Chapter 81

Lila’s POV

The morning of the launch, I packed my bag quietly, every fold of fabric feeling heavier than it should. I paused for a moment, staring at the small suitcase at the foot of the bed in Drew’s guest room.

The plan was simple, I would pack up my things and once we returned from the launch, I would tell Drew the truth and leave afterwards. This decision weighed heavily on me and I knew I could not turn away from it anymore.

The launch was today and by the end of it, Drew Sinclair’s name would carry more weight than it already did. His empire would no longer just be talked about in boardrooms or written about in glossy magazines. Tonight, people will see the wonder of what he built, and they will never forget it.

And me?

By the time the applause ended and by the time the champagne flutes were emptied, I was going to be ushered into a world of Drew's fury and I won't lie I was scared of what his reaction would be. Would he hate me or try to even take my baby away from me. I didn't know what to expect.

I pressed a palm gently against my stomach as I stepped into the waiting car. My child shifted faintly inside, and for a moment, my throat tightened. He deserves to know you. No matter what it costs me, he deserves to know.

The vow rang in my chest with every passing street until the car pulled up before the Manhattan Hotel.

At first glance, the hotel was nothing unusual. Glass panels gleamed under the pale morning sun, steel and angles stacking skyward in a way that blended into the city’s skyline. Pedestrians walked past it without sparing a glance. That was the genius of Drew’s plan. To the world, it was another structure of money and glass.

But inside… inside was the secret.

The “Hidden Eden.”

I couldn’t help but smile faintly at the thought of it. I had seen glimpses, the sketches, the behind the scenes fittings, the rehearsals. But even now, with the entire building buzzing with final preparations, I knew the real marvel wouldn’t be unveiled until later tonight.

For now, my battlefield was the multipurpose hall. So I pushed open the doors and stepped into chaos.

The hall was wide and echoing, its bare bones slowly dressing themselves into something spectacular. Electric drills buzzed in one corner as technicians tightened last minute fittings. Ladders scraped against polished floors. Florists hustled with arms full of flowers; white roses, orchids and lilies threading them into arrangements that looked like pieces of a living forest.

The decoration for the launch was supposed to give a little insight of the real magic that was going to unfold but the guests didn't know that, and nothing would prepare them for the wonder they were going to walk into once they stepped into the heart of the hotel.

The faint hum of conversation layered over it all, mingling with the low hum of music being tested through the speakers.

I tightened my grip on the clipboard in my hand. This was where I belonged, in the center of chaos, breathing order into it.

“Shift the lighting two inches to the left,” I called to a technician perched high on a ladder. “It needs to spotlight the center aisle, not the backdrop.”

He gave me a thumbs up, and I turned, already spotting the next imperfection. “The orchids just let them fall freely, don’t stick them upright. It’s supposed to feel alive, not stiff.”

The florist nodded, scrambling to rearrange.

“Run the stage visuals again,” I barked toward the stage team. The giant screen flickered to life, blooming with the company’s logo, then dissolving into a shower of falling petals that swept across the ceiling. My eyes narrowed. “Hold that frame and give it a slower fade. It needs to breathe.”

They adjusted it, and the petals seemed to linger now, drifting lazily before vanishing. Better.

Every detail mattered. This was no ordinary launch. This was the launch. The event meant to cement Drew Sinclair’s empire, to set him apart from every other hotelier in the city. And if there was one thing I had learned, it was that Drew’s world left no space for imperfection.

I moved down the aisle, my heels clicking against the polished floor, eyes sweeping over every detail. Crystal glasses lined the tables, gleaming under the warm lights. Gold rimmed plates caught the glow. In the center of each table, delicate glass orbs held blooms submerged in water, as though plucked from some secret garden.

They were hints. Just enough to whisper of what was coming.

The true marvel, which is the heart of the Hidden Eden, would be revealed later. But for now, this hall was the shadow, the first note of a song that would rise into thunder.

I stood still for a moment, chest swelling with a strange pride. It was coming together. Piece by piece, chaos was bending into beauty.

I felt the familiar thrill of control slip over me. For hours, I walked the length of the hall, checking, rechecking, pushing until the hall transformed into something that looked effortless, though I knew it was built on sweat and nerves.

By midday, my body was beginning to feel the toll. My throat was dry, my calves ached, and my fingers cramped from clutching the clipboard. Yet I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

A mistake tonight wouldn’t just be a blemish, it would be a failure. And failure was not an option in Drew Sinclair’s world.

I slipped into a side corridor, leaning against the cool wall for just a moment, drawing in a breath. I smoothed the front of my blazer, forcing my shoulders to square again before I returned to the hall.

As I returned, the sight took my breath again. It was nearly ready, still as I paced the length of the hall, clipboard in hand, a prickle slid down my spine.

Something felt… off. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was the crushing weight of everything I carried. But the sensation of being watched clung to me, shadowing my every move.

I turned more than once, scanning the crowd of workers. Everyone looked normal enough. Cooks in white uniforms, waiters in crisp black vests, the décor team with their toolkits and ladders. Yet my stomach wouldn’t settle.

Golden light bathed the hall now, soft enough to feel intimate yet grand enough to whisper of power. Trailing ivy wrapped itself along the stage edge. Projections of soft green leaves danced faintly across the walls, moving like shadows caught in wind. It wasn’t overwhelming. It was teasing and promising.

I pressed my lips together, my chest tightening not with stress this time, but with resolve.

Tonight, I would do my job. I would stand in the wings as Drew unveiled his dream, watch the admiration settle in the eyes of the most powerful people in the city,

The hours blurred together in a storm of details. Staff lined up in polished uniforms, waiters adjusting trays until every glass was perfect. The scent of flowers filled the air mingling with the faint tang of polished wood and the sterile chill of the air conditioning.

“Check every place card again,” I instructed, voice clipped but steady. “Names face forward. Titles spelled correctly.”

They scrambled to obey.

“Sound crew, cue the music one more time. The moment Drew steps up, I want no delay.”

The air itself seemed to hum now, thick with anticipation. My heart drummed to the rhythm of it.

By evening, as the first hints of sunset bled into the city, the hall glowed like a golden cocoon. Everything was ready. Everything was perfect.

I stood at the back, clipboard lowered, my fingers trembling faintly.

This was it.

Soon the guests would arrive, the 1% of the 1%, men and women who measured power in silence and fortune in secrets. This whole was hooked on exclusivity and strictly on invitation. The people who were invited were informed about the venue a night before the big day making sure no one could take a peep.

Tonight, Drew would stand before them, unveiling not just a hotel but a marvel. And I would stand in the shadows, waiting for the moment when the applause faded

A sudden shiver traced down my spine.

When Drew finally arrived to inspect the hall, the atmosphere shifted instantly. It was as if the very air bowed to him. Ever since that vulnerable night we spent together he had become more cordial.

I also couldn't help but admire how Drew looked. One would say it was impossible for anyone to look that good but with Drew nothing was possible.

The way he walked across the room in a tailored black suit that fit him like armour, his tie crisp and his dark hair perfectly styled made my heart stop. People paused when he passed, shoulders squaring, movements sharpening, as though his presence demanded precision from everyone around him.

My eyes caught his own from across the hall, just for a second. He didn’t smile, he rarely did but he gave a small nod. Just a flicker of acknowledgment. And in that silent gesture, I could see it. Gratitude and trust. Maybe even something softer he would never put into words.

My chest tightened and I looked away quickly, pressing my lips together. After tonight, Drew. I’ll tell you after tonight.