“Maintenance said the issue had been temporarily resolved,” Daniel said.
“Temporarily?” Merge repeated. “This is a hotel, not a borrowed car with the check-engine light covered by duct tape. We don’t temporarily fix shit and hand the problem to somebody wearing a six-thousand-dollar suit! His guest slipped in that mess, injured her back, and now both of them are threatening to sue for negligence, emotional distress, medical expenses, and whatever else their lawyers can spell correctly. My legal team has been awake for two days because you didn’t want to cancel one reservation! That’s not customer service; that’s stupidity wearing a name tag!”
“I offered them complimentary nights… and dining credits,” Daniel muttered.
“So, let me understand this.” Merge’s voice slowed with disbelief. “Your solution to nearly drowning a billionaire’s side piece in toilet water was to invite them back for another stay and offer free salmon? You think a man worth forty million dollars gives a damn about a two-hundred-dollar dining credit after his woman had to leave here smelling like a public restroom?”
Reyna pressed her lips together, fighting a laugh.
“We’re a five-star hotel,” Merge growled. “Not a highway rest stop with room service. Our guests should not have to choose between using the bathroom and preserving their dignity.”
“I was only trying to avoid turning him away,” Daniel said quietly.
“And now, instead of losing one reservation, we might lose millions, our reputation, and whatever remained of your common sense. Congratulations. You saved the booking and endangered the entire damn business.”
Merge wasn’t done. He had more to say.
“You’ve also been flirting withtwofront desk repsandaguest.And before you try to come with some bullshit ass lie, it’sallon camera.”
Daniel let out a nervous chuckle, the sound barely masking his anxiety. “Mr. Belvior, come on. I’m just being friendly. You know how I am.”
“This isn’t some singles mixer; this is my family’s hotel.” Merge’s tone shifted from reprimanding to dangerously low and controlled, a clear warning. “You need to rein in your so-called ‘friendliness’ before it becomes a liability that we simply can't afford.”
Reyna’s jaw dropped. “Oops!”
I pulled her closer.
Daniel sputtered something inaudible, the words lost in the growing intensity of the moment.
“If I see another dumb ass decision with your name attached to it, you’re going to disappear faster than a fake check in a bank’s system. Do you understand me?” Merge’s voice rose again, thick with menace. “And tell the staff, whoever keeps parking inmyreserved spot is real bold. They either got a death wish or a bad memory. Either way, next time I see that busted-ass Nissan in my spot, I’m letting the air out all four tiresmyself.”
Merge sounded as though he hadn’t slept in three days and ran on black coffee, trauma, and pure fury.
“If I discover that anything else has been kept from me... God help you. You’ll find yourself picking up shifts at the nearest gas station.”
With that, the door slammed shut with such force that the floor trembled beneath the impact.
I flattened behind Reyna, heart thudding, praying he didn’t see me peeking.
“Whew, chile,” Reyna exhaled, fanning her face as if to cool the heat of the moment. “That man has rage money. He doesn’t even argue like regular people.”
“Merge and mercy wouldn’t even begin with the same letter,” I muttered under my breath, keeping my head down as he strode past us dressed in his tailored black trench coat, his beard groomed, and his locs tied neatly back.
My throat felt parched.
There’s no way I could approach him today... not after that explosion of anger.
“I thought you said you weren’t hiding?” Reyna displayed a teasing smirk, her eyebrows arched mischievously as the coast appeared to be clear.
I licked my lips nervously. “I lied,” I replied, battling the knot of anxiety in my stomach.
I had planned to reach out to Merge later that day, but perhaps that wasn’t the best day to remind him of his son’s existence. I needed to wait and let him cool down… letmecool down. Because if he said anything that savage to me, I might’ve folded on the spot.
As we walked off to begin our shift, Reyna glanced at me sideways, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
“You got a reason to be scared of that man?”
I forced a laugh, trying to dismiss her concern. “Girl, no. Just trying to avoid drama.”
