Five
Author: Olu Writer
last update2026-04-30 20:11:02

The manager's eyes narrowed as he took in Jessi's protective stance. He felt jealousy seeing how close she was standing to Reed, and she never came close to him even though he had given her a job in such a prestigious establishment.

Seeing that she seemed to like Reed made Mr Brown's anger flare up even more, now he did not just want Reed arrested, he wanted him punished and humiliated.

He had hired Jessi simply because of how pretty she was. He did not care about her credentials or any other thing from her resume. All that he had cared about was that her skin was smooth as milk, hair so lucious and eyes so bright.

He wanted her for himself. He was even willing to fast-track her career if she would be with his girlfriend.

He had thought that she would be grateful for the job, after all not many young people were lucky to be hired in the legal department of Golden Gate hotel.

But instead, Jessi had been doing everything in her power to avoid him.

She refused to meet up with him in private and would always find an excuse to come with someone else when he asked her to come to his office.

He had been annoyed but patient, believing that she like many other young women who had worked in the hotel would eventually submit to him.

But after all his consideration, she had turned around to not only oppose him but to protect the person opposing him.

His face hardened and he swore silently that today was the last day that Jessi would spend as a staff in the hotel unless she showed him how sorry she was.

"Miss Jessi, do you understand who you are standing against?"

"Mr Brown, I am sorry but we cannot victimise a guest because of how he looks. He has paid, we should appologise and let him go to his room."

Reed watched the exchange with growing interest. Jessi was putting her career on the line for a stranger. After his experience with Selene, Reed had become disillusioned and automatically believed most women were golddiggers.

That was either incredibly noble or incredibly stupid. Either way, he owed her.

Reed glanced at his system interface. A new notification glowed softly.

[Asset acquisition: Pending confirmation. Estimated completion: 30 seconds.]

He almost smiled. The system worked fast.

Mr Brown straightened up and looked from Selene's face to Reed.

"I see what is happening here. Miss Jessi, you must be the accomplice of this man standing here. You both planned to steal from the hotel hmm?"

Jessi's face went white as sheet.

"Mr Brown, what are you saying? How can you say such a thing?"

"If what I say isn't true, Jessi. Leave the man to stand alone and face the consequences for his own actions."

She knew exactly what Mr Brown was trying to do.

He was trying to intidimdate her, but she had had enough of him.

She would rather quit the job, than let him think he had a hold on her.

Jessi sensed insinctively that if she allowed Mr Brown bully her today it would only be the beginning. He would be sure to try to harass her more aggressively.

Jessi was worried about what she would do for a job if she lost this one, it had taken her a very long time to secure this one. The benefits were very nice and she enjoyed the work.

She glanced at Reed and worried about if she was betting on the wrong horse, because things could get really bad if he actually did not have the money.

Then she remembered that the expression on his face was the same one before he paid for the penthouse. She straightened her spine and looked Mr Brown in the eyes.

"I can't do that because it would be wrong, Mr Brown."

“You’ve made your choice, from this moment on, you are no longer an employee here.”

Mr Brown was disappointed with Jessi's answer and he leaned closer.

“I could have taken care of you, but you decide to choose this loser over me. I will make sure you regret this.”

"You are fired, Miss Jessi and you will go rot in jail." Mr Brown straightened up and spoke furiously.

“Careful, you might want to check who you’re talking to before you start firing people. For all you know, you might be the one getting fired.” Reed said lazily.

"Why are you still talking to me. Guards! take the both of them away."

As the guards reached out to grab Reed and Jessi, the reception phone suddenly rang, shocking everyone.

"Pick it up!" Mr. Brown barked.

Martha turned around and grabbed the receiver. Her eyes widened. She looked up at Mr. Brown.

"It's the CEO, He wants to speak to you, sir." " she whispered.

Mr. Brown snatched the phone from her hand. He noticed the guards still gawking at Reed and Jessi.

"Didn't I tell you to get rid of those two?" he snapped.

Then, with an air of practiced charm, he brought the receiver to his ear.

"Vincent Brown speaking. To what do I owe the honor, sir?"

His smile turned to a frown.

“I… I beg your pardon?”

His fingers tightened around the receiver.

“What do you mean sold…?”

The color drained from his face and he nervously moistoned his suddenly dry lips with his tongue.

"What family is the Hawke family, who is Reed Hawke?"

Jessi’s breath caught.

The name echoed in her mind.

Reed… Hawke? She turned and glanced at Reed, standing and looking unbothered.

Mr Brown felt a drop of sweat on his forehead at the name.

He had not bothered to ask the miscreant's name but he felt like he had heard Jessi call that guy Reed. But no, it could not be the same guy.

"You are on your way to the hotel, Sir?"

Mr Brown's heart started to beat fast.

He handed back the reciever to Martha. He needed to be on his best behaviour so that the CEO could praise him to the new owner.

"I said, take them away." He yelled at the guards and tried to hurry them along quickly.

It would not do for the boss to come in and see this mess.

Suddenly, the lobby doors slid open.

Conversations died instantly.

A man in a sharp tailored suit stepped in, his presence alone commanding silence.

It was Golden Gate hotel's CEO, Mr Gold. He had on a displeased expression as he saw that the lobby looked in disarray.

"What is happening in here. Mr Brown."

"It's nothing, Mr Gold. Just some issues I'm already dealing with. You don't have to worry about that, let's go to my office and discuss."

"Mr Gold! This is Reed Hawke." Jessi screamed as the guards pulled her away.

"Mr Reed." Mr Gold exclaimed, his eyes wide in shock.

"Release them at once!"

Mr Gold turned around and glared fiercly at Mr Brown.

"What is the matter with you, why are you handling Reed Hawke roughly? Don't you know he is the new owner?"

