A rich young woman mocks the janitor at her father’s company and he decides to teach her a lesson she will never forget.
Danielle Grobber was used to having everything her own way. She was beautiful, intelligent, talented, and very, very rich. Or at least, Danielle’s father was very rich and she’d always thought of his money as hers.
So Danielle, or Danie, as her friends called her, was more than a little spoiled, but she always managed to charm her way out of trouble with her sweet talk and her dazzling smile. Then she crossed a line, and her father taught her a life lesson she would never forget.
Danielle was about to go off on a two-week dream vacation to the Caribean and had talked her father into taking her on a shopping spree. Not that Danie was in need of anything, she just loved shopping with her dad.
Unfortunately, he had to skip their lunch to attend to some urgent issues, and so she’d wandered around a bit before walking into a famous fast food restaurant and ordering herself a burger with all the trimmings, fries, a large soda, and an apple pie.
She took her order and walked back to her dad’s building which was surrounded by a well-tended lawn dotted with shady trees, comfortable benches, and murmuring fountains. She sat and ate her food while she texted her friends on her phone.
When she finished, she wiped her lips, crumpled the napkin, and carefully applied lipstick. Then she got up and started to walk away, leaving all the packaging and left-overs on the bench.
A voice stopped her in her tracks. “Excuse me, miss!” the voice said. “Please pick up your trash and put it in the bin.”
Treat everyone with respect if you want to be respected.
Danie turned around and stared at a thin elderly man in a janitor’s uniform who was sweeping the garden path. “Excuse me?” she asked. “Are you talking to ME?”
“Yes, young lady,” the man said. “This little park is for the people who work here to enjoy, and I don’t think it’s fair to leave rubbish behind.”
“I don’t clean up!” Danie said arrogantly. “People clean up for ME. People like you, the servant class — isn’t that your job? So do it — clean it up!”
The elderly man flushed. “Young lady,” he said. “My job is to keep this building and this garden spick and span but what you did is disrespectful…”
Danie interrupted him rudely. “You work for my father, which means you work for me! If I tell you to clean up, you clean up, if I tell you to lick my shoes, you lick my shoes or I’ll get you fired!”
It was at that moment that Danie heard a voice like thunder: “DANIELLE!” She turned around to find her father standing there looking furious. “Who do you think you are?” Jack Grobber asked her. “How dare you humiliate this man, who has worked for me for over 20 years. A hard-working man, with a family!”
“Daddy?” said Danie in her best little girl voice. “Please don’t be mad at me…I’m sooo sorry!” But under her sweet smile, Jack caught a flicker of mockery. Danie thought she was going to get away with this, just like she’d gotten away with everything in the past.
“Apologize to Mr. Terence, Danielle,” Jack ordered and watched as his daughter turned to the janitor with her most charming manner — but now he knew it was all an act.
“It’s my fault,” Jack thought. “I have to put this right!” But how do you undo a lifetime of indulgence and teach a young woman respect and responsibility?
Then Jack had a brilliant idea. “Mr. Terence, you look very tired!” he said. “I think you need a vacation!”
Mr. Terence smiled and shook his head. “My wife says the same, Mr. Grobber, but I’m saving up my vacation days for the end of the year so we can spend Christmas with the grandchildren!”
“That’s quite alright, Mr. Terence,” Jack said. “I’m giving you two weeks off and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas for you and your wife!”
Mr. Terence’s gaped. “Sir? The Bahamas…But who will fill in for me?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Terence,” Jack said smiling. “My daughter Danielle will be more than happy to fill in for you, to make up for the unpleasant way she treated you.”
“WHAT?” screamed Danie, “Are you mad, daddy? I’m going on vacation…”
“Not anymore,” Jack said. “Mr. and Mrs. Terence are going in your place, and you will do his job while he is away.”
“YOU CAN’T DO THAT TO ME!” screamed Danielle. “I’m not a janitor! Cleaning toilets? Sweeping? Picking up other people’s trash? I won’t do it!”
“Yes you will,” her father said coldly. “Or I will cut off your allowance, take away that convertible…”
“It’s MY car!” cried Danie.
“No, Danielle,” Jack said quietly. “It’s MY car. I paid for it, I pay for the insurance and the gas. It’s all mine. Everything you have, I give you, so I think it’s time you learned how hard people have to work for every dollar.”
Danie knew her father very well, and by the look in his eyes, she realized she’d crossed some boundary. He would not be sweet-talked out of this crazy notion!
“You start on Monday,” Jack told her, then he turned to Mr. Terence. “And you’d better go home and pack, Mr. Terence! Bon Voyage!”
Monday morning Danie was there in her uniform, cleaning and sweeping, and emptying trash cans. By the end of the day she was exhausted, her beautiful nails were ruined, and her soft pampered hands were red and sore.
By the time Mr. Terence came back from the Bahamas with an amazing tan, Danie was quite an expert at the job and he was happy to report to Mr. Grobber that she’d left everything spick and span — no trash in the garden!
