EL

is. The manager should be sacked," the woman beside h

famous model. I have seen her countless times on

erson, her sharp features framed

tay calm. "I'm sorry," I said softly, hop

igious establishments in New York. Ranked number ten globally by H

here costs more than

id, a powerhouse in the business world, whos

ir wealth and influence. He was often featured in Forbes and Fortune

, standing just a f

who he was. His piercing blue eyes an

ed a room without a word, and right

ze, I felt e

or him to speak, the weight of

at my work pants. "Mommy, I'm sorry," he

gui

own to pick him up. His small arm wrapped

y I always say children don't

I kept my head down, trying not to s

w and measured, yet it carried the kind

e, that's

ed, sur

she said nothing further. Instead, she tossed her hair o

k to me, his expression u

to realize he was as

tammered, holding my s

for a moment longer than necessary. My he

fore turning on his heel.

m toward the elevator. Charlotte followed closely, shooting me one

haky breath. My legs felt weak, and I le

bad?" Caesar's small voice

forcing a smile. "No, baby. Yo

shake the feeling that som

. it was as if he saw something famili

couldn't explain,

y tasks. Caesar had finally fallen asleep after an en

dinary had happened that day,

y. The only thing keeping the lights on, the w

undry basket in my hand to the oversiz

g into me, like they had in the hallway earlier. Co

iar about them, though I

ke's voice snapped me

basket of freshly washed bed sheets to the ironing t

" Blake's eyes sparkled mischievously

le at guessing games," I re

her eyes. "

ine. Did another guest try

tugged at her lips. "Okay,

ing to my work. "

nounced dramatically, practic

roz

She trailed off, fanning herself theatrically. "Hot doesn't even cover it. He's

eeping my tone neutral

just told you 'Hunter Reid' is back, an

grabbed another towel and foc

lake said, narro

spill," I replied,

" she said, crossing her arms. "C

nto Hunter Reid and Charlotte Hill earlier... w

line! I warned you to ke

ou know how hyper he gets. Even for a three-year-old, he's... a

the worry lingered in her eyes.

Kayla walked in, cuttin

office, Celine," she said briskly bef

s, my stomach knotting at

, squeezing it. "Go. Don't worry, I'l

********

ch toward doom. Each step was heavy, my palms sl

as if it held the answers to my fate. Finally, I knoc

his deep vo

behind me. The manager sat behind his de

d, gesturing to the c

He didn't speak at first. He just looked at me, his gaze intense and ha

pulled out an envelope, slidin

urn me. "What's this?" I asked

air, folding his hands.

My throat tightened as my fingers tremb

managed

to work," he said coldly.

of his words sank in. Fired. M

, and I began to wonder. Did this

Hunte