It was another day. In a spacious king-size black satin-clad bed lies a tall, hunky guy sleeping. His fair broad shoulders were out of the blanket his short black hair partly hid his phoenix eyes. Around the big spacious bedroom,monochrome-themed, and with little decoration, there was nothing much to see. In the center lies his big bed, and to his right is his lampshade, atop a simple bedside table, on his left, another bedside table with a few books on top decorating it. The window was on the east side, with black blinds for cover. On the west side is a door to his bathroom. His bathroom is connected to his walk-in closet. Anyone could tell that he is a person who was not fussy and does not deal with bedroom decoration and designs at all.
"Alexa blinds up."
Then a female machine voice was heard then the blinds on the wide window opened automatically.
He then yawned and stretched, then bounced out of her bed. He was not wearing anything except for his boxer shorts. You can tell by the fit and well-toned biceps and triceps that his body is well-maintained. He works out thrice a week and does jogging every morning. And today was no exception. After he checked his cell phone for e-mails and missed calls, he grabbed a t-shirt and loose pants to start his morning run.
He goes down and was greeted by two golden retrievers; they were so big and their tongues were out; they looked like they were smiling. They were thrilled to see him early in the morning.
"Come on, let's go for a walk." He said.
His two dogs had never worn collars their whole life since they were puppies. They were well-trained and didn't bite unless they were told to do so. The mansion is big and anyone can easily get lost if they were not a resident. There’s a big garden that has a wide flat ground that can be compared to a track and field ground. Every morning he does his run here. It took him about two hours of running. These big dogs have their own dog house. It was near the garden. It looks like a small house, has two windows and a door. And there were two bedrooms, just like a normal house! They also have their bathroom, except for a kitchen, since all their feeds and treats were stored elsewhere. They did not go there except at night. Their usual hangout place is wherever their master is. But sometimes when their master was out, their usual hangout will be in the garden and in the outside kitchen, where they can act cute and get nice treats from the maids.
"Young Master, your coffee is now served in the dining area, or would you like to take your coffee by the balcony?" The head maid asked. She knew the young master liked to have his coffee in an open area while reading his morning newspaper.
"No, not today. I'll eat in the dining room. Is Raeven awake now?"
"Young lady is not awake. I will knock on her door when it is quarter to 7 am if she is still not up."
Rayver nodded and goes to the dining area. Takes a sit and reached for his black coffee. He is very particular with his coffee when some were obsessed with Americano, Latte, and Espresso or some other expensive-collected-from-the-excrement-of-animal-type-of-coffee, he only wants a decent not too-bitter type of coffee. And so, it is a must that there must be a stock of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in the mansion. When their head maid order online, she makes sure that she only pays for a grade one type of coffee. He was never a fan of 'coffee poop'
He was reading a newspaper and enjoying his expensive coffee when he heard footsteps approaching the dining room. He looked up and saw her moody little sister already in her school uniform. He can't help but smile. She is really a prima donna. "Good morning, my dear little sister."
Raeven only looks at him for a second, then greets him. Good morning. Two maids carrying some dishes quietly laid them down on the table. Rayver's breakfast comprises a bagel that is topped with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and dill. There is a vegetable salad, and some slices of fruit. It was colorful the way sliced fruits were arranged like a rose.
"What does Miss want for breakfast?" The maid has not left and asked her politely.
Raeven looked at her brother's colorful breakfast and can't help but swallow. She was extra hungry this morning. "I want what my brother is having, thank you."
Her brother started eating his breakfast. He looked at his watch and realized it was already past 8 am. "You're going to be late. Why did you wake up just now?"
Raeven leaned in her seat while waiting for her breakfast. "It's okay, it was almost fall break, and our professors adjusted our schedule an hour behind than usual."
Rayver only nodded. He was then focused on his meal while going through his schedule that day. Now that he was appointed as the general manager for their luxury hotel, Pearl of the East hotel, he needs to be present today for some meetings and conferences. He needs to listen to his team's report and read through their proposals for their year-end party.
