Chapter 3
The piercing shriek of my alarm startles me awake. My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the soft light filtering through the room curtains.
A fleeting moment of disorientation sets in as I realize I’m not in my own bed. Memories from the night before flood back. I reach for my phone beside me and shut off the buzzing sound.
I turn around, hoping to find Ethan, but the space next to me is empty. Maybe he’s in the bathroom.
I rush out of bed when I remember that I have to be at the Grand Princeton before eight. Picking my clothes from the floor, I quickly get dressed.
“Hey, about last night,” I call out, thinking Ethan is hearing me from the bathroom. “It was fun, but I have to leave for work…”
Gathering my stuff, I grab my purse, which is sitting on the nightstand. And that’s when I see the note lying next to it.
I had a great time with you. -E. R.
Has he already left? So I was talking to myself all along? I read the note again, and the more I read it, the more I feel like a whore. “I had a great time with you.” That’s it? Did he leave without a proper goodbye? The audacity of some men.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but certainly not to be left in a hotel room with a note that makes me want to scream. And not in a good way.
What if he snuck off early because he didn’t have the money to close the bill? No, he looked like he could afford a place like this.
Wait, what if that was all a ruse, and he can’t pay for this room? My heart skips a beat at the thought of that. This hotel looks expensive. There’s no way I can cover for this if he has not already taken care of it.
Hell, I owe rent!
Panic sets in, and I scan the room, hoping to find some indication that he dealt with it. Nothing. My anger shifts to anxiety.
“No, no…”
I quickly put on my shoes in haste, grab my purse, and make a quick dash for the door. Maybe if I sneak out early enough, the receptionist won’t notice.
My heart is beating fast as I approach the front desk. What if I get stopped and asked to pay? I already maxed out my credit card. How will I be able to get out of this?
God, please, God, please…
“Have a good day, ma’am,” the clerk tells me with a wide smile, causing me to pause in my tracks.
“Huh?”
“Have a good day,” she repeats.
“Hmm, you too,” I murmur as I hasten my steps out of the building. Maybe Ethan did settle the bill.
The moment I step out of the hotel, I release a breath I had no idea I had been holding. That was close.
I will never have a one-night stand ever again!
I hail a cab. When I get to my apartment, I quickly take a shower and throw open my closet doors, searching for an appropriate outfit. The minutes tick away as I slip into a blouse and pencil skirt.
When I”m finally ready to leave and make a run for it, I find my landlord outside, asking a neighbor for rent. I swiftly get back inside before he sees me.
I don’t have his money, and telling him that is only going to infuriate him. I’ve been avoiding him since last week.
Glancing at my wristwatch, I realize I only have thirty minutes to get to the Grand Princeton, or I will be late, and the manager already told me to forget about my job if I didn’t arrive on time.
I decide to go out through the fire escape instead. Hopefully, I won’t sprain an ankle. It’s a risky move, but at this point, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to avoid facing my landlord.
As I carefully open the window, the cold morning air rushes in, sending a shiver through my whole body. I glance around to ensure no one is watching, and then I take off my shoes and hold them in my hands as I climb out.
The metal structure creaks slightly under my weight as I descend. Reaching the ground, I land with a soft thud.
I look back up at my apartment window, relieved to see no signs of my landlord discovering my escape. Taking a deep breath, I slip my shoes back on and head to the bustling street.
When I get to the Grand Princeton, I glance at my phone—7:58. The concierge gives me a curious look as I dash towards the elevator, praying that I get to the manager’s office in less than two minutes.
“Barely on time I see,” she murmurs as I get there, and I find her stepping out.
“I had…was held up by traffic…” I try to lie, but she isn’t interested.
“Save the sorry tale for someone who cares. Come with me.”
I quickly follow her as she heads to the elevator. When we get in, she presses the button to the eleventh floor.
All through the elevator ride, I keep avoiding her eyes, as she seemed to have nothing but hatred in them.
When we get to our destination, I walk behind her as she walks to the first door and knocks. “Stay here. I will tell you when to come in,” she says as she opens the door to go in, and I respond with a nod.
While I’m waiting, I get a text from Chloe. I quickly reply, asking her how Mark is.
Chloe: He’s fine, he had food poisoning. Have you arrived at the Grand Princeton?
Me: Yes, I’m there now. I had a one-night stand last night.
Chloe: What?! Let’s meet for drinks later tonight. I need to hear all about your sexy rendezvous and also celebrate your first day. I promise not to run off this time.
I place my phone back in my purse when the manager walks out, a frown etched on her face. “He will see you now,” she says in a disdainful tone as she heads back to the elevator.
