Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism



"Alright."

After Mandy left, Jasper remained in the room for another hour before settling the bill and heading out.

Mandy thought it was just a routine service.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

However, as she was cleaning the restroom, her supervisor appeared behind her.

"Mandy, you can stop cleaning. Ms. Jasper stored some wine today. It's all been recorded in your performance. You might be the top seller this month. Skyler said you'll be in charge of Room 303 from now on."

The supervisor's words left Mandy in shock.

At the reception, she found that Jasper had stored three bottles of wine, each priced at 300 thousand. She had earned a hefty bonus.

Previously, Room 303's sales had been divided among several waiters, but this time, all the credit went to Mandy.

The news spread quickly, and soon everyone was talking about how lucky she was.

Mandy hadn't expected Jasper to be so generous.

The three bottles of wine he stored were worth nearly a million.

Even though she only received a portion, it was still a significant amount.

The unexpected fortune filled Mandy with both gratitude and unease.

But despite her worries, she couldn't deny the joy the money brought. She treated herself to a nice meal and bought some expensive everyday items she had wanted for a while.

Her roommates noticed her new purchases and couldn't help but comment.

"Mandy, this smells amazing! I saw this brand at the store, but it's so pricey. How come you suddenly splurged on it?"

"Yes, this shower gel costs hundreds!"

None of her roommates knew Mandy worked at Mystique.

She hadn't exactly hidden it, but she didn't go around announcing it either.

"My performance this month was good, so I treated myself."

One of the girls sighed. "That's nice. By the way, I know you've been working part-time. Where do you work? My parents didn't send me much allowance this month. I need to find a job."

Before Mandy could answer, another

girl sitting on the top bunk, her legs crossed, snidely remarked, "Oh, please, it's just a bottle of shower gel. What's there to brag about?

"You guys don't even know where she works, do you? I saw her at Mystique when I was out with my boyfriend. She was tugging with a drunken man. Definitely doesn't look so innocent!"

The room went silent.

The girl who had asked earlier looked at Mandy awkwardly. "Wait, Mandy, you work at Mystique?"

Mystique was a well-known, high-end bar in Quinston.

This industry had a bit of a shady reputation.

Most people assumed a good girl wouldn't work in such a place.

Especially not someone like Mandy, a college student.

Working there implied she wasn't focused on her studies.

With the expensive items she had recently bought, the other girls were quick to judge how she earned the money.

Mandy had hesitated for a long time before taking the job.

She wasn't the most open-minded, and a small sense of shame still lingered inside her.

Now, being pointed out by her roommates has deepened that embarrassment.

Even though she hadn't done anything inappropriate she only greeted guests-she still felt uncomfortable.

Mandy averted her gaze, grabbed

the shower gel, and placed it back on her desk. Trying to act indifferent, she said, "Well, I do work at Mystique. I bet none of you want to do that, right?"

"Of course not! If my parents found out, they'd kill me!"

The girls moved away from her as if she were contagious.

Mandy felt a pang of discomfort but said nothing. She packed up her textbooks and left the dorm.

From that moment on, rumors of her working at Mystique spread across the department.

She had been an ordinary student, but now she drew attention-whispers followed her wherever she went.

Still, Mandy managed her newfound wealth responsibly.

She was a good student and loved learning, even splurging on premium course materials few others would buy.