CHAPTER 5

Therefore, the high-ranking executives were embarrassed to be caught red-handed gossiping about their new boss.

"That's absurd! Ms. Denz is the only legitimate daughter of the Denz family! What's wrong with their heads?!" Frank's secretary, Steven Lovett, was fuming in the passenger seat.

"'Legitimate' or 'illegitimate' doesn't matter. We're not living in the Middle Ages anymore! Why are you so angry, Steve?"

I narrowed my sparkling eyes and extended my hand to pinch Steven's cheek. His cute face instantly turned red.

"Dera, you are the future CEO of Zz Group. Would you please act? Don't harass Steve." Frank frowned slightly.

"What's wrong with that? No one complains when a male boss harasses a female secretary!"

I tutted and went on, "Besides, it's his privilege that I touch him.

Frank shook his head and looked dotingly at his sister.

The Denz siblings stepped into the hotel, flanked by top-level executives.

Michael Gordon, the vice president of the hotel, kept leading us to the VIP elevator. But I suddenly cut in, saying, "Show me the restaurant first."

I directly got down to business the minute I walked into the hotel and started the inspection.

Michael led the Denz siblings to the restaurant anxiously.

Frank remained calm and played his part as an "invisible man," allowing me to take the lead. However, his presence was strongly felt.

There were no customers in the restaurant before noon opening time, but the waiters were already placing some dishes on the counter.

My piercing eyes scanned across the dishes and suddenly stopped at the live seafood section.

I rolled up my sleeves, stuck an arm into a small aquarium, and carefully picked a dead shrimp from among hundreds of other shrimp.

"Explain."

"It's not dead…" Michael stammered.

"If it's not dead, then go ahead and eat it," I puckered my red lips.

"Ms. Denz, there are a lot of shrimp in this aquarium. There are going to be a few dead ones here and there."

It's natural for shrimps to die in an aquarium, but is it alright with you that a customer eats a dead shrimp and gets food poisoning?

My smile vanished instantly as I continued, "In addition to this, there are a total of 356 shrimp in this aquarium. I checked and found five dead and at least 30 half-dead ones. I don't know how the guests will respond to eating this kind of food for $100 per person. But if I were a guest, I would never return to this hotel again!"

Then I summed up, "Immediately check all the ingredients in the seafood department and switch the supplier. If I see another dead shrimp tomorrow, I'll make you eat them in front of me." 

Michael was so frightened that his legs shook. All the other senior executives were also shocked.

Only Frank and Steven knew I possessed a photographic memory. As a child, I even used my ability to help the police solve a major criminal case. Sifting through some shrimp was no challenge to me.

By the time we had arrived at the guest bedrooms, I asked Steven to give me a white handkerchief and wiped the wall and picture frame carefully.

The work of cleaning is not complete. The surfaces still have dust on them, so it needs to be repeated."

The top managers were criticizing me behind my back.

"I know that you all must be cursing me behind my back, thinking that I'm making a mountain out of a molehill and being finicky, right?

I looked calm, but my tone was extremely serious. "Our hotel has been operating for a century. It's the small details that are often overlooked. If the star rating committee would come to inspect, these two problems will be enough to revoke our star!"

She shot a look at Steven, who understood what I meant and ordered in a low voice, "Open the door of this guest room."

The head of the housekeeping department rushed to open the door anxiously. In previous inspections, they would just show the boss two sample rooms.

But this new boss was not the same and did not do things in the usual manner.

I walked into the guest room. I inspected the bathroom first, then entered the bedroom and sat on the bed.

My sensitive face fell gloomy at once.

But I didn't say anything and finished the inspection. Then I went to the general manager's office together with my eldest brother.

"What do you feel after a round of inspection?" Frank asked with a smile.

"Ugh, what a mess!"

I lounged lazily on the sofa and leaned on the armrest. I sighed and grumbled, "Is Wyatt testing me or playing with me? This hotel is awful! I cannot believe it is part of Zz Group!"

Dera, Grandpa, he founded this hotel. Zz Group was founded on the basis of this hotel in its early years to expand to our current size. This hotel is not a mess, but a memory preserve of three generations of our family. Nevertheless, as Zz Group is too big and the hotel industry has been depressed for the past two years, we have left the hotel management neglected.

Frank blamed himself and sighed helplessly. "Sorry, Dera. You'll have to try harder to get it back in condition."

Suddenly, I saw the black piano in the corner of the room and gasped.

"I had this piano installed. I remembered that you used to play the piano or run a few laps around the racetrack when you were in a bad mood in the past."

Frank blinked. "I believe you'll be very busy over the course of the next two months, so horse riding isn't a practical option. If you're tired, you can play some piano. I remember you play the piano very well."

"Thanks, Ash. But I haven't played the piano in years."

My throat tightened. The scar deep inside my heart that had finally healed reopened, burning my chest.

"Why is that?" Frank was shocked.

"When I was working at Doctors Without Borders, I injured my hand in a rescue of the wounded in the war zone. I tore a ligament in my pinky, so it's lost a bit of sensitivity. I couldn't manage an octave anymore, so I just gave up playing the piano."

I explained as calmly as I could. 

Frank's heart ached. He held my sister's hand right away. 

"Did Kalus hurt you?"

"Sort of."

My heart still ached when I heard Kalus's name. But I still smiled widely. "I got hurt for world peace. I'm doing it to make my family proud!"

Five years ago, I met Kalus, whom I had longed for, again on the battlefield at the border of Kridor.

I was a field doctor, and he was a peacekeeping soldier.

He fought for peace, and I almost lost my hand in an effort to get a severely injured Kalus to safety.

I considered this a great honor at that time. Now, my heart ached whenever I glanced at my numb pinky.

Everything was in the past. I was not going to cry and regret having fallen in love with the wrong man.

Steven knocked on the door and entered hastily.

“Ms. Dera, I’ve checked the suppliers of our hotel’s bedding and furniture as per your request. They are called Alia Furniture, and Mr. Gordon is the person in contact with them.”

“Haha, so it’s Alia Furniture.”

I folded my slender legs and narrowed my eyes menacingly. "Direct the finance department to audit the hotel's accounts for the past two years. And immediately call a new bedding supplier and drop Alia Furniture."

"Such a drastic measure?" Frank's eyebrows rose.

"Alia Furniture was opened by Kalus's sweetheart's brother."

"Oh, a personal grudge, huh?" Frank and Steven chimed in unison.

"No! It's all due to Alia selling us cheap and low-quality bedding. I just want justice!" I scoffed.

I was so infuriated just imagining that rough and uncomfortable mattress. A bad sleeping experience would give guests a poor impression of the hotel. No wonder there were so many bad reviews online!

"By the way, there's one more thing…"

Steven went on, "Mr. Frank instructed me to monitor the movements of the Mike family. I just received news that Joseph Mike was hospitalized after a stroke. He happens to be in a hospital that is owned by Zz Group."

"Grandpa is in the hospital?!" I stood up anxiously.

Frank's phone rang at that moment.

He looked at the screen and smiled.

"Dera, your ex-husband is calling."