Page 34 of The Maid's Secret

“I’ve never felt so pampered in all my life,” says the woman. “First stay at a five-star hotel and likely our last.”

“But the splurge was worth it,” the man adds.

“It was lovely to meet you,” Lily says as she guides her trolley out the door.

“Keep shining for us little folks, Molly,” says the man.

I curtsy deeply to the couple, then close their hotel room door behind me.

—

I leave Lily and take my trolley down to housekeeping laden with bags of soiled towels and sheets, but the moment the elevator opens to the lobby, heads turn my way.

“It’s her!” someone calls out.

“Molly the Maid!”

“Can I have your autograph?”

“Come say hi to my mom!”

“We loved you on the show!”

I stab at the basement button, hoping the elevator doors will close, but the guests hold them open and pull me and my trolley out. I spot Mr.Snow by the reception desk. He rushes over.

“Stand back!” he says. “Give her space.”

I grip my trolley as the swarm of Bee-lievers proffers hands, pens, and cards.

“Molly will answer one or two questions,” Mr.Snow says. “Then she must get back to work.”

“Are you quitting your job?” someone calls out.

“Of course not,” I say. “I’ve got rooms to clean.”

“When you sell the egg, will you splurge on something big?” another guest asks.

“Maybe a small wedding reception? It would be nice to throw a party,” I say.

“Can I come? Please?”

“I’ll be your maid of honor!”

“I want an invitation, too!”

“We love you, Molly Gray! You’re more than ‘just a maid’!”

Just then, a man standing near me snatches my name tag, ripping it right off my uniform, then runs down the hall.

“Hey!” Mr.Snow calls out. “What are you doing?”

“Leave it. It doesn’t matter,” I say, even though it does matter, a lot in fact.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Mr.Snow says as he commandeers my trolley. I’m relieved when he buzzes us into a staff-only corridor. I lean on my trolley to catch my breath.

“Molly, I’m so sorry,” Mr.Snow says. “A fever spread through this hotel the second that show aired. Everyone wants a piece of you.”

“My gran used to say that money and fame make people behave badly.”