The Alpha's Imported Luna

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Stephanie’s POV

Knock. Knock.

“Wake up, Stef! It’s time for work!”

I groaned and slowly opened my eyes as the soft glow of the morning sun streamed through my bedroom window, filtering through the curtains I hadn’t fully drawn the night before. Reaching across the bed, I fumbled for my phone and squinted at the bright screen.

6:30 a.m.

My stomach dropped.

I was supposed to be up half an hour ago.

I bolted upright.

“I’m up!” I shouted.

“Good,” my mother called through the door. “See you downstairs in a bit. You’re running late.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

Without wasting another second, I rushed to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and jumped in. Seven minutes later, I was drying off while mentally running through the day ahead.

Today was important.

It was my first day as an intern at the newly opened Colonial Oasis Hotel.

Even now, it felt surreal.

I had secured the internship before completing my degree, with only two exams standing between me and graduation. The position offered decent pay, flexible hours, and valuable experience in my field. For a student still living at home, it was the perfect opportunity.

I was proud of myself.

But if I was proud, my mother was even prouder. In many ways, Mom had invested as much in my education as I had.

After getting dressed, I glanced at myself in the mirror. I had chosen a black pencil skirt, a fitted red blouse, and a pair of black heels. Professional, simple, and appropriate for my first day.

Not bad.

Checking the time again, I calculated that if everything went smoothly, I would arrive at work by 8:15 a.m. That gave me enough time to grab breakfast and a cup of hot cocoa.

“Stef!” my mother called. “You cannot afford to be late on your first day.”

I headed downstairs.

“I won’t be late. I’m ready.”

I grabbed a banana from the kitchen counter before following her outside.

“Can I get a lift?”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

Mom climbed into her Toyota Camry while I settled into the passenger seat. The car wasn’t fancy, but it was reliable, and she’d taken care of it as if it were another member of the family.

We had barely pulled onto the road when she glanced at me.

“You’re almost finished with school.”

I smiled. “I know. Finally.”

“Good. That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about anymore.”

I turned toward her. “One thing?”

“Yes. Now I only have to worry about the other thing.”

I already knew where this was going.

“Mom…”

“Stef, whatever you do, don’t get pregnant young.”

I groaned and leaned my head against the seat. “Here we go.”

“I’m serious.”

“You always are.”

“Because I don’t want what happened to me happening to you.”

I’d heard the story countless times, but that had never stopped her from telling it again.

“I thought your father was a good man when I met him,” she continued. “I trusted him. Then I found out he drank too much, and when he drank, he became abusive. By the time I realized how bad things were, I was already pregnant with you.”

My amusement faded. No matter how many times I’d heard the story, that part was never funny.

“I had to leave everything behind just to get away from him,” she said. “That’s why I keep telling you to finish school, build something for yourself, and be careful who you trust.”

“I know, Mom.”

“You always say that.”

“Because you always give me the same speech.”

She shot me a look before turning her attention back to the road.

“And I’ll keep giving it until I’m sure you understand.”

“I understand. I’m focused on school and my career. A baby is definitely not part of the plan anytime soon.”

“Good.” She nodded approvingly. “And remember, you can’t always trust people just because they tell you what you want to hear.”

That one hit a little closer to home.

“I know that too.”

Silence settled between us for a few minutes before Mom spoke again.

“Speaking of relationships, how are things with that boyfriend of yours?”

I stared through the windshield.

Of course she had to ask about him.

“Kyle is fine.”

The lie came easily.

The truth was that Kyle and I had broken up months ago. I hadn’t told Mom because I knew exactly what would happen if I did. There would be questions, followed by advice, followed by another lecture about men and trust.

I wasn’t ready for any of it.

The breakup had been ugly enough.

Kyle had been cheating on me.

Apparently, he had a high school sweetheart he’d never actually stopped dating. When I met him during my second year at university, he’d told me he was single.

I believed him.

Big mistake.

Mom glanced at me. “Just fine?”

“Yes, Mom. Fine.”

She gave me the kind of sideways look only mothers seemed capable of giving.

“Hmm.”

I turned toward the window before my expression betrayed me.

Thankfully, she didn’t push.

Not yet.

Maybe Mom’s warnings had influenced me more than I realized. At twenty years old, I was still a virgin.

Kyle and I had pushed boundaries and explored everything except s*x. We’d agreed to wait until after I graduated.

Now, looking back, I was grateful for that decision.

