Masuk**KIRA**
Kira stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the collar of her black suit.Sharp. Professional. Powerful.The jacket was tailored perfectly. The pants fell just right. She allowed her fall like a model. Red bottom heels completed the look.This was CEO Kira.Not housewife Kira. Not invisible Kira.This version didn’t apologize. Didn’t shrink. Didn’t second-guess herself.She grabbed her bag and walked downstairs.Marcus was in the foyer, coffee in hand, scrolling through his phone.“Ready for your first day?” he asked.“As ready as I’ll ever be.”“Nervous?”“No.”He looked up and smiled. “Good. You shouldn’t be. That hotel’s been waiting for someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”“Is it really that bad?”“Worse. Three managers in two years. All of them quit or got reassigned. Staff morale is low. Revenue is down. It’s a mess**ADRIAN**The two lawyers stood in front of Adrian’s desk. Professional. Calm. Like they delivered divorce papers every day.Maybe they did.The woman spoke first. “Mr. Westbrook, we’re here on behalf of our client, Kira Ashford, to formally discuss the dissolution of your marriage.”Adrian’s hands clenched on the desk. “I need to call my lawyer.”“Of course. We can wait.”Adrian grabbed his phone and dialed Marcus Chen, his personal attorney. The call went straight to voicemail.He tried again.Voicemail.He cursed under his breath and dialed the office number.“Chen and Associates.”“This is Adrian Westbrook. I need Elvis. Now.”“Mr. Elvis is in court this morning, Mr. Westbrook. He won’t be available until….”“Get him out of court.”“Sir, I can’t—”“Then get me someone else. Anyone. I need a lawyer in my office in the next twenty minutes or you’re all fired.”There was a pause. “I’ll see what I can do.”Adrian hung up and looked at the two lawyers. “Sit. My attorney will be here s
KIRAKira sat behind her new desk, staring at the stack of files in front of her.Revenue reports. Staff complaints. Guest reviews.All bad.She pulled out her phone and dialed Marcus.He picked up on the second ring. “How’s your first day?”“Terrible.”Marcus laughed. “That bad?”“Worse. This place is a disaster, Marcus. The kitchen is using dead seafood. The rooms haven’t been properly cleaned in God knows how long. The mattresses are falling apart.” She leaned back in her chair. “Did you give me this hotel to punish me for being away for nine years?”“What? No.”“Then why is it like this?”Marcus sighed. “Honestly? We neglected it. The hotel division wasn’t performing well over the past two years, and we had too many other things going on. Bigger projects. More profitable ventures. This place just… fell through the cracks.”“Fell through the cracks?” Kira repeated. “Marcus, this isn’t a crack. This is a canyon.”“I know. That’s why we need you to fix it.”“It’s going to take more t
**KIRA**Kira walked through the lobby with the executives trailing behind her like anxious shadows.Alyssa, her personal assistant, stayed close to her side. Young. Sharp. Efficient.“Why would they even talk about you like that without knowing you?” Alyssa whispered.Kira didn’t look at her. “Because they’re comfortable being mediocre. Don’t worry. I know what to do.”They reached the elevators. One of the executives, Mr. Harrison, stepped forward and pressed the button for the VIP elevator.“Miss Ashford, we’ve prepared the executive floor for your arrival. If you’ll follow me…..”“Stop.”Everyone froze.Kira turned away from the elevator and looked across the lobby.“I want to see the restaurant first.”Mr. Harrison blinked. “The restaurant? Miss Ashford, it’s not lunch or dinner service. There won’t be much to see.”“Exactly. I want to see it when no one’s performing for me.”She walked toward the restaurant entrance. The executives exchanged nervous glances and followed.The res
**KIRA**Kira stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the collar of her black suit.Sharp. Professional. Powerful.The jacket was tailored perfectly. The pants fell just right. She allowed her fall like a model. Red bottom heels completed the look.This was CEO Kira.Not housewife Kira. Not invisible Kira.This version didn’t apologize. Didn’t shrink. Didn’t second-guess herself.She grabbed her bag and walked downstairs.Marcus was in the foyer, coffee in hand, scrolling through his phone.“Ready for your first day?” he asked.“As ready as I’ll ever be.”“Nervous?”“No.”He looked up and smiled. “Good. You shouldn’t be. That hotel’s been waiting for someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”“Is it really that bad?”“Worse. Three managers in two years. All of them quit or got reassigned. Staff morale is low. Revenue is down. It’s a mess
**ADRIAN**It was the next Monday morning.Adrian sat behind his desk, staring at the report in front of him.Empty.Blank pages with nothing useful.He’d paid good money for this. Called in favors. Pushed his team to work through the weekend.And this was what they gave him?Nothing.He picked up his phone and dialed his secretary’s extension.“Sir?”“My office. Now.”“Yes, sir.”Two minutes later, Davis knocked and entered. He looked nervous. His tie was slightly crooked, and he carried a thin folder in his hands.Adrian gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit.”Davis sat.“Tell me you have something.”Davis opened the folder slowly. “Sir, I’m sorry, but there’s very little information available on Elijah Kane.”“What do you mean very little?”“I mean almost nothing. Basic public records. His restaurants. Some culinar
**KIRA**The car was quiet.Kira sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. Her feet hurt. Her face felt tight from smiling all night. Her head was full of voices and faces and conversations she’d already started to forget.But one conversation she couldn’t forget.Adrian.Standing in front of her. Asking to talk. Reaching for her hand.And Elijah stepping in.Your replacement.Kira smiled slightly at the memory.Beside her, Elijah sat with his jacket off, his tie loosened. He looked relaxed. Comfortable.He hadn’t said much since they left the gala. Just asked if she was okay. She’d said yes, and he’d left it at that.No pushing. No questions.Just quiet.Kira appreciated that.The car turned onto a quieter street. They were almost back to the Ashford Estate.“Thank you,” Kira said suddenly.Elijah looked







