Uncrowned Princess

12

The next morning, Isabella found herself in the hotel kitchen, clearly suffering from a severe hangover. Marco approached her with a concoction he had prepared specifically for such occasions.

"Here," Marco said, offering the drink to Isabella just as Jenny took a seat nearby. "This should help."

Isabella accepted the drink gratefully, grimacing as she sipped the potent mixture. Jenny and Marco exchanged concerned looks.

"You really overdid it last night, huh?" Jenny remarked, her tone a mix of amusement and worry.

Isabella managed a weak smile. "It was my day off. Besides, I haven't partied in over five days. I must be setting some kind of Guinness record for restraint."

Her attempt at humor drew small smiles from her coworkers, but they couldn't completely mask their concern. Isabella continued to nurse the hangover cure, occasionally wincing and rubbing her temples.

"God, I'm exhausted," she groaned. "This headache is killing me."

Marco's expression softened. "I'll talk to Ethan about giving you a break-"

Just then, Ethan himself walked into the kitchen, cutting Marco off mid-sentence. "Sorry, Marco, but that won't be necessary. She needs to learn the consequences of her actions."

Isabella opened her mouth to protest, but Ethan fixed her with a stern look. "In your position, Miss Harrington. I want clean dishes. Chop chop."

As Ethan's words hung in the air, a fragment of memory from the previous night flashed through Isabella's mind. She recalled asking Ethan for a drink, and a wave of embarrassment and fear washed over her. Groaning, she let her head fall onto the table with a soft thud.

Ethan's voice cut through her misery. "Watch your face and get to work. And don't break any dishes."

Isabella reluctantly lifted her head and reached for the glass Marco had given her. However, in her hungover state, her grip was unsteady. The glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

Ethan turned at the sound, his expression a mix of exasperation and disappointment. "Clean it up," he ordered before striding out of the kitchen.

Isabella stared at the broken glass, feeling overwhelmed. Jenny and Marco exchanged a concerned glance before Jenny placed a comforting hand on Isabella's shoulder.

"I'll clean it up," Jenny offered kindly. "You take a moment to rest, Isabella."

Isabella felt a rush of gratitude towards Jenny. Their small act of kindness was a bright spot in what was shaping up to be a very rough morning. As Jenny began cleaning up the broken glass, Isabella took a deep breath, trying to gather her strength for the day ahead. She knew she had a long shift of dish-washing ahead of her, and Ethan would be watching her closely.

Ethan stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor of the hotel, then made his way to the roof access door. As he pushed it open, the crisp morning air hit his face, a stark contrast to the warm, stuffy kitchen he'd just left.

He walked to the edge of the roof, his hands gripping the railing as he gazed out at the view before him. The small town sprawled below, a patchwork of modest homes and local businesses slowly coming to life in the early morning light. In the distance, rolling hills painted in various shades of green framed the horizon, their peaks shrouded in a light mist.

As Ethan stood there, memories of the previous night began to surface unbidden. He could almost feel Isabella in his arms again, the warmth of her body as they danced, the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips. The scent of her perfume seemed to linger in the air, and he could picture her smile, radiant and carefree in the dim light of the bar.