Chapter 3 The hotel

"Welcome sir, I'll show you to your suite." The manager led them to the elevator heading to the top floor to the presidential suite.

"Melissa, are you okay?" Lisa asked when she noticed how conflicted Melissa looked.

"I'm fine, let's go." She and Lisa walked behind the group of staff.

"Ugh! It seems we have to wait." Since many people were accompanying the client, they couldn't get into the elevator forcing them to wait for the next one.

"Let's stand here." Melissa held Lisa's arm. She had not expected Mark Johnson, the CEO of the biggest company in the country and growing globally to be the client.

They had not seen each other for over four years and Mark didn't react to recognition after seeing her. To Melissa's belief, Mark couldn't remember her since they were not close though they had met a few times back in the university.

"Oh, he's so handsome. I'm jealous you get to spend time with him." Standing at the doorway of the presidential suit, Lisa whispered to Melissa.

"It's work." Melissa responded with her gaze held in Mark's.

After the introductions by the manager, everyone went to their post to resume work. Being the head of the team, Melissa had to stay and serve him but she avoided getting close to him. She only communicated through his assistant. And Mark Johnson didn't even look at her.

Since he didn't look at her, Melissa thought he didn't recognize her but what she didn't know was the fact that Mark had searched for her. When he woke up in that hotel room and couldn't find her, he looked for her in every place he had seen her.

It seemed the world had swallowed her up. The moment he walked into the hotel and saw her, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He almost confronted her. Ask her why she ran and hid from him but he had to keep it cool. Act as if he had never set his eyes on her before.

As everyone left the room, Mark took the iPad from his assistant and sat down on the couch to check his emails. Looking up after some time, he saw Melissa standing by the door like a statue. She wanted to avoid him yet she had to carry out her assigned orders to serve him.

"Why are you standing there?" He questioned, seemingly displeased.

"Sorry sir, I was waiting for your orders sir." Fuming internally Melissa responded avoiding eye contact.

"Well, don't just stand there like an idiot. Get me a cup of coffee."

"..." Melissa clenched her fists at his commanding tone. His mere presence angered her yet she couldn't do much about it. She had to do her job and earn enough to support her family.

Looking at the housekeeper, the assistant pitied her. His boss chose to take out his grumpy mood on her. Less than fifteen minutes in his presence and he was already scolding her.

"Cough cough... Miss White the coffee." He had to remind her since she seemed upset minded.

"Ooh sorry sir, I will get it right away." Melissa went to the small kitchen to prepare.

"Argh! I swear I'll pour this hot coffee on him." She clenched the kitchen counter.

A few minutes later, Melissa walked into the room with a steaming cup in her hands and placed it on the coffee table. "Your coffee, sir." She bowed, then took a step back.

"Did you add sugar?" He questioned without even touching the coffee.

"No sir, sorry I didn't ask...."

"James, go to the site and check if they have everything we need for tomorrow's presentation." Mark spoke to his assistant without bothering with her explanation.

After his assistant left, Melissa couldn't stand there staring at his boring poker face.

"Where do you think you're going?" He stopped her as soon as she turned to leave.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the main kitchen and check on your lunch sir." Melissa had to make an excuse to get out of the room but he couldn't let her off so easily.

"I asked for a cup of coffee."

"..." With her eyes wide open as her mouth was, Melissa stared at him stunned by his arrogance. She knew he was picking on her for no reason.

"Well?" Mark questioned loving how angry she looked. ' Let's see how long you can keep this up Melissa.' he thought to himself.

"Sir...I just brought your coffee." In every hospitality institution, they said the client is always right but at that moment she couldn't care less. She was no one's pushover.

"It's cold, get me another cup." He raised his head briefly to look at her for a second then went on with his work.

"Sh'''t how hard is it to serve this guy? I wonder how his employees survive." She cursed, almost stomping her feet as she walked to the kitchen for another cup.

Watching her walk away, Mark smiled to himself triumphantly.

A few seconds later Melissa brought him another cup.

