"Why are we here again?" Jacob asked as they walked through the opulent lobby.
"Just felt like going out," Tracy replied with a sweet smile. "Besides, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the city's finest hotel in action."
Jacob raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He had known Tracy long enough to sense there was more to her sudden interest in the hotel, but he let it slide.
He has never developed feelings towards Tracy but her actions and behavior towards him told him a story of a girl who was in love with him but he wasn't.
"Why the sudden interest in the Haven?" Jacob asked again, feeling a little uneasy about the outing, as he held the door open for her.
He wanted to take time out to just rest. Mixing school and handling his father's business was a bit hectic, but Tracy called him for an outing.
He didn't want to make her feel bad after rejecting her love advances several times in the past.
Walking in, Jacob noticed Tracy quickly looped her arm through his, her red lips curving into a sly smile. "Sometimes it's fun to see how the other half lives."
'' What other half?'' he asked but Tracy remained silent. They soon took a couple sit at a very cozy corner in the ballroom.
Unknown to Rosetta, her life was about to take a drastic turn.
Rosetta balanced the tray of drinks with steady hands as she made her way across the ballroom. It was her second shift, and despite her aching feet and the tight uncomfortable shirt that made her look like she was selling her round full chest. She pushed through.
At the next table, Rosetta froze.
Tracy stood there, her perfectly styled hair catching the light, a very handsome man Rosetta vaguely recognized by her side.
"Rosetta?" Tracy's voice was sweet, but the sharpness in her eyes made Rosetta's stomach twist.
Rosetta nodded slightly, forcing a polite smile. "Good evening. Can I help you with anything?"
"Oh, you're helping already," Tracy said, her smile widening. She gestured toward Jacob. "This is Jacob. You've probably never met someone like him."
Jacob frowned slightly, glancing at Tracy before turning to Rosetta. "Hi," he said, his tone warm but curious. Before him stood a very pretty girl with great body proportions in the right places.
He almost couldn't take his eyes away from her round chest that screamed lots of intimate messages to his inner soul.
Jacob quickly looked away, he had never felt this way in his life before
"Hello," Rosetta replied quietly, shifting her weight nervously.
"She's very resourceful," Tracy said, her voice swaying with mocking admiration. "Balancing school, work… and also a trash collector. Isn't she hard-working?"
Rosetta's cheeks burned with humiliation, wondering what she ever did to Caleb and his girlfriend who was shamelessly swimming in the arms of another man in her presence.
However, Rosetta kept her voice calm. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"Two glasses of red wine," Tracy said sweetly. "Top shelf, please. Don't keep us waiting."
When Rosetta returned with the wine, Tracy made her move.
"Oh, you're so quick," Tracy said with a soft laugh. "But pour Jacob's glass for him. He's picky about his wine."
Rosetta nodded, carefully pouring into Jacob's glass.
Then Tracy nudged her arm.
The glass tilted, and red wine spilled across Jacob's pristine white shirt.
Rosetta gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "I...I'm so sorry!"
Jacob stood quickly, brushing at the stain. "It's fine, don't worry I know it was a mistake"
"No, it's not fine," Tracy interrupted, her tone cutting in loudly. "How could you be so clumsy?"
"I didn't mean to," Rosetta said, grabbing a napkin and trying to clean the mess.
"Of course, you didn't mean to," Tracy snapped. "But it's not like you're very good at anything, is it?"
"Tracy, that's enough," Jacob said firmly, his voice calm but authoritative. He saw no reason for the drama that Tracy was about to put up.
Tracy's lips tightened, '' Enough?'' but before she could continue, a commanding voice broke through.
"What's going on here Tracy?"
Rosetta turned, her heart pounding. A familiar sense of connection to a man she had only heard of and seen on Television, stood in front of her. The owner of the Haven Regency Hotel. Raymond Grant.
The tall man approached, his suit impeccable, his presence overwhelming. His sharp eyes swept over the scene, lingering on Rosetta before flicking to Tracy.
"Dad," Tracy said quickly, her voice softening as her smile reappeared. "It's nothing. Just a little accident."
Rosetta's blood ran cold. Dad?
This was Raymond Grant. The owner of the Haven Regency Hotel. The billionaire, Grant.'
"Are you all right?" Grant asked, his eyes returning to Rosetta.
"I'm fine Sir," Rosetta stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Grant's brow furrowed slightly. "What's your name?"
"R-Rosetta," she said.
The name seemed to catch him off guard. He repeated it quietly, "Rosetta."
Tracy laughed lightly, touching her father's arm. "It's no big deal, Dad. She's just a waitress. You don't need to get involved."
