7-The New Sabrina

Sabrina’s POV

I hear Sophie again. I get up and feed her again.

“Hey sis, you okay?” Solen asks, coming into my room.

“Just tired. She is a hungry girl,” I smile as she suckles happily.

“You don’t have to start work today,” he starts again. “I make enough to support you and Sophie.”

“Hey, you are my brother, not my husband. You need to live a little too. I can’t keep holding you back,” I smile at him. “It’s a new year, time for a new you, and a new me.”

Solen smiles at me as Sophie starts to fall asleep at my chest.

“You do look good since starting your workouts,” Solen nods. “Has it helped?”

I look up and him and nod. “Yeah, I never saw fighting as an outlet for anger. I thought it was the losers way out. But these self-defense classes have been really working for me.”

Solen nods with a big smile.

I start working at Sol Royal and it doesn’t take long at all, I am promoted. I see Bill and Crystal around the hotel sometimes, but they don’t stop and chat. I have never been able to properly thank them for saving me.

I keep taking my defense class as the years move on. Sophie walks, talks, starts to sing. I keep moving up. I am now over all the maids at Sol Royal. I have only been here three years, but my hard work is paying off.

“Okay, make sure we are spraying the toilets down with the bleach foam after every guest. We are known for our clean rooms, let’s not let our reputation go down,” I tell my staff at our morning meeting. “I did random inspections for everyone this week and I have a few standouts. You each receive a $200 cash card, and $3 dollar raise. If I do not call your name, see me for points of improvement after the meeting. Marisol, Catherine, Angela, Veronica, Stacey, Susan, and Tiffany. Great job, ladies.”

All 15 of my maids clap as the seven I called stood up.

I hand out points of improvement to the remaining maids before everyone begins their day.

“Thank you for the raise,” Stacey smiles at me.

“Oh, you earned it. The 9th floor has never been better kept,” I tell her. She smiles, but it looks forced. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, just man problems. There is this guy, and he seems to be working his way through all my friends. He and I were a thing for a few months, then he moved on, I keep trying to get his attention again, but he seems to have really forgotten how much we had,” She seems to word vomit all over me.

“Oh,” I say. “I wish I had some advice, but I don’t. I have no experience outside of my daughter’s father. I left him, so maybe I can tell you breaking away from toxic people helps. He sounds toxic if he is sleeping his way through your friend group.”

Stacey laughs. “That is how men like him are. I mean, he had a wife who left him, I was in his bed only like three months later. He has the rebound of a trampoline.”

“I think you mean tramp,” I chuckle, making her chuckle as well. “I am sure if you stop focusing on him, you'll see someone wants to focus on you.”

“Thank you, Sabrina,” Stacey smiles and heads off to work.

“Hey, sis,” Solen comes into my office. “Just left the executive meeting. Your praises were sung once again.”

“Good to know,” I smile and lean back as he sits.

“So, I’m thinking Saturday, you, me, and Sophie head to the park,” Solen bites his lip.

“You want to use my daughter to pick up chicks again, don’t you,” I laugh.

“Look, she is so cute, all the chicks look at me when I play with her. Then she calls me 'uncle' and, I swear, women get wet every time.”

I can’t help but laugh. “I’m glad my daughter is good for your sex life.”

Solen’s smile widens. “Jealous I have a sex life.”

I scoff. “You realize the only person I have ever had sex with is Sedit and I can say it was horrible. I enjoyed it once, after that, it's a big 'no, thank you' from me. I am happy to remain untouched for the rest of my life.”

Solen nods in understanding. “It’s different with someone you love. Don’t write off all men because one was a total dingleberry.”

I laugh at his choice of words. “Nice one. Yes, we can go to the park this Saturday.

I get back to work and do my random inspections. I swear, I am going to fire Evelyn, she keeps doing substandard work.

“Stacey, I hate to ask, but Evelyn had six rooms clean and all six need another once over. If I take three, will you take three?” I ask as I put on a uniform.

“Sure, but I can do all six before my shift ends,” Stacey tells me.

“That isn’t fair,” I tell her, grabbing a cart.

We finish cleaning and I call Evelyn to a meeting in my office the next morning.

“I just got you request to let Evelyn go,” Crystal comes into my office before I am about to leave for the day. “I am afraid we can’t fire her right now. But I can be here when you have a stern conversation with her.”

I look up shocked. “Why can’t we fire her, that makes no sense?”

Crystal looks frustrated and annoyed. “She is sleeping with the boss. I have spoken to him, and he will also be speaking to her about her lack effort, but he doesn’t want her fired.”

I nod in understanding. “I get it. He signs the checks; he gets to make the rules.”

“You are a whole lot more understanding than I am,” Crystal huffs. “I think he should stop sleeping with pack, I mean employees.”

I heard her say something about a pack, and this is not the first time. But like every time, I let it go. Must be a Dallas thing they do.

“Okay. We can talk with her together,” I smile a nod.

The next morning, Evelyn is in my office looking smug.