03: The CEO of DEMar Hotel

When Sabrina was busy dealing with her own deals around her Hotel La Vista, something else happened at the same moment, somewhere around the town and it was one of the hotels of Marques.

"Good morning, Lady Iolana and welcome back to DEMar Hotel." the hotel security personnel said as he opened the driver seat for ICE as soon as she arrived at the DEMar Hotel entrance.

ICE was indeed a handsome yet beautiful lady in her business suit for the day which made her look smart enough to make everyone just follow a look and admired her whenever she passes by.

"Morning, did he arrive already?" ICE asked in her cold voice as she walked inside the hotel.

"Yes, just a few minutes ago, Lady Iolana. He's waiting at the hotel's restaurant." Another personnel, the hotel's security director informed her about ICE's first meeting that she'll be having in the morning at DEMar Hotel's restaurant.

She wore her midnight blue blazer that has a fleur de lis lapel pinned on its collar and straight-cut slacks with a unique vine design that blended with its color. Her inner was a pastel blue long-sleeve polo while her footwear was a pair of black one-inch heels. She even let her strong but fine jawline showed up as her hair was tied up in a high ponytail which made her more intimidating.

"Good. Rupert, come with me. He's going to need someone to make him tour around our lowest star-rank hotel." ICE nodded and waved her hand to dismiss the security director with her then just called for Rupert, the hotel manager.

"What do you mean lady Iolana?" Rupert asked curiously while they were walking toward the restaurant of the hotel.

"I've read his proposal but it was not good enough for our hotel. He still missing something that he needed to learn from our lowest star-rank hotel in the area. Make sure you'll be taking him there. I want him to learn as fast as he could because his ideal was enough to be offered a place in our hotel." ICE instructed Rupert who was nodding in understanding.

"Yet, still lacking the basic foundation of our hotel, am I right, Lady Iolana?" he guessed and ICE nodded.

"Yes, so please, do the honor of checking and guiding him around." she said and Rupert opened the glass door of the restaurant for ICE.

"My pleasure." Rupert said and went inside as he followed his lady boss.

"Then let's get it done." ICE muttered to herself as she approached the man in the business suite at the VIP booth of the restaurant.

Their meeting breakfast meeting lasted for one and a half hours which includes the time to time eating until it was time for ICE to state her decision.

"Hmm, do you think I would let you invest in my hotel without paying attention to your background, Sir Mateo?" ICE coldly said as she put down the proposal file on the table of the restaurant in the hotel DEMar Hotel.

"I already know that but consider the offer. You might like it and help both of us." the man speaks politely yet firmly at ICE.

"I'll be blunt here, Sir Mateo…I've read it since you emailed me already about it and put it into consideration. It was great, to be honest, and even had the potential to be one of the investors in our hotel but I don't easily give an investor's slot in my hotel." ICE went straight to the point with her usual cold voice and it was intimidating.

"Then what did I miss in my proposal?" Mateo gulped and yet, still composed himself to wonder what he missed.

"You're still lacking some foundation on how things works in our hotel, Sir Mateo. If your still interested to get your proposal to be accepted in our hotel, then put my advice into consideration and think about it thoroughly." ICE reasoned and even suggested something that caught Mateo's attention.

"Let me hear it then." Mateo insisted on knowing about it.

"Alright, I am suggesting that you consider working and learning things around the lowest star-rank hotel in the area. See how they kept their hotel still working without leading into bankruptcy and still holding their name. I know you're aiming high that's why you're here but you need to go and do some basic. We're not like the other hotels out there, we moved differently from them. So, learn them." ICE firmly suggested and then her secretary came and notified her next work that she had to deal with.

"That's my suggestion for you since it will help you somewhere in the future." ICE added and Mateo understood what she was advising to him.

"Can I make another proposal after I do your suggestion?" he wondered and ICE was very glad to hear them but it was totally not showing to her face.

"Sure, I'm not stopping anyone from trying to be our investors but we do have tight standards before you become our investors. You must earn it. So, please, excuse me I have another appointment to deal with and Rupert will be glad to assist you in doing what I've suggested." ICE nodded and briefly encouraged him before excusing herself.

"Thank you for your time and suggestion." Mateo stood up and shook his hands with ICE.

"No problem, I like to help. I'll be going then." ICE gave him a nod and went out of the restaurant with her personal secretary.

ICE might be emitting cold shoulder as walked at the hotel when she was being greeted that she politely responded with an acknowledging nod at them. Then went straight to her private elevator.

"Speak, Jo." ICE coldly said to her personal secretary and combat childhood friend, Joan.

"Alright, the report sales from the souvenir shops that we owned were already submitted as well the restaurants in the hotel as well around the area. They all arrived last night. You just need to check." Joan started informing ICE about the reports that she received.

"Also, you have an afternoon meeting with the Sawyer Trading & Delivery Corporation for our stocks and supplies around two in the afternoon." she continued as soon as they reached their designated floor and were greeted by some employees of the hotel.

"Alright, remind me about them again later." ICE said as she nodded to the employees who greeted them as they kept walking toward her office where her business name IOLANA E. MARQUES was boldly written on her office door.

"Yes, Lady Iolana." Joan nodded as she opened the door for ICE since she was the CEO of the DEMar hotel.

"Anything else to add?" ICE asked Joan who was reading her tablet as they entered her office.

"Regarding the hotel, nothing as for now but there's some news echoing around the Hotel La Vista…" Joan answered as she was a little bit cautious about how to tell her lady boss.

"What about it?" ICE removed her coat and placed it over the coat rack before heading to her seat.

"Some investors pressuring the employees to work for them." Joan informed her of some issues at the other Marques hotel. She sighed upon hearing it.

"Hm…give me the footage about it. I will analyze the issue regarding the matter and give the direct copy to the heir of Marques' hotel." she asked for the footage that might help the legitimate heir of Marques hotelier on handling that issue.

"Tell, Tony that I need it asap." ICE commanded in her cold yet deadly tone that sent a shiver down Joan's spine.

"Yes, Lady ICE." Joan automatically complied.

"Jo." ICE sighed and warned her about calling her ICE.

"You sounded like ICE that's why. Sorry." Joan shrugged her shoulders as she apologized and ICE nodded.

"Still don't call me that when we're at the hotel." she still insisted not to be called whenever they were working at the hotel.

"Yes, Lady Ioland, my bad." Joan smiled.

"Just don't repeat it." she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as she started on starting her work.

"Noted, I'll bring your coffee." Joan knew that she need caffeine in her system whenever she does that gesture.

"Thanks." ICE nodded and Joan left her alone in the office.

As she was dealing with paper works and reports, she didn't even realize that her coffee finally arrived if she didn't smell it. ICE sighed and looked over at Joan handing her a USB port from Tony, their IT department and hacker of their family.

"You may leave and make sure to free my time for an hour." ICE said to Joan and she nodded before leaving her office again.

When she was all by herself, ICE began checking every angle and detail of the footage within a short period of time, she managed to make notes and markings around the areas where those men harassed the Hotel La Vista employees just to get what they want.

"Trying to be dirty with the Marques was totally a wrong move to do." ICE smirked evilly and make sure that every note was being written well and every footage was clear out before sending it directly to the Marques heir.

"Now, let's see how you will make them pay for it, my dearest Sabrina." ICE muttered to herself as the file that she created had been sent directly to Sabrina's email account.

As she went back to doing her work, something began to notify her email and it was a response from her dearest Marques heir.

'Noted.'

"As always…a short..." ICE chuckled to herself as she read the short response to her email.