Chapter 17
“Call the airline and ask them to get the jet ready. I’m heading to Miami,” I say into the intercom on my desk.
“All right, on it.” Sarah’s voice comes from the other end.
This was a long time coming. I should have gone on this trip last week. But for some reason, I kept pushing it.
You already know why, Jessy.
Yeah, I have been stalling my trip because of her because I somehow didn’t want to go a long time without seeing her, and I was hoping that she would come to her senses, so I could ask her to come on this trip with me.
But I can’t do that. She already accused me of offering her a promotion because we slept together. Now, she doesn’t even look in my direction anymore.
I hate that we are fighting. It’s not getting us anywhere. We’ve never gone past the bedroom with our relationship—that’s if we even have a relationship. It has been one step forward and ten steps backward.
As much as I’d been looking forward to this trip, I’m not happy with the way I’m leaving things between Jessy and me.
“Everything okay, Ethan?” Drake asks, leaning against the doorframe of my office.
I glance up from my laptop, forcing a tight smile. “Just peachy,” I reply, the sarcasm not lost on him.
We were supposed to meet and run some business ideas we were thinking of starting together.
He raises an eyebrow, clearly sensing my agitation. “Trouble in paradise?”
I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. “You could say that. Turns out our manager in Miami has been dipping his hand in the till.”
Drake whistles low, shaking his head in disbelief. “Damn, that’s rough. What are you gonna do?”
I grimace, already dreading the inevitable fallout. “First order of business? I’m firing his sorry ass,” I say, my tone laced with barely concealed anger.
Drake nods in approval,a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Good call. Can’t have someone like that running the show.”
“Exactly,” I reply, grateful for his support. “But that’s just the beginning. I need to stay down back in Miami longer than anticipated to sort out this mess and find a replacement.”
Drake nods understandingly with sympathy etched on his features. “We will have to postpone our meeting then. Let me know when you get back.”
“All right, sure thing.”
The stout mansitting across from me in my temporary office in Miami looks like a deer caught in headlights. He’s sweating profusely, his eyes darting around nervously as if searching for an escape route that doesn’t exist.
“I—I can explain, Mr. Reid,” he stammers, his voice trembling with fear.
I fold my arms across my chest, and my expression is stern. “Save your excuses, Johnson,” I reply curtly. “I’ve seen the evidence. You’ve been embezzling funds from the hotel for months.”
Johnson’s face pales even further, and he begins to babble incoherently, pleading for leniency. But I’m not in the mood for mercy. Not after what he’s done.
“You’re lucky I’m not calling the police right now,” I say, my tone icy. “Consider yourself fired, effective immediately.”
Johnson’s shoulders slump in defeat, and he hangs his head low. I watch him for a moment. I don’t feel any form of sympathy for him because he brought this upon himself.
I should arrest his ass, but I don’t have time for that, besides I know that I’m not going to get my money back. Johnson has a terrible gambling habit. The idiot who hired him didn’t do a proper background check before hiring him. I guess I should fire them too.
“You have ten minutes to pack your things and leave the premises.”
“Please, sir, I…”
“Johnson, you almost ruined my hotel and the hardworking employees who rely on it for their livelihoods. Think about that while you pack your stuff. Now, please get out of my office.”
It’s time to roll up my sleeves, find a way to clean up the mess that he made, and find a better replacement.
As I sit alone in the office, memories of my father flood back with startling clarity. He was a formidable man with a vision that extended far beyond the confines of our family’s business empire. From a young age, he instilled in me the importance of hard work, integrity, and perseverance—qualities that have guided me through some of the darkest moments of my life.
I remember the day he passed away like it was yesterday. I was only twenty-one at the time, fresh out of college and thrust into a world of responsibility I was scarcely prepared for. Lung cancer had claimed him swiftly and mercilessly, leaving me to pick up the pieces of his shattered legacy.
