Maya Griffiths thanked the driver of the cab she took from the airport after paying him her fare and assisting her with her small luggage. She gave him a smile when he wished her a good stay and called a porter for her.
“I’ll take your luggage, Madam,” the porter said politely. “Have you made reservations with the hotel?”
“Yes. Reservation is under the name of Deli Gourmet,” she answered as she walked towards the front desk and smiled politely at the receptionists. She took off her sunglasses and hat, reaching for her ID inside her purse. “Hi. Reservation under Deli Gourmet please. Has Mr. Grayson St. Claire already checked in?”
“Ms. Griffiths!”
Maya turned and smiled warmly when saw Thomas Jamison walking towards her.
“I have already taken the liberty in checking you and Mr. St. Claire in your room,” Thomas informed patiently. “Your room is on the penthouse suite at the East Wing of the hotel. I can take you there if you need to freshen up.”
“Where’s Grayson?” She asked after thanking the porter, who will deliver the luggage to her room. She thanked the server warmly when she was handed a welcome cocktail and a lei was placed around her neck. “And why are you still in your corporate clothes?”
“Mr. Grayson just let me off a few minutes ago, Ms. Griffiths.” Thomas answered patiently. “The new owner of the hotel invited him to see some new jet skis at the docks when he found out that Mr. Grayson is into water sports.”
Maya gave Thomas a light scowl.
“You’re really not going to call me by my first name, are you, Thomas?” She asked lightly.
Thomas grinned at her sheepishly. “If Mr. St. Claire will hear me addressing you informally, he will threaten me again of having my throat in his hands,” he answered, looking around quickly. “I value my life and will take your temper any day over his.”
She laughed lightly at his response as they headed towards the outdoor area of the hotel.
“You’re too much, Thomas,” she said, shaking her head with amusement. “Why don’t you go and freshen up? I’ll just take a walk around and enjoy the breeze and scenery. I’ll probably call him to meet with me at the dining area in a while.”
Thomas nodded and he looked at her with concern.
“Will you be alright?” He asked seriously.
“I’ll be,” she answered, looking at him strangely. “Remember I was here the last time for a day tour with Skylar? I’m sure I still know the way around.”
After Thomas finally took off, Maya finished her drink and handed the empty glass to a passing staff before putting on her hat. She gently flipped her long, honey brown hair behind her back as she walked towards the pool area, where there are tourists, basking in the afternoon sun.
Maya turned to her phone and sent a message to Grayson, informing him that she’s already in the hotel, strolling around the property and told him to meet with her at the dining area in thirty minutes. She then returned her phone to her bag and continued walking around.
She stopped for a while when she saw some performers entertaining some children, watching them. One of the performers saw her and hastily gave her a paper flower. Maya smiled and thanked him politely.
During that short span of time, Maya noticed some of the women giving her second and third looks. Taking off from the group, Maya pushed the observation she saw to the back of her mind and continued strolling around the area.
After a while, she finally decided to head to the main restaurant’s dining area to wait for Grayson. Pulling out her phone from her bag, she was surprised to see that Grayson did not reply to his message. She called his number and realized that she could not get through.
“Probably an important call,” she muttered. “I might as well wait for him there.”
Maya turned back towards the hotel and nearly collided with a group of women if she hadn’t taken a step back immediately.
“Oh, sorry for that,” one of the women apologized. “Yanna here is already tipsy from the margarita she drank.”
“That’s alright,” Maya said politely. “No harm done.”
“Hey!” Another one in the group called out. “Don’t I know you from somewhere around here? I swear I have seen your face before but there’s something different about you.”
“I have a common face,” Maya explained gently. “I am not from here and just vacationing.”
“You sure?” The woman repeated. “I could swear I saw your face before.”
“You’re probably drank as well, Val,” the woman who apologized in their behalf said firmly. She gave Maya an apologetic look. “Forgive them. They really see different things when they’re tipsy already.”
Maya only nodded and finally made her way to the dining room. She thanked the staff who opened the door for her and immediately recognizing her as the new chef of the restaurant. She was ushered into a table and was immediately served some snacks and refreshments despite assuring them that a glass of water will be okay.
Her phone suddenly rang, and she saw Grayson calling her.
“I’m here at the dining room,” Maya informed after answering the call. She placed one sugar rock in her coffee and stirred the liquid gently. She smiled politely at the waitress who handed her the menu. “Where are you?”
“I went up the room to change,” Grayson replied softly. “I’ll be down in fifteen minutes. Thomas already arranged a car for us to drive around the city. Have you eaten, by the way?”
“I had a sandwich at the plane a while ago,” she informed him.
“Order something to eat, Maya,” Grayson instructed gently. “Get one for me, too. Who would have thought that re-negotiating the contract will make me hungry? Then, we’ll go out for a drive.”
Maya smiled at his statement.
