Chapter 25


    Harriet led Anthea around the quaint little rotisserie, which was cozy rather than cramped, spanning


    just shy of ny square feet including the kitchen. The dining space amodated over twenty


    tables, neatly arranged to maximize the seating without feeling crowded.


    “You see, Anthea, right now it’s fairly quiet, but we get a steady stream of customers from the moment


    we open our doors,” Harriet exined as she guided her new charge through the establishment. “The


    job is a bit of a juggling act. I won’t have you cking off on me, you hear?”


    Anthea nodded, her eyes taking in every detail of her new workce.


    Next, Harriet steered Anthea towards a middle–aged woman with honey–blonde hair, whose fingers


    were adorned with a shy ring and a matching chunky bracelet. “Lauren, this is Carole’s daughter,


    Anthea. She’ll be filling in for Carole for the next month. Could you run her through the ropes?”


    Lauren looked at Anthea, her eyes widening in surprise. “Well, blow me down! Carole has a daughter


    as pretty as a picture!”


    Carole, while working at the rotisserie for over two years, was a woman who didn’t talk much. She


    rarely chatted with her colleagues, leaving her personal life a mystery to most.


    Harriet then turned back to Anthea. “If you run into any trouble.or have questions, Lauren is your go–to,


    alright?”


    “Got it,” Anthea replied, nodding again.


    After a bit more chit–chat, Harriet walked back to the front, where she found her son at the counter


    sipping a soda. “Baldie, my boy, you’ve got to hit those books hard. Aim for an Ivy League spot next


    year with that fighting spirit! Don’t end up like that chick, working jobs instead of getting an education.”


    Baldie, Harriet’s only son and the apple of her eye, was eighteen and on the cusp of his senior year in


    high school, a pivotal time that would set the course for his future.


    “Sure, Mom,” he responded with a nod. He was a bright student. Getting into a top–tier university was


    well within his reach.


    “That’s my star!” Harriet beamed with pride. “If you get tired of studying, take a break. There’s


    watermelon in the fridge. I’ll get you some.”


    “Thanks, Mom.” Harriet was always attentive to her son, making sure to remove every seed from the


    watermelon slice with meticulous care.


    As the evening wore on, the rotisserie began to fill with patrons looking for a hearty meal.


    Anthea didn’t shirk from any task, clearing tables and sweeping floors with diligence that left no room


    for criticism.


    Chapter 25


    Lauren nudged Harriet and whispered with a hint of respect, “Anthea’s a good girl, don’t you think?


    She’s full of surprises!”


    Harriet responded with a nonchnt shrug. “Children from humble backgrounds learn responsibility


    early. When I was her age, I did everything, even herded cows!”


    “Times have changed,” Lauren mused. “Nowadays, every girl is treated like a princess.”


    Harriet nodded in agreement. “True, but what good is being hardworking if youck education? Pretty


    as she is, she dropped out of school to work. What kind of future can she expect?”


    Despite Anthea stepping in for Carole, Harriet had her reservations. She figured that a beautiful. girl


    like Anthea would be too preupied with boys to focus on her studies.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Given her attractiveness, Harriet suspected that Anthea must have had a string of boyfriends. by now.


    Lauren chimed in with a different angle. “A girl isn’t tied to her schooling. As long as she marries well,


    she will have a rosy future. With her looks, Anthea is bound tond herself a wealthy husband and live


    the high life as ady of leisure!”