12! The Promise I Made!

MABEL

It felt as if my mind was blooped together as I watched the press conference of Ethan and Hailey, holding hands, standing side by side.

“We are as surprised as you all when the news broke out,” Ethan said to the press. “We look forward to meeting the new owner and CEO.”

He didn't wait to answer anyone's questions, he dragged Hailey with him but that was not before I saw the look on her face.

A look of both surprise, fear, shock and horror. If buying this company Hotel was what got her looking like that. Then the five hundred million dollars was worth it.

“I can tell you are still enjoying your victory lap,” Rose said to me as she walked into my room.

“Sleep well?” I asked her as she went straight for the coffee.

“Yeah, yeah…I didn't,” she stormed the cup in her hands against the counter.

“Wow,” I flinched a little. “You are going to break that,” I said and she chuckled.

“You still haven't told me the real reason for this impulse purchase,” she said. “I mean I went through the numbers last night.”

“Oh, you really didn't sleep,” I said and she tilted her head.

“Lane Hotels Company is drowning in debt and money,” she said and I sighed.

“I know that,”

“And….?” She cuts me off.

“If you will let me finish….” I said, almost snapping at her. “When Mom fell sick after her depression this place was where she found refuge. She was always happy when my Dad brought her here..”

“I didn't know that,” Rose said, softly.

“She loved that chicken pie and would order it every day she was here. She wasn't happy at home. I mean how could she be,” I placed my hands on my forehead, and shrugged my shoulders.

“Dad was being a jerk to her, beside her being sick. She was the best mom when she was here, but at home she was a complete shadow of herself.”

“This wasn't just your Mom's happy place, it was yours too,” Rose said and I sighed.

“She made me promise that this place will never close,” I said. “A few days before she died at the hospital.”

“That's a lot of pressure to put on a kid,” Rose stood up and walked towards me.

“It didn't matter then, but just a few weeks before we got here I saw how bad the hotel had become and I felt guilty,” I said.

“Why?” Rose asked.

“Because instead of sticking with my promise I ran from New York and I was about to run again just yesterday….”

“Hey, hey,” Rose cut me off. “It's okay to not be strong sometimes, to be vulnerable.”

“Not being strong and being vulnerable was the reason Ethan and Hailey were able to trample on me and did what they did to me,” I said.

“I'll never allow that to happen to me again,” I said, strongly. “My Mom gave me her strength when she passed away and I'll use it to keep my promise to her and not run away from my problems.”

“I understand that but…” A knock on the door stopped her and she walked towards it.

“Who is it?” Rose asked.

“Uhm, it's Angie,” the answer came from outside the door. Rose turned to look at me and I nodded.

The door opened and Operations Director Angie walked in. “Good morning, Ms. James, Ms. Edison.”

“Rose.”

“Mabel,” myself and Rose said at the same time and Angie sighed.

“I can still call her by her name,” Angie pointed at Rose. “But I'm not calling you by your name.”

“Okay,” I chuckled. “What can I do for you?”

“You asked me to assemble the staff this morning…well, they are assembled and waiting for you,” she said and I got up on my feet.

I looked up at Angie to see her eyes widened. “What?” I asked her.

“Nothing, you look really nice,” she said and I scoffed.

“I'm a fashion stylist, Angie, looking nice is par for the course,” I said as I applied lipsticks on my lips.

“Besides this is just a jean, a tank top and an old blazer,” I said.

“Complimented with a really cold set of heels,” Rose said and headed to the door. “Don't try to keep up Angie, I have tried and she still outshines me.”

“Okay, now y'all are just trying to make me blush,” I said as I walked out of the door with her and Angie in front.

“I never knew how serious this was until I heard, ‘staff’,” Rose said. “I have been your only full-time staff for close to four years. Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Of course not,” I chuckled and threw my hands over her shoulder. “You are forever going to be my favorite,” I said as we got out of the elevator.

We followed Angie and we walked into a conference room where thirty something people were waiting for me.

“Is this everyone?” I asked Angie, clearly not seeing the Manager from yesterday.

“Uhm, sort of,” she said and I scoffed.

“Congratulations Ms. James,” I heard a young man's voice and I turned to see Dave standing beside me.

“Oh wow, Dave,” I looked at him, he looked well dressed up. With the right shirt and color. “You look prestigious.”

“Well, I got some very good advice from my new boss yesterday,” he said and I smiled.

“I'm glad, you took it,” I tapped his shoulder and he walked back to his colleagues.

“Hi everyone, uhm, Mabel James and yesterday I bought Lane Hotels,” I said and there were murmurs everywhere.

“Yes, if you didn't believe the news yesterday, believe now. I'm your new boss and CEO,” there was silence for a while and all of a sudden starting from Dave, there was a round of applause.

“Thank you,” I scoffed, turning to look at Rose who just shrugged her shoulders.

“Uhm, my mother used to bring me here with her when I was younger. I never knew anyone apart from my mother that called a hotel her favourite place,” I said and there was a bit of laughter.

That's good. They are warming up to me.

“She loved the chicken pie that was served here. Is Chef Ramos still here?” I asked, looking around.

A man raised his hands and came forward, but he looked younger than he should. “You are not….”

“No I'm not. He was my father, he passed away a year ago,” he said and I sighed.

“I'm so sorry to hear that,” I said and he nodded. “But you took over the kitchen?” I asked.

“Oh yes, Chef Ramos chicken pie is just as delicious as his father, all of the guests agree,” someone said and I nodded with a smile.

“I look forward to eating it, Chef Ramos,” I said, pointing at him.

“You got it, Ms. James,” he said and I felt a chill run down my spine.

I'm obviously still getting to the feeling of being called by my father's name.

“Okay, I know all of you would like to show me your respect but instead of Ms. James, I prefer Ms. Mabel, that's more like me,” I said, looking at each of them. “Is that cool?”

“Yes, Ms. Mabel,” they all said at the same time, including Angie.

“So, let's go over why I'm really here. You all have probably heard about layoffs. But I'm here to tell you that no one is losing their jobs.”

“The hell they aren't,” I heard a voice behind me and I turned to see Hailey and beside her was the hotel's manager.

“Hello, Hailey,” I said with a smirk.

“What the hell are you doing, Mabel?” She asked with anger in her voice.