The Cold Billionaire In My House

3 The Call That Broke Me

DANIELA’S POV

Maria drove us to another hotel, a little farther from the previous one. We alighted, and she brought out two pieces of luggage from the boot.

“Let me help you with one,” I requested.

“Thank you, dear,” she responded, handing a suitcase to me.

“Sit here while I sort the rooms with the receptionist,” she said, handing me the second piece of luggage.

I sat in the lobby, thinking about what Beatriz could be doing in the lounge with that guy. She should have been with her husband, at least for the entire day. I wondered what Emiliano could be doing that made him let his newly wedded wife follow another man to a hotel for whatever reason.

“Do you know who you are talking to?” Maria’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Madam, I can’t accept your cash. It’s the company’s policy. Who knows whether it’s a fake currency?” the receptionist said, rolling her eyes and hissing.

Maria picked up her phone from her bag and made a call. She was still on the call as she stepped outside. Her composure was unmatched. She hadn’t returned to the lobby yet when the receptionist received a call. Her expression changed immediately and panic took over her face.

“I’m very sorry, sir. She mentioned your name, but I presumed almost all our customers knew your name,” she stuttered, her hand shaking as she held the phone.

My eyes were still glued to the receptionist and the drama unfolding when I felt Maria’s presence beside me. She sat down, trying hard to control herself from lashing out.

“Come with me,” she said quickly, dragging her suitcase. I followed her without hesitation.

“My sincere apologies, Madam. I was only doing my job.”

“By being saucy?” Maria interrupted. “You still need to be queried so you can know your place. It’s not everyone you talk rudely to.”

The receptionist stood confused and speechless.

“Can I have the keys to the room?” Maria asked, clearly impatient.

The receptionist handed two keys to her. She gave me one, tagged “Room 76.” Then she headed to her assigned room, taking the stairs, and I followed closely.

“Do you have to take two rooms? We can manage one,” I said softly. She laughed and kept walking.

She opened the door to Room 75. “Meet me in the lounge by 7:30 p.m. after you’ve freshened up,” she said, and shut the door behind her.

I opened my room and it looked like paradise. Everything inside was sophisticated. The bed, the chair, the lighting. My mouth dropped open when I saw the setting.

I sat on the soft bed facing a large mirror beside it. I checked my bruised body; touching the injured part of my leg sent a wave of pain through me.

My phone rang. It was Putella.

“Hello, my friend?” her voice came through. I could hear Fabian crying in the background.

“Fabian, come and take Galleta,” she said, handing him a biscuit. His crying stopped.

“Is my boy hungry?” I asked.

“Trust your boy, he was hungry, but I’ve taken care of that already. Even Granny Emilia asked after you and I told her you had got a one-week cleaning job outside the city,” Putella replied.

“Emilia has been doing well. She hasn’t disturbed me since you left. So… how did your day go?” Putella asked, clearly expecting a gist.

I sighed deeply, filled with remorse and disgust.

“I was humiliated and disgraced by Emiliano and Beatriz. He ordered his guards to throw me out,” I said, pouring out my anger.

“I have already told you that going to your ex’s wedding was a bad idea, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve seen the consequences,” she replied, disappointment in her voice.

“I already signed up for the worst when I decided to attend the wedding, and I don’t regret my action. But I returned the band to Beatriz when I saw her with another guy at the first hotel Maria took me to,” I explained.

“Yay! You mean Beatriz was out at a hotel with another man on their wedding day?” she asked, eager for more.

“Maria witnessed how I was humiliated and decided to help. We’re now lodged in the most expensive room in the most expensive hotel in Burgos. I’ll be visiting the hospital tomorrow to treat my bruised body. When I fully recover, I will come home,” I explained to her.

"Who is Maria?" Putella asked. "Let's just say she is my helper. I will explain better when we see." I said.

“You’re lucky we have a week off from cleaning duty. Take your time and return when you’re ready. I’ll take good care of your family while you’re away,” she said.

“I’ll talk to you later, Tella. I’m exhausted, hungry, and need to shower. Talk to you later.” The call ended.

It was almost 7:30 p.m., and I needed to meet Maria at the bar. I rushed into the bathroom, took a quick bath, and repeated the same clothes Maria gave me earlier. It was already five minutes past our agreed time when my phone rang again. This time, it was Maria. I knew she was already growing impatient.

I dashed out of the hotel room without picking up the call. The call ended, and she called again immediately. I ignored it, afraid of what she might say over the phone. I preferred to face her in person.

The bar was near the lobby, and my phone was still buzzing when I got there.

“Hey, welcome. It’s six minutes past our agreed time, but it’s good you’re here,” she said excitedly.

"I almost thought you weren’t going to show up. It shows you’re ready to heal," she continued.

I wasn’t expecting her to be so cool. Her calm approach surprised me. There were bottles of wine, alcohol, food, and more already set on the table.

“All these are prepared for you as my guest. Feel free and enjoy,” she said, pulling a chair out from under the table.

“Thank you, Maria. I’m truly humbled,” I replied, sitting down on the chair she set for me.

Her gesture reminded me of how Emiliano used to treat me like a queen before and after the twins were born.

I reached for a non-alcoholic bottle, most likely a San Francisco or a Cóctel de frutas, and poured it into a glass.

“Now, tell me more about your ex-husband. Something must have happened that made you stay with such embarrassment of a man,” she inquired.

“It’s a long story. The one I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It’s the reason my granny and I ended up in Burgos,” I began.

“You have the floor. Or do you want to eat and drink first?” Maria offered, gesturing to the bottles on the table.

“After the death of my parents in a car crash when I was ten, my granny took me in as an only child. Life became hard. She couldn’t meet all our needs because of her age. After I finished high school, I reached out to Fermin in Burgos. He was my classmate back in Ancares. He’d won a scholarship after our first school-leaving exam and moved to Burgos to continue his studies,” I explained.

“He took us in, both me and my granny, and treated us well. But shortly after we arrived, he left Burgos to further his education elsewhere,” I continued.

“That must have been tough for both of you. So, you met Emiliano in Burgos?” she asked, curious.

“I met Emiliano after we settled in Burgos. He was very caring…” My phone rang, interrupting me.

It was Emiliano.

“Why would you stop Beatriz giving her your stupid ring? Did I tell you I’m interested in anything that has to do with you?” he barked, the moment I picked up.

I was shocked. “She told you I waylaid her? Do you know where I saw her?”

“Keep quiet, you liar,” he snapped.

“Listen and listen well. Never in your life, think you have anything or have ever had anything to do with me. As far as I’m concerned, you never existed,” he screamed.

I stared at Maria's face as tears began to drop.

“And let this be the last time you ever confront my wife. Or else, you’ll have yourself and your entire family to blame.” He hung up.

Humiliated by Emiliano’s comment, I stood up angrily from the treat Maria had prepared for me and left.

“Daniela! Daniela!! Wait!” Maria called after me, but I didn’t answer.

I went straight to my room, hiding my face in my hands as the tears kept coming.