Mr Brown's jaw dropped and he turned and looked at Reed who was staring back at him.

Reed's eyes felt like lasers melting him into jelly.

Mr Brown's mouth opened… but no words came out.

"Mr Gold, what did you just say?" Mr Brown's lip was trembling as he talked.

"Mr Reed just paid $580 million dollars for the hotel, it belongs to him now."

"Oh god." Martha said and felt a wave of dizziness so strong she almost threw up.

Reed allowed himself a small smile. Six months ago, he was busy scrubbing the floors of the rooms and now, he owned the building.

The system interface pulsed softly in his vision.

[Well played, Host.]

[Asset acquisition complete: Golden Gate Hotel]

[Total value: $580,000,000]

[Mission Progress: Get Ostentatious Living Accomodations, Accomplished.]

[Reward: Unlocked - Ability To See Peoples Debts]

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • Seventy

    Reed looked through the pictures on his desk, his expression unreadable. Even though the person's face was shielded by the hoodie and oversized glasses they had on, he knew who it was. The posture, the walk, the desperate energy, it was unmistakable.After her disastrous attempt at seduction, Reed had wondered what her next step would be. Apparently he was looking at it.The other set of photos showed a refined-looking young man in fine clothes stepping out of the same location as the person with the hoodie. Lucas Scott. The heir to the Scott family fortune, the man who had destroyed Miyu's career, the man who had slept with Selene. The man who thought he was untouchable."This is the video feed of the secretary's table," Lara said and placed a tablet on Reed's desk. Her movements were precise, professional, betraying none of the curiosity that burned in her eyes.Reed watched as Annie looked left and right before taking a photo of something on the secretary's desk. The footage was

  • Sixty Nine

    What do you have for me?" Lucas demanded as soon as the hoodie-clad person slid into the booth and sat opposite him. His voice was sharp, impatient, the voice of a man who was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.The figure looked around the quiet diner as if to make sure they were not followed and would not be recognised by anyone before they pushed back their hoodie to reveal their face.Lucas's eyes narrowed. When he had received the text to meet up, he had expected someone else, one of his usual informants, perhaps, or a low-level employee looking to make a quick buck. He had certainly not expected Annie. The main star of Hitmaker Entertainment, and even though she had not attained the level of star power that the top stars on More Heat, he knew she was still very comfortable.The fact that she had come meant one thing, her position was being threatened.She could be a very good addition, taking her away from Hitmaker would cause a huge blow to their management.But

  • Sixty Eight

    As soon as Annie was out of the office, Miyu's bravado deflated like a punctured balloon. Her shoulders dropped, her chin lowered, and the fire in her eyes flickered into something softer, more uncertain. She tried to leave Reed's side, her steps quick and flustered, but he tugged her hand, causing her to fall into his lap.Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened as if shocked to find herself in Reed's arms. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe, forgot how to think, forgot everything except the warmth of his body beneath hers."Mr. Hawke," she protested, even though her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. She placed her hands on his chest, trying to push herself up, but her arms felt weak, useless."You were brazen and ready to tear Annie's face off just a minute ago," Reed said, unable to resist teasing her. "But now you've turned into a shy kitten. What happened to the fierce warrior who stormed in here to rescue me?"The result amused him. Colour leapt onto her cheeks and spre

  • Sixty Seven

    Reed's face remained unchanged as Annie shut the door behind her and stared at him with what was no doubt her seductive expression. Her eyes were half-lidded, her lips slightly parted, her body angled to show off her best features. It was a performance he had could bet had been performed countless times before.He wondered how much success she had had with this act. Then he remembered she had ensnared the former CEO with it. Marcus had a wife and had still fallen for this cheap act.From all indications, he had been weak, easily manipulated by a pretty face and a willing body. Reed was not Marcus."Take a seat, Annie," Reed said, his voice flat and unimpressed.Annie took her seat, making sure to lean forward to give Reed a view of her delectable cleavage. The movement was practiced, deliberate, designed to draw his eyes downward. She had used this technique on countless men, and it had never failed.Her artful manipulation made Reed think about Selene, and it took all his willpower

  • Sixty Six

    I'm sorry, Annie, but you can't get in." The assistant blocked Annie's path to the Peach studio with a firm stance that left no room for negotiation.The Peach Studio was the best studio among all the studios in the Hitmaker building, it was also the studio which was usually reserved for Annie.Annie, whose nose had been high up in the sky, pulled off her designer glasses and looked down at the lowly assistant standing before her. The woman was dressed in a simple way, her hair pulled back in a no-nonsense bun. She was nothing. Less than nothing. And yet she dared to block Annie's path.'So because Marcus has abandoned ship, even these roaches think they can talk down on me, a whole Annie? Talked to by this cretin?'Annie fumed at the insult, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palm. This was unacceptable. Completely and utterly unacceptable. She was Annie. She had been at the top of Hitmaker’s Entertainment's roster for years. She had sold out concerts, released hit singl

  • Sixty Five

    “What did you think you were doing? Did I raise an idiot?"Cole Scott's reddened face resembled a heated engine that was about to erupt. Veins pulsed at his temples, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. Even the mahogany desk between them seemed to tremble under the weight of his fury.Opposite him, Lucas stood with clenched fists, his eyes downcast. He looked like a chastised schoolboy rather than the heir to the Scott family fortune, a position that usually made him feel untouchable. But in front of his father, he was reduced to nothing."Now I look like a blithering fool because my nincompoop son thinks with his dick instead of his brain," Cole continued, his voice rising with each word. "Do you have any idea how this looks? The entire entertainment industry is talking about you losing to a has-been and her mysterious backer. The Scott family name is being dragged through the mud because of your incompetence!""But, Father, it's not my fault," Lucas protested.He r

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App