Chapter 3

That evening when I got back to the apartment, the vibe was even more hostile.

In the first-floor lobby, several guys were sitting around drinking.

When they saw me walk in, the noise died down.

Marcus held up a bottle, his face flushed. He was clearly drunk.

Next to him sat a woman in skimpy clothes, draped in his arms.

"Marcus, is this the chick who talked back to you?"

"She's not even that hot. Not like me."

"That's right, nobody's as hot and compliant as you."

Marcus squeezed the woman's butt, making her giggle.

"Babe, tell her the perks of signing the agreement."

The woman smugly tilted her chin and dangled her room key.

"My rent's completely free, and Marcus even bought me a new designer bag."

"We're all adults here. It's a win-win. Why act so prissy?"

So someone actually signed that disgusting agreement.

This woman was Marcus's "poster girl."

"You hear that, Claire?"

Derek spoke up from the side.

"Jasmine here knows how to play ball."

"It's not too late to change your mind. Just come over, chug this bottle, let us kiss you a little, and we'll waive your rent too."

He pointed at the whiskey bottle on the table, eyeing me with ill intent.

I ignored them and headed for the storage closet.

"Hold it right there!" Marcus slammed the bottle on the table.

"I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?"

I stopped and turned to face him.

"I'm only here to clean, not to drink with you guys."

"Still got that attitude, huh?"

Marcus stood up unsteadily and staggered toward me.

"Cleaning? Perfect timing. The toilet's clogged. Go fix it."

"Now?"

"Duh! Right now!"

Marcus pushed me.

"Don't even think about sleeping until it's fixed!"

I clenched my jaw and headed to the bathroom.

The second I opened the door, I nearly gagged.

The toilet was stuffed with toilet paper, and sewage had overflowed everywhere.

This wasn't an accident. It was intentional.

They'd crammed entire rolls of toilet paper in there and dumped leftover food.

"Look at her face!"

Derek and Ryan were laughing outside the door.

They stood in the hallway, holding up their phones to record me.

"Claire, do a good job. If this video goes viral, you'll be famous."

Ryan said maliciously.

"I already got the title: 'High-Class Career Woman Unclogs Toilets at Night – What a contrast!'"

I picked up the plunger and got to work.

Sewage splashed onto my pants, but I was beyond caring.

No matter how I fought back, they just saw it as entertainment.

They got off on trampling my dignity.

If that's how they want to play it, they asked for what's coming next.

Half an hour later, the toilet was finally unclogged.

I stood up straight and looked at my sorry reflection in the mirror.

The laughter outside continued. There were even sounds of... things I can't describe.

That woman Jasmine and Marcus had gone into a room and left the door wide open on purpose.

The noises were loud enough for the whole hallway to hear.

This was their way of showing me what happens when you follow the "agreement."

I splashed water on my face, which helped clear my head.

Back in the storage closet, I noticed the door latch had been messed with.

It was just a simple latch, but it was definitely out of place.

My heart dropped. I immediately checked my things.

Someone had stepped on my blanket—there were clear footprints on it.

Cigarette butts were floating in my water cup.

My laptop, which I'd left under my pillow, was gone.

It had the audit report I needed to submit soon, plus lots of important client data.

"Where's my laptop?" I rushed to the lobby and shouted at Derek, who was drinking.

"What laptop? Didn't see it."

Derek spread his hands, looking like a total jerk.

"Quit playing dumb! It was there when I left!"

"You didn't keep an eye on your stuff. How is that our problem?"

Marcus stuck his head out of the bedroom, his clothes all messed up.

"Maybe you're broke and sold it yourself to pay rent."

"Yeah, trying to frame us?" Ryan chimed in.

Suddenly, I heard running water from the laundry sink in the backyard.

I ran over and found my laptop submerged in the laundry sink.

There was even a rock weighing it down.

It was all over.

My report. My data. My career.

Completely ruined by these assholes.

"Oops, my bad."

Derek stood behind me.

"I was doing laundry earlier. Didn't notice there was a laptop in there. Just tossed it in, I guess."

"But don't sweat it. You're a janitor now anyway. Why do you need a laptop?"

"Maybe you should beg Marcus to buy you a new one."

I stood there, staring at the laptop in the water.

My anger hit a boiling point, then suddenly turned ice cold.

I wanted to scream, to fight, to destroy something.

But I couldn't. I couldn't take them all on alone.

You want me to be a janitor? Fine. I'll be the best damn janitor this place has ever seen.

I turned and gave Derek a cold smile.

"It's cool."

"Out with the old, in with the new, right?"

Derek looked confused. He clearly expected me to lose it.

"Are you nuts?"

I ignored him and headed back to the bathroom.

This time, I didn't pick up the toilet brush.

My eyes landed on the sink counter, on that row of colorful toothbrushes.

I knew exactly whose each one was.

I grabbed Marcus's blue toothbrush and walked over to the toilet I'd just unclogged, still stained with filth.