Chapter 7 VIP Guest

Megan stared at her salad, arms crossed over her chest in a clear sign of distaste. After being kicked out of the Drunken Moon Hotel, she had to go to another restaurant, right across the street, with her father, mother, and Austin. They all sat gloomily, eating in silence and lost in their own thoughts.

Not only was their pride bruised, but they couldn't help but feel resentful, thinking that Scarlett was, at that very moment, in one of the best hotels in New York, probably being pampered by the entire staff. Megan was so upset that a knot formed in her throat, and she couldn't bring herself to eat anything. Suddenly, all her hard work seemed to be in vain. She'd gone through thick and thin to take everything from Scarlett, but she hadn't expected this to happen. How did she get to know a powerful man like the CEO of Globex Corporation? The curiosity was almost driving her crazy.

"Eat." Her mother nudged her lightly.

Megan just shrugged, her moody expression only deepening. Her dad spoke, trying to cheer her up:

"Don't worry, Meg. It doesn't matter that we were kicked out of there. This restaurant is much better anyway. You should taste the steak, it's absolutely divine."

Megan rolled her eyes.

"I don't care about the damn food, Dad. What I want to know is how Scarlett pulled this off. The bitch isn't sleeping with the CEO of Globex Corporation, is she?"

Megan noticed her father's hand tightening around his fork. A forced smile spread across his face:

"Honey, I know you're upset, but you shouldn't call her names, alright? She's your sister."

"She might be my sister, but I can't lie, can I? She must've slept with him... It wouldn't be the first time, anyway."

Megan was so used to her lies that she was starting to believe them. She knew Scarlett had been a virgin before her trap, but she didn't allow herself to dwell on that. Austin was sitting across from her, and he looked even more upset than she was. Megan cringed, knowing he was jealous. His feelings for Scarlett, unfortunately, were still very much present.

"I never could've expected this," he complained. "Scarlett played me like a fool. All this time, she made me believe I was the only one when-"

"She's a liar, always has been," Megan interrupted him.

"But still... How did she do it? No one's ever even met the man. I've been trying to book a business meeting with him and never got a chance."

"What do you mean, how? I'll tell you! She just had to spread her legs open!"

"Megan!" her father boomed, slamming his fist on the table.

Megan knew better than to speak again and risk upsetting her father more than he already was.

"Sorry, Dad... It's just that I'm so angry at her. She got you kicked out of a restaurant, for God's sake."

Her strategy worked. Her father quickly forgot her lack of respect and focused on that moment when he'd been escorted out by security.

"I have never been so humiliated in my life," he said.

He was a known businessman, respected by all his peers. Luckily, no one he knew had been present at the restaurant to witness the humiliation he'd endured-all because of Scarlett.

Austin could relate to the older man's embarrassment, but on the other hand, Megan and her mother were quite used to it. They weren't from wealthy families, and being mistreated was, unfortunately, something that happened to them quite often.

They watched curiously as Scarlett's father took out his phone with a determined look on his face.

"What are you doing, darling?" Megan's mother asked him.

"I'm freezing all of Scarlett's credit cards," he responded.

Megan sat up, a glint of excitement lighting her eyes for the first time since they'd left the Drunken Moon Hotel.

"You are?" she grinned.

"Yes. I think I've been too lenient with her, and I must teach her a lesson. She'll learn that she's nothing without me... Not coming back home, huh? Let's see how she survives out there without my money."

Scarlett's father smiled with smug pride after freezing his daughter's cards. The four of them resumed their meal with lighter hearts, now that they'd done something they believed would compensate for the humiliation they had suffered thanks to Scarlett.

And right across the street, the young woman was having a great time in the most luxurious booth of the Drunken Moon Hotel. And to think her day had started in tragedy...

She was served the most delectable meals. All kinds of dishes filled her table, and Scarlett picked at them, each one more delicious than the last. She ate to her heart's content and sipped on sweet French wine. In that moment, she truly felt like royalty.

