My Boss's Guests Treated Me Like Dirt Because I Was the Maid, but Everything Changed When I Showed Them My Ring — Story of the Day

For months, I’d been looked down upon by my boss’s daughter and her high-society friends, treated like trash just because I was the maid. But one night, everything changed when I casually revealed the ring on my finger—turns out, I wasn’t who they thought I was.

Why do so many people think they're better than others? For several years, working as a maid, I'd noticed this tendency.

People thought Iwas worse than them, dumber, or unworthy, just because of my job.

They never bothered to learn who I was, where I came from, or why I even did this work. But I couldn’t blame them entirely, because for most people, no one else mattered except themselves.

After working in hotels or doing cleaning jobs for others, I ended up in the house of a wealthy woman named Margaret.

Margaret herself was kind. She never yelled at me, never nitpicked, and even let me use her library.

That couldn't be said about her daughter, Tris. Tris was nearing 50, divorced, and lived in Margaret's house.

The house was huge, and there was more than enough space, but Tris knew how to make it feel like she took up all of it.

She treated me like a servant, like some kind of robot who'd carry out any whim, but certainly not like a human being.

I kept quiet and didn't complain until one evening when my patience finally snapped.

Tris had gathered a small table of friends in the house, similar-aged adults still living off their parents' money. My role was to serve them all, even though it wasn’t in my job description.

"Such a good maid you have," one of Tris’s guests remarked.

"Well, don’t say that. Hailey could try harder," Tris replied, casting me a stern look.

"What can you expect from them? They're all idiots. She cleans, doesn’t steal, and that's good enough," a man around 55 said.

"That's true, though I think some of my things have started disappearing," Tris added.

That’s because you drink too much wine and then forget where you put everything, I thought, but I stayed silent.

One time, I found a very expensive necklace in the fridge simply because she’d forgotten it there.

"They’re trash, I’ve always said that," the same man continued.

I noticed Margaret standing in the hallway, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"I’m sorry," she whispered with her lips, and I just nodded, understanding that she too was uncomfortable witnessing all of this.

"Exactly, all they know is how to steal and have babies. All my maids quit after a few months because they got pregnant," said some woman.

"I think the poor should be separated, they don’t belong in our society," Tris said, and then "accidentally" spilled coffee on me. I gasped, the coffee was hot.

"Oh, don’t dramatize," Tris scoffed. "It’s just coffee."

"It hurts," I said.

"You’ll survive, you’re just a maid," Tris shot back.

And that’s when I couldn’t take it anymore. "I’m actually a human being. And when all of this becomes mine, I’ll throw you out at the first opportunity," I said.

The guests burst out laughing loudly, as if they were at some comedy show.

"And what makes you think this will ever be yours?" Tris asked through her laughter.

I took off my glove, stretched my hand out to her so she could see the ring on my finger.

"Where did you get this?! You thief! I’ll call the police right now!" Tris screamed.

I held my hand in front of her, my expression calm, making sure she saw the ring.

Three months earlier…

I had been working for Margaret for a few weeks. And thanks to her generosity, because she paid me more than well, I had finally started saving for my education.

One evening, while cleaning in the library, I walked over to the shelves and grabbed my favorite book. What’s the harm if I read for just five minutes, I thought.

I sat in the chair and began reading, getting so caught up in the fantastic world that I lost track of time.

Only when the library door opened did I snap out of it. I looked up and saw Margaret, and I couldn’t quite tell what emotion she was feeling as she looked at me.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to read for five minutes—" I started to explain, but Margaret stopped me with a wave of her hand.

"Don’t worry, child, it’s fine. Everyone needs a break," Margaret said. "Do you like reading?"

"Yes, very much," I replied.

"Do you have any education?" Margaret asked.

"Just school, ma’am. After school, I had to go straight to work to help my mom with my younger brother. Then my mom got sick, and all the money went to her treatment, but she still didn’t survive. Now I’m trying to save up for my education," I explained.

"My condolences," Margaret said. "But I came to ask you, what’s this?" she asked, holding a wooden pillbox in her hands.

"I noticed you weren’t sure whether you’d taken your medicine today, so I made this pillbox for you," I said.

"You made this yourself?" Margaret asked.

"Yes, ma’am. My grandfather taught me how to work with wood," I said.

