Outskirts of Los Angeles
In a five star hotel located in the heart of Los Angeles, a lady walked along the passage where rooms with their numbers etched on the rich doors, lined side by side
She wore a red collar uniform that reached her knees and a white apron was hung from her neck and tied around her waist, her hands were gloved and nose, masked.
She Pushed a gurney containing soaps, a bucket, towels and other cleaning stuffs as she strode
Stopping in front of one of the doors, she pressed the bell
No response
She rolled her eyes and pressed it again
This time there was a response
"who's there?
"House keeping"
She replied lazily and soon she heard the door click open, revealing a middle-aged blonde man with pot belly wrapped with just a towel around his waist
The man made way for her to enter, which she did
"Good morning Sir"
She greeted politely but only God knows it was just for the hotel's regulations and not cause of courtesy.
Leaving the trolley at a corner, she retrieved a mop bucket and proceeded to the bathroom first
While cleaning the bathroom, her heart was filled with rage
How can a grown up man be this dirty?!!
What is he?
A pig?
Painstakingly, she finished the bathroom and came to the room to start cleaning
All these while, Summer could feel the man's gaze on her intently and all she wished for was to gauge his eyes out but held herself
A stray music hit her and she began singing in her mind, making her oblivious to the advancing man behind her not untill she turned abruptly and bumped into him
Into his arms!!!!!
As if electrocuted, Summer moved away, throwing the man a disgusting look
Whether the man noticed it or not, Summer couldn't tell because the next thing he did was to draw closer to her
"Young girl, what is your name?
The man asked
Ignoring the disgusting man, Summer pushed the trolley towards the door
She wouldn't deal with the man at all!
But then, what could she do when trouble was persistent in coming her way?
Something right? because even before she could turn the knob, his hand got to it first, blocking her way
"Mr if you could excuse me, I'm done with your room and would like to go clean another room NOW"
She said with gritted teeth
"Oh come on little girl, you know you don't have to continue working here as a cleaner if you play with me"
The man's shameless voice rang
Summer chuckled
"Play with you? Sorry but we ain't kids to play around and you can go to an amusement park if you wanna play, not here in a room, I just got it cleaned and wouldn't want to dirty it"
The man was speechless, does the woman in front of him not understand what he meant by "play"?
Of course not, Summer understood him perfectly but she had to say those words to appear ignorant
The man proceeded to hold her waist and that was the first mistake he made because he doubled over in pain and crouched down
"Aarhhh!! Are you crazy?! you tryna kill me?!!
He boomed with contorted face
Summer rolled her eyes and opened the door
"That's what you get for being a disgusting pig, no, even a pig is more better than you are!
"You wait and see bitch! You're ruined!! do you know who I am?!!!
The man's angry voice laced with pain boomed but Summer was long gone without a care in the world
......
"I ask you again, do you know who that man in room 302 was?
Manager Andrew asked the quiet summer seated opposite him
"No I don't and even if I do I would've done the same thing"
"You...!
Andrew paused and took a long deep breathe to calm himself down
"That was Mr Clifford! one of our top ten clients and you just....you just hit him at his...his....."
"I know, I know Sir, at his private area, but do you also know what he did? he tried to molest me!!
Summer defended herself
"And the best thing to do was that? you ain't even sorry or regretful of your actions, alright you're out"
Andrew said with a sigh
Summer furrowed her brows
"Sorry, I'm what?
"I can't keep a staff who ticks off easily, you're a matured lady and you should know how the world works, you don't just go around hitting people at the slightest touch"
Andrew explained
He really liked Summer, she's a diligent type in working but her behavior just made them loose an important client and he had to fire her even if he would offend a certain someone
...
Summer walked down the hotel lobby in her jean shorts and t-shirt with a face cap, with a cup of cappuccino
She had been sacked again
This was the fourth job in two months!
Was it her or trouble?
Summer couldn't tell
Lilian was surely going to murder her this time around
Due to the distraction caused by her thoughts, Summer didn't notice a cold looking and aloof man walking in her direction
"When is the meeting?
The man asked his assistant equally walking beside him
"10:30 AM Sir"
Assistant Michael replied
Lucian briefly glaced at his wristwatch and hummed
"It's 10:15 Am now, good"
He mumbled
If there was one thing about him, it was that he never gets to a meeting late, he would rather come few minutes to the set time.
Summer's mobile rang and seeing the caller, she dared not pick up the call
In her moment of looking down at the phone's screen, she bumped into someone
"Boss watch out!
Assistant Michael warned but it was too late, the deed had already been done
Summer's eyes widened as she stared at the grey coloured tuxedo which was unbuttoned revealing the inner white shirt and black tie around the collar
But the problem was that, the inner White shirt now had a dirty brown stain at the middle
She had actually poured coffee on someone's shirt!!!!
Subconsciously, she raised her hand to wipe it off only for the person to step backwards as if he was going to be infected
That was when Summer looked up and stood transfixed seeing the most sculpted handsome face she had ever come across
Lucian's brows furrowed as his gaze darkened looking at the dainty looking girl in front of him
"Do you think wiping it off would reduce the damage? Who knows how dirty yout hands are, peasants"
Lucian muttered acidly
Summer couldn't believe what she just heard and her chest felt full with rage
"Hey?!!! watch your tone Mr, we all know it wasn't on purpose!
She retaliated
Assistant Michael widened his eyes in horror
Who is this young girl speaking to boss like this?!
