All eyes turned in the direction of the voice and most people held their breaths seeing the manager arrive. The receptionist walked out of her station to meet the manager halfway but then the man with Becca beat her to it.
“Manager Thorn. It's so nice to see you here.” Ray said as he bowed slightly at the manager. “What is going on here?” Ethan asked himself seeing the way the man had gotten so humble. He was just boasting a while ago. Becca also followed after her man, trying to suck up to the manager. Ethan decided to stay back and watch their interaction since he wasn't in a hurry. The manager stood before Becca’s man with a confused look while Becca’s man stretched his hand for a handshake. But his hand hand in the air as the manager walked past him and walked directly toward Ethan. Manager Thorn made no effort to give Becca’s man any face and it was a bit shocking to Ethan and most of all, the manager voluntarily walked up to him. “Hello, Mr. Ethan. I'm glad to see you are here.” Manager Thorn greeted with a polite smile on his face. At first, the lobby was silent and then there was an uproar. “Did you see that? Manager Thorn ignored that boastful man.” One of the guests pointed out. “Yes! And that shabby man, did Manager Thorn just greet him so politely? Who is he?” Another guest asked. Being a manager in The Star Hotel meant Thorn had met all kinds of people. So, he wouldn't just walk up to anyone without class. And naturally, they were curious about Ethan now. On the other hand, Becca and her man stood back, with her friends behind her watching the shocking scene being displayed. “Hello, Manager…” Ethan greeted, his voice drowning out since he didn't know the manager’s name. “Thorn. You can call me Thorn.” The manager replied and there was another round of gasps in the room. Only a handful of people dared to call the manager by his first name. Even though he was just a manager, everyone knew he had powerful backing. Now, they were much more curious about Ethan. “Okay, Thorn.” Ethan didn't hesitate. “I am surprised you recognize me since we have never met before.” He said, trying to find out if Thorn really knew him. All along, he thought he would have to introduce himself. “You don't have to worry. The boss has already briefed me about everything. All you need to do is sign the papers.” Thorn replied and Ethan nodded, knowing the system had done its work. It wasn't fake after all. At this point, the receptionist stepped forward with a wider smile on her face. She was glad that she hadn't thrown Ethan out and from their conversation, she realized Ethan must be a hidden billionaire and this was her chance to make it big. “Now that the manager is here. Please, allow me to escort you to the meeting room.” The receptionist said eagerly and Ethan nodded as he recalled how she had been proactive toward him. He made a mental note to look after her in the future during her stay in the hotel. As the manager and the receptionist started to escort him ouf, Ethan looked at Becca and her man, whose faces had turned ashen. He halted his steps, putting his hands in his pocket. He let out a mocking chuckle and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “What are you doing, standing there?” Ethan asked. “I thought you said you knew the manager, huh?” “I…” Ray let out but Ethan didn't let him speak. “Thorn, do you know him? He claimed you gave him a discount.” Ethan inquired with raised brows, sending the manager a suspicious gaze.. “Of course not.” The manager replied immediately and glared at Becca's man. Now that he knew Ethan was the new owner of the hotel, he didn't want to ruin his chances since a boss wouldn't like to hear about unnecessary discounts. “I do not know him and I didn't give out discounts. In fact, The Star Hotel has made a name for itself and we don't give out freebies to get customers.” He emphasized his words so loud that everyone could hear.. “So, he lied!” the other guests said, looking at Becca’s man with disdain. Becca and her friends stepped quietly away from him and the man noticed. He couldn't lose face at this point, so he moved closer to the manager. “Manager Thorn, I am Ray Bastien, son of Carlo Bastien. We own the Bast Corps.” He said with so much pride. There was no one there who did not know who the Bastien family were and Ray was sure that he wouldn't lose face. “Ohh…” Thorn let out and Ethan raised a brow in question wondering if Ray was that big of a person. “Not to worry, Mr. Ethan. I do not know him. His father, Carlo, is a usual guest here and that is all. This man here is just a small fry, basking in his family's past glory.” Thorn replied, sending subtle jabs at Ray. The guests around burst into peals of mocking laughter and even the receptionist couldn't hide her smile. Even though everyone knew Bast Corps, they knew they were going bankrupt soon. “Is that so?” Ethan asked, letting out a mocking laugh. He turned away and asked the receptionist to lead the way, knowing he didn't have to involve himself with small fries any longer. He had not even taken a few steps when he halted again. “Stop right there!” A shrill voice resounded in the lobby and Ethan turned around, looking displeased. “Where do you think you are going? Do you not think you have some explanation to do?”Everyone halted as they heard that shrill voice. They were quite surprised and of course, they wanted to continue to watch the scene being displayed. Ethan turned around to see Becca staring at him with a livid look. But she folded her arms, trying to look sassy.“Did you just speak to me?” Ethan asked, wondering if she had gone nuts to demand an explanation now. “Yes, I did. And I am asking you to explain yourself this instant.” Becca replied and Ethan frowned in displeasure. He used to look at Becca as a classy girl but now she paled in comparison. She didn't even care if everyone was looking at her weirdly. “What is there to explain?” Ethan asked with a shrug of his shoulders. He looked like he wasn't bothered and he just wanted to leave but then Becca wouldn't let him. “You are asking me that? You lied to me all these while and never even told me you had money. You gave me just measly amounts and now you show up as an honored guest of The Star Hotel. Of course, you do owe me a
