Unhinged

Chapter Eight

Five days after opening, Madanunan Crown no longer felt like a new resort. It felt like a living organism that had discovered caffeine.

Bookings kept climbing. Inquiries from travel agencies, luxury brands and tourism boards flooded every inbox. Metroline was still replaying highlight reels. Influencers who had intended to stay one weekend were suddenly begging to extend, now deeply fascinated by “mountain air” and “local craftsmanship” and also the infinity pools.

Sophia moved through it all with her tablet in hand and her headset on, juggling calls, shoots and a never-ending stream of “Just one more quick adjustment.” She had a schedule with more color codes than the entire Metro Manila rail system.

Seven a.m. site rounds.Nine a.m. Zoom call with a Tokyo travel magazine.Eleven a.m. skybridge shoot.Afternoon content planning with Horizon.Evening recap with Dominic, who insisted that his unhinged commentary was essential for creativity.

Andrew, Paul, Matthew and Alex had already flown back to Manila. Before leaving, Alex had reluctantly granted her three months on the mountain, something between professional trust and suspiciously affectionate parole.

“Three months,” he had told her. “Make it count.”

Sophia fully intended to.

That afternoon, as the sun slid soft and gold across the valley, she received a message from Guest Relations.

Ma’am, Mr. Jimenez requests to see you in his office at four.

Sophia checked the time, made a dramatic face at Dominic, and smoothed her blazer. “Pray for me. I am going to speak to Mount Olympus.”

Simon’s office was on one of the highest executive floors, quiet and precise, the mountains behind him framed like a painting. He stood by the window when she entered, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but somehow still intimidating.

“Good afternoon!” she greeted brightly, as if she had not spent the whole morning sprinting across the valley.

He turned, gaze cool and unreadable. “Sophia. Sit.”

She did, aware that her usual sparkle needed to be at least five percent more professional.

For a moment he simply watched her with that calm, assessing expression that made CEOs reconsider their life choices.

Then he said, “You have done well.”

Sophia blinked. “I am sorry… what?”

“The launch,” Simon continued. “The coverage. The sustained momentum. The way you integrated local stories. And Olivia tells me you have been her constant in all the chaos.”

Sophia sat straighter. “Well, Liv is amazing so… obviously.”She let the sentence hang. She was sure Simon understood what she meant. His wife was amazing. He was simply built like a skyscraper of emotional minimalism.

A faint softness flickered in Simon’s eyes at Olivia’s name, gone in an instant. “I appreciate it,” he said. “You have made yourself useful to both the mountain and my household.”

Coming from Simon Jimenez, it was practically a mariachi band of praise.

Sophia beamed. “Of course. And I plan to keep it up for the next three months. Otherwise Alex will revoke my Almeda privileges.”

“He will not,” Simon said. “And you will not fail.”

Her grin widened. “Thank you!” She had grown up with Alex and practically grown up with Paul, both of whom possessed the personality of refrigerated granite. Handling Simon was practically child’s play. “So are we good?” she asked.

“Not quite,” he said as he picked up a slim folder and slid it toward her. “We need to align your ongoing campaigns with legal.”

She frowned for the first time. “Legal?”

“Disclaimers. Usage rights. Artist permissions. Staff image releases. Data collection for Metroline contests. International requirements for Tsukikage and Nobu,” he enumerated. “All must pass through lead counsel.”

Sophia relaxed. “Oh. That is fine. Alex looked at everything. And Paul is basically a walking contract. We are good.”

“Alex and Paul are investors,” Simon replied. “They are not the designated lead counsel. Their risk tolerance is higher than mine.”

“But they are Ardent Lex,” she reasoned. “They are literally your legal representatives.”

“They are indeed Ardent Lex,” he agreed. “But in Madanunan, all legal authority consolidates in one person. Christoph.”

Sophia’s eyebrows shot up. “The German guy?”

“Yes. The German guy.” There was a hint of amusement in Simon’s eyes. “Everyone will remain happy if we do not get sued. Richter ensures that. He has signed everything structural and financial. It is time he signs off on your side as well.”

She shrugged. “Well, Alex did not say anything about it, but whatevs. You are the boss.”

Simon nodded. “I will arrange your meeting with Richter.”

Sophia shrugged again, utterly nonchalant. “Okay. Just do not schedule it on a Friday please? I like my weekend stress free. And from what I hear, your German lawyer is colder than Antarctica. I do not want that kind of cold freezing my hot weekend vibe.”

Simon actually paused, as if weighing her request with the seriousness of international policy. Then he said, “On second thought, there is no need for me to arrange anything. You can go to him.”

Sophia’s eyebrows lifted. “Go where?”

“To his suite,” Simon said blandly. “He has been working from there. Guest Relations will give you the suite number and inform him you are coming with the updated marketing plan.”

Sophia imagined a quiet, serious suite with a quiet, serious lawyer who was probably allergic to adjectives. Her soul sagged.

“Seriously? Do I have to?” she groaned. “I feel like my creative process will evaporate in that environment.”

“You will survive,” Simon replied. “Richter is not unkind. Only thorough.”

That was somehow worse.She exhaled. “Fine. Can I just go now to get it over with?”

“Of course,” Simon said.

She rose, gave him a playful little salute, which he accepted with a simple nod, and turned to leave, sunshine in her step and absolutely no awareness that destiny, trauma and a German lawyer awaited her.