4. The Hotel Tycoon

“Sorry,” Kayla quickly said the moment she realized she had been in his arms for what felt like forever.

She tried to stand up properly, but it was nearly impossible as her other sandal had lost its heel. She had to grab it, and for a moment, she wanted to scold it for causing her fall, which was absurd. It was just a shoe, oblivious to the chaos it caused moments ago.

Now she remembered why this pair of shoes had stayed in the paper bags and never made it to her shoe closet. They were a gift, but far from sturdy enough to withstand hours of walking. Both she and Maddie had forgotten about them, and she felt the urge to curse herself all over again for not recalling that fact.

She stopped herself, before the man in front of her thought she had lost her mind.

To stand properly, she undid the other shoe and held it in her hand, finally standing barefoot. When she looked up, she found herself facing the best man, and a scowl formed on her face.

Yes, she had to look up. He was taller than she’d realized. At 5'6", Kayla was already above average for a woman, but he easily topped six feet.

Her eyes studied his face. Flawless. Thick, perfectly shaped brows, deep chocolate-brown eyes, a sharply sculpted nose, and lips that were almost heart-shaped and faintly pink. She almost held her breath. They had been exchanging glances since the ceremony began, yet only now did she truly see how gorgeous he was.

He could be an actor, she thought. People would be crazy about this kind of handsomeness.

A clearing of his throat snapped her back to reality. Her face flushed as she realized she’d probably been staring far too long. She looked away.

“I apologize for ruining your moment. Please go on,” he said, his deep voice giving her a moment to appreciate it. It sounded so deep, which made her think he could also pass as a voice actor.

“No, you’re not ruining anything,” she replied.

“I think I do,” he countered, offering her a handkerchief he just got from the inside pocket of his tuxedo.

Right. She had been crying before almost falling. What an embarrassment.

She wasn’t used to people seeing her cry like this. Fans saw her cry on screen, yes, but not like this. Not when she’s pouring her heart out. Not when she’s feeling truly vulnerable.

And this stranger had witnessed it all. She felt exposed and ashamed, that she just wanted to run away and save face.

She hastily wiped the tears that wet her face, which reminded her of what she might look like with all the ruined make up. But that should be the least of her worries now.

“No, I’m fine,” she said firmly. “You can have this place to yourself.” She took a few steps.

But before she could get away, he spoke.

“You know, they say there’s a strange comfort in talking to someone who doesn’t know you.”

Kayla stopped in her tracks. She stood beside him, arms nearly touching, facing the other way.

“But do you really not know me?” she asked, her voice wrapped with curiosity. He had been looking at her repeatedly tonight and it seemed impossible he didn’t recognize her.

“Well, not really personally,” he replied.

True enough, Kayla thought. He had already seen her at her most vulnerable. What else could she hide?

This time, she turned to face him fully. He did the same. They were now face to face, which is a little distracting for her because he looked like a leading man from a movie. She wondered if he felt the same with her.

“You’ve been looking at me, and I wonder why,” Kayla finally said.

A soft smile curved his lips. “I’m just mesmerized… by a celebrity. And a beautiful one at that.”

Kayla blushed. Compliments weren’t new to her, but hearing them from this stranger felt different, intimate somehow.

“You were crying back there,” he said, pointing to where she had stood, “and I wonder why.”

“Are you going to sell my story to the media?”

Another smile, and she found herself staring at it again. She imagined what it would be like to be kissed by those lips, then shoved the thought away. Her heart was freshly broken. This wasn’t the time.

“Why would I do that?” he asked.

“Because people like telling other people’s business to the world.”

“I’m not like most people. I know how to keep a secret.”

Kayla found herself intrigued and strangely comforted. Maybe sharing a little with him isn’t so bad.

“I assure you… what happens on this rooftop, stays on this rooftop.”

That sealed the deal. Kayla nodded, feeling an unfamiliar sense of trust.

“Would you like some drinks to make the mood even better?”

“Some champagne would be nice,” she replied. She spotted a bench nearby and started walking towards it, aware of him following closely. She then remembered how strong his arms felt on her, but she had to dismiss it. It’s not an appropriate time for that kind of thought.

“You must like champagne a lot,” he commented as they settled a foot apart.

“You’re observant,” she noted, and he laughed. He took out his phone, dialed, and ordered a bottle of champagne to the rooftop.

His attention returned to her. “So, why is Kayla Danes crying?”

His handsome face distracted her, so she looked away.

“Because Kayla Danes is broken-hearted,” she said, scoffing. “For real this time.”

She didn’t hear a reply from him, and when she looked his way, he was staring once again–with the same intense gaze he had fixed on her earlier.

They were interrupted when a man arrived with the champagne. The best man, still unnamed in her mind, stood, collected it, and left after a brief exchange with the waiter.

“What did you tell him?” Kayla queried.

“I told him to keep to himself that he saw us together. If it goes out to the media, he will lose his job,” he replied, and her heart fluttered. Being protected by a stranger like this is something she hasn’t experienced before.

“You can do that?”

His eyes, authoritative and commanding, met hers. She felt a strange familiarity, as if she’d seen him somewhere before but couldn’t place it.

“I definitely can.”

The curiosity is almost killing her now, so she asked, “who are you?”

“Corvin Marlowe,” he said, extending his hand. Kayla stared at it.

A realization clicked.

She remembered now.

Marlowe International, the premier global hospitality company renowned for luxury hotels and resorts around the world, had been featured in the same magazine she appeared in last month.

It finally sank in.

“You’re a Marlowe,” she whispered, disbelief and awe lacing her voice. “You actually own this hotel.”