That Boy is Your Son, Mr. CEO

Intrigue

Flashback

Erick stood frozen in front of the massive floor to ceiling glass window of his office. In his hand, a financial report for their Montana hotel was crumpled beneath the force of his grip.

"Lucy," his voice was low, sounding almost like a suppressed growl. "Prepare everything. We leave for Montana tomorrow."

Lucy, who had been standing with perfect poise near the desk, knit her brows. Anxiety flickered in her eyes as she glanced at the digital tablet in her hand.

"But, Sir," Lucy interjected as gently as possible, struggling to maintain her professionalism. "Your official schedule for Montana isn't until two days from now. You still have several important meetings at headquarters that—"

"I don't need protocol when my hotel is on the brink of ruin," Erick cut her off sharply. He spun around with a swift motion that made Lucy flinch. His gaze was piercing, betraying a deep, driving ambition.

Erick stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "I’m going there incognito. Do not tell a single employee in Montana about our arrival. I will check in as an ordinary guest, a stranger they won't recognize."

Lucy was stunned, realizing the sheer gravity behind her boss's plan.

"I want to see it with my own eyes," Erick continued. His voice had softened, yet it remained heavy with emphasis. "I want to know just how abysmal their service has become that tourists no longer choose to stay there."

A moment of silence hung in the room before Lucy finally bowed her head.

"Very well, Sir. I will arrange your travel immediately," Lucy replied quietly.

***

The world seemed to be toying with her again. When Elly looked up, standing before her was the very figure she had spent years trying to forget. Erick.

Trembling, Elly squeezed her eyes shut, hoping the vision would vanish. But the familiar scent of his masculine cologne confirmed this was real.

"Forgive me. I didn't realize you were there," Elly whispered hoarsely. She quickly looked down, hiding her fear-stricken face behind strands of messy hair.

Erick did not move. He stood tall in his expensive suit, looking down at the woman before him who now wore only a dull maid's uniform. A hollow, cynical laugh escaped his lips.

"How did you end up as a lowly servant like this?" Erick asked with a mocking tone that cut deep. "Isn't that man, your great lover, a big contractor now?"

The words stabbed at Elly's heart, but she fought with everything she had not to crumble then and there.

"Excuse me, Sir. I’m in a hurry. I must clean this immediately," she said softly, trying to avoid Erick’s burning gaze.

Elly gripped the handle of her equipment cart, attempting to push the heavy object past him. However, a firm hand gripped the edge of the cart with surprising strength, stopping her in her tracks.

"Did he dump you? Or did you cheat on him with someone else?" Erick took a step forward. His voice dropped low, filled with venom. "Did you do the same thing to him that you did to me back then, Elly? You really are an insatiable slut, aren't you?"

Elly's chest tightened. The oxygen around her seemed to vanish. The insult was razor-sharp. Instead of defending herself, Elly could only swallow the humiliation he hurled at her.

"Perhaps. Perhaps it is exactly as you think," Elly murmured, her voice shaking violently. "Forgive me, Sir, I must go."

With what little strength she had left, Elly forced her cart forward, ignoring Erick as he remained standing there like a statue. Once she managed to get a few paces away, her defenses shattered. Her heart felt shredded, leaving a wide wound that bled anew.

Elly took a long breath, trying to dispel the tightness squeezing her throat. Her eyes, which had been brimming with tears, could no longer hold back the flood. One drop fell, then a torrent, wetting her pale cheeks.

As she continued to push her cart with staggering steps, Elly let her sobs break out in silence, drowned out by the cold hotel corridor.

***

"Elly! Elly, wait!"

Agnes's voice broke the silence of the employee locker room, which was beginning to empty. Elly, who had just undone the top button of her uniform to change into casual clothes, turned around with a furrowed brow. Agnes ran toward her, panting heavily, her face flushed with panic.

"Don't. Don't change your clothes yet," Agnes urged, clutching Elly's shoulder as she caught her breath.

"What is it, Agnes? Why do you look like that?" Elly asked. A sense of dread began to crawl up the back of her neck.

"The Manager. She's calling you to her office. Right now."

Elly stood still for a moment. She let out a rough sigh, her shoulders sagging as if a heavy weight had just been dropped there. "It must be about the incident earlier," she murmured quietly, almost to herself.

"An incident? What happened?" Agnes asked, her eyes wide with curiosity and concern.

Elly forced a smile. it was a thin smile that didn't reach her eyes, offered only to reassure her friend. "Just a small issue. I'll handle it," she said, trying to sound brave.

Behind that mask of confidence, however, her heart was racing. Images of a termination letter flashed through her mind. It was a nightmare for a single mother who relied entirely on this job.

"I’m really worried," Agnes whispered, her face etched with anxiety.

"Don't worry, it's not a big deal," Elly tried to comfort Agnes again, though she was lying to herself.

With feet that felt heavy as lead, Elly walked down the long corridor toward the manager's office. Each click of her shoes on the marble floor felt like the ticking of a clock counting down to her ruin.

"Good evening, Mrs. Baker," Elly greeted softly as she entered the cold room. She stood stiffly in front of Dominique Baker's large desk.

Mrs. Baker did not return the greeting. She stared at Elly with a piercing look from behind her glasses. "Elly, our VIP guest in the Presidential Suite just filed a fatal complaint regarding the cleanliness of his room."

Dominique slammed her hand onto the wooden desk. The sound was loud and terrifying, the force making the objects on the desk jump. "How could you be this careless?!" Dominique screamed with overflowing rage.

Elly flinched, her entire body shaking. "I... I am so sorry, Ma'am. I truly apologize for my negligence," she said, her voice nearly lost to her fear.

"I don't need your apology! Now, get back up there and clean every corner of that room until it shines. The guest specifically requested that you be the one to clean it right now!" Dominique commanded in a booming tone that allowed no argument.

"Y... yes, Ma'am. I'll go there immediately." Elly rushed out of the room, her heart a mess of fear and devastation.

As she jogged toward the equipment closet, Elly glanced at her wrist. Her eyes burned when she saw the clock had already passed her shift end. She thought of the small face that must be waiting for her at the childcare center.

"Felix... forgive Mama. I’m going to be a little late," Elly whispered. She began pushing her cleaning cart back toward the top floor.