VENGEFUL CEO: A Contract With The Watcher

CHAPTER 7

The hotel was beyond description, its grandeur rivaling the European castles seen in movies. Every corner exuded meticulous craftsmanship, and the ceiling painting alone was worth millions, resembling the priceless artworks showcased in museums. Victor stepped inside, awestruck by the breathtaking interior, oblivious to the curious stares cast his way.

"Has the hotel lost its standards?" "Why would they allow someone like him inside?" "Perhaps he's here for a job application?" "Even cleaning the toilets here requires a college degree!"

The discontent murmurs filled the air as guests began complaining to the staff. Yet, Victor, captivated by the surroundings, continued searching for the reception desk, heedless of the judgmental gazes.

Before he could even take a step towards the reception, the guards intercepted him, halting him near the entrance. The realization of the stares finally dawned on Victor as he stood frozen, uncertain of what had attracted such attention.

"Unless you're a guest, young man, I'm afraid you need to leave," one of the guards stated disdainfully, his face filled with disgust. "What does this kid think he's doing, dressed like this in a luxurious hotel?" he wondered silently.

"Wait, I'm here to meet someone staying at this hotel," Victor explained, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the business card Nicholas had given him.

However, before he had a chance to show it to the guard, the hotel manager swiftly approached, snatching the card from Victor's hand and tossing it aside. "What are you all doing? Am I paying you to stand here and allow our guests to grow dissatisfied?" the manager bellowed in anger.

"He claims he's here to meet one of our guests," the guard hurriedly explained.

"Get him out before our reputation plummets," the manager angrily commanded the guards, his disgust evident as he looked down on Victor.

With the guards firmly gripping his arms, Victor offered no resistance and quietly complied, allowing himself to be escorted out of the hotel. Thoughts of disappointment swirled in his mind. "Well, at least I tried," he thought, resigning himself to the situation.

But just as he began to accept that his plan had failed, a resounding voice echoed through the corridor, startling everyone in its wake.

"Young Master!"

The sudden exclamation left everyone stunned, their curiosity piqued as they searched for the recipient of the old man's words. Victor, too, scanned the surroundings, only to realize that the gaze was directed squarely at him.

Hurriedly making his way towards Victor, the old man bowed respectfully. "Young Master, I was informed of your arrival."

Manager Cao and the guards froze in realization, their faces flushing with embarrassment as they comprehended their grievous mistake. Their grip on Victor's arms loosened as they stepped back, realizing they had offended someone they shouldn't have.

Just when they believed the situation couldn't worsen, a charismatic man emerged from behind, striding confidently towards them. "Manager Cao, is this the way you should be treating the hotel owner's son?" Nicholas's voice resonated with authority, sending shivers down their spines. The staff panicked, fearing the consequences of their earlier comments.

"Young Master," the old man addressed Victor, disregarding everyone else. He swiftly draped a coat he had brought over Victor's shoulders. "We must hurry and warm you up before you catch a cold."

Overwhelmed by the unfolding events, Victor could only nod, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. "I must be dreaming," he thought, struggling to comprehend his current reality.

"President Grey, I was unaware he was your son," Manager Cao pleaded, his face dripping with sweat that he dared not wipe away, terrified of further offense.

"He is not my son but the son of Chairman Augustine," Nicholas clarified, causing the manager's legs to give way, realizing the magnitude of his mistake. He fell to his knees, crawling towards Victor in desperation.

"Young Master, please forgive me for failing to recognize you," the manager pleaded, his words catching the attention of everyone around. Fear permeated the air, not only among the staff but also the hotel guests. No one had anticipated that the seemingly destitute boy would turn out to be the true heir.

"It's alright," Victor replied, following Nicholas and his entourage back upstairs. As they ascended, he noticed the gazes fixed upon him. Some young women flirted coquettishly, while others stared in awe.