Margaret hummed thoughtfully. "Well, child, you can use the library as much as you like, but I have a condition. I’m lacking a companion, someone intelligent I can talk to. So I want you to not just clean, but also be my friend. Of course, your salary will go up," she said.

"No," I said firmly, seeing the surprise on Margaret’s face. "I mean, I wanted to say, I won’t take money for friendship. Friendship doesn’t need payment, it’s just there," I added.

"But that’s not your choice," Margaret countered.

"I’ll be glad to get to know you better, I think I could learn a lot from you," I said.

Margaret smiled and nodded. "Just don’t tell my daughter, she’ll lose her mind if she finds out," she warned.

"Of course, ma’am," I said.

"We’re friends now, so just call me Margaret," she said, leaving the library. I put the book back and got back to work, but there was a warmth in me now.

That’s how friendship with Margaret started. We played chess, read, discussed books, and walked in the garden.

Margaret was truly fascinating to talk to. She was a woman who had achieved everything on her own, without help. I admired her determination and focus.

One evening, after I finished working, Margaret and I went out to the garden to have some tea.

"Do you know what I’m most afraid of right now?" Margaret asked.

"What?" I asked.

"That all of this will go to Tris. My daughter has never worked a day in her life, and I’m afraid she’ll just waste all my money," Margaret said.

"Write a will, leave everything to the grandchildren," I shrugged.

"I can’t trust them either. I don’t know what kind of people they’ll grow into, they’re still all in university, and I don’t want them to end up like Tris, getting everything handed to them. I want them to earn something themselves," Margaret said.

"I don’t know how I can help you, I’ve never faced anything like this," I said, chuckling. Margaret already knew well enough where I came from and that my money problems were a bit different from hers.

Margaret reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box, then handed it to me.

I took it, puzzled, and opened it. When I saw what was inside, I gasped. It was a ring with a large diamond.

"It’s beautiful," I said, still looking at it. I handed the box back to Margaret. But she pushed it away with her hand.

"It’s yours now," Margaret said.

"What? No, I can’t accept this, it’s too expensive a gift, I’d never…" I said.

"I want you to have it. And I don’t want to hear about you not accepting it," Margaret insisted.

"No, I…"

"Hailey!" Margaret snapped, and I fell silent. "But this isn’t just a ring. It’s a family heirloom, passed down through generations. And in my will, it says that the person I give this ring to…"

Present time...

"Where did you get this?! You thief! I’ll call the police right now!" Tris screamed.

"I didn’t steal anything, it’s a gift from Margaret," I said.

"You’re lying! My mom would never give something so valuable as this ring to a commoner like you!" Tris yelled.

"But it happened," I said.

"You witch! Give me the ring! Now, or I’ll call the police and have you locked up for life! Do you even know what this ring means?!" Tris screamed.

"Yes, the person Margaret gives this ring to will inherit all her property," I said calmly. The guests gasped and began whispering among themselves.

"Exactly!" Tris shouted.

"You need to call the police, Tris, what’s she think she’s doing?!" the man shouted.

"I’m already calling!" Tris yelled, dialing the phone.

"No need for the police," Margaret said, walking into the room. "I really gave this ring to Hailey."

"What? Mom, have you lost your mind? She’s nobody!" Tris screamed.

"She’s more of somebody than you’ll ever be. She’s a person, she’s smart, she’s kind, and you’re just a spoiled brat!" Margaret yelled at Tris.

"How can you say that?!" Tris screamed.

"If Hailey had the opportunities you had, she’d be a great person by now, and you… pfft," Margaret said.

"I’ll sue her!" Tris screamed.

"You can’t do anything. This is my will, and I’m still of sound mind. Hailey has more rights to this house than you do, and if I were in her place, I’d have kicked you out by now!" Margaret shouted.

"She wouldn’t dare!" Tris screamed, then turned to me.

"I really won’t do that, because unlike you, I believe everyone deserves the same treatment," I said.

"I’ll make your life hell! I’ll take the ring and make you suffer!" Tris yelled.

"Well, then I’ll have to kick you out," I said to Tris.

"You! Who do you think you are! You’re just dirt!" Tris screamed.

"Tris, pack your things before Hailey and I call the police on you," Margaret said.

"I’ll show you! You’ll pay for this!" Tris screamed and ran out of the room.

Margaret came up to me and placed her hand on my back. "I’ve been waiting for the moment when you’d finally stand up for yourself and put her in her place. Well done," she said.

"Thank you," I whispered.

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