The manager continued howling for help from the guard. But the guard was extremely frightened of Jordan now. He did not move an inch from his spot. He was still battling whether to call for help for his boss from the inside when a female voice interrupted them.
“What is happening? What the heck is going on here?” Anna spoke as she stopped behind Jordan.
Jordan released the manager’s hand, who then walked a safe distance from Jordan as he groaned, soothing the pain in his hand. He hoped that the hand did not develop an internal injury due to the pain he was experiencing.
The manager’s groans stopped the moment he saw Anna's face. His face dropped, and formulated deep furrows. He could not help but wonder whether there was any truth in Jordan’s words. He hoped there wasn't, because if there were, he knew they were in for big trouble.
“Jordan, what happened? Why didn't you go in?” Anna asked with a deep frown on her face.
‘She knows this beggar’s name? Could it be possible that this stinking beggar was telling the truth? The manager was appalled and horrified.
“Well, according to these two, I am nothing but a beggar who is cheating to get a meal here. They could not let me in.” Jordan replied.
“What? Didn't you tell them that I was with you?” Anna spoke.
“I did. I told them I was with Anna De’Luka and believe me, I tried my best to explain myself. They just wouldn't listen.” Jordana replied.
Anna was infuriated. She could not believe that the manager and the security guard disrespected her guest like that. She turned to the manager, whose face was so pale.
“How dare you two? You know what? You both are so fired!” Anna spoke.
“No!” The manager snapped, falling to his feet before the furious Anna. “Do not do this to me, please, I beg you! I will apologize to him all you want, but don't fire me, please.” The manager pleaded.
“Your sorry is totally meaningless at this point!” Anna affirmed, turning to her bodyguards. “Boys?” She called, and the guards came closer.
“Yes, ma'am!” They chorused, bowing in respect.
“Escort these two out of the compound and make sure they are not ever seen even just snooping outside! Two of you should remain here and keep guard. I will take care of the manager’s replacement.” She ordered.
“As you say, ma'am! We will see to it!” The head of her bodyguards responded.
As the guards walked to escort the manager and the security guard out of the compound, Anna held Jordan’s hand and they both walked inside.
“Hey! I am so sorry. I did not realize your clothes. I am embarrassed because you look like this because you fought for me last night.” Anna apologized as soon as they settled on their seats.
She was sincerely sorry for how Jordan was handled. If only people knew why he was shabby was because he rescued someone from danger…and that that lucky person was none other but her…
“It is not your fault, Anna. You don't need to apologize.” Jordan responded calmly, urging a smile to make Anna feel better.
She smiled back faintly, then stopped to think for a minute. She wanted to do something for Jordan. She did not want people to insult him for being shabby again.
“We have some VIP rooms with bathrooms on the third floor here. You could freshen up!” Anna suggested it nicely.
Jordan was not so pleased with his situation. More than anyone else, he wanted to at least have a bath and scour off the smell of blood and dirt from his body.
“I can't turn such an offer down. If it is no problem for you, that is.” He responded.
“It is nothing. So, here.” She fished out a card from her Gucci purse and handed it to him. She added. “Room no. 5D.”
“Okay.” Jordan responded as he stood from the chair and strode to the lift.
When Jordan disappeared from her sight, Anna thought it would be nice if he could have a change of clothes as well. Some nice shoes too. Some kind of a makeover would be nothing compared to what she owed the man.
At the snap of a finger, three guards stood before her, bowing.
“At your service, ma'am!” One of them said.
“You all saw my guest well, right?” She queried.
“Yes, Miss Anna!” They answered.
“I want a nice fitting suit and nice shoes for him. Get them from the city mall and be super quick about it!” She said.
“Right away, Miss Anna!” The guards responded and left.
Minutes later!
Anna made her way to the room that she had sent Jordan a few minutes ago. A blue custom-made tuxedo and a lustrous pair of diamond-studded Tom Ford shoes rested in her hands, held with care.
She entered the room and found Jordan still in the shower. She knocked lightly on the bathroom door, and his voice came in.
“Who is it?” Jordan quizzed.
“It’s me, Anna! I brought you some clothes to change into.” Anna explained.
“Ohh. Thank you so much. You can put them on the bed. I am almost done here.” Jordan said.