As for Danie, she never again disrespected anyone for doing a hard day’s work because she knew exactly what that felt like!
I Fled My Ex with My Daughter Only to Face a Woman from My Past Set on Ruining My Life — Story of the Day
I thought escaping my ex with my daughter would be the hardest part, but I was wrong. Returning to my small hometown brought a storm I never saw coming.
Returning to my hometown felt like scheduling a root canal—something you know you have to do but would rather avoid at all costs. Every street, every familiar face, and even the smell of the place screamed, “Failure!”
Mom greeted us at the door. Sophie, my ten-year-old daughter, gave me a side-eye from the moment we stepped off the bus. Her expression practically shouted, “Really, Mom? This was your grand plan?”
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Things didn’t get better once we got home.
“You haven’t even unpacked,” Mom sighed, standing in my doorway.
“It’s a strategy. Maybe we’ll leave sooner than you think.”
“Brilliant. Maybe plan a magical return of your dignity while you’re at it,” she shot back, rolling her eyes.
Dinner wasn’t much of a break.
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“I want to live with Dad!” Sophie announced, dropping her fork with a clatter. “At least he doesn’t drag me to some… nowhere town!”
Mom opened her mouth, probably to say something “helpful,” but I raised a hand to stop her. She gave me a long look, then went back to her soup. Sophie’s words hung in the air like a bad smell.
That night, as I stared at the cracks in the ceiling, I realized something had to change. So, the following morning, I went to the local employment center. The place hadn’t changed a bit since high school. It was still small, stuffy, and suffocatingly dull. I was scanning the job postings when…
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“Is that Mia? I don’t believe it!”
I turned to see Ethan, the guy everyone in high school wanted to sit next to in class. He still had that boy-next-door smile that could melt ice.
“Ethan.”
We fell into an easy conversation.
“Still can’t believe it’s you,” Ethan said, shaking his head with a grin. “You haven’t changed a bit, Mia.”
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I snorted. “Liar. I’m at least ten pounds and ten thousand regrets heavier.”
“You always had the best comebacks. Some things never change.”
As we chatted, I felt myself relaxing for the first time in weeks. He talked about his recent move back to town. I mostly nodded and smiled, letting his voice fill the empty spaces in my mind.
Then, almost casually, he said, “You know, we should catch up properly. Coffee? My treat.”
Coffee. A normal, adult conversation without judgment, pity, or awkward silences.
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“Coffee sounds… good.”
And then, I heard the door open. I turned to see a woman in a designer blazer and heels sharp enough to puncture tires. She stood there like she was waiting for applause.
“Well, well,” she cooed. “If it isn’t Ethan Carter. It’s been ages. How’s life treating our golden boy?”
Ethan, ever the gentleman, smiled politely. “Vivian. Good to see you. Life’s good, thanks. I didn’t know you were still in town.”
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“Still?” she asked, feigning surprise. “Oh, I’m more than ‘still’ here.” Her eyes darted to me then. “I see you’ve already got company. Mia? Is that really you?”
I barely had time to process her words before she added, “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me. ‘Chubby Vi’? The girl who was, oh, so invisible back in school?”
Oh no. Suddenly, it all came rushing back—Vivian. The quiet, awkward girl no one noticed. But this time, she was standing in front of me, polished and commanding, looking like she owned not just the room but the entire town. And, maybe, she did.
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“Of course,” I said. “It’s been a long time.”
She gave me a sugary smile. “It has. And yet, here we are. Funny how life works, isn’t it? What brings you to the employment center, Mia? Don’t tell me… you’re looking for a job?”
“That’s right. Gotta pay the bills, you know.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I just happen to have a position available at the city café. It’s a cleaning position. Don’t worry, Mia. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly. And think of the perks! Free coffee at the end of the day.”
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Ethan stepped slightly closer to me. “Vivian, maybe this isn’t the time…”
“Oh, nonsense,” she interrupted. “I’m just being neighborly. Isn’t that what you like about our little town, Ethan? The… charm?”
Her eyes locked on mine again. My pride begged me to walk away, but Sophie’s face flashed in my mind. I couldn’t afford to let my ego win that one.
“Wow,” I said, forcing a tight smile. “A dream opportunity like that? How could I possibly say no?”
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Vivian’s satisfaction practically radiated off her. “That’s the spirit. Tomorrow at 7 a.m. Don’t be late.”
She turned on her razor-sharp heels, leaving the room. I stood there, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.
“It’s fine,” I muttered. “She wins this round.”
***
The days at my new job were nothing short of a sitcom where I played the hapless lead. Dirty floors, spilled coffee, leftover crumbs—it felt like the café had conspired to keep me perpetually armed with a mop.
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And then there was Vivian. Like clockwork, she showed up during my shift.
“Oh no!” she gasped dramatically, knocking her latte off the edge of the table. “How clumsy of me! Mia, darling, you wouldn’t mind cleaning that up, would you? You’re so good at it.”
I plastered on a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Of course, Vivian. Can’t let your expensive shoes suffer, can we?”
Her lips curved in a condescending smirk. “That’s the spirit. Such a team player.”
