Chapter 2

~CELINE~

“I can't believe they let a child roam around like this. The manager should be sacked,” the woman beside him said sharply, her arm tightly interlocked with his.

I recognized her instantly…..charlotte Hill, a famous model. I have seen her countless times on TV and the promotional billboards for this hotel.

She looks even more stunning in person, her sharp features framed by perfectly styled blonde waves.

Her words stung, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I'm sorry,” I said softly, hoping my apology would be enough to calm her.

“The Aurelia,” the hotel where I worked, was one of the most prestigious establishments in New York. Ranked number ten globally by Hotel Magazine, it catered to celebrities, tycoons, and politicians.

A single night’s stay here costs more than my monthly paycheck.

The Aurelia had been founded by Sebastian Reid, a powerhouse in the business world, whose name still held eight years after his death.

His son, Hunter Reid, had taken over the family’s empire, growing their wealth and influence. He was often featured in Forbes and Fortune magazines and celebrated as a rising star in the world of billionaires.

And now here he was, standing just a few feet away from me.

I did not need an introduction to know who he was. His piercing blue eyes and cold, commanding presence were enough.

He had the kind of aura that silenced a room without a word, and right now, those eyes were locked on me.

Under his gaze, I felt exposed, small.

My breath hitched as I waited for him to speak, the weight of his silence pressing down on me.

Ceasar, clueless to the tension, pulled at my work pants. “Mommy, I’m sorry,” he whispered, his big blue eyes twinkling with guilt.

“It's okay, sweetie,” I murmured bending down to pick him up. His small arm wrapped around my neck, grounding me in the moment.

Charlotte scoffed. “This is why I always say children don’t belong in places like this.”

Her tone made my stomach churn, but I kept my head down, trying not to show how much her words affected me.

Finally, Hunter spoke. His voice was low and measured, yet it carried the kind of authority that demanded attention.

“Charlotte, that’s enough.”

I blinked, surprised.

Charlotte frowned, clearly unhappy with his response, but she said nothing further. Instead, she tossed her hair over her shoulder, muttering something under her breath.

Hunter’s gaze shifted back to me, his expression unreadable. “Is he hurt?”

It took me a moment to realize he was asking about Caesar.

“N-No, he’s fine,” I stammered, holding my son a little tighter.

He nodded once, his eyes staying on Caesar for a moment longer than necessary. My heart raced, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.

“Good,” he said curtly before turning on his heel. “Let’s go, Charlotte.”

Without another word, he walked away, his long strides carrying him toward the elevator. Charlotte followed closely, shooting me one last look of hatred before disappearing behind the closing doors.

As soon as they were gone, I let out a shaky breath. My legs felt weak, and I leaned against the wall to steady myself.

“Mommy, did I do something bad?” Caesar’s small voice broke through my thoughts.

I kissed the top of his head, forcing a smile. “No, baby. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had just changed.

The way Hunter Reid looked at Caesar… it was as if he saw something familiar. Something he couldn’t quite place.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, that terrified me.

Throughout the remaining hours, I tried to focus on my tasks. Caesar had finally fallen asleep after an endless game of hide-and-seek around the staff quarters.

At least nothing out of the ordinary had happened that day, and for that, I was grateful.

This job wasn’t just important—it was necessary. The only thing keeping the lights on, the water running, and a roof over Caesar’s head.

I sighed, shifting my gaze from the laundry basket in my hand to the oversized Hunter Reid poster across the room.

Those damn blue eyes. I could still feel them boring into me, like they had in the hallway earlier. Cold, assessing—not threatening, but not kind either.

There was something familiar about them, though I couldn’t quite place it.

“Celine! Celine!” Blake’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, Blake,” I said, forcing a smile as I carried the basket of freshly washed bed sheets to the ironing table. “Where have you been? We’re drowning in work.”

“Oh, forget the laundry for a second!” Blake’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she stepped closer. “Guess what?”

“Blake, you know I’m terrible at guessing games,” I replied, picking up the iron.

She rolled her eyes. “Just try.”

I sighed, humoring her. “Fine. Did another guest try to make a move on you?”

Blake groaned, but a grin tugged at her lips. “Okay, yes, but that’s not it.”

I smirked, returning to my work. “So, what is it?”

“Hunter Reid is back!” she announced dramatically, practically bouncing on her heels.

I froze.

“Girl, when I passed him in the hallway, I nearly died on the spot. He’s so…” She trailed off, fanning herself theatrically. “Hot doesn’t even cover it. He’s like a god walking among mortals. I can’t believe we’re breathing the same air.”

“I see,” I murmured, keeping my tone neutral as I folded a towel.

Blake frowned. “That’s all you’ve got? I just told you ‘Hunter Reid’ is back, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal!”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I grabbed another towel and focused on smoothing its edges.

“Okay, spill,” Blake said, narrowing her eyes.

“There’s nothing to spill,” I replied, avoiding her gaze.

“Yeah, right. Not with that look,” she said, crossing her arms. “Come on, Celine. What happened?”

I sighed, setting the iron down. “Fine. I ran into Hunter Reid and Charlotte Hill earlier… while chasing Caesar. He bumped into Mr. Reid.”

Blake’s jaw dropped. “Celine! I warned you to keep Caesar out of sight!”

“I know,” I said quickly, running a hand through my hair. “But you know how hyper he gets. Even for a three-year-old, he’s… a lot. I try to keep him contained, but it’s exhausting, Blake.”

Blake’s expression softened, but the worry lingered in her eyes. “What are you going to do if—”

Before she could finish, Kayla walked in, cutting through the tension.

“The manager wants to see you in his office, Celine,” she said briskly before disappearing back down the hall.

Blake and I exchanged looks, my stomach knotting at the assumed possibility.

Blake reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. “Go. Don’t worry, I’ll watch Caesar until you get back.”

************************

The walk to the manager’s office felt like a march toward doom. Each step was heavy, my palms slick with sweat, my heart pounding in my chest.

I hesitated outside his door, staring at the nameplate as if it held the answers to my fate. Finally, I knocked, my knuckles barely making contact with the wood.

“Come in,” his deep voice called.

I stepped inside, closing the door softly behind me. The manager sat behind his desk, his face set in a stern expression.

“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

I sat up straight, my back stiff and my hands tightly clasped in my lap. He didn't speak at first. He just looked at me, his gaze intense and hard to read. The silence felt heavy, wrapping around me like a tight grip.

Finally, he opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope, sliding it across the desk toward me.

I stared at it like it might burn me. “What’s this?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “Your final paycheck.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. My throat tightened as my fingers trembled against the edge of the envelope.

“What?” I managed to croak.

“Don’t bother coming back to work,” he said coldly. “As of today, you’re fired”

My heart stopped as the reality of his words sank in. Fired. My only source of income—gone.

The manager's face became serious, and I began to wonder. Did this have anything to do with Caesar?

Or…. Hunter Reid?