After a short while, he came back and took a seat on the sofa right in front of me. He fixated his concentration on his mobile. He was constantly rapidly typing and swiping and scrolling through content. I refrained from engaging in conversation with him during those brief moments; instead, I silently observed his actions.
I steeled my nerves and said, 'Excuse me,' as I leaned my body towards his direction.
Hush! He looked up from his mobile, his fingers typing away with fervor, and signaled for me to hold on.
Hushhh..! I was in utter disbelief over his actions. I'm not some child who needs to be silenced! I'm a grown woman here, endeavoring to engage in a civil conversation. I slouched back in my seat, emitting an exasperated sigh, and crossed my arms on my lap, utterly incredulous.
Startled by a sudden knock on the door, he immediately marched over to answer it and was greeted by a slender, youthful man in his late twenties, exuding an air of sophistication, clad in equally refined attire. Soon the slender gentleman stepped into the room he gave me a slight nod and then whispered something into the man's ear. Both seemed rather anxious.
The two men briskly strode into the dining area, their urgency was noticeable, ready to engage in a conversation that seemed to carry a weighty significance.
With a stealthy determination, I regulated my breath to a slow pace, fully immersing myself in the art of silence, all in pursuit of secretly intercepting their conversation.
They engaged in a conversation about the videos and images on the internet that went viral within minutes. What impact will this have on the forthcoming morning event? I was wondering whether their mention was in regard to the photographs taken in the hallway a while ago.
No one except a few people knew of my existence. I was far from being an iconic name; in fact, I flew under the radar completely, so why would it be such a big deal unless he was an exceptionally renowned individual? Who exactly was he, anyway?
I was really into eavesdropping on their conversation, but my exhaustion had completely dulled my senses. I looked at the clock and saw that it read five o'clock in the morning.
The sky was on the cusp of transforming into a vibrant shade of orange, signaling the impending arrival of the sun. The chirping and fluttering of birds in the distant, dense forest filled the air as they took flight from their cozy nests. I was desperate for sleep and would go to any length to get it. I had barely shut my eyes for a brief moment when I was rudely interrupted.
'Hello, Miss Zara, my name is Winston, and Mr. Colton would like to speak with you,' said the slender man who had just entered the room a few minutes prior.
When he said, "Mr. Colton?" my eyes widened and my ears perked up. Could he be the Sherman Colton? "The owner of the Elite Oak Resort?"
Winston smiled and gave an approving nod.
Oh, F**k, the wretched misfortune that has befallen me! Of all the men on this planet, it had to be Sherman Colton. I can't believe my terrible luck; fate has chosen to play a cruel joke on me.
I have heard that this man is as strict as a nun with a ruler, and he hires and fires people like they are apples and oranges. As I had already submitted my resignation letter, I couldn't help but cry over fate's wicked sense of humor. It seems that the universe had conspired to ensure that my return to this place would be as likely as finding a unicorn riding a rainbow. Impossible in this lifetime.
What a night it had been so far! Here I am, in my wedding dress, completely sloshed and caught up with none other than Sherman Colton. I couldn't help but wish for a miraculous escape. I wanted the earth beneath my feet to crack wide open, creating a gaping chasm that would mercifully swallow me whole. It seemed like a perfect solution to my current situation, a chance to disappear into the depths of the earth and escape his judgemental gaze.
How could life be so cruel and subject me to such humiliation twice in a day by two different men?
With no other choice, I followed after Winston, my forehead shimmering with nervous sweat as we made our way to the dining room.
Seated on a plush chair, Mr.Colton was intensely concentrating back and forth between a number of electronic devices and a horde of documents. He was a workaholic, and it seemed like from the moment he woke up to the second his head hit the pillow, his life revolved around work.
With some flair, Winston gallantly pulled out the chair for me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his exaggerated chivalry as I would have chosen a chair away from his boss. Reluctantly, I plopped down onto the seat - directly across from Mr. Colton.
Soon I settled into my seat, a strange glint danced in his eyes. With a subtle flick of his hand, he ordered Winston to take the reins of the conversation. It was clear that this encounter was about to take an intriguing turn.
I couldn't help but wonder the logic behind summoning me from the living room when Winston was to do all the talking. He could have easily just sent the message through Winston. It all seemed a bit dramatic.
"Ms. Zara, We understand that you're completely unaware of the gravity of this issue, but it's actually quite significant, and it greatly influences how people perceive the Colton empire," Winston stated, sounding as if he had meticulously memorized an inaugural speech. His words felt incredibly rehearsed when he uttered them.
"And we have a solution to the problem as well as a proposal for you."
"Proposal?" I quickly steered my eyes toward Mr.Colton. The look on his face induced anxiety in me.
He didn't utter a word; instead, he locked eyes with Winston and motioned for him to continue talking.