CHAPTER 6

Maya Griffiths thanked the driver of the cab she took from the airport after paying him her fare and assisting her with her small luggage. She gave him a smile when he wished her a good stay and called a porter for her.

“I’ll take your luggage, Madam,” the porter said politely. “Have you made reservations with the hotel?”

“Yes. Reservation is under the name of Deli Gourmet,” she answered as she walked towards the front desk and smiled politely at the receptionists. She took off her sunglasses and hat, reaching for her ID inside her purse. “Hi. Reservation under Deli Gourmet please. Has Mr. Grayson St. Claire already checked in?”

“Ms. Griffiths!”

Maya turned and smiled warmly when saw Thomas Jamison walking towards her.

“I have already taken the liberty in checking you and Mr. St. Claire in your room,” Thomas informed patiently. “Your room is on the penthouse suite at the East Wing of the hotel. I can take you there if you need to freshen up.”

“Where’s Grayson?” She asked after thanking the porter, who will deliver the luggage to her room. She thanked the server warmly when she was handed a welcome cocktail and a lei was placed around her neck. “And why are you still in your corporate clothes?”

“Mr. Grayson just let me off a few minutes ago, Ms. Griffiths.” Thomas answered patiently. “The new owner of the hotel invited him to see some new jet skis at the docks when he found out that Mr. Grayson is into water sports.”

Maya gave Thomas a light scowl.

“You’re really not going to call me by my first name, are you, Thomas?” She asked lightly.

Thomas grinned at her sheepishly. “If Mr. St. Claire will hear me addressing you informally, he will threaten me again of having my throat in his hands,” he answered, looking around quickly. “I value my life and will take your temper any day over his.”

She laughed lightly at his response as they headed towards the outdoor area of the hotel.

“You’re too much, Thomas,” she said, shaking her head with amusement. “Why don’t you go and freshen up? I’ll just take a walk around and enjoy the breeze and scenery. I’ll probably call him to meet with me at the dining area in a while.”

Thomas nodded and he looked at her with concern.

“Will you be alright?” He asked seriously.

“I’ll be,” she answered, looking at him strangely. “Remember I was here the last time for a day tour with Skylar? I’m sure I still know the way around.”

After Thomas finally took off, Maya finished her drink and handed the empty glass to a passing staff before putting on her hat. She gently flipped her long, honey brown hair behind her back as she walked towards the pool area, where there are tourists, basking in the afternoon sun.

Maya turned to her phone and sent a message to Grayson, informing him that she’s already in the hotel, strolling around the property and told him to meet with her at the dining area in thirty minutes. She then returned her phone to her bag and continued walking around.

She stopped for a while when she saw some performers entertaining some children, watching them. One of the performers saw her and hastily gave her a paper flower. Maya smiled and thanked him politely.

During that short span of time, Maya noticed some of the women giving her second and third looks. Taking off from the group, Maya pushed the observation she saw to the back of her mind and continued strolling around the area.

After a while, she finally decided to head to the main restaurant’s dining area to wait for Grayson. Pulling out her phone from her bag, she was surprised to see that Grayson did not reply to his message. She called his number and realized that she could not get through.

“Probably an important call,” she muttered. “I might as well wait for him there.”

Maya turned back towards the hotel and nearly collided with a group of women if she hadn’t taken a step back immediately.

“Oh, sorry for that,” one of the women apologized. “Yanna here is already tipsy from the margarita she drank.”

“That’s alright,” Maya said politely. “No harm done.”

“Hey!” Another one in the group called out. “Don’t I know you from somewhere around here? I swear I have seen your face before but there’s something different about you.”

“I have a common face,” Maya explained gently. “I am not from here and just vacationing.”

“You sure?” The woman repeated. “I could swear I saw your face before.”

“You’re probably drank as well, Val,” the woman who apologized in their behalf said firmly. She gave Maya an apologetic look. “Forgive them. They really see different things when they’re tipsy already.”

