Chapter Twelve: Is This Hell

Eve’s POV 

“How the hell did this happen!?” I said over the loud noise. I lost it when I got there. The fire was bigger than I thought. 

“We have no idea Mrs Eve but the fire fighters are trying their best to take it out.” The branch manager Andrew tells me. 

My knees felt weak. 

“Are there still any staff or clients in there?” I asked almost immediately. 

“Im.. I’m not sure Ma, we...” He was still talking. 

“What do you mean?” I cut him short. 

How can they focus more on taking out the fire than  on rescuing the people in the building. 

There were so many reports all over the place but I couldn’t hold myself back. 

I won’t live with myself if anyone was to get injured or lose their life in this outbreak. Plus, it’s not going to give us a good name out there, knowing that we put the needs of our hotel above the staff or clients or any human at all. 

“Get me a turnout coat!” I was going to do whatever it takes to protect those people and my hotel. 

“Eve please calm down.” Mark tried to talk me out of it. 

“No mark.” My voice broke. 

“There were people in there, if anything happened to them…” I choked on my own words. My emotions got the best of me. 

He didn’t need me to say anything further and in less than a second instead of one turnover coat Mark came with two. 

I gave him a knowing look. 

“Thank you.” He read my lips. 

We suited up immediately and gave a helping hand to the fire fighter by assisting them in rescuing the people in the building while the others tried to put out the fire. 

“Please put on your oxygen mass.” I said to the last lady I brought out of the building. Thankfully no one was badly hurt and I made sure they double checked in case we missed anyone. 

A better part of the hotel was totally lost to the outbreak but I saw that coming. It was already a burning building; there was no reason to lose anyone over it. 

“What do we do now Eve?” Marks stood right next to me as I looked at the damaged properties. 

“I have no idea Mark... I have no idea.” I sighed heavily. 

“For now let’s make sure every affected person gets proper medication.” I told him. 

“Excuse me.” I added. I walked down to where the head of the fire fighters was. 

“Thank you for your work.” I had a handshake with the head of the fire fighters. 

He nodded. 

“Do you have any idea what must have caused the outbreak?” I could finally settle my curiosity. 

This is one hell of an outbreak. I wonder what must have caused it. We make use of the best materials and there is daily maintenance for every of our hotels. 

From the technology, to the electrical and the kitchen. There is no way something must have been damaged and the maintained team didn’t see it or less they haven’t been doing their jobs properly. 

“I’m sorry ma, but we couldn’t detect what must have caused it but according to the staff the fire outbreak started from the electrical room which is badly damaged now.” He explained it to me. 

I would have to get to the bottom of it, starting my investigation from the branch manager and the head of the maintenance department along with his team. 

My phone began to vibrate. It was my father. 

“Thank you for your time, please excuse me.” I walked to the side to answer his call. 

“Hello dad, you must have seen the news.” It was all over the city already and with the amount of reporters here I didn’t expect anything less. 

“Are you ok Eve I saw you entering the building on the news.” He sounded really worried. 

“Yes dad, I'm fine and you have nothing to worry about. I will handle it.” I assured him. 

“Ok child.” I could tell he felt relieved. 

“I’ll talk to you later dad, love you.” I hung up. He was more worried about me than he is about the damaged hotel. Arthur has proven many times how much he cares about me and I will always appreciate him for that. 

I walked down to meet with Mark. 

“How many people are injured?” I asked him. 

“About thirty people have minor injuries and the rest are just still in shock from the fire and were affected by the smoke as well.” He tells me. 

“Ok Mark let’s make sure they get the necessary support. We don't want a lawsuit by morning.” A lot of people were affected. It's only right that we put things together quickly. 

He nodded. 

“And Mark..” I called him when he was about to leave. 

“Organize a press conference in two hours.” I added. I will have to address the public and apologize to the affected persons. 

He walked away after he signaled that he understood. I went ahead to prepare for the press conference. My clothes were dirty because of the amount of smoke and dust that came out from the outbreak. 

I stopped by a nearby fashion store and picked up something to wear. I cleaned myself up and when I stood in front of the mirror I was sure I am ready to address the world. 

“Good day All. I am Eve Craig, Director of Traspic hotel. I am sure most of you were present at my hotel today and saw how bad the outbreak was. 

At TRASPIC hotel we make use of  the best facilities and the best people to serve you all right but unfortunately it happens that  we somehow must have put doubts in the hearts of our client and staff and we deeply apologize to the people that are hurt and the damages it must have caused. 

We will support in the recovery of every single person and we promise to get to the root of the matter. Thank you.”

I slightly bow my head to the crowd. 

“Mrs Eve!” I heard my name from several corners of the room. The place was full with reports and I am sure they came in with different questions in their minds. 

I look over the crowd before picking someone to talk at random. 

“Mrs Eve how do you intend to grow from your lost.”  A reporter asked me. It was definitely going to cost millions to get it back together and running. 

“As you know we have top companies and hotels in the city, the board and I would come up with a solution soon.” I had no intention of making that decision myself. 

I had the intention of answering just two questions so I picked another reporter from the crowd. 

“Mrs Eve rumors spread that you lied your way into Mr Arthur’s life and you don’t care about his businesses. 

What? 

I looked at the faces in the room and even if no one said anything, everyone’s faces agreed with the reporter.