In the years that followed, I devoted myself entirely to fulfilling the promise I made to my father on his deathbed—to take our family’s business empire to greater heights than he could have ever imagined. But with that promise came a heavy burden, one that many perceive as coldness or ruthlessness in my business dealings.
The truth is, I’m not harsh for the sake of being harsh. I’m simply doing what needs to be done to safeguard my father’s legacy and honor his memory.
Every decision I make and every negotiation I enter into is guided by the same principles he instilled in me—integrity, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
As I sit alone in my hotel suite, surrounded by a sea of paperwork and reports, my eyes drift lazily over the screen of my laptop. The soft glow of the screen illuminates the dimly lit room, casting long shadows against the walls.
With a heavy sigh, I rub my tired eyes and lean back in my chair, my thoughts drifting to the events of the day.
A single email catches my attention. It’s from the HR department informing me that Jessy has accepted the promotion to concierge. A small, unexpected surge of satisfaction courses through me at the news.
I can’t help but wonder what changed her mind. She seemed pretty adamant about not taking the position the last time. Or perhaps something she realized on her own? Whatever the reason, I’m glad she’s come to her senses. She’s a talented young woman, and she deserves the opportunity to prove herself in a higher position.
For a moment, I consider picking up the phone and calling her to congratulate her on the promotion and perhaps even offer some words of encouragement. But then I hesitate, a nagging sense of doubt creeping into the back of my mind.
With a resigned shake of my head, I push the thought of calling her aside and return my focus to the task at hand. I will just have to wait until I get back.
As the planetouches down on the tarmac at JFK Airport, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. The long flight from Miami has left me weary and jetlagged, but there’s no time to rest. Not yet.
Instead of heading home to my penthouse, I make a detour to the office. I tell myself it’s because there’s work to be done, reports to review, meetings to schedule. But in truth, there’s another reason—a more personal one.
I want to see her.
It’s been a week since I left Miami, a week since she accepted the promotion to concierge. And in that time, I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind. Her fiery spirit, her determination, her refusal to back down—it’s both infuriating and intoxicating.
As I step into the familiar surroundings of the office, I feel a surge of anticipation coursing through me. Will she be here? Will I catch a glimpse of her as she goes about her day, immersed in her work?
I try to push aside the nagging voice in the back of my mind—the voice that tells me I’m being foolish, that I’m crossing a line. But I can’t help it. I need to see her, to reassure myself that she’s real, that she’s here.
With each step I take, my heart beats a little faster. And when I finally reach the front desk, my breath catches in my throat.
There she is.
Jessy.
But I don’t say a word. I just walk past her to my office. Seeing her is enough to help me relax.
As I settle into my office, my thoughts keep drifting back to Jessy and how beautiful she looked when I passed by her at the reception.
Lost in my thoughts, I’m startled by a sudden knock on the door. I glance up as Jessy steps into the room, her expression apologetic.
“Jessy,” I say, my voice betraying none of the turmoil that churns within me. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
She hesitates for a moment; her gaze flickering with uncertainty. “I just wanted to...apologize,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Apologize? For what?”
She shifts uncomfortably, her fingers twisting nervously in front of her. “For the way I accused you of...of trying to give me the promotion because...” she trails off, unable to meet my gaze.
I nod, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “It’s okay, Jessy. Water under the bridge.”
She exhales softly, relief flooding her features. “Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice tinged with gratitude.
I gesture for her to take a seat, motioning towards the chair in front of my desk. “So,” I say, changing the subject, “how are you finding your new position?”
She brightens at the question, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “It’s challenging, but in a good way,” she replies, a hint of pride in her voice. “I’m still getting the hang of things, but I think I’m starting to find my groove.”
I nod approvingly, impressed by her dedication and determination. “I have no doubt that you’ll excel in your new role,” I say, my tone sincere.
She smiles, a genuine expression of gratitude and warmth. “Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot coming from you.”
As she rises from her seat, preparing to leave my office, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.