"Brother, are you still seeing that 'fiance' of yours?" She asked out of nowhere.
Rayver looked at her. "Why?"
"You haven't answered me yet."
"Why do you call her my fiance? Nothing's official yet."
"Are you waiting for things to be official before you admit it?"
"I told you, I won't marry someone randomly. I'm just going along with grandmother's arrangement for the time being, besides I don't want to go against her when it is not the right time yet."
Raeven knew that he was only waiting when he has total control of the business before he goes head to head with the matriarch.
After the filling breakfast, he heads to his walk-in closet to change from his sweaty shirt to a nice and manly outfit, which comprises a nice gray business casual shirt from Valentin Remus tucked into his Valentin Remus slim-fit black trousers, and his favorite Marcello star cuff links, a brand new watch from his grandmother, she knew that he only wears Swiss watches; an Adam Accola. On his feet is a comfortable Sebastian Rossi leather loafer in black. Now that everything was set, he made his way to his bedroom and get his black Bianchi & Romano messenger bag. This is his favorite brand, not just because it is cool in all its aesthetics but also because the brand practices sustainability,
He made his way to the underground parking area of their mansion and drove his land rover. Today he needs to go to his office first, sign some papers and then go to a restaurant for a lunch date. Her grandmother arranged for him. By 11 am his phone rang and a gentle voice of a woman was heard on the other side, telling him she will be stuck on meetings this whole afternoon and she can't make it to their lunch, she compromised and offer to have their dinner instead. He was in the middle of signing some papers when he thought about the other work schedule. He suddenly blurted out Pearl of the East hotel for their dinner later that night. He heard the girl chuckle softly, but then said yes. He could not stop and think about what was on that woman's mind when he needed a lot of work to finish the day.
On the way to the hotel, his cell phone rings, and his little sister is calling.
"Hey, you're not eating dinner here?" said a soft but cold voice on the other line.
"Yep, I'll be having dinner at work. You must eat alone tonight."
The lady on the other line grunted, then the line was disconnected.
He just got out of his car when his phone rang. The woman called him to say that she had just arrived at their table. He said that he just arrived as well and will be there in a moment. He rushes toward the elevator and punched the number 5 button. This fifth floor was dubbed the VIP floor. There are only ten doors and 20-30 square feet for each room. And can accommodate 8 to 10 people inside. The interior of the VIP rooms changes every season. This is to make the guests feel comfortable while they dine with their family or their business associates. There is a separate hall that is on the top building of the hotel and it is for banquets and for big celebrations that can hold up to 50-100 people max each room. There was also a buffet on the first floor and second floor for all the foodies to enjoy, and they were one of the best different cuisines served by a hotel in the country.
When he walked into the room, he first noticed the design of the room before he did with the elegant woman who sits at the table, well, it can't be helped, when he started his day it was all work, he had no time for anything else now that he thinks of it, he even hasn't had his lunch…
"Hello, Ms. Soriano. It's wonderful to see you again." He said, his voice deep and formal.
The woman surnamed Soriano gets up from her chair and hugged him quickly. "What are you so formal about? Relax, we're about to have dinner. Be careful to upset your stomach." The woman teased him. She smiles oh-so-gently. She really looks so angelic, especially in her white, Alu pleated cotton lace short dress; Simple yet elegant. Her brown chestnut hair was in a high bun, exposing her swan-like long neck. Her skin is so fair and with her full red lips. she's half Russian beauty. She has just got back from Russia last month. The grand matriarch didn't waste any time and matchmaker her to his grandson.
"Rayver, I told you to call me Monica. We are acquaintances. It's fine," she said with a gentle smile on her face.
Rayver knows that her grandmother is the meticulous type in whatever she does. And since young, only the best of everything is acceptable to her. Best clothes, foods, house, country, and education. And so, picking this kind of girl for him is only a matter of time. He was about to graduate and he will take his master's degree abroad and so, the sooner the engagement was settled, the better. What's more, this girl will get her master's degree abroad, if they will have more time to get to know each other then they will be married once they graduated, And when they returned here, he can take over his father's CEO position and manage the business with ease.
