Mercedes sat in her office with a smile on her face as she couldn't get the weekend she spent with Hugo off her mind. Her only regret about the weekend? Was that her weekend with Hugo ended. Now she's back to reality, dealing with employees, guests, the hotels' financials, and picking up the pieces of where her grandfather left off.

She scanned through her grandfather's paperwork and notepad, read his notes, and then she found his notes on her phonecall with him about his resort woes in Antigua. With a message in bold, extensive writing next to it, HE GOT TO THEM, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH STERLING TO SABOTAGE ME. YOU NEED TO FIRE THEM ALL.

Mercedes rested her elbows on the desk, folded her hands together, then she rested her chin on her folded hands and stared at what he felt was going on at the resort. She thought back to that day, what she saw, what Hugo told her, and what the employees there told her, trying to make sense of it all. She did remember that when she stayed at the resort a few months ago, the resort looked nothing like it recently did.

He's right. Someone there purposely destroyed the resort, making it look like it did so we would get bad reviews, and to keep anyone from wanting to be a guest there away, she muttered.

As she thought back to the conversations she had with the resort management and employees, it dawned on her about a name one of the employees kept bringing up. Telling her how he had been spending a lot of time at the resort and that they felt it was him who was behind the resort's problems. She never thought anything of it at the time, but then she thought of the run-in she had with Sterling at the funeral and the name he called one of his sons... Hudson.

So many thoughts were running through Mercedes's mind, and she wasn't sure what to think. The one thing she did feel was that if this Hudson guy was, in fact, the one ruining their resort for his family's gain and thinking her grandfather would sell it to them, finally, they had another thing coming, mainly after she stayed at their resort and how she respected their property as any typical guest would have.

A knock at the door disrupted her thoughts, and she looked away from her grandfather's notes. "It's open," she called out, straightening the papers she had scattered on her desk.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Eric said as he entered the room. "But Jerome just informed me that the Walk-in cooler and the Walk-in freezer in the kitchen aren't working and that it must have quit sometime yesterday or the day before because everything in the freezer is completely thawed. He also mentioned since the Walk-in cooler didn't maintain the correct temperature, everything is ruined, and all the food must be thrown away."

Mercedes's stomach dropped instantly. This was the last thing she needed to deal with, as there was a wedding that was also to take place at the hotel this weekend, and she needed everything to be working smoothly and correctly. She stood quickly, and with a pale-colored look on her face, she asked, "You're joking, right?"

"No, I'm not," he nervously said. "I'm sorry. I know this was something you weren't expecting to deal with your first day back."

She brushed past Eric and hurried out of the room; not even caring who was watching her or that she was wearing high heels, she ran to the kitchen, twisting her ankle along the way. "Jerome," she breathed as she turned the corner. "Please don't tell me all the food for the wedding is ruined. Please don't tell me that."

"Okay, I won't.

"It is?" She asked, looking upset and as if she were ready to cry.

"Some of the shipment came a couple of days ago. The other part of the shipment comes in a few days. So, whatever is wrong, needs to be fixed by Wednesday. Because now, I have to reorder the food we got a couple of days ago and hope they have everything that we need."

"Wednesday? I need it fixed today! We need the kitchen to remain open!"

"Tell me what you'd like me to do?" He griped, knowing there wasn't anything he could do. "Would you like me to snap my fingers and say, hey, start fucking working? We need our kitchen opened?" He mocked while tying up the garbage bag. "And don't worry, everything I'm throwing out is marked on the clipboard right there," he pointed. "When I'm done going through the cooler and finished with the paperwork, you'll have the numbers."

"How much do you estimate to be bad?"

"Thousands of dollars..."

She lowered her face in her hands and shook it. "This can't be happening..."

"Well, it did. And now I'm going to suggest that you get that cute little ass of yours on the phone and see who can come in and immediately fix whatever it was that took out both the cooler and freezer. I'll also call my food rep and see what he can do. With nothing working yet, I'm not sure what he can do."

"I'll go make some calls."

She headed back to her office, and the second she got online and started searching for commercial walk-in cooler repair, her office line rang. "This is Mercedes," she tiredly answered.

Her eyes widened, and her hand slapped the desk. Hard. "Is this some kind of joke? Am I on some sort of reality show?" She yelled in the phone and looked around her, looking for hidden cameras. "Why is everything going wrong today?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Kensington. This isn't a joke. The hotel is flooded."

She dropped the phone and lowered her head to the top of the desk, and started banging her forehead against it. "You're testing me. Aren't you, grandfather?" She muttered. She picked up the phone and sighed, "I'll get on the first flight I can... right after I fix what's going on here," she exhaled before hanging up.

She made numerous calls before finding one that claimed they would be there within the next few hours, guaranteeing her that they'll have it fixed by the end of the day. Next, she searched for the soonest flight to Manhattan. As she searched the airlines, her cellphone beeped, alerting her she got a message. She was afraid to see who was now trying to get a hold of her, and she continued searching each airline until her phone beeped again. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then she reached for her phone.