Does she have a death wish or something?!!
Lucian raised a brow
With his hard gaze, he walked tauntedly towards her and the sudden fear, Summer moved backwards
"Hey hey stay back, what are you doing?
She stammered warily
"Poured coffee on me, not apologizing and being sassy, do you know what crime you've committed? Interesting"
Lucian whispered huskily and moved away from the frozen summer
"Let's go"
Lucian said to his assistant and walked further into a corner while his assistant followed closely behind, not after throwing a glance at the lady
It took few seconds for Summer to recover from her state and blinked rapidly
She couldn't believe she was actually scared of that man for a moment
The way his eyes glared down at her, sucking her into the dark abyss, made her heart jump
Then recalling what he had said earlier, she rolled her eyes
"What insolence, who does he think he is?!
She mumbled
After the meeting, Lucian walked out of the conference room in the hotel with his usual expressionless face, followed by Michael
Luckily, the place stained was completely oblivious when he buttoned the tuxedo he wore.
"Mr Stuart? Mr Stuart it's you"
A female's voiced came, making Lucian halt and turn to see who it belonged to
Seeing the not familiar face, he said nothing, not even a nod to acknowledge the lady
"Mr Stuart, I'm Charlotte Brown, my dad invited you to dinner three days ago to discuss business, remember?
Charlotte smiled coquettishly while her two friends appeared to be surprised by Charlotte's words and they felt envious of her
The almighty Mr Stuart, had dinner in Charlotte's house? What an honour
"Sorry do I know you?
Assistant Michael coughed slightly
Charlotte felt puzzled and her friends were surprised at how it turned out
Did Mr Stuart just ask Charlotte if he knows her?
But didn't she say he had dinner at her place three days ago?
Charlotte recollected herself immediately and smiled brightly
"Umm Mr Stuart maybe you've forgotten but I personally helped you with your coat that night"
She said and made to blush
Lucian rolled his eyes inwardly but still kept a neutral face
"I don't remember, Michael, let's go"
He stated and left with his assistant, leaving the shocked and embarrassed Charlotte behind
"Charlotte, Mr Stuart doesn't seem to remember about the dinner or you, do you think maybe...."
"Just cut it!
Charlotte spoke angrily
How could he just forget about her like that?!!
That night, after persuading her dad to invite him for dinner using their business deal as a medium, she made sure to look as radiant and beautiful as possible to make him fall for her
And at a point, the plan seems progressive
Now he's saying he couldn't remember her?!!
That hurt her ego
......
Summer couldn't escape from her worst nightmare, she just couldn't no matter how hard she tried because, Lilian eventually found out about her being fired
Why wouldn't she though?
When the very same person who sacked her was her boyfriend!
"You've been fired?! Again?! Summer Hales!!
Lilian screamed over the phone
"Well your boyfriend fired me"
Summer rolled her eyes
She knew she was about receiving an earful from her friend
"Damn Andrew, he did! so yeah, but why did he? he can't just wake up and then decide that, you must have done something"
Lilian boomed
She didn't know who to be angry at anymore
Her boyfriend or her BFF?
"Please can you concentrate on my hair?
Summer could hear a background voice at the other end
"Lily? Why not finish up for the day and we'll discuss when you get back, I'll be at home, I'm fired after all"
"Gosh! can't believe you're sounding so nonchalant about it, Summer you won't be the death of me"
Lilian shook her head
"Yeah yeah, bye bye love ya, muah"
Summer said hastily and the call got disconnected
Lilian put back her phone in the apron she wore
"You sounded pissed"
A lady who sat in front of Lilian, getting her hairdo, commented
"You're bound to be pissed if you have my type of bestie"
Lilian uttered
Summer dropped the phone and took a deep breathe, at least she'd escaped Lilian's nagging for now
Jumping down from the sofa, she rushed to the fridge and retrieved the remaining pizza, Lilian had planned on eating it when we gets back
Summer you're in double trouble.... but who cares?
She shrugged
The ringing of her phone disturbed her sacred time with the pizza, checking her phone, the caller ID made her frown and she ignored the call
She wasn't about to spoil her pizza mood
But then the call kept coming, the caller was persistent
As if saying that they won't give up till she picks up the call
Picking up the call, Summer rolled her eyes
"Why are you calling me?
"Insolent! Must I call for the umpteenth time before you pick up?!
A lady's voice boomed at the other end
"Blood pressure can get high and judging with your voice, you could get one soon, so take it easy"
Summer said lazily
"I'm your aunt remember that?! you pick whenever I call you, understand? and I want you home this evening, you need to assist your sister for the endorsement"
Summer's voice rang out in laughter the next moment
"Aunt, you're very funny, me? are you kinda mistaken, I'm Summer, the Summer you chased out from your house and swore not to have anything to do with me"
"You must assist her Summer, remember you have a sick brother in the hospital and you're owing a lot of outstanding bills to pay, so what happens when I pay a visit to the hospital?
Summer gritted her teeth
"Don't you dare!
She said
Her aunt chuckled
"Well you know I can, so if you still care about your brother then I want to see you by 4pm evening, a little bird flying should know its wings are still fragile and can fall any time soon"
Summer heard the phone beep, indicating the disconnection
They never give up, do they?!
After two years of staying on her own, thinking that she had cut out all ties with them but they still sought her out like moth attracted to the fire
With clenched fist she stared blankly at space