Chapter 5 She’s Our Vip Guest
Martin quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Shari, just go back. Don’t keep Mrs. Vance waiting. We can stay at the hotel.”
He knew all too well how difficult Sharon’s grandmother, Roxanne Vance, could be. He didn’t want Sharon’s first day back to be ruined by a confrontation.
Enzo’s eyes flashed with disdain. “Let’s go, Ms. Vance.”
Sharon lowered her phone and replied casually, “Thanks, but we have our own car.”
Behind the Mercedes, a long luxury limo appeared, and the driver, dressed in a tuxedo, greeted her politely. “Ms. Vance, I’m the driver for Atlantis Hotel. It’s my pleasure to serve you.”
Sharon nodded. “Mm, Dad, let’s get in the car.”
Without even looking at Enzo, Sharon led her family into the luxury limo, her demeanor brimming with confidence.
Martin, a little anxious, asked, “Shari, do you think this is okay?”
Sharon responded calmly, “It’s fine.”
She figured since the Vance family looked down on her, there was no reason for her to grovel.
Enzo stared at the driver, stunned. “Atlantis Hotel? Didn’t you blacklist the Vance family a long time ago? You declared you’d never host anyone from our family.”
The hotel driver replied, “Of course, but this lady is special. She’s a VIP guest.”
Enzo’s eyes nearly popped out of his head in disbelief. After all, Atlantis Hotel was one of the best hotels in Aerions, with guests needing to be both highly esteemed and members of the hotel’s exclusive club.
The Vance family had fallen out with Atlantis Hotel decades ago over a grudge and had been banned from entering there ever since.
Enzo thought, ‘Mrs. Vance absolutely hates this hotel. How can Sharon stay there? Isn’t this just a slap in Mrs. Vance’s face?’
As the luxury limo drove off from the station, Enzo wiped the sweat off his forehead. He failed to bring Sharon back, and he knew Roxanne would be furious when he reported back.
Regret gnawed at him, and he thought, ‘I should’ve been nicer to her. I just wanted to show her who’s boss. How could I have known she’d have such power?’
Enzo rushed back to Graceville Manor, where Roxanne was playing chess in the hall. Her mood seemed to be decent, but when she saw Enzo return alone, Roxanne’s face darkened, and she demanded, “Where is that girl?”
“Mrs. Vance, she refused to come with me. She took her family to a hotel instead.” Enzo didn’t tell Roxanne the whole thing, hoping to avoid taking the blame.
Roxanne snorted, “I knew it, her temper’s just like her mother’s. Does she really think I’ll do anything to her? She’s my granddaughter. I don’t stoop to that level to harm my own family.”
Roxanne’s eight grandsons had hidden the secret from her for twenty years. It was only recently that she learned her granddaughter hadn’t died but had been raised in a village.
Rumors had been circulating that she was biased and unkind to her granddaughter, which had angered her. Thus, she decided to send someone to bring the girl back.
What Roxanne hadn’t anticipated was that the girl would refuse her.
“Don’t be upset, Grandma. Maybe she’s just shy. After all, she’s been living in that remote village. I’ll go to the hotel and get her back. We should show everyone our attitude, so they won’t start gossiping.” Karen Vance tried to soothe Roxanne.
She put on an air of thoughtfulness and asked Enzo, “Which hotel are they staying in?”
“Can they even afford a hotel?” Madeline Vance, Karen’s mother, suddenly appeared, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “If they came by train, they’re probably staying at some kind of guesthouse.”
Madeline had come to see the drama unfold, but that girl actually didn’t come. She sneered internally, ‘As expected, she’s not someone worth paying attention to.’
Roxanne’s face turned dark with rage. “Bring her back immediately. Staying at some shabby guesthouse isn’t decent. People will laugh at us.”
“Enzo, tell me where they’re staying. I’ll go pick her up.” Karen offered with a sweet smile, though her eyes gleamed with amusement.
‘Looks like Grandma already can’t stand Sharon. If she’s this disliked, then she won’t be a threat to me at all,’ she thought smugly.
But Enzo hesitated, his expression uneasy.
“It’s fine, Enzo,” Karen urged. “I’ll just go straight to the guesthouse. Just tell me where Sharon is staying.”
Enzo finally muttered, “Ms. Vance… s-she’s staying at the Atlantis Hotel.”
The room fell silent in shock when they heard the famous name.
Karen’s eyes flashed with envy. “That’s impossible. How could she afford it?”
No one in the Vance family had ever stayed at the Atlantis Hotel. Although they never mentioned it in front of Roxanne, secretly, everyone coveted it.
The place symbolized wealth and status because every major event, auction, or elite party was held there. But they, as Vances, had never once stepped foot inside.
Roxanne’s expression twisted in fury. “Is that darned girl doing this just to spite me? She knows I’ve got a grudge against Atlantis Hotel, and she still chooses to stay there? Karen, go bring her back. If you can’t, don’t bother coming back.”
A flicker of panic crossed Karen’s face, and she protested in her mind, ‘I can’t even get inside that hotel.’
*****
Inside the presidential suite at Atlantis Hotel, Alyssa’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She had never stayed anywhere so luxurious before.
Martin turned to Sharon and asked, “Shari, how could you afford such an expensive hotel?”
“My brother gave me the card,” Sharon replied casually, offering a believable excuse to avoid raising suspicion.
In truth, after years of completing missions, she was far from poor.
Martin didn’t question it and added, “Shari, the Vance family is complicated. Your grandmother didn’t like your father, which is why she’s treating you this way. Don’t take it to heart. Your brothers aren’t back yet, but once they return, they’ll stand up for you.”
He assumed Roxanne had made the call to have Sharon back without telling Sharon’s eight brothers.
Sharon nodded and said calmly, “Let’s get something to eat and have some rest.”
Not long after, the room’s internal phone rang. A clerk on the line said, “Ms. Vance, a woman named Karen Vance wants to see you.”
Sharon replied, “Karen? I don’t know her.”
Just as she was about to hang up, Martin stopped her. “She’s your second uncle’s daughter, your cousin. Since the Vance family sent someone again, you might as well meet her. You’re family, so don’t let things get even more tense.”
Hearing that, Sharon considered, ‘Fine, let me see what they want this time.’
When she went downstairs, she spotted a pretty girl dressed head-to-toe in designer labels standing at the entrance. Sharon thought that must be her cousin.
Sharon’s voice was cold and calm. “Excuse me, you are…”
Karen looked at Sharon, feeling completely stunned. Even in a simple white T-shirt, Sharon gave off a high-fashion vibe. Her skin was smooth, and her features delicate with an aloof gaze.
Karen thought, jealousy blooming in her chest, ‘T-This can’t be right. How could a girl from a poor village look like this? Did I mistake someone else for Sharon?’
