The Ultimate Heir.

Chapter eleven

Zale opted to travel by foot to Nille's Mosco Hotel, which was conveniently situated as the nearest lodging option from his present whereabouts.

This renowned hotel held a reputation for being one of the most luxurious and costly hotels in the city.

He found it unnecessary to take a taxi since the hotel was only a few blocks away from the street where his life had drastically changed with a single phone call.

Consequently, he opted to make the journey on foot.

Zale chuckled to himself, acknowledging the advantages of being a delivery person. His extensive knowledge of the city's hidden corners and intricate pathways came in handy. "It's quite amusing," he thought.

As he made a sharp turn into the street where the hotel was situated, he continued on his way with a sense of familiarity and confidence.

After walking for a few minutes upon reaching the street, the hotel gradually came into Zale's peripheral view.

When he caught sight of it, he abruptly stopped in his tracks.

Even though he had been to the hotel before to make deliveries, the sight of it now made it feel as if he were experiencing it for the very first time.

The hotel exuded magnificence, surpassing Zale's expectations. He couldn't help but be captivated by the futuristic vista that lay before him.

A whole year had passed since his last visit to the hotel to make deliveries, and he couldn't help but reflect on the multitude of changes that had occurred during that time.

Zale muttered quietly to himself, almost in disbelief, as he stood on the precipice of entering the city's most extravagant hotel. "Is this real? I can't believe it. I sincerely hope I'm not dreaming, as I have no intention of waking up just yet," he whispered under his breath, unable to tear his eyes away from the mesmerizing sight before him.

As Zale approached the hotel, he continued to gaze up at the towering structure made of gleaming glass.

His simple, understated clothing belied the fact that he was rich, and as he walked towards the entrance, he could feel the curious glances of passersby on him.

As he walked into the lobby, the receptionist looked up from her computer screen and took in Zale's appearance with a quick, dismissive glance. She assumed he was lost or had wandered in by mistake, and before he could say anything, she said in a condescending tone, "Can I help you?"

Zale smiled coolly and said, "I'd like to book a room for the night."

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised that this seemingly average-looking man would even consider staying in such a luxurious hotel. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't have any rooms available at the moment."

Zale's smile gradually faded, and a sense of disbelief washed over him as he struggled to comprehend what he had just heard.

After a brief moment of silence, he cautiously spoke, "You can't be serious, right? Are you telling me that every single room in this hotel is occup…"

Before Zale could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by the receptionist, who responded in a harsh and impolite tone, "You heard me, sir. We have no available rooms. I suggest you leave quietly and avoid causing any trouble, or else I will have to call security."

The receptionist's slightly raised voice caught the attention of some of the nearby guests, causing them to glance in their direction.

Zale's anxiety grew as he heard the mention of 'security.'

Despite his newfound financial status, his timid nature remained unchanged, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

His anxiety intensified further as he noticed the growing number of people directing their attention toward their conversation.

The realization that he had become the center of attention only added to his nervousness.

However, a surge of courage coursed through him as he recalled the reassuring tone of his unknown caller and the substantial sum of money that now belonged to him.

At that moment, he felt a renewed sense of confidence well up within him, pushing aside his previous nervousness.

Whispers of disdain and judgment began to circulate among the onlookers in response to his presence, as they voiced their negative opinions.

"I can't believe they allowed someone like him in here. This hotel's standards are really deteriorating."

"I couldn't agree more. This place is not meant for beggars."

"Don't worry, I'm certain he's here to cause trouble. I bet security is on their way to throw him out."

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder in hushed tones, fueled by gossip and speculation due to Zale's presence.

Zale turned his attention towards the receptionist, ignoring the commotion around him.

Filled with a mix of anger and curiosity, he demanded answers, determined to understand why he was being denied a room despite having the money.

The receptionist let out a sigh, adopting a calm yet mocking tone. "Your clothes together won't even amount to 100 bulks. I assure you, you can't afford the price here. Save yourself the trouble and leave before this becomes a decision you'll regret for the rest of your pitiful life."

As the receptionist's response reached the ears of the surrounding crowd, the whispers grew louder and more critical.

"He has no shame! Even after being warned to leave before things escalate, he refuses to listen!"