She really doesn’t like me, and I wonder why. Bringing my attention back to the door, I take a deep breath before knocking on the door. I have no idea who she’s talking about, who wants to see me, but I’m sure it’s a part of my onboarding process.
I open the door, and I step inside the impeccably decorated room. As I scan the space, trying to figure out who I’m supposed to meet, my eyes widen in surprise.
There, behind an elegant desk, is Ethan.
A rush of confusion washes over me, evident in the subtle gasp that escapes my lips. My mind races to connect the dots, trying to make sense of this unexpected twist of fate. He works here?
Ethan looks up from his desk, his expression mirroring my own shock. Our eyes lock, and I can see the question in his gaze as if he’s just as bewildered by this coincidence as I am.
“You…” The words escape my lips before I can get to stop myself.
I take a deep breath, in a poor attempt to calm my nerves. It’s obvious he’s my boss, so I manage to regain my composure, offering a polite but still confused smile.
“Good morning, sir.”
There’s a hint of surprise on his face at my sudden switch to professionalism. I have bills to pay, and I’m not going to allow what happened between us last night to make me lose this job—best night of my life or not.
He clears his throat as he looks at his computer screen. “You’re Jessica Martin, the new front desk attendant?”
“That’s me, sir.”
He wants to say something but pauses when a knock comes on the door. “Come in,” he calls out.
When the door opens, a middle-aged man walks in. I can’t help but notice how shaky he is.
“Sir…sir, you asked to see me,” the man stutters, staring at the carpet. It’s obvious that he’s scared of Ethan.
“Mr. Gabriel, you’re fired!”
The moment those words leave Ethan’s lips, the man falls to the floor, begging. “Sir, please… I…”
“Pack up your things and get off the premises!”
I watch in silence, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. My gaze shifts between Ethan and Mr. Gabriel. It’s clear that this man’s livelihood is crumbling before him, and Ethan, my boss, seems unfazed by the impact of his decision.
As the poor man pleads for mercy, my disdain for Ethan intensifies. I can’t help but despise him for the callousness with which he delivers such life-altering news.
I find myself conflicted between the need to maintain a professional fa?ade and the urge to express my moral objection to what is unfolding before me.
Remember, you have bills to pay. You need this job.
I watch as Ethan calls security, and they come to usher Mr. Gabriel away.
As they leave the room, a heavy silence settles in. Ethan’s gaze turns towards me.
“Welcome to the Grand Princeton, Jessica,” he says, his voice now devoid of the sternness that marked the earlier interaction.
I manage a tight-lipped smile, nodding in acknowledgment. “Thank you, sir.”
“About last night,” he begins, but I quickly interrupt him.
“What about it, sir?” I ask, feigning ignorance and avoiding direct eye contact.
Ethan seems momentarily taken aback by my response, his brow furrowing as if trying to decipher whether I’m being genuine or playing a game.
“Very well then, you can head to the HR office to start your onboarding process.”
“Thank you, sir.”
As I leave him behind, I let out a deep breath, and as I head to the HR department, I make up my mind to avoid Ethan at all costs. If only I had known that he was the manager of this hotel, I would have avoided him altogether last night.
The workday at the Grand Princeton comes to a close, and I find myself in a familiar setting—meeting Chloe for drinks.
“So, spill it Jessy. How was your first day at the new job?” she asks, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I take a sip of my drink, contemplating how to best recount the day’s highs and lows.
“Well, it started with a surprise meeting with Ethan—the hazel-eyed man I told you about from the lobby. Turns out he’s my boss.”
Chloe’s eyes widen in amusement. “You mean the same guy you…”
“Yes, that one,” I interrupt her, a flush of embarrassment coming up my cheeks.
She bursts into laughter. “Jessy, you’ve got to admit, that’s quite the twist of fate.”
I roll my eyes, feeling a mixture of frustration and amusement. “Fate or not, it made for an interesting day. Oh, and I witnessed someone getting fired on my first day.”
Her laughter subsides, replaced by a more empathetic expression. “Ouch. Tough day, huh?”
I nod, taking another sip of my drink. “And to top it off, Ethan tried to bring up what happened last night.”
Chloe raises an eyebrow, a mischievous grin returning. “And?”
“I pretended not to remember. I mean, seriously, Chloe, if you hadn’t ditched me, I wouldn’t have bumped into him, and…”
She interrupts with a laugh. “Oh please, don’t put that on me. You’re a grown woman who can make her own decisions.”
I sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and self-blame. “I know, I know. It’s just...I can’t believe I ended up having a one-night stand with my boss on the night before my first day at a new job.”
Chloe leans in, her tone more serious. “Jess, don’t overthink it. It happened, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. Just focus on the job and take things as they come.”
She might be right, but as I stare into my drink, I got myself into this situation. I just have to avoid Ethan at all costs.