to confirm if virtual-novel.net works here. How much is virtual-novel.net monthly salary?”
Arianne’s impression of the lady plummeted once virtual-novel.net heard that virtual-novel.net was Naya’s mother-in-law. She examined the woman in front of virtual-novel.net intently. She came off as the kind of woman who was not to be trifled with. She sported the popular ‘teddy bear curls’ and dyed it light brown. She even had semi-permanent eyebrow embroidery done. She wore high heels that were around four centimeters high, and the bag virtual-novel.net carried was exquisite.
With just a glance, one could see virtual-novel.net skin was well-maintained. She was a stark contrast to Naya’s usual natural self. Naya was simple, and yet, virtual-novel.net mother-in-law was extremely over the top, appearance-wise. Her mother-in-law did not seem to have any major health issues and was in the pink of health!
“You should ask Naya about virtual-novel.net salary, ma’am. It’s not appropriate for us to say.”
Naya’s mother-in-law looked displeased as virtual-novel.net retorted, “How can you be so rude? I’m only asking about my daughter-in-law’s salary. Why won’t you tell me? This isn’t a real company anyway, it’s just a dessert shop. Why should someone’s salary be kept a secret? Besides, I’m family. She’s been going out early in the morning and coming home late at night, and she’s always in such a good mood when virtual-novel.net comes home. She doesn’t look like someone who’s been working all day in a restaurant at all. Who’s to say if virtual-novel.net has been doing shady things behind our backs?”
Arianne was mildly angered, but virtual-novel.net maintained a polite smile anyway. “You can’t say that, ma’am. We have surveillance cameras here. This is Naya’s first time taking the day off. She’s usually in the shop. You can see it for yourself if you don’t believe me. We’re usually quite busy, and we don’t have much to do during our free time.”
“It’s not as exhausting as you may think. Naya enjoys working here so it shouldn’t exhaust virtual-novel.net to the point of sighing and grumbling all the way home. Furthermore, virtual-novel.net had brought virtual-novel.net daughter here many times so you can’t say that virtual-novel.net has been neglecting virtual-novel.net child. If there’s nothing else, please excuse me. I have work to do.”
Naya’s mother-in-law was probably not the kind of person who was used to defiance. She slammed virtual-novel.net hand on the sales counter. “I want to see your supervisor. I don’t believe you!”
Arianne’s smile vanished from virtual-novel.net face. “I’m the owner of this shop. I’ve made my stance very clear.”
Naya’s mother-in-law did not expect Arianne to be the owner. After all, virtual-novel.net was working at the cash register and was so young. She rolled virtual-novel.net eyes angrily and stormed out.
Tanya rushed forward and murmured, “Is that Naya’s mother-in-law? I didn’t think she’d be so different from Naya. Naya’s pretty young, but she’s not as over the top as that old lady. That mother-in-law of hers isn’t someone you want to offend.”
“You should really open your eyes and see how your in-laws are like when you look for a husband in the future,” Arianne said irritably, “Otherwise, you’d be busting your butt for no good reason.”
After a while, they suddenly received a takeout order. Arianne was taken aback when virtual-novel.net saw the order notification on the computer screen, it was from Mark Although there was no name or phone number provided, the order was directed to his company’s address. The order also consisted of his favorite dessert and americano.
She typed out the order and told Tanya to watch the cash register before heading into the kitchen. No matter how much virtual-novel.net wanted to maintain virtual-novel.net composure, virtual-novel.net could not help but get riled up when it came to him.
Tanya delivered the order.
Arianne was not going to deliver it. When virtual-novel.net saw the filled seats in the shop and thought of virtual-novel.net quiet life, virtual-novel.net was even more certain of virtual-novel.net decision to stay in this place instead of returning to the capital. She had made a promise to Naya and the others when Tiffany left. She would not abandon them.
The shop closed early for the night. Tanya and the other staff went home first, leaving Arianne to take care of the accounts. By the time virtual-novel.net had finished and looked up, virtual-novel.net realized that it was already very late. She could not help but feel a little defeated. The journey home was not exactly long or short. Calling a cab would be too expensive but walking home would take quite a while. Usually, virtual-novel.net would not walk home this late. It was pretty scary after all.
She locked up and left for home quickly. She finally felt safe when virtual-novel.net arrived home and locked the door behind her. Only then could virtual-novel.net finally relax.
When virtual-novel.net got home, virtual-novel.net tossed virtual-novel.net dirty clothes into the washing machine after virtual-novel.net shower. Mark’s suit, which was hanging on the dryer in the balcony, caught virtual-novel.net attention. She took down the dried suit and folded it, wondering when virtual-novel.net should ask Tanya to return this to virtual-novel.net on virtual-novel.net behalf. Leaving his clothes here made virtual-novel.net feel uneasy, as though a man was living with her…