Chapter 2

The coffee machine in the staff pantry whirred to life, a small act of mechanical rebellion against the tension that still hummed in the air. I gripped the ceramic mug, my knuckles white. Imogen's face, distorted in fury, flashed in my mind. Her demands were not just for coffee; they were for control, for public humiliation.

My phone vibrated. A text from Greyson: "Imogen is here. What's happening? She sounds upset."

I stared at the screen, a bitter laugh catching in my throat. Upset? She was a tyrant, and he was her blind enabler. I typed a brief, professional reply: "Ms. Short requested a coffee. Handling it, sir." I deleted "sir." No. Just "Handling it." That was Ella Casey.

Just as I poured the steaming milk, my phone rang again. Imogen. Her voice, amplified by the speakerphone, assaulted my ears. "Where is that blasted coffee? Did you stop to pick berries on the way? I have places to be, people to see! Greyson is expecting me!"

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to remain calm. "Ma'am, I am in the process of making it now. The specialized machine for your specific request requires a moment to heat up."

"Hmph. Excuses, excuses. It better be perfect. Triple-shot, extra-hot, non-fat, no-foam. And if it's not boiling hot, I'll send it back. Do you understand? I don't pay good money to drink lukewarm dishwater." She paused, then added, "And make sure the cup is perfectly clean. No smudges. And use a new sleeve. I hate touching germ-infested paper."

My eye twitched. "Understood, ma'am." I quickly finished the painstaking process, ensuring every detail was exactly as she'd specified. My hands, trained for finesse, felt clumsy under the pressure of her ridiculous demands.

As I walked back through the lobby, holding the carefully prepared coffee, Imogen was still holding court at the reception desk, loudly complaining about the hotel's "declining standards" to anyone who would listen. Her eyes, sharp and predatory, locked onto me the moment I reached the desk.

"Finally," she drawled, snatching the cup from my hand. Her fingers brushed mine, and then, with a deliberate, vicious jerk, she pulled it away. The hot liquid sloshed over the rim, scalding the back of my hand.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips. The pain was instant, a burning stripe across my skin. I bit back a cry, clutching my hand.

"Clumsy!" Imogen snapped, not a trace of concern in her voice. "Watch where you're going, you idiot! You almost spilled it on my dress!" She cradled the cup, examining it as if I had personally tried to poison her.

Mr. Davies rushed forward, his face etched with concern. "Ella, are you alright? Ms. Short, I apologize, but..."

"She's fine," Imogen cut him off, dismissive. "Just a little clumsy. Honestly, Greyson needs to hire people with some coordination. My coffee is barely hot now."

My vision blurred for a moment, not from tears, but from a sudden, white-hot rage. My hand throbbed, but the pain in my heart was far deeper. This woman, with her malicious cruelty, was being enabled by the man I loved. The man who was supposed to protect me, to protect us.

"That's enough, Imogen." The voice, cutting through the lobby's tense silence, was deep and calm.

I looked up. Chef Eldon Michael stood there, his chef's whites pristine, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His gaze was steady, unwavering, locked on Imogen. He had a quiet authority that commanded attention, a stark contrast to Greyson's often performative charisma.

Imogen scoffed. "Oh, look who it is. The kitchen grunt. What, did you run out of things to burn?"

Eldon's expression didn't waver. "My staff is not 'furniture,' Ms. Short. And they are certainly not here to be verbally or physically abused." He glanced at my hand, his eyes softening for a fraction of a second, then hardened again as he looked back at Imogen. "We have a first aid kit. I suggest you step away from the reception desk. You're disturbing the other guests."

Imogen's face turned crimson. "How dare you! You think you can talk to me like that? Do you know who I am?"

"I know exactly who you are, Ms. Short," Eldon replied, his voice still low, but with an underlying steel. "And I know what our hotel, our establishment, stands for. It's not this." He gestured vaguely at her, encompassing her entire entitled demeanor.

"I'm telling Greyson about this!" Imogen shrieked, her voice reaching a fever pitch. "He'll have your head, you insolent fool! He owes me! He'll fire you on the spot!"

A cold dread washed over me. Greyson. My fiancé. Would he side with her? Again?

"Speaking of Greyson," Imogen said, regaining a semblance of composure, a wicked glint in her eye. "I think I'll go pay him a visit. A little tour of his kingdom. Maybe I'll start with the private dining rooms, then move on to the executive suites. Perhaps the new expansion plans?" She smiled, a truly evil grin. "After all, I need to make sure everything is up to my standards."

My heart leaped into my throat. The new expansion plans-Greyson's most critical negotiation with the mayor-involved highly confidential blueprints and projections. They were tucked away in his private office, off-limits to everyone. Except, apparently, to Imogen.

"Ms. Short, those areas are not accessible to guests," I blurted out, forgetting my role for a moment. My corporate persona, the heiress, elbowed Ella Casey aside. "There are sensitive documents, ongoing discussions..."

Mr. Davies grabbed my arm, his eyes wide with terror. "Ella, don't! Please, just... let it go."

Imogen turned back to me, her smile even wider, more menacing. "Oh, so the trainee knows more than the head concierge? Interesting. And you think you can tell me where I can and cannot go in my Greyson's hotel?" She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You really have no idea, do you? Greyson would give me anything. Anything I asked for. You're just a disposable little cog in his machine. And if you try to get in my way, I'll make sure he hears all about it. He'll make sure you're out on the street before you can even blink." Her eyes, cold and hard, promised a swift and brutal end to my undercover mission.

My breath hitched. This wasn't just about coffee. This was about power, manipulation, and a terrifying sense of ownership. Imogen believed she owned Greyson. And the way he allowed her to act, the way he enabled her, made me sick to my stomach. This was a battle, and I was just beginning to realize the true enemy.