Rayver thought if only he doesn't mind marrying someone he didn't have feelings for, having a wife like Monica will be perfect. For those who didn't know what type of girl she is, she's fluent in three languages, knows how to cook, she even studied child psychology and she's family-oriented. A perfect wife material.
They had a nice and quiet dinner with minimal conversation. Monica knew that he was not a conversationalist, and so was she, but she liked this kind of man. At a young age, he is goal-oriented.
And the most important thing is, there was no scandal under his name, he has a clean history, as for girlfriends… She doesn't mind though, if they will end up together, a ring on his ring finger will be enough to tame him on her hands.
"Auntie and I had a wonderful time horseback riding last week. I hope you could come with us next time," Monica said while sipping her wine.
"Sounds good. I will join you once I cleared up my schedule."
Monica laughs softly. "Auntie always says that you were like Uncle, always busy with work. Take better care of yourself, okay?"
Rayver doesn't mind her concern, but if a fellow woman heard this kind of talk, she will be labeled as an assumptive woman who tries to take control of a relationship before it has been made official.
Monica tried to coax him for a few more drinks however, Rayver declined politely, for he still needs to settle some work before heading home. He even made a rain check for when he made time he can invite her for another drink. Once Monica said goodbye to him, that's when Rayver releases his breath he didn't know he was holding for how long.
Man, is it that suffocating to be with her?
It has only been an hour. What more if they were to get married?!
He made his way to the conference room on the third floor. That floor comprises a conference room, a locker room for employees and the manager's office, the administrator's office, and the HR office. The meeting was moved an hour late because of an unexpected dinner a while ago. The meeting took about an hour, then he goes to the manager's office to discuss some work and plans for the upcoming holiday parties that will be held.
Just a couple of minutes after talking with the manager, a gentle knock was heard. The manager gave her permission, and a waitress came in.
Funny thing is, the young waitress once she saw who the manager was talking to halted at the entrance and didn't even know if she will continue or just back out.
Rayver saw the awkwardness of his employee and said, "come in. You can speak to your manager freely. It's okay."
The waitress gingerly made her way to the manager's desk. Before she even starts speaking, she even swallowed and patted her chest nervously. "Ma'am, I want to report something..."
The manager, who is a middle-aged woman, fixed her gold-rimmed glasses and focused on the young waitress's face and which made the waitress more nervous. "Speak."
"I… I'm sorry, I know that it is our policy to give privacy to our clients, give in to their every demand and make them comfortable during their stay in our hotel, but, I really can't stay silent when I witness something unethical..."
Rayver didn't know where this conversation was heading and so he just let the waitress finish talking.
"One of the clients request a room on the fifth floor and held a dinner, I saw about five people, there was a student in the group she was wearing a uniform, at first I just ignored it, then when some client's guest left one by one, only three people were remaining in the room, the client, another man and the student, the client request for another wine, I delivered it inside, but that's not the only thing he asked from me,..."
Rayver was totally speechless. He didn't know whether to cry or laugh, and he didn't know if he will take her seriously. This young lady can pass as a storyteller!
"And then?" The manager probed her.
"He asked me to put some kind of powder in the wine before I delivered it inside. I saw how he offered the wine to the lady,"
After that sentence, the whole room turned quiet.
"I don't know what to do. Should we call the police now?"
The manager suddenly looked at her like she was about to murder her and the poor waitress stopped talking. Drugs and otherworldly stuff are beyond their control, but this kind of thing, once it has reached the authority, will bring trouble not only to the client but to the reputation of the hotel. Yes, they should just mind their own business. The client was paying a hefty amount to experience some luxury to get rid of stress. The manager thinks there is no harm in keeping secrets; she believes that whatever happens in the hotel should stay in the hotel. "Forget it, don't stick your nose where it does not belong..."