“Alright,” she returned. “I tried their pasta here last time and it was delicious. I’ll definitely retain that on the menu. I’ll order that for you while I’ll order some Cured Rosemary and Onion Pork. Do you want some wine?”
“Perhaps later,” Grayson answered. “I’m not familiar with the roads yet and I want to make sure I’m sober.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Maya said and ended the call. She then called for the waitress and placed an order of their food. “Please add two glasses of your iced house tea for us. Thank you.”
Maya looked around the restaurant when the waitress took off. She noted some areas that she hopes to change aside from the ones she had already observed on her previous visit. She also noticed that only a few customers are patronizing this restaurant, wondering if they had known that the food being served tastes good. They much prefer ordering food from the other small restaurant surrounding the hotel property.
She reached for her phone and sent some messages to her marketing and advertisement team to come up with ideas when they will take over the shop soon. She got immediate replies from her staff, and she smiled at their eagerness. She was busy browsing through her phone that she didn’t realize that someone entered the dining area and the staff inside the dining area immediately flanked towards them.
“Let this be a warning to your staff, Mr. Brian,” a cold, steel voice reprimanded with no place for any more mistakes. “I do not tolerate staff ogling eyes with hotel guests. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Mr. Cunningham," another voice replied apologetically. "I will make sure that those caught will be warned about it. My apologies again.”
“Very well,” the cold voice scoffed.
Maya managed to finally look up from her phone and found the Hotel Manager, Mr. Brian Marks apologizing to a tall, dark-haired man who exudes an air of arrogance aside from the superiority aura surrounding him. Behind him is a slightly, lanky man with curly blond hair, she assumed to be the man’s assistant, who seems to disappear at the mere presence of the man.
Something about the profile of the man warned Maya to stay away from him and she will do just that. She immediately tore her gaze away from them so as not be caught.
“Ms. Griffiths!”
Maya blinked when her name was called out and she saw Mr. Brian approaching her with a tight, welcome smile. She stood up from her chair and returned his greeting and to her dismay noticed at the corner of her eye, the man following behind.
“It’s a pleasure seeing you again,” Mr. Brian said gently, shaking her hand. “I already met Mr. St. Claire a while. Please let us know if you have any concerns with your stay here.”
“Will do, Mr. Brian,” Maya replied gratefully.
Mr. Brian then stepped aside and gestured to the man, who a few minutes ago reprimanded him over something. “Ms. Griffiths, I’d like to introduce you to the new hotel operator of The Oceanview Resort Hotel and Spa,” he said formally. “Sir, this is Maya Griffiths, the chef of restaurant Aurora that will be taking over here. Ms. Maya, this is Mr. Jordan Cunningham, CEO of Pinnacle Luxury Limited Inc.”
Maya turned towards the man and raised her eyes to meet his gaze with a smile plastered on her face. She reached out a warm hand towards him.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cunningham,” she stated formally.
The man named Jordan, met her gaze and his eyes suddenly widened after he took a good look at her. He stood rooted at his spot while his assistant gasped in loud shock, some documents that he is holding fell on the ground.
Jordan Cunningham, utterly speechless, his gaze never leaving her face.
Jordan stood rooted on his spot, his eyes glued towards the face of the woman that has been etched permanently in his brain and most especially in his heart.Rachel.His insides are screaming madly at the sight of the woman in front of him. His heart started pounding with so much intensity and he could feel the heavy load that he has been carrying for the past six years suddenly lifting off his shoulders.Rachel, he thought desperately.He looked intently down at the dark green orbs that are staring elegantly up at him, smiling. But it faltered a bit and he realized that he had somehow uttered the name. He felt his heart squeeze tightly and finally felt himself taking a step towards her with one hand reaching for her outstretched hand.As if in slow motion, the moment Jordan had his palm touched hers, he closed his hand over hers and immediately pulled her towards him. He gathered her tightly into his arms, pulling her to his chest and resting his chin on her head.“You’re alive. I kn
Jordan ferociously pushed the double doors open to his penthouse suite at the West Wing of The Oceanview Hotel and stalked towards the bar counter, grabbing the whiskey counter. He cursed violently when the glass he grabbed fell on the marbled-tiles floor, crashing into pieces.“You need to calm down, Jordan,” Xavier Thornton advised firmly as he took another glass and poured his friend a drink. He handed it to Jordan who drank it in one go and poured him another. “Let’s think this through. Maybe something happened.”“F8ck that son of a b1tch!” Jordan yelled angrily. He gripped the glass so hard that it surprisingly crashed in his hands, cutting through his skin and blood coming out. However, he seemed to pay no heed. “How dare he put a claim on her!! How dare he touched her!”“Call the hotel doctor and nurse, Mason!” Adam Fielding barked firmly. “Get them up here immediately!”Jordan walked towards the large and long couch and sat down, breathing heavily. His thoughts drifted to the
