His Destined

Chapter II

The sun poured into the hotel room, brightening up the messy space. Sheets were twisted, and clothes were everywhere. Alexander woke up with a groan. His head throbbed from the whiskey he had drunk, but the silence felt worse.

He sat up slowly and scanned the room. It was empty, and the other side of the bed was cold. He could still smell her perfume. It was sweet, yet it lingered in a haunting way. A strand of her brown hair lay on the pillow. He didn’t know her name or where she had gone. All he knew was that she had left.

He rubbed his temples as memories of the night came rushing back. He remembered her laughter and her shaky voice. He thought about how her hands trembled when they reached for his.

Now, she was gone. He stood up and carefully put on his slacks and shirt. Each movement was slow and deliberate. The night had been strange, unexpected, but not special. He usually didn’t chase after one-night stands. Yet something about her had shaken him.

He picked up his phone and called Caleb, his head of security. "Caleb," he said when Caleb answered. "I need someone found."

******

Two days passed. Alexander felt impatient. Caleb and his team were looking at the security footage from the Bainbridge Hotel. They saw Esme walk out. She left alone before sunrise.

Caleb said, "We have no trace after that. She didn’t call a cab or use a rideshare, and no cards were swiped."

Alexander leaned back in his office chair at Edmond Enterprises. The building was tall and made of glass, right in downtown Chicago. He tapped his pen on the desk. His jaw was tight.

"I need more information," he said. "Did you check the employees?"

Caleb hesitated. "There’s one possible match."

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

"Her name is Esme Wells. She’s a bartender at Bainbridge. She’s worked there for nearly two years. The staff records say she’s reliable, shows up on time, and hasn’t caused problems."

Alexander stopped tapping his pen. He should’ve known she worked there. The Bainbridge was his hotel. She must’ve been in uniform when she arrived, but he just hadn’t noticed.

He asked Caleb to bring her in for a meeting. He wanted it scheduled for ten a.m. the next day. He told Caleb not to share any details. He just said it was an internal matter.

After Caleb left, Alexander gazed at the city skyline. He wasn’t trying to chase her down. He didn’t care about her background. However, if something wrong happened between an employee and a guest, especially the owner, he needed to act fast. He had to manage the situation.

This wasn’t about personal feelings. It was about following the rules.

*****

Esme held the letter tightly. Her fingers trembled a little. The Edmond Enterprises logo was at the top in bold letters. It looked official and sharp.

At first, she thought it was a mistake.

"Maybe they found out about the broken glass last week," Isla said, looking over her shoulder.

Esme turned to her sister and brushed her dark hair out of her eyes. “It was just one wine glass. And I paid for it.”

Isla leaned against the counter. “Still, this is from the corporate office. It’s a fancy building.”

Isla was Esme’s elder sister. She always looked out for Esme. That day, she came to drop off an item for Esme before heading out.

Esme read the letter again. It didn’t say much. It only had a date, a time, and the words “mandatory internal review.”

Esme folded the letter and put it in her bag. “It’s probably just a silly audit or a schedule mix-up.”

But her stomach twisted. She hadn’t told Isla the whole truth. She couldn’t. That night had been a blur and a mistake. It left her feeling too vulnerable.

She hadn’t known who he was, not until now. Or… did she?

No. She didn’t want to believe the man from that night was that man.

*******

The lobby of Edmond Enterprises looked amazing. It had marble floors and glass walls. People in sharp suits walked around, and they spoke in low, confident voices. You could feel the power in the air.

Esme held her coat tight as she entered the elevator. The shiny walls showed her pale face and worried expression. She tried to breathe slowly, but it didn’t help.

When she got outside the CEO’s office, her heart raced. She thought she would meet with a manager or someone from HR. She never expected to see the CEO. The door opened.

A tall man with gray eyes stood there. “Miss Wells,” he said. “Mr. Edmond will see you now.”

Esme stood up. Her legs felt weak as she walked into the office. Then she froze.

Alexander was behind his desk. His dark eyes met hers, just like two nights ago. She felt her breath catch in her throat.

He stood up slowly, tension in his body. “You didn’t leave a name,” he said in a low voice. “You just left.”

“I didn’t think I had a reason to stay,” she answered, trying to sound calm, even though she felt nervous inside.

Alexander pointed to a leather chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”

Esme sat in the office. Her hands formed fists on her lap. She looked around and saw dark wood walls and clean angles. The floor-to-ceiling windows showed a view of the city. It was impressive but also intimidating.

"You work for me," Alexander said as he took a seat. "I didn’t know that."

"I didn’t know you were the CEO," she replied. For a moment, a flicker of amusement appeared in his eyes, but it disappeared quickly.

"I’ve had my team looking for you for two days," he said.

Esme blinked in surprise. "Why?"

He leaned closer. "Because I don’t like loose ends. I want to take responsibility for my actions." His tone was sharp and cold.

Esme stared at him. She should have felt scared, but all she felt was exhaustion. The weight of that night pressed down on her. It sat between them like a heavy stone.

"I didn’t ask for any of this, and besides, I don't need you to take responsibility for anything," she said quietly. Silence filled the room. Neither of them moved.

Esme stood first, her limbs heavy, her mind screaming for escape.

“We’re done here. Permission to take my leave sir?” she whispered.

“You can leave” He replied. She didn’t see the way his jaw clenched. She didn’t see the worry flash in his eyes. Esme left the office in a hurry.

Alexander stood by the window. He watched the city below. His reflection looked back at him, but it was hard to read. Finding Esme should have been simple. He needed to assess the risk and move on. But Esme Wells was not simple at all.

She walked quickly through the halls. Her mind was racing with thoughts. She didn't expect to see him. She didn't expect to feel so exposed. She wasn’t sure what he wanted. Did he want control? Did he want to protect his reputation? Or was it something worse?