THE CONSORTIUM HEIR'S RECKONING

CHAPTER 8

Even when Nicolas had caught his wife cheating, he hadn't been this furious. Given that he was more heartbroken than angry, he understood.

“What was that for?” He glared at the receptionist as he pressed his palm to Natalie's forehead. Her temperature was increasing by the minute and the idiot before him had refused to offer him a room.

“Can you not see that she's unwell?" He spat angrily as he held Natalie tighter.

“You caused this. All I-”

The receptionist's words were cut short when Natalie leaned forward and threw up all over her body. Some of it splashed on the counter, but Nicolas was able to step back on time, his hands still holding her steady.

“Shit,” Nicolas cursed as she heaved and threw up again. Her condition was getting worse.

She just needed rest and she couldn't even get just that.

“What in the hell's name did you just do?” The receptionist yelled, eyes widened as she jumped back. She stared at the mess on the floor and on the counter in horror. “Look at the way you just dirtied the lobby area. You just messed everywhere up.” She gagged. "Everywhere stinks!" 

The more Nicolas heard the receptionist's voice, the angrier he became. He felt the urge to deal with her, but he had to tend to Natalie. Even as he held her, her body shivered and she staggered in his hold.

“You need to take her and leave this premises now!” The receptionist yelled, scrunching her face. “Goodness! What a mess you've made.” She grabbed the telephone and began to dial the directory code for the cleaners section but no one picked up.

Nicolas, on the other hand, was fuming with so much anger. The receptionist could clearly see how unwell Natalie was, yet she was treating them with so much disdain.

He made a mental note to complain about the hotel to Nora. Even if he wasn't going to drop a review online complaining about their bad customer service, the hotel will be blacklisted on his list of hotels.

Just as the receptionist continued to yell and Nicolas held back his anger and instead tried to calm Natalie down, a middle aged man walked into the lobby area.

If the place was filled with people, his presence would have been enough to turn heads. He made a statement with his fine attire and polished shoes. You'd think it was daytime and he was headed somewhere important.

His steps quickened when he noticed the commotion. He walked towards Nicolas and the receptionist, his brows furrowed. “What's happening here?" He asked sternly, demanding nothing but a concise response.

“It's this man and this lady, boss,” the receptionist pointed at them, refraining from looking at the mess on the floor.

“They just barged in here with a fake card and tried to get a room. I told them there was no affordable room but he wouldn't leave.”

The man furiously turned to Nicolas who was glaring at the receptionist

“In fact, I think he's a rapist, boss,” the receptionist added. "He must have drugged this poor girl and dragged her here.”

Natalie, after vomiting her insides, rested her head on Nicolas’ shoulders, weakened, oblivious to the brouhaha happening.

The man's brows deepened. “Young man. Is that true? You came here with the intent to commit a crime?”

Nicolas shook his head. “You need a better receptionist, sir. This one?” He pointed at the lady, “She'll do nothing, but ruin your hotel's reputation,” he said, assuming the hotel must belong to the man.

The man was a tad bit close to calling the security as he retrieved his phone from his pocket when his gaze caught on a dark stain on the floor.

He felt his anger rise. He hated nothing more than seeing stains in the hotel. Their customers were people of high class, things like this disgust them.

He opened his mouth to berate the receptionist when he realized that it was not a stain like he'd thought. A stain would not have such a glossy look and perfect edges. He squinted at it before he bent down and picked it up.

His heart skipped a beat as he observed the card.

He turned to his receptionist, hoping it wasn’t what he thought. “Is this the fake card you said he brought?”

The receptionist's face twisted with disgust. “Yes, boss. He tried to dwindle his way into a suite.”

The man turned to Nicolas. “This is your card, sir?" 

The reception was surprised at the sudden word of respect at the end of the question.

But Nicolas was too angry to even notice. “Yes, it's mine," he stated with indifference, his face expressionless.

The man closed his eyes and lowered his head.

Seeing that the man might be more reasonable than his employee, Nicolas explained things to him.

“Your receptionist had not only refused to do her job properly, but she dared to accuse me of fraud and even called me a rapist!”

“You bastard!" The man yelled, shocking both Nicolas and the receptionist.

“Yes!” The receptionist laughed, supporting her boss. 

Her laughter was short lived when the man marched up to her and gave her a resounding slap on the cheeks.

“Get on your knees and apologize at once!”

The receptionist was dumbfounded at the sudden change. Why will she apologise to him or anyone? The fraudster was clearly the one at fault.

The man then turned to Nicolas and bowed so deeply that Nicolas was certain he'd topple over but he stood back straight again.

“I apologize, sir and you're right, we need a better receptionist. This receptionist will be fired immediately.”

The receptionist who was yet to get on her knees protested. “What? Why will I lose my job? He is the one who is at fault.”

The man ignored her but when she wouldn't shut up, he stroked her across the face again. “Will you shut the hell up and get on your knees?”

Frowning, the receptionist fell to her knees.

“What is the use of the orientation and training we have for you if you don't remember the important things?”

The receptionist frowned. What brought about training and a man trying to defraud the hotel?

He waved the card in her face. “This black card is a symbol of the hotel's owner! You were informed of this when you were hired, yet you failed to recognize it!"