Page 15 of Cherished By the Sinners

Anna’s voice, sharp as shattered glass, drew attention away from Darlene and back to the guests.“He is right.This is America where all people are equal.That thinking of yours is a relic from a dead social order.You believe she is beneath you, but here, in this hotel, that belief is what makesyouinferior.”

“We have,” one of the guests began, stopping in the middle of the sentence to look around.“Made a mistake.”She bowed slightly.

All the other guests bowed as well.

“We apologize to the young lady,” the same guest said, bowing now, toward Darlene.

What was she supposed to do?Bow back?Curtsey?Go back to work?She looked at Mason, raising her eyebrows a little.She didn’t have any cultural experience with people from their part of the world.

He glanced at the guests, then turned back to her and nodded.

Well, that was helpful.Not.

She swallowed and said, “Apology accepted.”

“Excellent,” Anna said, sounding pleased and smiling at everyone.

Everyone, even Mason and Magnus, visibly relaxed.

“Can I finish cleaning the suite?”Darlene asked.

Mason and Magnus frowned at her, then glared at Anna.

She studied them for a moment, then approached Darlene.“Can we speak for a moment, outside?”she gestured toward the doorway.

Darlene’s shoulders dropped as dread sucked out every morsel of confidence she had out of her.

Great, she was getting fired.

“Yes, ma’am,” Darlene said softly, trying to keep from sinking through the floor.She turned and left the suite, her gaze on the carpet.She walked down the hall, stopping next to the elevators.

Darlene turned to face Anna, though she kept her gaze glued to Anna’s chin rather than her eyes.She really didn’t want to see the disappointment she was sure was on the other woman’s face.

“I’m sorry for causing so much fuss,” Darlene said.Maybe an apology would help?“I’m trying hard to do the best job I can.”

A masculine grunt brought Darlene’s head up.

Mason and Magnus had followed Anna and were standing behind her.

Anna sighed.“I know, dear.You’re doing an excellent job.Louise has told me how hard you work, taking on extra shifts and staying late if others are out sick.This...issue,” she waved a hand at the suite down the hall.“is a...cultural misunderstanding.”

“Oh, so I can go back to work, then?”

Anna glanced at her nephews, and frowned.She turned back to Darlene, her frown dissolving into a small smile.“I think it’s time Mason and Magnus talked to you about a couple of things.”

Both men glared at their aunt.

“It’s long past time you explained yourselves to her,” she said to them.

Anna turned back to Darlene.“No matter what you decide, you won’t lose your job here.Understand?”

“Decide about what?”Darlene asked.

“I’ll let them explain, but I want to be sure you understand that you won’t lose your place here.”Anna waited.And waited.As if Darlene was valuable.As if her thoughts and choices mattered to Anna and the rest of her family far beyond the employee and employer relationship.

Mason and Magnus’s behavior toward her had been strange from the start.Protective, yet distant.Intense, yet there appeared to be a line they wouldn’t cross.And now, Anna had stood up for her, even threatened important guests with eviction.

Finally, Darlene said, “Okay, thank you.”