Hugo: Hello, sweetheart. I hope you're having a good day.

Are you trying to be funny? I'm having a wonderful day... NOT. I'm having a horseshit day. But who cares, right? As I just inherited hundreds of hotels, and my first real day back to work without my grandfather here, has been nothing but issues. She groaned, then sighed as she looked at his next message.

Hugo: I was curious if you'd be willing to go to dinner with me tonight? I know it's only been a few hours since I last saw you, but I already miss looking at that beautiful face of yours.

That last part made her smile. And then a frown formed after remembering she needs to deal with an issue in Manhattan.

Mercedes: Sorry. I can't. I have to be somewhere tonight. If it's not a problem, can I take a raincheck?

Hugo: Do you have a date?

I wish... But yeah. I have a date with a plumber or maybe even the fucken city of Manhattan...

She looked back at the laptop screen and noticed an airline that leaves in two hours and still has seats available. She clicked on it, entered her information, then chose her seat. She looked back at her phone and messaged Hugo.

Mercedes: No.

Hugo: Whew. I felt scared there for a second. I was about to say that if you had a date tonight and it wasn't with me, I was going to ask who you were going on a date with and where your date would be. That way, I could find you two and kick his ass for trying to steal you away from me.

Her brows lifted high.

Mercedes: Really? I didn't know we were exclusive.

Hugo: I marked my territory over the weekend. Haven't you noticed?

Her mouth dropped, and her hand quickly raised to her neck, covering it. Then in a panic, thinking Eric and Jerome saw the markings, she looked then reached for her purse underneath the desk, looking for her compact to see what he did to her. Finding her compact, she looked in the mirror and let out a breath of relief when she saw nothing.

Mercedes: I didn't see anything. But now that you say you marked your territory, are you now saying that I'm a dog?

Hugo: No. But I am. Lick. Lick. Lick... and by the way, the markings aren't on your neck. Check your thighs, your ass cheeks, your chest, your stomach, and your back. I was a good boy and made sure not to mark your neck.

Asshole.

Hugo: I heard that. And that's Mr. Asshole. Wink. Wink. Anyway, how long are you going to be out tonight? If I can't see your beautiful face for dinner, can I at least see you before you go to bed?

Mercedes: You weren't a gentleman the other day when you left marks on my neck. Lucky for me, they have gone away. Or, well, you can barely see them. Anyway, that won't work tonight, either.

Mercedes: And before you ask why not, just know that I'm not going out on a date. I'm not happy about this, either, but I have to leave town for work, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. But to make you happy, I'll make sure to call you when I get back into town.

Hugo didn't respond right away, so she took it as she hurt him and that he was done messaging her. She then continued making her reservation for her flight to one of the world's busiest airports and the one she hated flying to. JFK airport. After receiving her confirmation, her phone beeped.

Hugo: How about I come with you?

Mercedes: This is for work. Not a vacation. So no.

Hugo: Please?

Mercedes: Maybe another time. I'll call you when I get there. Okay?

Hugo: Sigh... Okay, fine.

Mercedes left the office, informed Eric that she found someone to fix the Walk-ins, then told him about what happened at the hotel in Manhattan and that she was on her way there. She went up to her room, packed a bag, called Uber for a ride, and then she went back down to talk to Eric.

"Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Sure."

She held up a credit card.

His eyes widened, and a broad smile formed on his face. "Your credit card. Are you giving that to me so I can go shopping? Shopping for a new car?" He teased.

She gave him a; please help me look.

"I'm sorry. I hope you know I was only teasing."

She smiled. "I know. But I was curious if I could ask that you do my food drop off again? Please?"

He smiled, took the card from her hand, and shook his head. "You should know me by now. I've never turned you down, so you don't have to beg me to do it. Is it still called the Sadie special?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Thank you. Let them know I had to leave town again for work."

"I'll tell them. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Yes. Please try to keep Bentley away from here. And if any of my family come here looking for me. Tell them you have no idea where I am."

******

Mercedes walked into Kensington Palace, and when the employees saw her walk in, they began to scatter. She started walking closer to the front desk, but then she heard her name called out behind her and turned around. Her stomach dropped, her breathing hitched, and her heart started to pound.

It had been nearly six months since she last saw and heard from Noah. For almost a year, they exchanged phone calls, text messages and went on a couple of trips together for work. But when they last saw each other, they had one night of passion, and she never heard from him again. She'd call, send him text messages, but he'd never respond or would answer her calls. To see him again had her body going numb.

"Noah," she breathed.

Noah walked over to her like nothing ever happened between them and extended his hand to her. "Thanks for coming."

Without thinking, she got defensive and hissed, "That was six months ago you nailed and bailed."

He cleared his throat, then adjusted his tie as he leaned forward and whispered, "We'll talk later over dinner."

"I don't think so," she quietly snapped. She let go of her bag, then she gripped her hips, furrowed her brows, and scowled, "Where's Andre? He's the one who called and informed me of the situation. I thought I'd be dealing with him. Not you."

