Chapter 6 - The Silence of the Room
The silence in the grand lobby was absolute, save for the gentle clinking of a dropped champagne flute against the marble floor. The gala guests, the city’s elite, watched with bated breath. Eleanor Vance remained perfectly poised, the stained beige trench coat doing nothing to diminish her commanding presence.
Chloe’s eyes darted frantically around the room, taking in the whispered conversations and the shocked expressions of the onlookers. The realization that she had just publicly humiliated the owner of The Grand Belmont—and essentially her fiancé’s boss—finally broke through her wall of entitlement. Her face flushed a deep, uncomfortable crimson.
"Eleanor, I..." Brandon started, his voice cracking. He reached out a trembling hand, though whether to apologize to Eleanor or comfort his fiancé was unclear.
May you like
Eleanor raised a single, silencing finger. "Not here, Brandon. We do not air our grievances or our internal affairs in front of our guests. It goes against everything this hotel stands for." She turned her gaze back to Chloe, her expression unreadable. "Ms. Chloe, I suggest you follow us to the manager’s office. I believe we have much to discuss."
Without waiting for a reply, Eleanor turned on her heel and walked toward the discreet mahogany doors near the concierge desk. Brandon followed like a condemned man, and after a moment of hesitation, Chloe trailed behind, her silver gown suddenly looking less like a crown and more like a heavy chain.
