Chapter 2 I'm a very patient man

CORALINE POV

I work at the Highrise hotel, one of the best in New York. It took a great deal for me to get this job without a college degree in management but somehow how I pulled it off. Maybe, I had my fiance to thank for his connections. And I've worked here for two years now with no issues but then one day, my Director had told us we had a special guest. We didn't understand why he made such a big deal out of it when all we ever had in our hotel were important people. It was a five-star hotel, so it wasn't exactly shocking to host VIPs.

Still, he ensured that every staff member was dressed to the highest standard, every surface gleamed, and not a single door handle had a smudge. Maybe it was the owner of the hotel, we all thought. It made sense.

And then, later during my shift, the director approached me personally and said I needed to tend to the guest in the royal suite.The royal suite was almost never occupied. The entire floor belonged to the suite, and it was usually assumed that whoever used it had bought it outright. That meant one thing-the owner had finally arrived.

I worked as an attendant at the front desk, not room service, but I wasn't about to tell my director no and risk losing my job. So, I agreed to handle the guest's needs.

I stepped out of the elevator onto the private floor, adjusting my uniform as I approached the suite. The hallway was unnervingly silent, lined with men in black suits, their gazes sharp and assessing. Tension curled in my stomach. This was different. This wasn't just a rich guest-this was someone important.

Taking a steadying breath, I approached one of the men. "I'm here for suite 201. The occupant requested assistance."

He barely glanced at me before giving a curt nod. "Follow me."

The plush carpet swallowed our footsteps, making the silence even more oppressive. When we reached the door, he swept a metal detector over me before stepping aside."Go in."

I hesitated for half a second before swiping the MasterCard and stepping inside.The suite was breathtaking, wrapped in dark wood, leather, and the faint scent of sandalwood. It was the definition of luxury, but my attention snapped to the sound of running water before I could take in the details.I had just enough time to process it before the bathroom door swung open.

A man stepped out, towel slung low around his waist, water droplets sliding down his toned chest. His dark hair was damp, pushed back, revealing sharp cheekbones and piercing green eyes. He carried himself with the kind of presence that made the massive room feel suffocatingly small.

I froze.His gaze flicked to me, unreadable. "You're the attendant?"

I cleared my throat, dragging my eyes away from the muscles flexing beneath his skin. "Receptionist. But yes, I'm here to assist."He stepped closer, and the air thickened.

"Your name?"I squared my shoulders. "It's not appropriate to share personal details with guests, sir. What do you need?"

His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "What I want?" His Italian accent wrapped around the words, slow and deliberate. "You don't want to know what I desire, darling."

Heat crept up my neck. "Uh... please don't call me that. Also inappropriate "

"You didn't give me your name, so I'll call you whatever I please." His gaze flicked over me, assessing, lingering. He moved with the kind of effortless confidence that told me he was used to controlling every room he entered.

I forced myself to remain professional, even as my pulse pounded. "Is there something I can get for you, sir?"

"Your finest dish, delivered in twenty minutes." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Food arrangement could've been made over the phone, I didn't need to come up here.

I exhaled slowly. "That's not really how kitchens work sir, but I'll do my best."

His smirk deepened. "I have faith in your resourcefulness. Impress me, Darling."

The way he said it made my skin crawl.

Trouble. He was pure trouble.

And somehow, I already knew I was in way over my head.

At the kitchen, my phone buzzed, but I barely glanced at the screen as I watched Mr. Arrogant's meal being assembled on a gold tray. Ten minutes-that's how long it took to prepare his extravagant request: Lobster and Avocado Tartare with Caviar. Everything had gone smoothly, thanks to our top-tier kitchen staff.

Every other order had been pushed aside just to prepare this one dish."Do you think this is necessary?" I asked James, the head chef, nodding toward the flashy presentation.

He barely spared me a glance. "What's necessary?"

"The golden tray."

As if to answer, James drizzled something ridiculously expensive over the dish and added a delicate leaf for flair. He stepped back, satisfied. "It's not every day we serve an elite guest like this."

I folded my arms. "Are you serious? Important, rich guests are all we serve."

James ignored me, adding sides-microgreens, artisan bread, elegant garnishes. Then, he finished it off with our priciest champagne, nestled in a golden ice bucket.

"This guy isn't just rich. He is wealth," James said, rolling out a trolley and setting the tray on top. "Ever heard of old money?"

I nodded, intrigued despite myself. Not that I cared much-my father owned a vineyard and a mansion in Florence, but I had left that life behind.

"He's from old money, and they've got other businesses too. No idea what. I don't even know his last name, but the bosses made it clear he's special."

"Do you know his first name?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

James shrugged. "Nope. Boss didn't say. Now, take this up. We're behind schedule."

I sighed. "Why am I the one doing this? I'm not an attendant and you know it. This is unprofessional."

James gave me a look. "Because he specifically asked for you."

I froze. "What? I don't even know him!"

"Maybe, he saw you at reception and requested you."

"But why me?"

I don't know this man from anywhere and I didn't even see him come in. So how did he see me at the reception desk when he was crowded by all those men. I knew it was something else. Maybe the boss just recommended me to him.