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Ruel realizing I was even there in the first place.

Or Ruel ever caring about me at all.

Chapter 9

Not What I Wanted

Iwish I could forget it.

Him being here and walking past me. Him breaking my heart, just like I always knew he would.

But I can't.

Not with Gwen chatting to me all day about Mr. Mysterious.

"All the women were staring at him, Kar. I swear I’m not kidding!"

I manage a smile, because I can see Gwen is waiting for me to react. Meanwhile, I end up scrubbing harder at the pot in my hands. The dishwasher broke down right before the lunch rush, so all afternoon, it's been me, Gwen, two sinks, and a mountain of dirty dishes that never seems to get any smaller. My fingers are pruney, my apron is soaked, and my back hurts from bending over the sink.

Honestly? I'm grateful for it.

As long as my hands are busy, maybe my brain will stay busy, too.

“It’s like he’s a celebrity or something.”

I do my best to look like I’m listening even while I look for something else to clean. I’ve heard the other floaters complain every time they’re assigned to kitchen duty like I am today, but honestly, there’s no job I like better than this. It’s all about hard work and being dedicated, no special skills needed. But most importantly of all, it’s the kind of job that keeps me from accidentally bumping into…

"Seriously, I've never seen anything like it.”

Him.

AKA, Gwen’s Mr. Mysterious, whose impact on members and staff alike is my friend’s newest favorite topic to talk about.

“Even Mrs. Price put her glasses on, and she never puts her glasses on." Gwen hands me another plate. "Who do you think he is? Any guesses?”

I shake my head and focus on blocking her voice out. Gwen is everything I’m not. She’s bright, bubbly, and bookish (mostly fiction, but still!), and I still can’t believe I’m friends with someone like her. But even so.

I feel bad about not listening to her, but this is the only way I can keep myself sane⁠—

"And guess what?"

Gwen's voice drops a notch. When I glance over, I catch her looking around, first at the chef, then at the doors, like she doesn't want anybody to hear what she's going to say next⁠—

"It's okay," I blurt out. "You don't have to tell me anything if it's going to get you in trouble."

"No, it's not that."

Gwen motions for me to lower my head. When I do, she whispers, "Remember Sadie Amparo?"

My heart stutters, but I somehow still manage to keep smiling. “Uh…huh.” I’m not lying either. Everyone in the club knows Sadie. She’s one of the newest members, having signed up only a few days after I started working here. She’s tall, supermodel-thin, and with silky blond hair that’s just perfect for a shampoo commercial. Honestly, she’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, and that’s why…

“I saw it with my own two eyes,” Gwen whispers. “The entire time Mr. Mysterious was in a meeting with Mr. de Laigny, she was loitering outside his office. It’s like she wants first dibs or something,” Gwen exclaims in a tone that’s half-scandalized, half-impressed.

If what Gwen says is true—no, really, who am I kidding here? Gwen is no liar, so of course what she says is true, and that’s why…

It’s just so easy, you know?

Imagining Ruel with Sadie?