Ethan was a bit surprised to see ten men surrounding him and he couldn't recognize any of them. They were scary-looking and he was sure he didn't have a deal with any gang in the past. But then he pieced the recent events together and he realized he had just kicked out someone from the hotel. The men were slowly advancing toward him and his eyes dimmed. After a major breakthrough in his life, he just wanted to celebrate and not deal with some brainless idiots.“Step aside.” He said to the men before him and he tried to walk past them. “Where do you think you are going, loser?” One of them who was a bit huge stopped Ethan. He towered over Ethan, wanting to intimidate him but Ethan only chuckled since he wasn't scared. But then he still maintained his cool and tried to leave but a familiar voice resounded behind him.“Running away now, Mr. Ethan?” Ray Bastien asked as the five men behind Ethan cleared the way for him. Becca was walking behind him with a troubled look on her face and
At Ray’s order, the ten men surrounded Ethan while Ray dragged Becca to the side. Ethan looked at the men and he tried to determine how long it would take to beat them all. His current fighting skills could suffice and he became even more confident and then a smile crept on his face making the men livid. “Why are you smiling? Are you happy about your upcoming death?” One of the men asked and Ethan’s smile turned wider. It was the same huge man who blocked him and he walked toward the huge guy. “I will like to go against you first.” Ethan suggested and the huge guy laughed. He was looking down at Ethan who was just up to his bulgy chest. He then waved at the other men, telling them to step back. “Alright.” The huge guy said.“I will let everyone watch how I crush you with my bare hands.” He added while he cracked his knuckles. Ethan took a step back to observe his opponent and seeing the bulging muscles on his arms and chest as well as the swelling and redness on his body, Ethan im
“Ethan Blackwood! You are under arrest for assault and for constituting a nuisance! Do not move!” As police officers surrounded Ethan and Ray, one of them rushed out to cuff Ethan while he frowned. “I think you are mistaken here, police officers. I was only defending myself. This is self-defense.” Ethan replied while pulling his hand away from the officer trying to cuff him. “I'm sorry, Mr. Ethan but that is for us to decide. We received a call and you were specifically named. If you resist arrest, we would have no choice but to use violence.” The police officer warned, trying to get Ethan’s hands again but he slipped away. “And I say this is self-defense! You can check the CCTV footage around. And if at all I have to go to the police station, he has to come with me!” Ethan declared firmly while pointing at Ray who was leaning on his car. “Or else, I'm going to resist this arrest, since I am not at fault here.” He added and the police officer went silent, looking at his colleague.
“What is going on here?” She asked, staring at Ethan with a serious face. “Let him go.” She added, pointing at the detective who was trying to get away from Ethan. “Why should I? He is trying to pin a crime on me.” Ethan retorted angrily. “We will find out about that but you have to let him go, or else we will charge you for assaulting a police officer!” She declared firmly. Ethan's eyes dimmed knowing she was right, even though he acted in self-defense toward Ray, it wasn't the same here with the detective. He let out a sigh and let go of the officer with the officer scrambling to stand behind the female officer. “So what is it now? Are you letting me go?” Ethan asked and went back to sit on his chair while he folded his arms. “I am Erin, the chief detective here and I will interrogate you from now on.” She replied while she looked around the office. “Did he do this?” Erin asked the officer behind her, pointing at the broken table. The officer nodded, frantically and Er
The interrogation was silent for a moment but Ethan seemed to be intrigued and at the same time, shocked that she would say something like that. “Are police officers allowed to strike deals with offenders?” Ethan asked with raised brows as he folded his arms. “Well, we can. As long as the offender is innocent. In this case, you are.” She said but Ethan could see the skepticism in her eyes. “Then why am I here? I could sue the force for locking me here without evidence. You wouldn't want me to do that, right?” Ethan asked, a little threat laced in his voice. Of course, he wasn't going to do that, he was just subtly letting her know that she should tread carefully. With or without her deal, he could be out of there. “Yes, I know and that is why I want to make a deal with you. “ She replied, with a knowing look and Ethan nodded, pleased that she was a quick one. “So, spill your terms.” He uttered. At his words, Erin looked tense as she tapped her fingers on her thighs. She
The police officer’s words boomed throughout the interrogation room and Erin turned to look at Ethan with a smile on her face. “I guess this is fate.” She said while she winked at me but Ethan’s gaze turned serious and disapproving. “I hope this is not what I am thinking?” He asked with raised brows. “Of course, it is. We made a deal, remember and I will need your help on this raid because of how dangerous it is.” She explained and Ethan shook his head. “No. I am just being released you have not released me yet and now you want me to go straight into a raid. Does that sound okay to you?” Ethan asked, calmly as he wasn’t even willing to change his mind about not going on that raid. He needed time to himself. “Well, this is urgent and in the police force, you have to be quick on your feet,” Erin replied, with a shrug of her shoulders. “But. I am not in the force, You can’t order me anyhow you want. Also, I get to decide what raid I would go to…” Ethan put out his words which
Erin was twitching continuously as she drove out of the streets and towards Gas Arc. The kiss had caught her off guard and she couldn’t even think so well anymore but she tried to focus on the road. As they approached Gas Arc, Ethan’s face turned serious. “Stop.” He ordered and Erin pressed the brakes as quickly as she could. “What was that for?” She screamed while she glared at him scornfully. “I don’t think we should go in with our car. We can walk there.” He suggested and then pointed at the road leading to the main area of the Gas arc. “Look, the roads are untarred and no one in his right mind would go there with a car. It would raise suspicions.” He explained further and Erin nodded, impressed by his fast-thinking ability. “Send a message to your colleagues. Tell them to stay a bit close to Gas arc and you would tell them when to show up exactly.” He ordered and Erin nodded her head. She had unconsciously made Ethan take the lead but it didn’t matter because they were working