Anna walked to the bed and placed the suit and shoes on it. She then walked out to give Jordan some privacy to dress up, opting to wait for him outside.
After a minute of waiting, a figure appeared from the lift and caught her sight. It was a male figure, and a beamy grin could be easily detected on his lips as he approached her. However, that was not the case with Anna. She was frowning. And if it were up to her, the latter and her would never run into each other even in the afterlife.
Derrick was a dickwhore in sheep’s clothing to tame his next prey. She had heard his rotten stories and they suffocated her to the core. His mere beingness disgusted her, and his persistence in asking her out was beginning to make her ears itch. She wished the galling guy could just hug her no to his chest and leave her alone.
“What in the world is this beauty doing all alone here, huh? Ooh, wait. Now I get why I ended up on this floor. Your allure was calling me, baby.” Derrick said in his charming seductive tone. It was the look that a guy wears whenever he want to lure some girl to his trap.
Anna did not like any of his words. If there was anything the guy had proven to be so good at in that short period that they had known each other, it was his annoying characteristic and imposing his charm on her even when he knew it was not working.“So, will today be my lucky day? Will I finally have the chance to have this beauty as my date today?” Derrick added when Anna remained mute.
Anna shook her head and smirked bitterly.
“Look, Derrick. I have told you time and again that…”
She was cut short as the door behind her sprung open, revealing Jordan exiting in a brand-new suit and a pair of shoes that made him shine like a diamond. He was the perfect criterion of a beauty God.
Derrick’s eyes widened as he took in Jordan’s outfit and the wet hair. For some reason, he felt jealous and furious.
Derrick’s eyes remained fixed on Jordan for a long moment, scanning the competition before him from head to toe. Anna was his prey, the girl he had taken interest in. He wanted nothing but to have her. The mere thought of another man beating him to the game was arousing his demons. He could not envisage another man having the girl he was after. And looking at the duo at the moment, with Jordan’s hair dripping wet, looking so raw from the shower, Derrick’s head throbbed with assorted sentiments. Who was the man? Why were they together? And in a room? What had they done that he needed to freshen up? Had she given herself to the man? Derrick’s anger rose, breaking the awkward lull that had been engulfing them.“Who the hell are you, if I may ask? What is your name, and what are you doing with her? What family do you come from? What do you…” “Enough, Derrick!” Anna yelled at him, cutting him off.She found his vetting unfounded and contemptuous. They were not together, and she had not
Jordan smiled weakly at Anna’s apology. Then he spoke.“It is okay.” He said.“Are you sure?” Anna asked.She could not decipher Jordan’s slight frown. He took in a deep breath before speaking.“You know, I have not had any luck with these rich people. They are all the same - arrogant, full of themselves, granitic, proud, intolerable.” He said. Anna felt a tinge of pain in her heart. She wondered whether he thought the same about her too.“That is so harsh.” She said softly, cloaking her pain.“It is all true. I am a witness, and after my divorce from my ex-wife, I will be extremely careful in choosing my partner. I don’t want a rich brat near me ever again.” He affirmed, and he meant it, what he didn’t know was that he was hurting someone.Anna felt that ripple of pain again. It was like the message was indirectly meant for her. They were from two opposite worlds. She was rich and he wasn’t, and with his last words, there seemed to exist a big rift between them. All the possibilities
Anna remained engrossed in her thoughts after the arrogant woman left. She seemed to be mulling over something so profound that it left Jordan wondering whether she was really happy. The scowl on her face was so non-buoyant and baffling. However, remembering how the posh woman had spoken to Anna with zero affection, Jordan had a beardown of strong hunch that something was amiss, but he couldn't meddle. Anna had not received much affection from her parent’s home. All her life with her foster parents, she had absolutely no freedom of speech. The adopted family always reminded her that she would be rotting in the streets or the orphanage if they did not adopt her. And given the fortune she was meant to inherit, she felt more than gratitude for them. Despite their hostility, she bore it all with the gratitude of all she had and still would have all thanks to them. On the other hand, Jordan was beginning to drown in his thoughts of the beckoning misery. The day was going by so fast. The
