My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

As soon as he left, the receptionists began to murmur again. But this time, I was their topic of conversation.

Cecil Parker looked at me and did not seem to like me at all. "Arianna, can you tell me how a cleaner like you became the person in charge of the two most relaxing positions in our hotel? You're cashing in without doing much work. How did you manage to do that?"

That was a very strange question. Someone echoed, "Yes. Arianna, tell us. We're young while you're older, prettier, have good work experience to match and know just how to kiss up to the top."

Cecil sneered and said disdainfully, "I don't think this is about kissing up to the top, but rather kissing and sleeping with men! I heard that women are like wolves when they get to their thirties. It looks like Mr. Zelson can't escape the charm of an old woman. I guess sleeping your way up beats working hard like the rest of us!"

I looked right at them as I heard myself getting called old and accused of seducing men.

How good it must have felt to be young, to speak without a single care or consideration for others.

freshly poured water on the table. I got up and stood in front of Cecil. I was not angry, but my tone was frigid. "Yes, I'm already thirty, but I'm only four or five years older than you. You may want to think carefully about how I looked when I was still in

the job market, I had just gotten hitched. The workplace environment then was much more complicated compared to how it is now. I, too, met colleagues who were just a few years older than me, and who were in high positions. But at the time, I only thought of how to work hard instead of how best

education are. They taught me to look up to outstanding people and to work hard to catch up to them, and not to degrade them. Miss Parker, I think your family upbringing is

these words were not harsh, they were not exactly an easy pill to swallow

young. When she heard such unpleasant words from me, she got mad and raised a

hand to stop her assault. I then picked up the glass of

be punished if you keep talking nonsense. Remember to think before you speak next time." I no

shrieked in anger. "Arianna, you're such a b*tch.

of her breaking down followed soon after. I

a scare when I fell sick. She was probably worried that something would happen to me again, so she