"Your coffee sir." She placed the cup on the coffee table and stepped back to stand beside him.

"Thank you." He sipped his coffee staring at her over the glass rim. "Since I didn't drink the first one, why don't you sit and join me." Placing the cup down, he offered with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Thank you, but I don't drink coffee, sir." Melissa declined wishing he would end the conversion.

There is no way she could sit and drink coffee with him.

Though he didn't seem to recognize her, every time their eyes met, flashes of that night and the morning after went through her mind. She wished so much to forget that night but she couldn't. The events of those few hours had not only changed her life but it had a great impact on her son as well.

Glancing at Mark, his incredible resemblance to her son left her speechless.

Looking at Mark seemed like she was looking at her son Tommy.

She didn't share a deep relationship with him back then and now meeting him again after all these years, no way would she tell him they have a son.

That their one night together bore fruit.

He was known to be a ruthless man in the business world. Ever since he took over his grandfather's company, it grew exponentially as her friend had informed her. For someone to grow so much in a few years, she knew he must be very powerful. Which made her more afraid he would take her son away if he found out.

"Since you don't drink coffee, make a cup of tea and join me." Mark ordered rather than requested with his eyes still glued to the iPad screen.

"Sir, I can't sit with you. I...I am only an employee hired to serve you, sir." Seeing no end to the conversation, Melissa came downplaying her employee card.

She had never gotten herself in such a situation since most wealthy clients were arrogant and snobbish. None of them wanted any contact with the help.

Raising his head, he looked at the small woman for a second.

"At the moment I'm your boss and you do as I say." He switched off the iPad then took a sip from his coffee watching her every move.

After hesitating for a minute, Melissa sat opposite him. She could as well drink the damn coffee.

To put an end to the endless conversation, Melissa took a sip of the coffee.

"I thought you don't take coffee Miss White or is it Mrs?" He inquired with raised eyebrows.

"...." She raised her eyes and caught him gazing at her. "I don't want to waste the coffee, sir." She responded softly looking back into her cup.

"Good, I like how you make the coffee." He smiled then winked at her when she raised her gaze meeting his.

'What is wrong with this man? One minute he is harsh, the next he is inviting me to join him.' She wondered to herself with her eyes focused on the dark liquid.

Feeling his eyes trail on her, she looked at him only to see a smug on his face.

Melissa clenched her fists, unable to stand his smugness anymore. On the first day of work yet he was driving her mad. How could she serve him for a whole week?

She tapped her foot on the floor and tried to stay calm.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Staring into the cup, Melissa mastered her courage and confronted him. He was an important client to the hotel but she couldn't stand his childish games.

"I was wondering how long you would keep up the pretense."

"...what are you talking about?"

"Melissa White, do we know each other? Have we met before?" He questioned, still maintaining his indifferent smile.

"No, I don't think so sir." She just stared at the coffee table, not daring to look at him.

"Huh, really now? I remember four years ago we happened to spend a night in the same hotel room, on the same bed. When I woke up the beauty had left but that doesn't mean I don't know who slept in my bed." After hearing his words she was a little scared and uncomfortable being so close to him.

Looking at her quivering lips, he noted how scared she got. Like she had something to hide.

"Sorry, I don't know what you are talking about." Melissa shook her head choosing to stare into the coffee cup rather than his burning gaze. She needed to get out of the room but she knew he wouldn't let her go that easily.

Contemplating how to get away from him, his phone rang.

With his attention on something other than her, Melissa placed the cup on the table.

As his grandfather's picture popped on the screen, he glanced at Melissa for a second. He didn't want to end his conversation with Melissa yet he couldn't ignore the call.

As soon as he got up to pick up the call, Melissa found a window to escape. She murmured an excuse rushing out of the room.

"Wait...." Mark raised his hand but she was gone. "Hello grandfather... Yes, everything is okay....." Rubbing the back of his neck, he spoke on the phone wishing he could stop her but then he had to converse with his grandfather.