“I can't believe you two!” Jordan was still mangled between what to say to Anna when a voice startled them. There was no way in hell would he fail to agnize that voice. He and Anna turned around, coming face to face with Diana and her boyfriend. “You still want to play saints that met just last night?” She quizzed, but unlike before, she spoke with a fleecy tone. She was also standing a distance from the duo. Anna signed in frustration, while Jordan was more than pissed off as he dragged his pissed-off self to his feet. He had had enough of Diana’s fuss. And there is no way he would allow her or her lover to insult him again. Anna stood too, taking her stand beside Jordan as they met Diana’s eyes. Anyone could tell that her cool was bogus. She exuded reverence that was so patient, especially for Anna. Edwin, on the other hand, had his head cocked at his lover. His eyes were digging through her cheek as he stared with a demeanor that was perplexing. It was like he was trying to thr
Edwin felt defeated. How his family would take the news remained a mystery to him, but he knew one thing - his family would never forgive him for what he had done. He felt helpless in this situation. “Let us go!” His eyes were flushing with redness as he spoke to Dianna, who was still trying to digest the situation. The man she just spit out like vomit was now dining with the rich. That was a puzzle that she couldn't crack. The fact that she was having issues with her new lover so soon was weighing on her. She knew Edwin would never forgive her if anything happened to his family because of what she had done. But still, her pride was something she was not willing to gamble on. “I am not leaving.” Diana spoke in an arrogant tone that summoned their eyes to her. She was not a pathetic poor soul who could bow to anyone just at a mere order. And if a merger was something that Edwin’s family needed to fix the issue, she could provide it. Her family was rich. Well, that was what her wild
Upon reaching outside, Jordan discharged Edwin, throwing him off to the ground. A lot of people had come to see what was happening. Dianna ran to his rescue, but Edwin yanked her hand away from him. He was beyond furious, and more than Jordan, he blamed his fiancee for her obstinacy and egocentric behaviors. If only she had apologized, the countless eyes before them would not be witnessing Edwin’s disgrace. “If you two have any tiny respect and shame left in you, you better leave and never show your faces here again,” Jordan ordered, and Edwin finally snapped his face up. Although Edwin found it hard to believe that the nobody he had mocked a few hours ago was now humiliating him and kicking them out of such an eminent motel, not forgetting the broken nose he was nursing from the beating Jordan had given him inside, he knew he couldn’t fight anymore. Not that he was admitting defeat to Jordan because he sure vouched to get back at him, but to avoid more embarrassment and more trouble
“Young lady!” One cold roar and Diana’s irritating laughter stopped abruptly. “I don’t get what is so humorous here that is making you cause all this laughter!” Diana swallowed hard, bowing a little to the man’s cold demeanor. However, she didn’t intend to stay with her head hunched for long. The urge to expose Jordan for the useless nobody that he was stroking her pretty badly. She composed herself and lifted her head. They entered the office of Mr. De’Luka, and the door closed. Mr. De’Luka embarked on scrutinizing Jordan again. He wondered whether he was a new businessman that he had idea of. But where could he have emerged from? “What is your name, young man?” He asked Jordan in a cold yet calm voice. Jordan cleared his throat once as he faced the seemingly non-friendly man. “Jordan, sir! Jordan Rivers!” He said. Mr De’Luka toured his eyes around the corners of the room. His thoughts were also spinning as he tried to seek any familiarity with that name. But all was in vain. No
“You better start explaining yourself before I lose my cool, young man. What tricks are you playing with my daughter? Where and when did you even meet her because you don’t fit even on the ground she walks on?!” Mr. De’Luka spoke with loath to Jordan. “You must have cast a strong spell on her to have spent such a lot of money on her.” Mrs De’Luka states. Anna felt suffocated by what her family and Diana were doing to Jordan. He was not the one to blame. He bought him the suit out of gratitude and also paid for the food out of her own will. And who said class mattered here? The guy had saved her life, that was more than enough to make him fit to belong in her world. “Jordan is innocent, father!” Anna spoke, meaning to set Jordan free from the flooding injustices. She managed to summon her parent’s attention as they turned to her with questioning glances. Anna felt like she was adding salt to the injury with her intervention “He is innocent, Anna? Why are you protecting this useless