"He had to bring his daughter to dance class, and he asked me to deal with you."

"Lucky me," she mocked. She lowered her hands from her hips, grabbed her bag, then hissed. "Well, then, show me where the damage is so I can figure out what to do and so I can get the hell out of here."

He held out his arm. "Right this way," he said. And as she started walking, he placed his hand in between her shoulder blades.

Mercedes wiggled his hand off and snapped, "Don't fucking touch me."

"I said, we'll talk later."

"No. We won't."

Noah walked her to the basement, and when she saw all the water on the floor, about a foot high, she closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "What the fuck happened?"

He pointed across from them, showing her a pipe that burst. "We shut the water completely off, so none of the guests have water right now."

She walked through the water and to the pipe, looking up and seeing the damage. Her eyebrows formed together. "What the hell? It looks like someone took an ax to it."

"That's what I said."

"When did this happen?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. Andre noticed this morning after he came down here after customers complained about having no water pressure."

Thinking back to the Antigua resort issue, she turned to him. "Show me the customer log for the last couple of days, please."

"Customer log, why?"

"Because I asked you to. That's why."

Without questioning her again, they left the basement, and he walked her to the back office. She sat in the chair, and as he logged into the system, she had to turn her head away from him after getting a whiff of his woodsy smelling cologne. A smell of his that always got her insides wanting to ignite. "There you go," he said in a soft-spoken tone.

She looked up and furrowed her brows. "Thank you, now get away from me."

He took the hint and walked around the desk, sitting in the chair across from her. He crossed his leg over the other, placed his left elbow on the arm of the chair, and then he lowered his chin into his fingers and stared at her.

Mercedes looked at the computer screen, trying to avoid Noah, but felt his eyes were on her. Without looking at him and keeping her eyes on the screen as she scrolled through the guest list, she scowled, "Will you quit looking at me? It's freaking me out."

"I can't help it. I've missed your beautiful face."

"Yeah, you can help it. And that's too bad. You lost your chance with me months ago after you fucked me, left, and I never heard from you again."

"I can explain."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You must."

Her eyes rolled up away from the screen and to Noah's eyes. "No, I don't. Now quit talking."

He groaned, then sighed, "You scared me."

Not caring to listen, she ignored him.

"I was falling hard for you, very hard. Then that night happened between us, and I didn't know what to think because of the situation I was in."

"Good, now quit thinking about us. It's done and over with. And by the looks of it, you got back together with your wife."

He sighed again. "Mercedes..."

"Don't Mercedes me. I see the ring is back on your finger."

"I found out the day after we slept together that she was three months pregnant."

She leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms against her chest, and she looked at him with an evil look in her eye. "Three months pregnant? We were talking for almost a year!" She raised her arms and quoted him with her fingers. "You were supposedly going through a divorce. You claimed you were separated from her for nearly two years! But she was three months pregnant? UGH!" She angrily breathed. "You're disgusting."

"Yes, I made a mistake. And that was the price I paid for that mistake."

"A mistake," she breathed a chuckle. "A price you paid? Yet your wedding ring is back on your finger. Give me a break."

He lowered his head and frustratedly rubbed his face. "I know, I know. After I found out, not only was I scared about my feelings for you, I was scared for what was then coming—a baby. I ignored you because I was trying to sort out my feelings and what I needed to do. Then I was embarrassed. Embarrassed and scared to tell you that she and I slept together. With you living in Portland, and me living in Manhattan, with you also running the Portland hotel, I knew you wouldn't move here to be with me."

"That's a lame excuse. You never asked. You assumed. I don't want to hear anymore. You make me sick."

He sat straight, then arched his brows high. "Okay, Mercedes. Answer me this. Let's just assume we're still an item, and I'm coming to you right now to ask you this. Mercedes, I can't be away from you any longer. These long days without seeing you are troubling me, and I want more of us. I want to wake up to you daily and to wine and dine you daily. I'm falling in love with you, Mercedes. With that said, I'd like to ask that you drop everything in Portland to move here to Manhattan, and for you to move in with me... what would you have said?"

She wanted this conversation to end. She sat forward, looked at the computer screen, and calmly said, "I would have told you no," she lied. She was in love with him too. But knowing what she knows now. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing what she would have done.

"You're lying. I heard it in your voice..." Noah sighed. "I fucking screwed up, and I'm sorry... I didn't think you would say you would, so I didn't ask. Then, because of the baby on the way, I figured to do the right thing after asking that I take her back. So, I did."

"Congratulations. I'm so happy for you," Mercedes mocked. "I hope you two are happy."

"We're not. And it's because I can't get you off my mind. I miss you."

"Well, I don't miss you."

"Are you seeing anyone?"

"If you think I'm here to do the Mambo Jambo with you again, your insane. And yes, there is someone in my life, and if he knew you were trying to get back together with me, he'd find you, and he'll kick your ass. Especially if I were to tell him what you did to me."

"What's his name?"

"None of your business," she snapped, just as she saw a familiar name on the screen.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!!🤞🤞