The group made their way to the front desk.
The young receptionist who'd been slapped earlier had already been replaced by another colleague. She was now in the back, taking a break.
As soon as the hotel staff spotted Xavier, they straightened up and greeted him respectfully.
"Good evening, Sir."
He gave a small nod, then gestured toward Karina, who was standing on his left.
"Miss Carter is my guest. She's here on my invitation-set her up in a deluxe suite on the 35th floor."
The receptionist felt a wave of relief wash over her.
So the rumors were true-this fiery Miss Carter really was a VIP from the Blaze family.
Good thing she hadn't gone behind his back and tried to call him earlier. That might've gone badly... for her.
"Yes, of course. Miss, if you could just-" She paused mid-sentence.
Her colleague had gotten slapped for asking for ID. If she did the same, would she get hit too?
But before she could say anything else, Karina flashed a bright smile and handed over her ID. "Here you go. My identification. Thanks for your help."
"Uh..." The receptionist blinked, stunned.
Was this really the same woman from just minutes ago? The same one who'd flat-out refused to show ID earlier? Why the sudden cooperation?
"Go on, take it," Karina said sweetly.
"Oh! Right, thank you!" Snapping out of her daze, the receptionist quickly took the ID with both hands and began typing into the system.
"Tch." Serena let out a quiet scoff. "And where's that other girl from earlier? The one who got slapped? What, she disappear into thin air?"
The receptionist looked up, a little flustered but still polite. "We switched shifts. She's in the back, resting now."
Serena glanced at her phone. Not even 10 PM.
"This early? Doesn't seem like the usual shift change time. What's going on?"
She asked casually-but everyone knew what she was really doing: exposing Karina's behavior in front of Xavier.
Annoyed, Karina rolled her eyes and snapped back. "Miss Knowles, the hotel has its own policies. So what if they changed shifts at ten? Is there a law against it? Why do you care so much?"
Serena smiled coolly, completely unfazed. "Isn't Mr. Blaze the one who owns this hotel? He hasn't said a word to me. So Miss Carter, what gives you the right to?"
Karina's face turned pale, then flushed red.
"Xavier, how can you let her talk to me like this?" she said in a pitiful voice, turning to him. "I'm just trying to protect the hotel's image. She's clearly just picking a fight!"
But the man remained stone-faced, as if he hadn't heard her at all. "Please finish checking Miss Carter in, and then escort her upstairs."
The receptionist, feeling like she'd just been saved from a firing squad, rushed to respond. "Right away!"
Xavier hadn't taken her side-he'd practically sided with Serena. Karina bit her lip, forcing a smile to save face.
A minute later, the receptionist handed her back the ID along with a room key. "Miss Carter, here's your room card-suite 3501, one of our exclusive luxury suites."
"Thanks," Karina said smugly, stealing a glance at Serena before turning to Xavier. "Xavier, which room are you in? I'll wait, we can go up together."
"No need," he replied, brushing her off with a wave of his hand. "I've still got some work to take care of. Go on ahead."
"Alright then. I'll head up first. Don't forget to call me when you're done!" she said sweetly.
He gave her a polite smile but didn't respond.
Karina sauntered off toward the elevator, hips swaying, following the hotel staff.
As soon as she disappeared, Xavier's smile vanished. His expression turned cold.
"What happened earlier?" he asked the receptionist sharply.
She hesitated, clearly unsure whether to speak up.
Serena gave her a gentle nudge. "Don't be afraid. Just tell the truth."
"Well... when Miss Carter came to check in, my coworker Franda asked for her ID. She refused, said she was your guest and demanded the best suite in the hotel. Franda followed protocol and didn't give her a room without ID. Miss Carter got mad, yelled at her, and when that didn't work... she slapped her. Hard."
"She hit someone?" Xavier's voice darkened.
"Yes," the receptionist whispered. "Her whole cheek swelled up right away."
Xavier's brows drew together. He turned toward Serena, who met his gaze with an icy smirk.
"Your distinguished guest just assaulted one of your own staff," she said, voice low but cutting. "I tried to speak up, and she turned it around on me. You just gonna let that slide?"
"Let it slide?" Xavier let out a humorless chuckle. "After how she treated you? Not a chance."
"Really?" Serena said with a raised brow. "Then why'd you let her go upstairs like nothing happened?"
"Because sooner or later, she'll have to face the consequences."
"Sooner or later?" Serena gave a dry laugh. "Men always love using that line, don't they?"
"Serena, trust me," he said quietly. "I won't let this go. I won't let you take the fall for this."
She wanted to snap back-but then she looked into his eyes, burning with conviction. And just like that, the words caught in her throat.
He turned back to the receptionist. "Tell Franda-she's getting a 1,000 dollars injury bonus this month. And starting next month, she's getting a two-level raise for upholding the rules."
The receptionist stared at him in disbelief.
Xavier didn't wait for a reply. He grabbed the key to the presidential suite, then turned and gently took Serena's hand.
Inside the elevator, Serena deliberately kept her distance.
Xavier sighed and moved closer, pulling her into his arms.
"What are you doing? Let go!" she said, squirming.
He didn't let go. Instead, he smiled and coaxed, "Come on, Serena. Don't be mad. There's nothing going on between me and Karina. The only reason I invited her here... was to get her away from the Carters."
That caught her off guard. "Away from the Carters? Why?"
***