Chapter:3
1212 Words
It was afternoon, and everyone was occupied with their own tasks. At the Circle Centre Hotel, the staff were bustling about, serving guests and attending to their needs. It was a busy day, and Alex, who had been working at the hotel for three days, was no exception. Despite her coworkers being hard on her because she hadn't gone through the usual interview process like everyone else, Alex remained focused on her work. She wasn't there to gossip or socialize; she was there to make money and become independent.
During break time, Alex's coworkers sat away from her, giving her disgusted glances. Alex didn't pay them much attention, too engrossed in her own thoughts. After break, the manager would often give her an excessive workload, such as cleaning 20 rooms alone per day, which would leave her working late into the night. However, when the boss was around, the manager's behaviour towards Alex changed.
Alex had just finished cleaning a room and stepped out into the hallway when she saw Mary and Camila, two coworkers from the cleaning department who didn't like her, walking towards the same room. They stopped and watched as Alex disappeared from view, then exchanged a look before entering the room.
Later that day, as Alex was about to change her clothes, someone called her to a meeting in the boardroom. Alex stopped what she was doing and headed to the boardroom without any thoughts of what the meeting could be about. When she arrived, she found everyone waiting for her, and she felt embarrassed. The room fell silent until the door opened, and a man wearing a tailored black suit walked in. His face was chiseled, with a pointed nose and piercing blue eyes. His hair was brushed beautifully to the side, and he exuded an air of elegance.
Everyone in the room looked at him with admiration, but Alex was left in the dark, unsure who he was. That was until he introduced himself as the boss, Sarah's brother. Alex had never gotten the chance to thank him for taking her in, and she was lost in her thoughts when she noticed the boss gazing at her with a frown.
The manager explained to Alex that she had lost a big client due to her mistake, and as punishment, she would have to work extra hours without pay for the entire week. The boss then said, "Everyone is dismissed, but Alex, stay behind."
As the others left the room with heavy hearts, the silence between Alex and the boss became palpable. The boss broke the silence with his melodious voice, "I guess you must be Sarah's friend. I've heard what you've done. This hotel has just opened, and I've already lost a big client. I don't want the same mistakes in the future. If that happens again, don't blame me for being impolite. Even though you're Sarah's friend, there won't be another chance."
With that, he turned to leave, and Alex's mind was still reeling from the encounter. She wanted to show her gratitude, but he left too quickly. When she finally composed herself, she left the boardroom.
As she stepped out, she met the manager, who handed her a new schedule for the week. "When we get home, you're not going anywhere. You'd better do better this time and not keep disappointing the boss," the manager said, her heels clicking on the floor as she turned to leave. Alex didn't think much of it and got back to work, accustomed to the demands of her job.
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Later that night, Ethan arrived at the airport and piloted the plane. He wasn't entirely happy, but he didn't want to disobey his father. Plus, he could use this as a little vacation to get some fresh air away from his family.
Back at Richmond Mansion, the moon was shining brightly, casting a silver glow over the gardens. A cool breeze rustled the leaves as Lily sat on a swing in the garden, sipping a tea made from special leaves her grandfather had given her. These leaves were meant to nourish the body, and Lily had picked them up in the afternoon after seeing her brother Ethan off. She loved spending time at her grandmother's house, enjoying quality time with her since her grandmother lived alone after her grandfather's passing years ago.
As Lily gazed into the distance, lost in thought, she heard sudden footsteps. She looked up to see her sister Ava approaching. Lily sighed and looked away.
Ava smiled and said, "My lovely sister, what are you thinking about?"
Lily scoffed. "Do you really want to know my thoughts?"
Ava's expression turned concerned. "What's up with the attitude? I came to check up on you since your lovely brother is out of the country."
Lily's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You don't have to pretend like you care. We both know you're happy since brother is not here. You can have a chance to scheme around with brother Lucas."
Ava laughed, shaking her head. "What are you talking about? What schemes?"
Lily didn't reply, acting like she hadn't heard her sister. Ava noticed Lily's avoidance and walked closer, standing in front of her and blocking her view of the moon.
Lily's face darkened as she gazed up at Ava. "Ava, please don't push me. I don't have time for you. Can you move?"
Ava smirked, seemingly pleased that she'd managed to annoy Lily. "Lily, is something bothering you? If there's something, you have to talk about it so I can help you."
Lily's voice was laced with frustration. "What is it that you can help me with? How about you go tell your brother that whatever he's planning to get out of Ethan, he will never get it – not even a bit."
Ava's face showed a puzzled expression, but Lily knew she understood exactly what she was talking about. "What are you talking about? I don't know?"
Lily's annoyance grew. "Well, since you want to act like you don't know anything, your brother Lucas wants to buy Ethan's shares. What exactly does he want? He never gets satisfied. But guess what? I had a chat with Ethan, and I managed to convince him that he should never sell his shares. He promised that he won't, so Lucas can get lost."
After venting, Lily stood up and left the garden. Ava watched her go, then smiled and said, "Well, you can come out now. You've heard what you wanted to hear."
Lucas emerged from behind the trees, his face twisted in a deep frown. "I knew that guy was playing tricks on me. How dare he take me for a fool?" he asked, clenching his fists.
Ava's tone was nonchalant. "Well, I told you Ethan can't be trusted. Now look – time is running out. Since Plan A seems to have failed, we go to Plan B and get things done."
Lucas's face was serious as he fell silent for a moment. Then he turned and started to leave, pausing without looking back. "Make sure Lily doesn't stay in our way. We don't want disruptions."
With that, he left the garden, leaving Ava behind. She gazed up at the moon, a smile still playing on her lips.
- Writer
