Chapter 25

Esmeralda’s POV

Two days had passed, and Mulan and I hadn't said a single word about what transpired that night. It was as if the incident had been swept under the rug.

We slipped right back into our normal routine. Our usual banter, sharing of meals, and the easy flow of conversation. I suppose it was better that way.

Ever since that night, Klaus had left and hadn't returned, which was the only thing that truly mattered.

“I'm sorry,” Mulan's voice gently pulled me out of my thoughts as she tapped my shoulder. “About that night... about Klaus,” she said softly.

We were on the morning shift, wiping down tables before the evening opening.

“Hmm... I thought we had a telepathic agreement never to speak of it again.” I kept scrubbing the wooden surface.

“What?” She looked utterly baffled until I offered her a slight smirk, making her relax. “Ah... sorry I had to break the rule.”

“Mulan... it's okay,” I assured her, holding her gaze. “I don't hold it against you. Besides, I'm fine. I've already put it behind me.”

“No, it's not fine.” Mulan’s voice rose slightly.

“We're at work,” I warned, raising an eyebrow. “And I said I'm okay.”

“You know, I see the black table knife you keep under your pillow every night, right?” She smiled bitterly.

“Mulan…” I tried to interject, but she held up a hand.

“Please, just let me say this.” She placed her hand on my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I didn't talk about it at first because I was ashamed. My own family did that to you in my home, and I..." She paused, taking a breath before continuing. "I just needed to assure you that he isn't coming back. I filed a restraining order against him the very next morning."

I blinked, taken aback. “You did what?”

“Yep, I did. I hate that he tried to put his hands on you. Whether he's family or not, I will never condone gutter behaviour like that.” She sneered.

A wave of warmth rushed through me. Going to such lengths to protect a friend left me feeling deeply loved and humbled.

“Mulan...” I was momentarily at a loss for words.

"You can stop sleeping with a knife under your pillow now, okay?” She managed a faint chuckle.

I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it. Her love for me was overwhelming.

"Are you good?" she asked softly.

"Yes," I said, clearing my throat.

“Okay, I've got to get back to work before the supervisor gets on my case.” She winked, stepping back toward her assigned section.

At the back of my mind, a dark thought lingered: ‘Men like him don't stay away because of a piece of paper.’ I had firsthand experience with that thanks to Victor.

I would still keep the knife nearby, but I nodded because Mulan needed to believe the restraining order was enough.

“Girls, I have a confession.”

Lisa, our resident chatterbox, materialized from the direction of the staff bathroom, drying her damp hair with a towel. “I can't keep this a secret any longer or my head will explode.”

Mulan glanced at me, and we shared a quiet, knowing smile. ‘Here we go again.’

"The bouncer," Lisa declared, sitting down and leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. "The one downstairs at the bar. You both know who I'm talking about."

"The tall one?" Mulan asked.

"Six-foot-two," Lisa confirmed eagerly. "A jawline personally crafted to ruin a woman's inner peace. Smells like cedarwood and looks like a terrible decision." She pressed a hand to her heart. "He came up to me after my shift last night, and I quote: ‘Lisa, I've noticed you ever since you started working here. I am enamored and bewitched by you. Will you go out on a date with me?’”

"That sounds romantic," I smiled.

Mulan rolled her eyes. “A lazy pickup line if you ask me. Who uses the word ‘bewitched’ these days?”

"Jealousy, is that you?" Lisa pouted playfully before taking my hands. "Esme, the feeling is mutual! For once, I didn't even have to throw myself at a man!”

"So, what did you say?" Mulan asked, fully entertained now.

"I said yes, obviously! What else would I say?" She fanned her face. "He’s gorgeous, has that deep, husky voice... how could I say no?”

"Esmeralda."

The three of us looked up simultaneously.

Miss Lucia, the floor supervisor, was standing at the entrance holding her clipboard with the unbothered expression she seemed to reserve exclusively for me.

"Yes, ma'am?" I asked.

"Report to the management office immediately." She turned on her heel and walked off before I could ask a single question.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Lisa and Mulan both turned to me. "What did you do?" Mulan asked at once.

"Nothing," I said, my pulse spiking.

"Think harder," Lisa urged. "Did you break a glass? Were you rude to a customer? Showed up late?"

"I left the gala early the other night," I said slowly. "Maybe it's about that."

"They would have called you in the next morning for that, not days later," Mulan noted, her brows knitting together. "Are you completely sure nothing happened?"

"Mulan, I genuinely don't know." I set my apron down nervously. “I really can't afford to lose this job.”

"Don't keep management waiting then," Mulan said gently. "I'll finish your tables. And Esme..." She caught my eye. "“Whatever it is, don't panic. Just keep your head down and apologize if you have to.”

“I understand.” I nodded and headed toward the upper floor.

The corridor leading to the executive offices was far quieter than the bustling main level. The lighting was dimmer, making my footsteps echo against the floor.

I was halfway down the hallway when a shadow stepped out from an alcove.

I halted so abruptly I nearly lost my balance. A burly man dressed in black and wearing heavy Timberland boots blocked my path.

"If you know what's good for you," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper, "I suggest you keep your mouth shut up there." He took a subtle step back into the shadow. "That's not advice. It's a threat. Remember that."

A sudden chill ran down my spine. He looked familiar, but before I could process it, my mind clicked. He was the man who handed me the hotel keycard and room number that night. He was the contact who got Mulan and me the five-thousand-dollar gig.

‘They know.’

Panic settled in my chest. Whatever management called me up for was directly connected to what happened that night. That explained the threat.

I gripped the stair railing to steady my trembling hands.

‘They know, he knows they know, and now I'm walking right into an interrogation.’

I forced my legs to keep moving because turning around wasn't an option.

Reaching the office door, I knocked lightly.

"Come in."

I pushed the door open.

“Please, take a seat,” a voice invited as I stepped inside.

Shakily, I nodded and raised my head. Seated behind the massive mahogany desk was a man I recognized from my night working as a private server, my first night here. He was the same man who had been speaking comfortably with Kane Ravello.

The sheer weight of my bad luck felt unbearable.

My legs carried me to the chair, and I gripped the fabric of my skirt tightly beneath the desk where he couldn't see my shaking hands.

"Good morning, sir," I said, my voice coming out surprisingly steady.

"Good morning, Miss Esmeralda." He leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk with smooth composure. "Thank you for coming up. My name is Jayson. I am the owner of Meridian." He paused briefly. "I understand you have been on our staff for roughly three weeks now."

"That's correct, sir."

"Good." He opened a red folder in front of him. "I'll get straight to the point. We are currently conducting an internal investigation into unauthorized activities that took place in this building. Specifically, an illicit arrangement involving one of our private suites." He held my gaze. "You were sighted in this hotel several days before your official hire date. I would like to understand how you gained access on that occasion and the nature of your visit."

Fuck!