Jordan raised the glass he is holding with his uninjured hand and took a drink from the amber liquid that he has been going through for the past hour. He placed the glass on the table beside him and managed to glance at the clock on the wall. A quarter past twelve in the early morning. He had been sitting on the single sofa since Xavier and Adam took off as well as Mason after sending them off abruptly. He is going through another countless round of drinks, ignoring the meal his secretary thoughtfully ordered for him, as he stared through on just one direction from his window at the opposite side of the hotel. Specifically, the penthouse of the east wing where he knows that Rachel is staying in. With Grayson St. Claire. “What the f8ck are you talking about?!” Jordan bellowed as he approached Grayson angrily, trying to intimidate him. “The woman behind you is my fiancé, you f8cking piece of shit. Get out of my way!” Grayson didn’t back away from him. Instead, he placed a hand on Jo
*** FLASHBACK ***“I got to hand it to you, Ms. Hamilton!” Jordan had sneered coldly as Rachel is being dragged behind him by his bodyguards to one room in the second floor of the Cunningham’s mansion. “All the women had tried everything in making sure that my grandfather gets to catch me with them in bed! You’re the only one who had done that! How very clever of you!”Rachel was struggling from the grip on her arms.“I didn’t know it was you! My drink was drugged and my mind was hazy! I could even have sauntered up to your grandfather and seduced him!” She protested indignantly. She tried pulling her arms away. “You’re hurting me! Let go!!!”Jordan stopped and he turned murderously to the woman, whom he was caught with in a compromising position by his grandfather a few days. Word immediately got out and it graced the gossip column the following day. He stalked towards her as she continues to struggle from his bodyguards that picked her up from the restaurant that she is working for.
Grayson stared down quietly at Maya’s sleeping form while sitting quietly on his side of the bed in the room that they are sharing. He stared at the clock across him and saw it turned to one in the morning. Lightly, he reached out and brushed some hair off her face and pulled the blanket over her chest and watched her snuggle comfortably on the bed.He then stood up and went out of their room, heading towards the bar counter and poured himself a glass of scotch. He took it in one drink and poured himself another shot and walked towards the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck.He managed to look towards the balcony, across from the wing of the penthouse they’re occupying and frowned when he saw the lights of the penthouse, he knew being occupied by that Jordan Cunningham still on and saw his physical form.Has he been watching us here since we went up? He thought darkly.To further anger the man, Grayson casually sauntered and pulled the curtains closed. He turned towards the sofa and h
Maya splashed some cold water on her face the following day, washing off the facial foam she applied and then reaching for a towel to pat her skin dry after she took a bath. She looked at herself in the mirror as she tied her hair up, nodded and smiled at herself.After putting on her robe and tying the belt, she went out from the room and made her way to the suite’s dining area, passing through the foyer that has a center table with a nice, giant flower arrangement and she stopped for a while to admire it, taking a picture with her phone.She finally made her way to the dining area and found Grayson on the table, drinking his coffee while reading a document.“Good morning,” she greeted softly, standing behind him and placed her arms around him and gave him a soft and long kiss on the cheek before she took her seat beside him. She smiled at him warmly and thanked the staff assigned in the suite when her coffee was served. “What’s that you’re reading?”Grayson placed the document on on
Jordan looked up from the report on the hotel’s operating facilities when Mason came inside his office in The Oceanview Hotel that he had acquired months ago, clearing his throat on a sunny Wednesday morning. “Ms. Griffiths has arrived, sir and already at the dining area checking the progress of the renovation works,” he informed formally. “The instructions you also gave is waiting outside on top of my desk.” Jordan immediately got up on his feet and smoothed down his front, straightening his tie and reaching for his jacket and putting it on immediately. He looked at his reflection on one window and tidied up his hair. “What do you think?” He asked his secretary, holding out his hands at his sides. “Think she’ll be less afraid of me now? I don’t look like the cold and callous executive that I’ve been hearing about, right?” Mason rolled his eyes at him, something that only he can do from those working with him. “I value my tenure under your employ, Mr. Jordan. As well as my life,” h
Maya opened the door to her suite and gripped the knob a little bit tight when she saw two porters in front of her, greeting her warmly and carrying large flower arrangements in a white vase respectively. The first arrangement is a combination of roses and peonies and the second is an arrangement of white, blush and purple tulips.“Please place the roses and peonies on the living room and the tulips on the kitchen counter,” she said with a smile and stepped back from the door to let them in. She watched as they did what she requested. “Let me guess. You’re still not going to accept any tip from me.”“It’s taken care of, Ms. Griffiths,” they answered in unison.After they left and closing the door, Maya walked straight to the kitchen counter and reached for the envelop from the arrangement. She took out the card and read the message.“You want to know who I’m in love with?” The card started. “Just read the first word again. I’ll see you soon. Love, Grayson.”Maya smiled as she placed t