At one point, I thought I loved him.

Now I simply thought he was a liar.

“You seem far away today,” Mom said, pulling me back to the present.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

She smiled. “Well, you’re almost at work. Have a great first day.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

A few minutes later, she pulled into the hotel’s entrance. I hugged her before stepping out.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Standing on the sidewalk, I watched her drive away before turning toward the property.

The sight before me stole my breath.

Nestled along the coastline of Montego Bay, the Colonial Oasis Hotel was breathtaking.

Modern luxury blended seamlessly with colonial-inspired architecture. Elegant white facades stood against lush tropical landscaping, while warm lighting highlighted intricate wooden details throughout the property. The grand entrance felt welcoming yet sophisticated.

I had spent hours researching the hotel before my interview and knew far more about it than the average guest.

The resort featured 450 rooms and suites, including two presidential suites that resembled private villas more than hotel rooms.

I smiled to myself.

I hadn’t even started working there yet, and I already sounded like a member of the sales team.

The thought made me laugh.

As I entered the lobby, one thing became immediately clear.

No expense had been spared.

Polished marble floors reflected the morning sunlight pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests moved through the spacious lobby while employees hurried between departments, preparing for the hotel’s official opening.

To the right was a door marked Administration. To the left sat the guest reception desk and a smaller station designated for staff services.

Nearby, a sign pointed toward Human Resources.

I followed it.

The HR office door was open, so I knocked gently.

“Come in.”

Inside sat a young woman with a bright smile and a name tag that read Vanessa. She looked to be in her mid-twenties.

“Good morning,” I said. “My name is Stephanie Hudson. I’m starting my internship with the Finance Department today.”

“Welcome to Colonial Oasis, Stephanie. I’m Vanessa.”

She pointed playfully to her name tag before extending a hand.

“We’re happy to have you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ll spend your first two days in orientation before joining Finance. The hotel’s official opening ceremony is on Friday, and the owner, along with executives from our Canadian head office, will be visiting. We want you to settle in as quickly as possible.”

“Sounds good.”

She handed me a folder containing contracts, company policies, and a detailed orientation schedule.

Monday included introductions to department heads and tours of the administrative areas. Tuesday focused on guest facilities, helping new hires become familiar with the entire property.

The plan made sense. Even employees working behind the scenes represented the hotel.

After signing the required paperwork, I returned the documents to Vanessa. She glanced through them before smiling.

“Perfect. Your first session starts now. Each department manager has thirty minutes scheduled with you.”

I thanked her and entered a small meeting room.

Throughout the morning, I met with the Sales Manager, Head Chef, Food and Beverage Manager, Housekeeping Manager, and several other department leaders. Each explained how their team contributed to the hotel’s operations.

The final meeting before lunch was with the General Manager.

The moment he walked through the door, I was surprised.

He looked much younger than I expected.

“Hi, Stephanie. I’m George.”

He offered a handshake.

“As you probably know, I’m the General Manager. How’s your first day going so far?”

“Really well. Everyone’s been friendly.”

“Glad to hear that.”

He took a seat across from me.

“What made you choose Colonial Oasis?”

I smiled. “I heard about the project months ago. When I saw the internship posting, I jumped at the chance. It felt like a company I could grow with.”

“I like hearing that.”

He leaned back slightly.

“Any questions for me?”

“Actually, yes. Tell me about the company’s Canadian properties.”

His face immediately brightened.

“Our original hotels are located in Toronto and Whitehorse. They were founded more than twenty years ago by Michael Clarke. His son took over the company a few years ago and wanted to expand internationally. Jamaica became our first major step outside Canada.”

“That’s exciting.”

“It is.”

“Have you always lived near Whitehorse?”

“I grew up there,” he smiled. “It’s a close-knit community. Everybody knows everybody. Not unlike many places here in Jamaica.”

I nodded. “I’d love to visit one day.”

“You should.”

He stood as the meeting ended.

“It was nice meeting you, Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

“Thank you. I hope so too.”

After he left, Vanessa arrived with lunch as promised.

As I ate, I found myself thinking about George. He couldn’t have been much older than thirty.

Back home, General Managers were usually much older, with decades of experience behind them. Seeing someone relatively young in such a senior role gave me hope.

Maybe hard work led to opportunity here.

Maybe there was room to grow.

When lunch was finished, Vanessa reappeared.

“Ready for a tour?”

“Absolutely.”