Jacob watched silently.
Grant's gaze sharpened. He looked at Jacob, then back at Tracy; ''Tracy you may continue your meal, I'd like a word with Miss Rosetta."
Rosetta's heart raced as Tracy's face twisted briefly with irritation.
"Of course, Dad," Tracy said, her tone overly sweet. She gestured to Jacob to sit. Jacob though feeling unwilling to continue the outing, reluctantly sat down.
'' What was that about Tracy?'' Jacob asked as he furrowed his brow
"Miss Rosetta, follow me," Grant said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The elevator ride to the penthouse was silent, the tension thick enough to choke on. Rosetta held her hands together, her mind spinning. Fear of being sacked was all she could think of.
When the doors opened, Grant gestured for her to step into the luxurious suite.
She hesitated, but his calm expression gave nothing away.
"Sit," he said, motioning to a chair near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Rosetta obeyed, feeling like a small animal cornered by a predator. She sat at the edge of the chair, afraid of putting a stain on the white sofa.
Grant sat across from her, studying her closely. He almost wanted to go straight and say I think you are my missing daughter but was he ready to scare her?
Absolutely No! Before him sat a very timid-looking young girl about the same age range as his daughter Tracy. Who seem to be lavishing in poverty and humiliation. Grant calmed down "Tell me about yourself, Rosetta."
Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. Wondered why the billionaire Grant was asking about her background, was he going to arrest her whole family over spilling wine on that young man back in the ballroom?
" Sir there's not much to tell, sir."
"Start with where you're from," he said, with a patient tone.
"I… I grew up with my grandfather," she began hesitantly. "In the rear end of the city. My parents passed away when I was little."
Grant's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes.
Curiosity, perhaps hope. It had nothing to do with the loss of her parents but hopeful that she may be his daughter. The striking resemblance to his late beloved wife Evelyn was a 99.9%
If at all, he felt he was looking at Evelyn many years ago on their first date. Her eyes, body language, composure, temperance, lips, color and texture of hair, and even her height.
Was he going insane, he thought to himself
"What about your education?" he asked.
"I'm a student at Haven University," she said quietly.
He leaned back slightly. "And you're working here to pay for it?"
"Yes Sir," she admitted, glancing down at her hands.
There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Rosetta…" He hesitated as if choosing his words carefully. " How old are you and do you know anything about your birth parents?"
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. "Why would you ask that? My parents died when I was only Eight years old" She took a long pause as if pondering whether to continue or not.
'' I was born on March 29th, in two months I will be Eighteen years old. But why are you asking?
What happened back at the ballroom was a mistake, Sir, please don't involve my grandfather, he is too old, and he may not be able to handle this if I am fired. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Grant didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied her face, his sharp gaze unsettling. Finally, he said, "Let's just say you remind me of someone."
The room fell silent, the air heavy with unspoken tension.
Grant realized she and Tracy had the same birthday date and the same age, Tracy would also be eighteen in two months. Was this a coincidence? He asked himself silently.
" Can I get back to work Sir," Rosetta said finally, rising to her feet.
Grant nodded slowly. "Of course. But I'd like to speak with your Grandfather if that is okay again soon."
He tried to keep a serious face but his heart bled because he was almost convinced this was the child Evelyn died searching for.
She died of a heart attack prematurely, because she was unable to locate her real daughter after secretly discovering Tracy was not her biological daughter.
She searched for years, far and wide, and here was Rosetta standing before him in the flesh, just Seven months after her death.
Rosetta hesitated, her instincts screaming that something was happening, something bigger than she could understand.
"Yes, sir, It's okay by me but please don't get him arrested. Just do everything and blame me. Let my grandfather go."
Grant turned around suddenly to avoid his welled-up tears and took out his phone from his drawer.
''Input your number here and that of your grandfather please,''
He spoke the most polite way ever, it was then it dawned on Rosetta, that things may not be as she had assumed.
She took out an old half-dead phone set and Grant was shocked at the sight of the phone but he looked away, burning with hurt and pain, if truly this was his daughter, he owed her his entire life.
'' Here sir,'' Rosetta handed him his phone back. ''You may call me sir so I can save your number''
Raymond dialed her number, and she saved it, ''The other is for Grandpa Thomas Sir, you may call him and speak with him. He is in a better position to give you all the information you need, about my birth parents.''
Grant nodded. As Rosetta shut the door behind her, Grant sank into his chair, his heart heavy and he wept.
As she stepped out of the penthouse and into the elevator, her thoughts raced. Who was Grant? And why did he look at her like she was a puzzle he was determined to solve? Why ask after her long-dead parents? Are they friends?