The waitress, once she heard it, felt her heart sink. Leave the girl on her own, just like that?
"Do you still have the powder?"
The two women were silent when they heard the man's deep voice. The waitress blanks for a moment before she nodded. Rayver reached out his hand, asking for her to give it. The waitress felt her apron's pocket and then take out a small packet of a white tablet. There was a brand name on it. An aphrodisiac.
Rayver knew that keeping business running may be a troublesome job, as well as making every rule in order with guest welfare and safety in hand to consider. It's not just about how satisfactory the visitors can get, but also how they will carry on as human beings. All individuals, no matter what their status, once they come in should be treated as guests in this hotel. And to do such a nasty thing to a girl is truly enraging. When he heard that the girl was even a student, he felt like-
Wait, she said the girl was in a uniform? He faced the waitress again. "What school uniform is she wearing? Which school?
The waitress, a little nervous, said, "it is the popular all-girl school, St. Claire Academy."
Rayver stopped for a minute. He felt nervous suddenly, then he shakily reached for his phone in his pocket and dialed a number. Then he heard a brief ringing, then a groggy voice was heard. "What is it?"
"Where are you?"
"What's wrong? I'm already sleeping. Where would I be at this hour? There's still school tomorrow..."
Rayver can't explain how relieved he felt with her assurance. "Okay, you can go back to sleep. Good night."
Then he heard some low cursing in the background. Obviously, he just disturbed someone's sleep. But hey, it's better to make sure that later be sorry…
Then he placed his phone in his pocket. He is ready to take action. "Are they still in there? Don't let anyone inside the room, do not even clean the area. You know what? Take me to them right now."
The manager also went with them, nervous. She knew it will be a big mess after…
When they got inside the room, there was no one inside, but the dining table has not been cleaned yet. "Ms. Cho, have someone check the client who made the reservation for this room, and have someone check the CCTV, Also, look if that client also booked a room, this is urgent, the sooner the better, we get a chance to save that girl."
The manager was nodding her head with urgency. She thought the situation escalated to something that spells BIG TROUBLE. Yes, all are in capital letters.
A few more minutes and he received a call, he then went inside the control room and looked at the CCTV footage, First, he saw four guests enter the room, then after half an hour, two more entered the room, he paused the video and looked at the girl who is wearing the uniform; he focused and zoomed the lens; she was familiar; she looked like the girl he saw in the abandoned house a few months ago. What is she doing here? Then he zoomed to another person beside her. This guy is Jacob Green. He is the son of the president of Greene Holdings, Inc. Then the manager told him about a room that was booked by Jacob Greene. Then they moved quickly and went to the 7th floor. When they were about a few meters away from the room, someone from the said room came out. They halted their step. The man also did the same.
"Rayver?"
"Mr. Greene, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm good. What brings you here?"
"Where is the girl with you? Is she inside?"
Jacob felt something amiss, then he saw a familiar silhouette. Isn't that the waitress earlier? Then he looked back at Rayver. "What's the matter? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"The girl, is she inside?" Rayver asked again, ignoring his question.
"Oh, you mean my sister? She's not inside. She's already gone home."
Rayver looked at him. "Mr. Greene, you know that I won't even care whatever you do and if you booked a room by yourself, but could the CCTV and logbook lie about a girl being led inside a room by two people?
Once Jacob heard him he turned pale and he felt a cold sweat. He didn't know what more to say. Should he call his best buddy to hide Victoria under the bed?
"Why don't you let your buddy open the door for us?" Rayver said. When he saw him dial the number and the phone touches Jacob's cheeks, Rayver then added, "Oh, please don't ask him while your voice is shaking. Don't make him hide the girl under the bed."
After some time, the guy from the room went outside and act arrogant, saying that they can try to check the room and that he did nothing bad. He was so confident in himself that he even demanded how poor the management of his hotel can be. It even almost escalated to calling his attorney for accusing him unjustly. Even the manager, just by hearing the word attorney, became alerted and was anxiously looking at his boss.