"This beggar deserves a good thrashing. Absolutely shameless!"

Zale, though aware of the disparaging comments, remained undeterred, displaying a remarkable resilience in the face of the growing hostility.

Albeit his anger momentarily consumed him, causing him to mutter his frustrations under his breath. "I can't believe she is underestimating me because of my dressing."

Clenching his fist in frustration, he contemplated a future where he could eliminate people like those around him.

However, he quickly regained his composure and refocused his attention on the receptionist.

With a calm demeanor, he reiterated his request, "You still haven't provided a valid reason why I can't have a room here. My clothes has nothing to do with this. Let me reiterate: I have the money. Just let me swipe my card through the machine, and I will prove it to you." As he spoke, he retrieved a credit card from his pocket and held it up, ensuring the receptionist could see it clearly.

As expected, the receptionist remained unconvinced by Zale's display of the credit card.

Firm in her belief that Zale held no influence or power, she felt compelled to resort to a more forceful approach.

"Since you insist on making things difficult, it seems the harder way is what you want!"

With a firm resolute, she gave a call to the security team.

In the midst of the escalating tension, a woman entered the hotel lobby and made her way directly towards the area where Zale stood engaged with the receptionist.

Adorned in an elegant red dress that exuded an aura of wealth and refinement, her entrance instantly captured the attention of the many people in the vicinity.

Her presence commanded admiration, drawing the curious gazes of those present.

Adding to her captivating appearance, the woman possessed exceptional beauty that enhanced her allure. Accompanied by an air of arrogance, her demeanor exuded confidence and self-assuredness.

As she approached the receptionist's desk to make her room reservation, she inadvertently turned in Zale's direction.

It was at that moment that her eyes fell upon Zale, and she took notice of his presence for the first time.

A derisive smile instantly spread across her lips as soon as she laid eyes on Zale.

Her voice dripped with mockery and sarcasm as she spoke.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here, the delivery boy," Kate sneered, relishing in the opportunity to belittle Zale.

Kate was Sarah, Zale's ex-wife's best friend, and she had never once treated Zale with regard.

Despite the provocation from Kate, Zale did his best to maintain his composure and stay focused on the impending arrival of the security personnel.

However, the persistent woman continued to intrude upon his thoughts.

"Oh, come on now, no need to be like that," Kate taunted, disregarding the boundaries. "After all, I'm still your ex-wife's best friend. So, tell me, what brings you here? I assume you're not here for delivery, are you?" she taunted further, unable to resist provoking him.

The receptionist was surprised when she overheard Kate's response, indicating that she had some sort of connection with the apparently poor man.

Doubts crept into her mind, leading her to discreetly retract her call to the security team, uncertain whether Zale was indeed someone important.

Zale, now displaying newfound confidence, responded to Kate's intrusive questioning with indifference. "How is that any of your business? I have no obligation to explain myself," he retorted, his voice filled with confidence.

Gone were the days when he was impoverished and treated as a garbage son-in-law: Now things had changed.

Kate was taken aback when she heard that. However, her initial surprise at Zale's newfound confidence quickly transformed into a mocking grin, as she attempted to undermine his self-assurance.

With a hint of condescension in her voice, she continued to provoke him.

"Fine, I understand why you're so angry and strangely confident," Kate jeered, relishing in her ability to get under Zale's skin.

"But let's face it, you can't undo what has already happened. You're now an 'ex,' and there's nothing you can do to change that fact."

Zale's expression hardened with anger upon hearing Kate's words.

It struck a nerve, reminding him of the painful reality he had been working so hard to put behind him.

He couldn't deny the lingering heartbreak caused by the unexpected divorce, and despite his efforts to move on, reminders of the painful past still had the power to sadden him.

Seeking to avoid further interaction with Kate, he made a swift decision to expedite the booking process and remove himself from the situation.

He shifted his attention to the speechless receptionist, who had witnessed the entire exchange and posed a direct question.

"You still don't want me to book a room here, do you?" he inquired, his tone laced with a mix of anger and frustration.

Kate's eyes widened in shock as Zale's question registered in her mind.

The audacity of his words caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Her thoughts raced, and a perplexed question emerged in her mind, "Could the divorce have somehow affected his mental state?"