As Linda walked away, Faye stood there, absorbing the weight of what she'd just heard. It was clear now why there was such low morale among the staff. From the little that had transpired between her and James, and from what Linda was now telling her, it was obvious that the staff were being forced to tolerate unacceptable behavior without any support from management.
She realized that the general attitude of the employees stemmed from this pervasive culture of silence and submission. No one was listening to their complaints, and no one was ready to stand up for them. It wasn't just about making the guests happy; it was about preserving their dignity and self-respect.
Maxine, still undercover as Faye, felt a renewed sense of purpose. This wasn't just about saving Sunset Haven; it was about changing the toxic culture that had taken root here. She knew she had to find a way to address these deeper issues and give the staff a voice. It wouldn't be easy, but it was necessary for the resort to truly thrive.
With a determined heart, she vowed to make a difference, starting with ensuring that everyone, staff and guests alike, was treated with the respect they deserved.
All day, Maxine hadn't set eyes on Harry Noble. It seemed as if he had accidentally fallen off the face of the earth. She had hoped to consult with him about her next steps, but his absence left her feeling both anxious and a bit lost. As Faye, she decided to take matters into her own hands and gather evidence to prove that the staff of Sunset Haven were being mistreated by some of the resort's overindulged customers.
That evening, Maxine saw an opportunity in the locker room. The atmosphere was quiet but tense as the housekeepers changed after their shifts. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, casting a stark glow on the rows of lockers and benches. She approached Rachel and Diane, two housekeepers she had observed to be more vocal about their grievances.
Rachel was the first to notice her. "Hey, Faye. Tough day?" she asked, pulling her uniform off with a weary sigh.
"Yeah," Maxine replied, hesitating slightly. "Actually, I was wondering if you guys could help me with something."
Diane looked up, her face curious. "Sure, what's up?"
Maxine lowered her voice, glancing around to ensure they were alone. "I've been thinking about how we're treated by some of the guests here. It's not right, and I want to do something about it. But I need to know more. Has anything happened to you two that could help make a case?"
Rachel and Diane exchanged glances. Diane spoke first, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Where do I start? Last week, a guest screamed at me because I didn't replace the towels quickly enough. She threatened to have me fired."
Rachel nodded. "I had a guy throw his drink at me because his room service was late. No apology, nothing. Just a mess to clean up and a complaint lodged against me."
Maxine's eyes widened, and she felt a surge of anger on their behalf. "Did you report these incidents?"
Rachel snorted. "Report to who? Linda? She'd just tell us to suck it up and make the guests happy, no matter what."
Diane nodded in agreement. "We all know nothing changes here. We're just expected to deal with it."
Maxine listened intently, her resolve hardening. "I'm going to get proof," she said firmly. "People need to know what we're going through. We can't just let this continue."
Rachel's expression softened slightly. "You're brave, Faye. But be careful. Management doesn't take kindly to people rocking the boat."
"I know," Maxine replied. "But this isn't just about me. It's about all of us. We deserve to be treated with respect."
Maxine was still reeling from Rachel and Diane's stories when Diane leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There's an incident that happened here that would interest you, Faye. Something that might explain why we're all so scared to speak up."
Maxine's curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Diane glanced around nervously before continuing. "It's about Helena Cortez.
She used to be one of the best housekeepers here. Everyone admired her work ethic and dedication. But then something awful happened."
Rachel nodded solemnly, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the tale they were about to share.
"One day," Diane began, "Helena was cleaning a guest's room when something went horribly wrong. She had an altercation with a guest. He was a high-profile guest who had a reputation for feeling up female staff here. I think his name was Henry Shellac. He'd then throw money at his victims and threaten them into keeping his dirty secrets.
Helena Cortez wasn't one to let herself be treated that way so he violated her. Her uniform and everything was a mess. Of course, she reported the incident to management immediately. She obviously had a lot of evidence to back up her claim."
Maxine's heart raced as she listened, a sense of foreboding creeping in. "What happened then?"
Diane's expression darkened. "The evidence she submitted mysteriously disappeared. Management claimed it was lost. And then, about a week later, Helena was accused of stealing the Duchess of Sussex's diamond necklace. They found it in her bag."
Rachel interjected, her voice filled with indignation. "But we all knew Helena would never do something like that. She was framed. They fired her on the spot, without pay. She lost her job, her reputation, everything. And worse, she was arrested and spent time in jail."
Maxine felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "That's... that's terrible. Why didn't anyone do anything to help her?"
Diane sighed heavily. "Because it was clear that management wanted to make an example out of her. They wanted to scare the staff into silence. Since then, whenever there's an incident with a guest, we just keep quiet. No one wants to end up like Helena."
Maxine absorbed the story, her resolve hardening further. "That explains a lot. But it also makes it even more important that we stand up against this."
Rachel placed a hand on her arm. "Just be careful, Faye. This place can chew you up and spit you out."
Maxine nodded, determined. "I'll be careful. And I'll make sure I get to the bottom of this unfortunate Helena incident. We deserve better."
"Well don't be surprised if you don't achieve anything, Faye. You're only a housekeeper afterall," Rachel reminded her.
"I know that," Maxine responded. "But I still have to try."
Diane placed a supportive hand on Maxine's shoulder. "We're with you, Faye. Just let us know what you need."
Maxine nodded, grateful for their support. "Thank you. I'll start gathering evidence. If anything else happens, let me know."
As they left the locker room, Maxine felt a renewed sense of purpose. She would expose the mistreatment and fight for the dignity of her fellow workers. And as she walked through the halls of Sunset Haven, she kept an eye out for Harry Noble, hoping that her trusted ally would resurface soon.
As the ladies, Diane, Rachel, and Maxine, left the locker room, their conversation still fresh in their minds, none of them seemed to notice the figure lurking behind the door. It was Stella, another housekeeper at Sunset Haven. She had been suspicious of Maxine from the very first day she arrived. Stella had always had a keen eye for details, and something about Faye Reynolds just didn't add up.
Stella waited until the locker room was completely empty before she slipped out from behind the door. Her heart was going a mile a minute, her mind racing with the possibilities of what she might find.
An ordinary housekeeper wouldn't take on the responsibility of pushing a cause that could easily get her fired. Stella thought.
And there was something else: Faye was noticeably confident, something rare among the staff at Sunset Haven.
Moving quickly and quietly, Stella approached Faye's locker. She glanced around once more to make sure she was alone, then began to inspect the locker for anything unusual. Her hands trembled slightly as she carefully searched through the contents.
Inside, she found the usual items—a few changes of clothes, cleaning supplies, and personal belongings. But there was also a notebook, partially hidden beneath a stack of neatly folded uniforms. Stella pulled it out and flipped through the pages. It was a new journal, only the first page had been filled. Stella knew it was wrong to go through other people's private things, especially journals but she couldn't resist.
Apart from the book resembling a diary it had a more official feel to it. It was more of an official report than a personal diary or journal.
Stella's suspicion grew. Why would a regular housekeeper be keeping such meticulous records? And why did Faye seem so determined to change things?
As she continued to rifle through the locker, she found a small, worn photograph tucked inside a pocket of one of the uniforms.