Maya only nodded and finally made her way to the dining room. She thanked the staff who opened the door for her and immediately recognizing her as the new chef of the restaurant. She was ushered into a table and was immediately served some snacks and refreshments despite assuring them that a glass of water will be okay.

Her phone suddenly rang, and she saw Grayson calling her.

“I’m here at the dining room,” Maya informed after answering the call. She placed one sugar rock in her coffee and stirred the liquid gently. She smiled politely at the waitress who handed her the menu. “Where are you?”

“I went up the room to change,” Grayson replied softly. “I’ll be down in fifteen minutes. Thomas already arranged a car for us to drive around the city. Have you eaten, by the way?”

“I had a sandwich at the plane a while ago,” she informed him.

“Order something to eat, Maya,” Grayson instructed gently. “Get one for me, too. Who would have thought that re-negotiating the contract will make me hungry? Then, we’ll go out for a drive.”

Maya smiled at his statement.

“Alright,” she returned. “I tried their pasta here last time and it was delicious. I’ll definitely retain that on the menu. I’ll order that for you while I’ll order some Cured Rosemary and Onion Pork. Do you want some wine?”

“Perhaps later,” Grayson answered. “I’m not familiar with the roads yet and I want to make sure I’m sober.”

“Okay, then. I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Maya said and ended the call. She then called for the waitress and placed an order of their food. “Please add two glasses of your iced house tea for us. Thank you.”

Maya looked around the restaurant when the waitress took off. She noted some areas that she hopes to change aside from the ones she had already observed on her previous visit. She also noticed that only a few customers are patronizing this restaurant, wondering if they had known that the food being served tastes good. They much prefer ordering food from the other small restaurant surrounding the hotel property.

She reached for her phone and sent some messages to her marketing and advertisement team to come up with ideas when they will take over the shop soon. She got immediate replies from her staff, and she smiled at their eagerness. She was busy browsing through her phone that she didn’t realize that someone entered the dining area and the staff inside the dining area immediately flanked towards them.

“Let this be a warning to your staff, Mr. Brian,” a cold, steel voice reprimanded with no place for any more mistakes. “I do not tolerate staff ogling eyes with hotel guests. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mr. Cunningham," another voice replied apologetically. "I will make sure that those caught will be warned about it. My apologies again.”

“Very well,” the cold voice scoffed.

Maya managed to finally look up from her phone and found the Hotel Manager, Mr. Brian Marks apologizing to a tall, dark-haired man who exudes an air of arrogance aside from the superiority aura surrounding him. Behind him is a slightly, lanky man with curly blond hair, she assumed to be the man’s assistant, who seems to disappear at the mere presence of the man.

Something about the profile of the man warned Maya to stay away from him and she will do just that. She immediately tore her gaze away from them so as not be caught.

“Ms. Griffiths!”

Maya blinked when her name was called out and she saw Mr. Brian approaching her with a tight, welcome smile. She stood up from her chair and returned his greeting and to her dismay noticed at the corner of her eye, the man following behind.

“It’s a pleasure seeing you again,” Mr. Brian said gently, shaking her hand. “I already met Mr. St. Claire a while. Please let us know if you have any concerns with your stay here.”

“Will do, Mr. Brian,” Maya replied gratefully.

Mr. Brian then stepped aside and gestured to the man, who a few minutes ago reprimanded him over something. “Ms. Griffiths, I’d like to introduce you to the new hotel operator of The Oceanview Resort Hotel and Spa,” he said formally. “Sir, this is Maya Griffiths, the chef of restaurant Aurora that will be taking over here. Ms. Maya, this is Mr. Jordan Cunningham, CEO of Pinnacle Luxury Limited Inc.”

Maya turned towards the man and raised her eyes to meet his gaze with a smile plastered on her face. She reached out a warm hand towards him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cunningham,” she stated formally.

The man named Jordan, met her gaze and his eyes suddenly widened after he took a good look at her. He stood rooted at his spot while his assistant gasped in loud shock, some documents that he is holding fell on the ground.

Jordan Cunningham, utterly speechless, his gaze never leaving her face.