Chapter 6

Cari looked down at the two thousand dollars now sitting in her available balance. A cold, hard smile touched the corners of her mouth.

Loud, chaotic footsteps echoed from the hallway behind her.

Hamlin rushed out of the room, his hand still pressing against his red, swollen cheek. Cody and the others followed close behind. Trina trailed them like an angry guard dog, screaming for security.

Hamlin stepped in front of Cari, blocking her path. "You think you're tough? You just lost your pathetic twenty-cent-a-day job."

Cody stepped up beside him, crossing his arms. "I'm going to get you blacklisted on every gig app in Manhattan. You're going to starve on the street."

Harper walked out of the room slowly. She leaned against the doorframe, looking at Cari with the eyes of a victorious queen.

The noise in the hallway finally caught the attention of the hotel's General Manager, Mr. Franklin Palmer. He hurried down the hall, followed by two large security guards.

Trina immediately ran up to him. "Mr. Palmer!" she cried out, pointing at Cari. "She went crazy! She smashed glasses and attacked the VIP guests!"

Mr. Palmer frowned deeply. He looked at Cari with strict authority. "Apologize to the guests immediately, or I am calling the police."

Surrounded by their angry faces and threats, Cari suddenly laughed. The sound was light, but it echoed strangely in the wide hallway.

Everyone stared at her like she had lost her mind.

"Did the shock finally break your brain?" Hamlin asked, stepping back slightly.

Cari stopped laughing. Her eyes swept over the group, resting on Palmer. Her voice was completely calm and steady.

"Mr. Palmer," Cari asked. "How much does it cost to buy the Cloud Crest hotel?"

The hallway fell into a dead, heavy silence.

Then, the group erupted into loud, mocking laughter. Trina laughed so hard tears formed in her eyes. "You can't even buy a burger, and you want to buy an eighty-dollar hotel?"

Hamlin grabbed his stomach, pointing at Cari. "That is the funniest thing I've ever heard."

Palmer's face turned dark red with anger. He thought Cari was playing a stupid game. He waved his hand at the guards. "Drag her out."

The two large guards took a step forward.

Cari looked at Palmer with a chilling calmness. "You can call your Board Chairman to confirm. Tell him Cari Butler is acquiring this property."

She pulled out her phone. She had already sent the purchase offer to the hotel's board earlier that day through her assistant. The chairman had confirmed receipt. Now her fingers flew across the screen as she initiated the final payment through her unlocked funds.

Palmer scoffed, and the group erupted into another round of mocking laughter, treating her like a delusional beggar. The hallway was filled with their cruel giggles for several long, agonizing minutes.

Suddenly, the encrypted phone in Palmer's suit pocket began to vibrate violently.

Palmer pulled it out, annoyed, but his breath hitched when he saw the caller ID of the hotel's Board Chairman. He immediately held up a hand to stop the guards and answered the phone, his face shifting into a mask of deep respect.

The voice on the other end was loud. Even Cari, standing a few feet away, could hear the words "full acquisition" and "change of ownership."

Palmer's respectful expression shattered. His eyes widened in shock, and then pure, physical terror took over his features. Cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

He slowly lowered the phone. His head snapped up, and he stared at Cari like he was looking at a ghost.

His legs shook. He stumbled forward, practically tripping over his own feet to reach her.

In front of everyone's disbelieving eyes, the powerful General Manager bowed deeply to Cari, bending past ninety degrees.

"Boss," Palmer said, his voice trembling violently.

The laughter in the hallway died instantly. It was as if someone had choked the sound out of their throats.

Trina's jaw dropped open. Her eyes were wide with desperate confusion.

Hamlin and Cody stood frozen like statues. Their brains completely stopped working.

Cari looked down at Palmer's shaking shoulders. She slowly raised her hand and pointed a finger directly at Trina, who was shivering against the wall.

"Fire that idiot," Cari ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Now."