Chapter 4

The night wind carried the salty, cool breeze of the coastal city.

Our group of fifty marched across the street, the wheels of our suitcases rolling over the asphalt like a rolling wave of thunder.

I walked at the very front.

Directly ahead was the Grand Platinum Hotel.

Its magnificent gold-rimmed glass doors, the water fountain dancing under elegant lights, and four doormen in pristine uniforms standing at attention.

Compared to the dingy, smoke-filled motel we had just left, this was heaven.

Justin came running up behind me, panting, and grabbed my arm.

"Valerie! What the hell are you doing?"

He tried to keep his voice down, but his anger was bubbling over.

"You just wasted nearly thirty thousand dollars of your own money just to throw a tantrum? Who do you think you are? A billionaire’s daughter playing at being a commoner?"

I shook his hand off.

"Don't touch me."

"Do you honestly think the Grand Platinum is going to let you in?" Justin pointed at the revolving doors and sneered.

"I just checked their app. Their standard rooms are completely booked tonight! They only have executive suites and presidential suites left. A single suite is over a thousand dollars a night! You have fifty people. How are you going to pay for that? Are they going to sleep on the lobby floor?"

Hearing Justin's words, some of the employees in the back began to slow down.

"Valerie... is what Justin saying true?"

"If there are no rooms, where are we going to sleep tonight?"

Anxiety began to spread through the crowd like wildfire.

I stopped, turned around, and looked at them.

"I told you. Executive suites. I will sign for it. Just follow me."

Right then, my phone began to vibrate violently.

The caller ID read: *Marcus Sterling (CEO)*.

Justin crossed his arms, wearing a smug grin.

"Go on, answer it. I just reported your little stunt to Marcus. Want to guess what he's going to say?"

I pressed answer and put it on speaker.

Marcus's furious roar instantly shattered the quiet night air.

"Valerie! Have you lost your damn mind?!"

The employees gasped, lowering their heads in fear.

"You are leading a company retreat, and on the very first night, you pull this crap? You got our materials held hostage and wasted thirty thousand dollars? Do you think the company's money grows on trees?!"

I kept my voice perfectly flat.

"Marcus, this hotel has been overcharging us for years. Tonight, the owner publicly humiliated our team. I will not let our employees be treated like trash."

"Humiliated? Who doesn't face a little humiliation at work?!" Marcus screamed, refusing to listen. "Justin tells me you're taking them to the Grand Platinum? Are you insane? Do you know the company’s travel policy? Who gave you the authority to upgrade the accommodations?!"

"I will personally cover the difference."

"Can you even afford it?!" Marcus slammed his desk over the phone.

"Valerie, I am officially relieving you of your duties as leader of this retreat! From this moment on, Justin is in full charge! You will apologize to Dexter Harris right now, and take everyone back to his hotel!"

"And if I say no?" I asked.

The line went quiet for two seconds.

"No? Then don't bother showing up for work tomorrow. You're fired!"

*Click.*

The call disconnected.

The atmosphere turned to ice.

Justin let out a loud, mocking laugh.

"Hear that, Valerie? Oh, wait, you're not the director anymore."

He turned to the fifty employees and clapped his hands.

"Alright, everyone heard the boss! I’m in charge now. Turn around, grab your bags, and follow me back to the hotel!"

The crowd stirred.

But no one moved.

On one side was their fired manager who had treated them like human beings. On the other side was the newly appointed boss holding the ultimate authority.

In the adult world, the choice is never hard to make.

"Valerie..." Chloe looked at me, her eyes red, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry... but I have a mortgage to pay..."

Keeping her head low, she slowly dragged her suitcase over to Justin's side.

That was the trigger.

A second person followed. Then a third.

Soon, over forty people had crossed over to stand behind Justin.

Only about eight people remained by my side. They were my core team, the ones I had personally hired and trained.

Justin looked at me, his eyes filled with the arrogance of a victor.

"Valerie, don't be so stubborn. The world isn't black and white. If you apologize to me right now, maybe I can say a few good words to Marcus for you."

Just then, a loud, obnoxious honking noise echoed from across the street.

Dexter was standing outside his motel with a megaphone, screaming across the road.

"Hey, Valerie! I thought you were a big shot! I thought you were staying at the Grand Platinum!"

"Can you even get through the front door?!"

"If you manage to check your team into the Grand Platinum tonight, I’ll change my last name to yours!"

His voice boomed down the street.

Passersby stopped to watch the drama unfold.

Justin shook his head and sighed. "Let's go. Stop embarrassing yourselves."

He turned to lead the crowd back.

I stood my ground, looking at Dexter across the street, then at Justin.

"Justin," I called out.

"Do you really think Marcus has the power to fire me?"

Justin froze, then burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Valerie, have you gone delusional from the shock? Marcus is the President of the North American Division. You think he needs a special permit to fire an admin director?"

I didn't waste another breath on him.

I turned around, facing the golden, glowing entrance of the Grand Platinum.

I took a deep breath.

And then, I walked forward.

Justin shouted after me, "Still trying to show off? The security guards are going to kick you out in a second!"

I didn't look back.

Ten yards from the entrance.

The four doormen saw me.

They didn't rush over to kick me out like Justin said they would.

Instead, they immediately stood at attention, straightening their white gloves.

Five yards from the entrance.

The revolving doors of the hotel suddenly stopped.

The two glass side doors were pushed wide open simultaneously.

A middle-aged man in a bespoke designer suit, his hair slicked back perfectly, came rushing out. Behind him was a platoon of over a dozen duty managers and supervisors.

Justin's laughter died in his throat.

Across the street, Dexter lowered his megaphone.

The middle-aged man ran up to me.

He stopped.

And bowed deeply, a perfect ninety degrees.

"Ms. Vance, we are deeply sorry for the delay."