When Janice’s mom, Maria, lands a job as a cleaner for a wealthy family, Janice’s worst fears come true. Maria is treated cruelly, culminating in the ultimate disrespect when she’s called “it.” Fueled by rage, Janice vows to make them pay, setting the stage for a gripping tale of revenge.
I knew it was bad news when Mom told me she got a job as a cleaner for the rich folks down the street. Everyone in the neighborhood had a story about their arrogance, how they acted like they owned the world.
A mansion | Source: Unsplash
But Mom was hopeful, saying it was a good opportunity. I bit my tongue and tried to be supportive, but my gut twisted with dread.
That first week dragged on. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart skipped a beat, worried it was Mom calling with bad news. And then, one evening, it finally happened. My phone rang, and her name flashed on the screen.
“Hey, Mom. How was work?” I asked, trying to sound upbeat.
There was a long pause, and then I heard Mom sob. “Janice, it was awful.”
A woman answering her phone with a smile | Source: Pexels
My heart sank. “What happened?”
“They treat me like I’m not even human, Janice,” she sobbed. “Victoria called me ‘it’ today. She said, ‘Make sure it cleans the bathroom properly.'”
I felt a surge of rage, my hands trembling with anger. “What? She called you ‘it’? Mom, you need to quit. Right now.”
“I can’t, Janice. I need the money. I’ll be fine. I just need to hold on until I find something better.”
“No, Mom. No job is worth this. I’ll support you until you find something else. Please, quit.”
A thoughtful woman | Source: Pexels
“I can’t take your money, honey. I’ll manage.”
“Manage? Mom, you’re not managing. They’re breaking you. Please, promise me you’ll think about it.”
She went silent again, and I could almost see her wiping her tears away, trying to be strong. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
“Promise me, Mom.”
“I promise,” she whispered.
A woman speaking on her phone | Source: Pexels
When we hung up, I felt like throwing my phone against the wall. I paced the room, furious and helpless. My sweet, hardworking mother was being treated like dirt, and I couldn’t stand it.
That night, I barely slept, my mind racing with thoughts of how to get her out of there.
I thought I was being clever, keeping my little secret from Victoria. But Janice wasn’t just another random girl. She was Maria’s daughter—the cleaner my family treated like dirt. And she had a plan to expose us all.
A few days later, still fuming, I was mindlessly scrolling through Tinder when something stopped me cold. Robert, my mom’s boss, was on a dating site, despite having a wife and a stepson!
A woman looking at her phone | Source: Unsplash
The idea hit me like a bolt of lightning, and before I knew it, I swiped right. To my twisted satisfaction, we matched.
I started texting him, playing the game, keeping my true intentions hidden. Each message I sent was like a small victory, a step closer to exposing the truth. I was determined to make them regret every single tear they made my mother shed.
Our first date was at this swanky restaurant downtown. The kind of place where the napkins are actual cloth and the menu doesn’t have prices.
The interior of a restaurant | Source: Pexels
Robert walked in like he owned the place, wearing an expensive suit and that smug grin of his. We were seated at a corner table, the ambiance all dim lights and soft music.
“So, Janice,” Robert began, leaning back in his chair like he was some sort of king. “Tell me about yourself.”
I smiled, the perfect picture of innocence. “Oh, there’s not much to tell. Just a regular girl, you know? What about you, Robert?”
He chuckled, clearly loving the attention.
A man and woman having dinner | Source: Pexels
“Well, I run a few businesses, investments mostly. It’s a lot of work, but it pays off. You know, success doesn’t come easy.”
I nodded, trying not to roll my eyes. “I can imagine.”
He launched into a monologue about his wealth, his properties, his car collection. I listened, nodding at the right moments, but inside I was seething. This was the man who thought it was okay to treat my mother like dirt.
I snapped a few pictures of him with my phone, pretending to check messages. Evidence collected.
A smart phone | Source: Pexels
The second date was a sunny afternoon in the park. Robert suggested it, probably thinking it would show off his sensitive side. We strolled along the path, the conversation light and flirty.
By the third date, I had more than enough, but I wanted to seal the deal. We met at a trendy bar, the kind of place with craft cocktails and Edison bulbs. Robert was already a few drinks in when I arrived, his guard down.
“Hey, there she is!” he greeted me with a sloppy grin. “My favorite girl.”
A man in a bar holding a drink | Source: Pexels
I forced a laugh, sitting next to him. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
He leaned in, way too close. “Only for you, Janice.”
I took out my phone, pretending to capture the moment. “Smile for me, Robert!”
He complied, and I snapped a selfie of us, his arm draped around my shoulder. That was it. The final piece of the puzzle. Now, I had everything I needed to ruin him.
A man caressing a woman’s face | Source: Pexels
We met at the same restaurant where it all started. Robert was expecting another pleasant evening, but I had other plans. I could see the surprise in his eyes when he saw my serious expression.
“What’s wrong, Janice?” he asked, trying to sound concerned.
A week later, I was in my study, trying to work but unable to focus. The door burst open, and there stood Maria, her face flushed with anger.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “You have no idea who I am, do you? My mother is Maria, your cleaner.”
A woman speaking | Source: Unsplash
His face went pale, his confident facade crumbling. “What? No, that can’t be!”
I held up my phone, scrolling through the photos and messages. “I have all our conversations, photos, everything. If you don’t pay for the emotional damage you’ve my mother and apologize, I’ll send these to your wife.”
He stared at the evidence, his hands trembling. “Alright, alright. How much do you want?”
A man wearing a suit | Source: Unsplash
I named my price, and he quickly agreed, scribbling an apology on a napkin and handing over an envelope full of cash. He was a broken man, his arrogance shattered.
Later that evening, I went to my mom’s house, my heart pounding with anticipation. She opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw me.
“Janice, what’s all this?” she asked, glancing at the envelope in my hand as she tightened her dressing gown.
A woman wearing a dressing gown | Source: Pexels
I smiled, handing her the napkin and the cash. “Mom, this is for you. An apology from Robert and enough money to take a break while you find a new job.”
Tears filled her eyes as she hugged me tightly. “Janice, you did this for me? But how?”
“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” I replied with a smile.
Seeing her relief, knowing she was finally free from their cruelty, made everything worth it. No one messes with my mom and gets away with it. Not while I’m around.