'When did I become the hotel owner's son?' Victor wondered, realizing that his mother's letter had not revealed this detail. It became apparent to him that his decision to meet Nicholas immediately had been the correct one.

When they entered the presidential suite, Victor's eyes widened in disbelief. He never could have imagined stepping foot in such a luxurious hotel, let alone staying in the opulent presidential suite.

"So, this is how the elites live," he marveled, momentarily forgetting the presence of others around him.

"And you are one of them," Nicholas chuckled, finding the child's innocent observations endearing, much like his father had been.

"About my father..." Victor hesitated, wanting to change the subject from their earlier encounter and feeling embarrassed about it.

"Before that, shouldn't you change first?" Nicholas pointed out, gesturing to Victor's damp clothes.

"It's fine, I'll do that later," Victor replied, eager to delve into the topic of his father.

"Your father was a visionary, always dreaming big. His motivations weren't fame or fortune, but love. He wasn't trying to prove anything to your mother's father; he was driven by his own experiences," Nicholas began, settling into a chair as their refreshments were served. Victor's curiosity grew with each passing moment.

"Your parents knew each other since high school, but their love truly flourished during their university years. It was during that time when your father started making a name for himself in the industry. However, things didn't always go smoothly for him."

Nicholas paused, taking a sip of his coffee, gathering his thoughts.

"Your father and I are not your typical entrepreneurs. But for now, I believe it's not the right time to delve into those stories," he said, concerned that the young boy might not be ready for the complexities of their lives. "Due to your grandfather's disapproval of their relationship, your father had no choice but to leave the country after he was threatened. Little did they know that your mother was already pregnant with you. She made the decision to sever all ties with her family in order to protect you."

"So, how did they find their way back to each other?" Victor asked, seeking answers about the events his mother had left untold.

"We had believed that your mother had gone through with the arranged marriage your grandfather had planned. It was only later that we discovered it hadn't taken place. As we returned to the country to establish our business, your father and mother coincidentally crossed paths. It seemed as though fate had guided them back to each other after all those years."

"Then, every year on my birthday, my father would visit me?" Victor inquired, reflecting on the contents of his mother's letter.

"Yes, we would only stay for a day, for your safety," Nicholas confirmed. "As you see, your father had some enemies he needed to deal with, which took time."

Victor absorbed the information, his mind racing with newfound understanding. Then, another question arose. "What about the man my mother was with? Why did she stay with him?"

"In regards to your so-called father, that situation arose from events that took place years ago. It's understandable if you don't remember, considering you lost some of your memories back then. You see, like your father, you have a unique blood type, and that man happened to have the same blood type as you. During that time, your father was unable to return to the country to assist, and that man appeared seemingly out of nowhere. As far as I know, he made a deal with your mother: he would donate his blood to you under one condition - that the three of you would leave together."

"Why didn't my father take any action?" Victor asked angrily, clenching his fists as he recollected all the terrible things the man had done to him and his mother.

"Back then, your father was facing extremely difficult circumstances. By the time we discovered the situation, it was already too late to intervene."

"What do you mean?" Victor was perplexed, wondering why such a powerful man couldn't handle someone like him.

"You see, when we attempted to help your mother, she had learned about your father's activities and wanted nothing to do with it. She insisted on distancing herself until he found a better path."

"So, in the end, my mother did everything just for me?"

"Hmm..."

There was a moment of silence in the room as Victor was disheartened by the truth.

"Well, eventually your father did set himself on the right path. As you can see, this hotel is proof of that. Once he informed your mother, she accepted him again and allowed him to bring both of you back. However, tragedy struck when his plane crashed on his way back to the country. He was so eager to see you and your mother. In an instant, everything he had worked so hard for was gone." Nicholas explained, his remorse evident as he clenched his hand tightly, still burdened by guilt.

Victor noticed the sorrow in Nicholas' eyes and softly said, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I believe he's happy wherever he is. I know it may not be right for me to say this, but he's with the woman he loved in paradise."

"So, what do we do now?"