Of course, she couldn't finish all the food, and plenty was left when she decided she'd had enough. A few minutes later, the door opened again and a young waitress asked if she wanted anything else. Scarlett thanked her and said she was full. The waitress left and soon returned with the same manager from earlier.

"I hope dinner was to your liking, ma'am."

"Oh, it definitely was," Scarlett responded with a giggle. "I've filled myself with so much food, I can barely breathe."

"Good to know," the manager grinned. "If you're ready, then I'll take you to one of our VIP rooms."

"Sure."

Scarlett followed him to the lift, and her eyes widened when the manager pressed one of the top floors of the hotel. She knew that's where the presidential suites were, and that they cost a fortune-even for one night. Scarlett almost told the manager that she couldn't afford it, but then she changed her mind. She was going to pay with her dad's money anyway. Since she was so upset with him, she figured he deserved some punishment-and making him spend a bit of money was the least she could do.

If the restaurant booth was luxurious, then the suite Scarlett was taken to was heaven itself. The door opened to a breathtaking view of expensive furniture and, beyond that, a dreamy panorama of New York City. A few young maids were just finishing tidying up the place and greeted Scarlett on their way out.

"We've prepared your bath, ma'am," the manager informed her. "Please enjoy it, and we hope it helps you relax before bed."

"Really... I can't thank you enough," Scarlett said to him.

"You don't need to thank me. It's only natural. If you need anything else, just call reception. Good night, Miss...?"

"Devins."

"Alright. Good night, Miss Devins."

Scarlett waved at him, and the older man smiled before leaving the suite. She turned around and squealed happily, staring at the wide, lavish suite. In the five- or six-hundred-square-meter room, there were two master bedrooms as well as a study and an entertainment area. The décor was simple yet luxurious-definitely to Scarlett's taste.

She made her way to the bathroom where, indeed, her bath was already waiting for her. Next to it stood another bottle of aged French wine, similar to the one she'd had with dinner.

Scarlett slowly stripped out of her dress and underwear. She picked them up and set them carefully in the closet. She stood in front of the large mirror and remembered how broken she'd been that morning, staring into a different mirror in a different hotel room. She would've never imagined her day would end like this. Her spirit was uplifted, and it eased her broken heart, even if only a little.

She entered the bathtub and soaked in the warm water filled with rose petals and essential oils. Scarlett almost dozed off in there. She played some light music and drank her wine with a lazy smile on her face. Her bath lasted more than an hour before she decided it was time to sleep. She wore a light robe and jumped onto the bed, covered with silky sheets.

She was so carefree, Scarlett had no idea that on the upper floor, a man was sitting in his study, thinking about her.

Ryke was leaning back in his chair, twirling his glass of whisky, when someone knocked and came in. It was none other than the hotel's manager. Ryke sat up and asked:

"What is she doing right now?"

"She's been taken to one of the suites, sir," the man responded. "Right now, I believe she's taking a bath or getting ready for bed."

"Hmm... Was she happy?"

"Yes, she was definitely pleased, sir."

The manager raised one eyebrow when he noticed the small smile tugging at his boss's lips. It looked strange on someone as cold as Ryke. And Ryke didn't even seem to notice he was smiling.

He was thinking of Scarlett's teary blue eyes as she was humiliated in the middle of the restaurant earlier. She really didn't deserve it, not after the morning she'd had. Ryke felt an overwhelming need to protect her, and he couldn't explain why. There was just something about little Scarlett Devins that made him weak. Or maybe he was just feeling guilty for what he'd done to her. The memory of those blood-stained sheets that morning made him cringe.

"Take care of her, alright?" he mumbled to the manager.

The man nodded, and Ryke asked him to leave. He remained alone in his dimly lit study, Scarlett occupying every inch of his thoughts. He saw himself the night before, his hands roaming all over her sexy little body. A shiver ran through him, and he felt himself harden in his pants. He was used to the company of beautiful women, but... Scarlett wasn't like any other.

He felt indebted to her after taking something as precious as her virginity. Ryke had to repay her somehow, even if she didn't want him to. And maybe-just maybe-he hoped for a chance to get to know her better in the process.