"Sure, you can call your attorney, and also, please call your dad. You will need a hefty amount of money to escape from your wrongdoing. Should I also invite some police? I would love to show them a spectacular play right now." Rayver said.
Rayver knows that this is not the proper way of handling things, but he was enraged and only his emotion was present. The manager can't help but be forced to join the battle to minimize the damage.
"Mr. Greene, Mr. Lee, we can talk this through. Why don't we go inside my office, and settle the issue, this kind of trouble should be handled carefully, we should not involve the police or any official after all nothing's bad happened if it will not be resolved peacefully bad rumors will surface and that is what we try to avoid We are only doing this for your sake,"
And so, the disaster was safely averted. The manager left the girl inside the room and called for a doctor to check on her. Rayver, as the boss, thinks he needs to stay for a while until everything is under control. However, the manager told him that this night will be a long one since the girl is still unconscious and they don't know what will happen once she woke up. It's already passed the working hours for the manager, while the waitress who reported the incident already clocked off work.
The manager told him to go home and rest while she stays to figure out something for the girl's family; they needed to call her family since she's a minor. Rayver was impressed. He has a capable staff; he has a lot of things, though tonight was a tough lesson to learn. He knew that he had a lot of things to work on and he needs more time and effort to learn how to manage a hotel.
Early in the morning, Raeven was refreshed. Today is Friday, and the girls went on a road trip tomorrow. She can't contain her excitement and so she was in a good mood. She sat at the dining table and ate her toast while reading on her phone. Social media never failed to entertain her. There are a lot of stupid things going on and stupid people shitting on each other. Truly wonderful!
"Good morning!" Her brother greeted her. As usual, he was in his jogging attire with his signature dimpled smile.
"How's your work, you even called me in the middle of the night?…." She should have been in a bad mood right now because her brother disturbed her sleep, but for some weird reason, she's in a good mood that it's hard to be mad at him early in the morning.
Rayver requested a high-protein breakfast since he lacked sleep. "Something happened at work. I just panicked for a second."
"Oh? Let me guess, you had a stupid assumption that I go out late at night and something happened. A girl got caught in an accident while going outside..."
"Close. But then I calmed down when I realized that you will never forsake your beauty sleep over some stupid girl's night out."
Raeven laughed. "So?"
"Last night a staff found out a client drugged a student..."
"What? Classic. Tell me, is that kind of what we saw in a cliché movie?"
Rayver takes a sip of his coffee. "Yes, believe it or not, it happens in real life."
"Who?"
"A student in your school."
Raeven widened her eyes. "You're kidding."
"Ha, fight me."
"Yeah? So, who is this unlucky girl? And how did you know?"
"She’s wearing the same uniform as yours, St. Claire's. I can't believe her brother will be so stupid." Rayver shook his head, truly disappointed.
"So, who is she?!" Raeven can’t stand the suspense.
"Why are you so interested? Oh, maybe she's your friend. Her brother is Jacob Greene, She's Victoria Greene."
Raeven was surprised. She knows that Victoria is such an arrogant bitch, but she never thought she will be a victim of the harsh act. "Did something happen to her, really? If her brother was there then- Oh my, is it her brother?" Raeven asked. She thought since they were not related to blood, something like that will happen.
Rayver almost choked on her food. He coughed for a good one minute before he could laugh. "What kind of conclusion is that?"
Raeven thought for quite a moment and then think of something to say. "Or maybe he gifted her sister to his business partner?"
"Raeven, we need a new rule. You should not watch any stupid drama crap from now on or I will cut off your subscription and tell mom how movies corrupted your brain."
Raeven rolls her eyes. "Shut up." Then she was all focused now and excited, but the reason for her excitement was unknown. "Is she still there?"
Rayver was now preoccupied with his phone by answering emails that he just nods.
Raeven looked at him for quite a few moments, then bid goodbye. She thinks it's time for a new adventure...
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