Chapter 3 - THE UNBROKEN AUTHORITY
Claire swallowed hard, a sudden wave of heat rushing up her neck as she tried to regain her polished composure. She squared her shoulders, stubbornly refusing to back down in front of her junior colleague.
"Sir," Claire insisted, her tone growing sharp and defensive. "Our General Manager, Mr. Mercer, does not come down for routine front-desk complaints at ten o'clock at night. If there was a glitch in the online booking system, you will need to take it up with customer service in the morning."
Ethan’s dark eyes locked onto Claire’s face. There was no anger in his expression—only an ancient, chilling stillness that made the blood run cold in her veins.
"This isn't a complaint," Ethan said quietly.
Before Claire could utter another dismissive word, the quiet chime of the private VIP elevator echoed through the grand lobby.
DING.
The heavy brass doors of the private elevator—which accessed only the penthouse floor and executive offices—slid open smoothly with a soft hiss.
Stepping out into the lobby was Daniel Mercer.
At forty-eight, Mercer was the General Manager of the Grand Peak Hotel. Impeccably groomed with slicked-back gray hair, he wore an expensive three-piece charcoal suit, a silk tie, and polished Italian leather shoes. He was holding a leather folder, walking briskly toward the main office, when his eyes casually swept across the reception area.
The moment Mercer’s eyes landed on the tall, tattooed man standing at the counter—holding the sleeping girl with the stuffed rabbit and the red roses resting on the marble—he froze dead in his tracks.
Mercer’s leather folder slipped out of his fingers, hitting the polished marble floor with a loud, sharp THUD that echoed across the vast room.
The General Manager’s face turned completely ghostly white. His lips parted, his chest heaving as if he had just seen a phantom step out of the mountain fog.
"Mr.... Mr. Vance..." Mercer gasped, his voice barely a terrified whisper.
Both Claire and Lupita froze behind the counter, staring at their boss in absolute, utter shock. They had worked under Daniel Mercer for years and had never seen the polished, autocratic manager look so utterly terrified.
May you like
Ethan didn't turn around. He stayed standing at the desk, his arm cradling Lily securely against his chest.
"Tell them who owns this hotel, Daniel," Ethan commanded softly.
