The Grade Gala Hotel, previously known as The Nebula, is renowned for its Western and Thai-style cuisine. It is one of the biggest hotels in the country, and one of the most expensive. Five star reviews across the board, amazing food and service provided by special trained employees, and happens to be managed by the only woman who walked right into the boy's playground of business only a year ago.
That person happens to be me.
Catherine Winters, owner of the Grade Gala, is the name that comes out of mouths aplenty. When I'm in the same room as you, trust me, you'll know immediately. Though, that's when I'm at my place of work. When I'm at home, with my family, I become someone completely different.
"Athy?" my mother shouted once more. This time, I finally peeled my eyes from my laptop's screen in front of me and looked at my young mother, who clearly did not seem happy. "Weekend time is family time. Give me that."
Slamming the laptop shut and snatching it from my lap, she huffed and walked away angrily. She hates it when I take my work home, especially if it's in a weekend. She believes that I work myself until I'm practically about to pass out. That, of course, is not true. Passing out would be a major inconvenience to my workload and the amount of meetings and proposal briefings that I'd have to miss-
"Athy."
This time, it was my father's soothing voice who interrupted my train of thought. Ever since a work-related accident left his left arm paralysed, my father has remained at home, watching sports on various channels and going to his local club centre to brag about how amazing his daughter was.
I smiled. "What's up, Dad? Do you want to go walk Lily?"
Lily was a little dog that my father picked up from one of his friends. She's quite old now, but great company for someone like him. They both have the same passive temperaments. He shook his head.
"No. I just want you to get married already."
Normally, I'd be surprised by his request, but considering that he's been asking me the same thing every weekend for the past year, I've gotten used to it.
"One of my pals set you up on another blind date, with their nephew's son. Apparently, he's in the same business as you are!"
I chuckled. Perhaps he is in the hotel business, most likely a "certified cleaner of the toilet domain".
"What might his name be?" I asked, entertaining him like I always did. My old man shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what it was. Before he could say anything else however, our doorbell rang and Lily suddenly found her inner strength to yap as she jumped off of the bed, skidded across the floor and jumped against the door, scratching away violently at it.
I wonder who is visiting us on a Sunday afternoon? Most people are busy with their families. Perhaps a salesperson?
I walked towards the door and slowly opened it, only to frown when I saw who was at the door. Brandon Roberts, IT technician for a small company, and another man that my father had introduced to me on one of my many blind dates. I never liked him, and the fact that he smelled like another woman's perfume upon arrival said enough, never mind the fact that he was late.
Holding a bouquet of almost wilted flowers, he smiled upon seeing me answer the door.
"Catherine, I brought you some flowers."
I shrugged. "No thanks. I'm busy right now, so-"
As I went to shut the door however, he placed his foot in the gap, preventing me from shutting it. Placing his hand on the edge of the door, slipping it in, he smiled yet again at me.
"Come on, don't be so cold. You mentioned that lilies were your favourite flowers, right?"
At that moment, Lily barked. Seems like she didn't appreciate her name being uttered by someone like Brandon.
"I don't like lilies." I finally declared. "My dog's name is Lily... and it seems like she doesn't like you much." The old dog growled, and I didn't bother holding her back. Little does he know, she's all bark and no bite.
"Don't be so cold, Athy. I'm sorry for being too forward with you on our first date. I mean, you looked so sexy in that red dress, but I appreciate a woman with morals and standards. It makes me want you even more."
This guy is disgusting.
"Please stop showing up to my house." I declared, angry that he had somehow managed to get my family estate's address. "Weekend time is family time." I can't believe I just quoted my mother. However, instead of deterring him, it just made him even more persistent.
He kept on trying to push the door open, but I held my ground.
"Can't you take a hint and leave?" I finally snapped. "You show up at my family's house and expect me to open up the door with open arms? This is classified as stalking, I'll have you arrested. As a matter of fact, I'll call the police right now-"
"Don't be hasty, Cathy. You don't mind if I call you Cathy, right?"
He ran his hand down the doorframe until it touched mine. I snarled, knowing full well that I couldn't let go of the door.
"I'm not a stalker. I'm just pursuing you, there's nothing wrong with that."
I snarled. "Test me one more time and I'll make sure that you don't have a future to look forward to anymore."
"Athy? Who's at the door, honey?" My dad's voice made me flinch. The last person I want to involve in this is my father. What he did - setting me up in these blind dates - is all made out of good intentions. If he knew that things like this happened-
Suddenly, a car alarm began blaring outside of the house and in that moment, I slammed the door shut and locked it up. He pounded on the door twice, shouting my name, but not before long, he went to check up on his car.
"I'm calling the police on that psycho." I declared, taking out my phone. Then, I heard a huge cry of despair and peeked out the window. There he was, his car as well. A nice Porsche... only that it had been keyed and his tires had been slashed.
-End of Chapter 1-