ETHAN
EMPIRE SUITES
I sat in my office, focusing my eyes on the computer before me. Contract files that needed cross checking piled up on one side of my table. The door opened and Lucas, my friend and personal assistant came in.
"Good morning Ethan"
"Lucas. What's up?" I said looking up and back at my computer.
"I'm good" he sat on the chair opposite me.
"Found an event planner? I wanted to know how far he'd gone with the search.
"Yeah, I did"
"So what's his name?
"Come on Ethan, " Lucas smiled. " You know it's hard to find a male event planner that's really good. "
"I told you I don't need females, why must it be a female?
"You can fire the female waitresses and the cleaners too, make it an 'only male hotel'. Lucas teased.
"Stop joking around Lucas, I'm your boss"
"My bad, sir" Lucas raised his hands in surrender. Lucas is my only worker who was informal with me because we've been friends since childhood, we grew up together in Atlanta. Others think I'm scary and ruthless.
"Tell her she's not qualified" I wasn't ready for any employee drama. Females can be a handful.
"I told her, but she insists she's capable of doing the job"
I scoffed." Women think they can do everything"
"It's her job and she's sure of herself, we should give her a try, I love her confidence unlike like the other seven you rejected" Lucas convinced.
" She better be"
"Here's her details" Lucas tried to hand me file but I refused to take it.
"I'm not interested"
"Not every woman is like Sophie, you know" Lucas smiled.
"I could fire you for mentioning her name" .
" Sorry, boss" Lucas smiled and left the office.
When I got home, I met my father, the well known Johnson Wellington, at the dining table dinning with Zoe, the daughter of Reginald Thompson, a popular politician in Atlanta that has many connections across the countries. The room was filled with their laughter when I walked in.
"Oh, he's here" Zoe stood up and walked gracefully to welcome me. Her defined shoulders making the emerald green dress she wore stand out, showing her good looking body shape which would make any man's jaw drop except mine. All her recent efforts to impress me were futile and I wished they would all just stop.
"Welcome home, Ethan." She tried to hug me but I simply caught her hands and shoved her to the side.
"What's going on here Dad? I couldn't help but feel disgusted.
"Is that how to appreciate someone who cares for you? I taught you better, son." My dad speaking without looking up from his meal began to make me pissed.
"Dad, I've told you countless times that I hate it when you try to make decisions for me." My dad kept silent. I couldn't stand them both and was really tired from work.
"Good night Dad" I left for my room. Zoe stared at me walking away on the stairwell.
As I went to get water from the dispenser outside my room, I overheard my father still cheering her on downstairs.
"He will come around, just give him time" he tried to console her.
"He doesn't love me." She said sadly.
"Don't say that dear, who wouldn't love a beautiful woman like you."
"Awwww, thanks Dad" she blushed. She is already fond of calling him Dad? These people are crazy.
"You're welcome, my daughter in law." She must be blushing to death by now.
"I feel like I'm already married to him" and I smiled wickedly while taking a sip of my chilled glass of water. "Keep dreaming" I said to myself.
"Of course you will marry him, Ethan can't resist you for long, he's just playing hard to get". My father said and they both laughed and continued eating.
" You're so funny Dad. It's women that play hard to get."
"Then maybe my son is a woman"
" Of course not." They both laughed. I returned the glass and entered my room.
The next day, I sat busy in my office when a call came in on the landline.
"Hello" it was a business client asking to schedule a meeting.
" No, I won't be around. I'll be leaving for Florida in a few minute time. Yeah next time". They never call when you have all the time. Lucas' call came in and I picked.
"Hey Ethan, your flight's ready"
"Alright. I'll be there shortly." I stood up and headed for the ground floor where Lucas was waiting for me with the private jet.
EMPIRE SUITES, FLORIDA.
We pulled up at the hotel in a cowboy of just two SUVs unlike my dad. A guard rushed to open the car door for me and I stepped out.
"Welcome boss" the guards at the entrance bowed as I walked past them into the building. This was our new branch. An extension of empire suites in Florida. I walked through the reception with Lucas and there were whispers as usual. I maintained a straight expression ignoring most of the staffs' greetings, especially those of the females.
Lucas headed over to get some paperwork from the reception while I headed to the elevator alone. Just then, a petite lady who was smiling to herself on the phone bumped into me. Her mini-bag fell to the ground.
"Argh!" She screamed as she bent to pick her bag on the floor.
"You should be more professional in a professional setting next time. It's only disgusting trying to get my attention with your pretense."
" Pretense?" She spoke in a tiny and stubborn voice, She looked up. "And what attention are you talking about?" She stood up looking up at me.
I put my hands into my pockets and chuckled. "I know your kind, always looking for the slightest opportunity to bump into me, so that I'll notice you."
"You aren't even handsome, why would I want your attention?" she scoffed. " You're ugly inside out and your arrogance and presumptions are nauseating." Her words rushed out like a running tap and I was taken aback.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me" she folded her arms over her chest. Just then Lucas came.
"Oh, you've already met before I introduced you both, I guess you're lucky Miss Luna" Lucas smiled at the lady.
"You know her?" Where would he know such a rude girl from?
"Yes, she is the event planner for our occasion, and Miss Luna, this is Mr Ethan Wellington, president of Empire suites."
"What?" The lady exclaimed in realization and I was even more disgusted.
"Is there a problem?" Lucas asked
I glared at her, she lowered her face to avoid my gaze.
"Her services are no longer needed."
I moved closer to her and stared at her from head to toe, she moved backwards in fear.
"I want you to get your little self out of my hotel, I don't work with disrespectful people." I said and left.
"I'm sorry, I... I didn't know I didn't mean what I said! It was a mistake! Come back please!" She tried to run after me but Lucas stopped her.
"I'll talk to him" he said and turned to follow me, she followed behind. "Wait here, don't come with me, I'll get back to you." She nodded.
ETHAN'S OFFICE
"Dad you can't do this to me" This old man was getting on my nerves.
"Get married to her or hand over the hotel" my father's voice spoke from the other end of the phone.
"Dad...." The line went off.
"Man, your Dad is damn serious about this marriage stuff." Lucas said.
"It's draining me. I don't know what to do" I ruffled my hair. " I need to get rid of Zoe, she's the reason I'm in this mess."
"What do you mean by getting rid of her?" Lucas adjusted on his chair. "And how do you intend to do that?"
" I'm still trying to come up with something"
"I can help you get rid of her," a tiny voice spoke. I and Lucas turned to the direction of the door, only to find Luna standing at the door with a smile on her face.