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The next day, Vivian continued her petty antics—sugar mysteriously scattered, chairs left deliberately askew, all designed to keep me busy and humiliated. At home, Sophie’s resentment only grew, and the weight of my guilt became unbearable. I knew something had to change.
While wiping down counters one afternoon, I noticed a job posting for a waitress position. Gathering my courage, I asked Mr. Larkin if I could switch roles. To my surprise, he agreed without hesitation.
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When Vivian arrived during my next shift, expecting to see me with a mop, her surprise was evident as she spotted me carrying a tray instead. She commented about my “progress,” masking her annoyance with false cheer, but I couldn’t help feeling a small, satisfying victory.
Still, I had a nagging sense that Vivian wasn’t finished yet.
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***
I had forgotten what it felt like to be excited about something as simple as a date. That night, I left the mop bucket and spilled sugar behind and felt like a person again. Ethan picked a cozy restaurant, one of those places with dim lighting and candles on the tables that made everything seem romantic, even if you were just eating breadsticks.
“You clean up nice,” he said, pulling out my chair. “Not that you don’t always look great in… uh, aprons and sneakers.”
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“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I quipped, sitting down. “And for the record, those are high-performance sneakers. Very trendy in the cleaning world.”
The conversation flowed easily, from shared memories of high school to ridiculous stories about his failed attempts at cooking. The waiter brought us pasta and wine, and I was starting to believe the night was perfect.
Suddenly, I heard the cold voice, sending a chill straight through me.
“Wow, Mia. Look at you. A dress and everything.”
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I looked up to see my ex-husband, Darren, standing at the table with a smug expression. He was dressed like he’d just stepped off a yacht, which was ironic given he’d probably get seasick in a kiddie pool.
“Darren! What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just stopping by to let you know I’m taking my daughter, Sophie,” he said casually like he was announcing he’d picked up a gallon of milk.
“What?” My fork clattered onto my plate. “You can’t just…”
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“I can, and I will,” he interrupted. “She deserves better than this… situation.”
The unspoken questions hung in the air. I felt the walls closing in. It looked like I had been hiding an entire part of my life from Ethan.
“You didn’t mention you had a daughter,” Ethan finally said.
“I was going to,” I stammered. “Tonight, actually…”
“Oh, don’t mind me,” Darren cut in with a laugh. “I just thought Ethan should know who he’s getting involved with.”
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Ethan pushed back his chair and stood up. “I think I’ll let you two work this out.”
He left me alone with Darren.
“Well, that went well,” Darren said, sitting down across from me like he owned the place. “Don’t worry, Mia. I’m not taking Sophie. My new life doesn’t exactly have room for… distractions.”
“Then why are you here?” I snapped, anger bubbling to the surface.
“Oh, just a little favor for a friend. She said you were trying to rebuild your little love life. Thought I’d lend a hand.”
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And that’s when it hit me. Of course, I knew who’d managed that. Her fingerprints were all over the wreckage of my night.
***
After that disastrous evening, I felt like the universe had thrown in the towel on me. I took a day off and decided to focus on Sophie. She deserved more than the chaos I’d been dragging her through.
So, the following morning, with a blanket, some sandwiches, and a whole bag of her favorite snacks, we set up a picnic in the backyard. Sophie giggled as we spread peanut butter on crackers and debated whether clouds looked more like rabbits or dinosaurs.
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For a moment, it felt like I could breathe again. But then, I heard Ethan’s voice.
“Hey,” he said, holding a bouquet of wildflowers. “I thought these might brighten the mood.”
Sophie’s face lit up. “Flowers? For me?”
“All yours,” Ethan said with a wink.
She squealed and bolted toward the house, yelling for Grandma to find a vase.
Ethan turned to me. “Can we talk?”
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“If you’re here to get answers about my ex, you deserve to know the truth,” I began. “Darren… he cheated on me. For years, apparently. When I found out, I packed up and left, bringing Sofie with me. Coming back here was my only option.”
“I’m sorry, Mia. No one deserves that. But it’s not about Darren. It’s about Vivian.”
“Vivian? What about her?”
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“She’s been… persistent since I moved back to town. I guess she saw my coming back as an opportunity to, I don’t know, rekindle something that was never really there.”
I sighed, the pieces clicking into place. But there was one thing I needed to know.
“Does the fact that I have a daughter scare you?”
“Scare me? Mia, beautiful girls like Sophie are the best part of life.”
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Before I could respond, Sophie came bounding back. “Come on, let’s go somewhere fun!”
Later, we were eating cotton candy at a small carnival in the next town. Sophie squealed as Ethan won her a stuffed bear at one of the games, and the way he looked at her like she was the center of the universe made something warm bloom in my chest.
I let myself believe that maybe, we were going to be okay.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I never expected my Christmas to turn into a whirlwind of romance and betrayal. Invited to a magical on-air date, I thought I’d met the perfect man. But when two strangers claimed to be him and my choice led to heartbreak, I realized the real story had only just begun. Read the full story here.
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