Chapter 9

Riya finished having a bath, changed up, and was ready to go to the hotel. She was going to buy coffee and a sandwich on her back. She would probably do some shopping after the meeting. Riya came out of her bedroom with her handbag. She was dressed up in jeans and a blue buttoned shirt. It was pretty hot so there was no need to carry a jacket. Ling was still sleeping. She was on strong medication for the pain. So, the medication would knock her out for long hours. Riya already had her breakfast. Susan bought the leftover food from yesterday. She had been keeping the food for Riya because Riya did not have a fridge. Susan told Riya that she would keep the food in the fridge until Ling would woke up. Riya was absolutely fine with that. Riya was now in the kitchen. She took her keys and came out of the apartment.

"BOO!", Holly jumped in front of Riya.

Riya did not flinch or scream when Holly did that. Riya did not get scared easily. Holly looked so disappointed that her scariness did not work. Riya was just putting her keys in her bag. Then she looked at Holly.

"You know that it's not going to work on me.", she spoke. "And I know you are trying to scare someone and you are using me as a trial run."

Holly looked at Riya with shock. "How come you are so smart?", she asked.

"I just know but you are improving on your screaming though. Who are you scarring of now?", Riya asked while walking to the elevator.

Holly started walking with her. "Lucas."

Riya looked at her weirdly. "You two are staying in different apartments. He must be minding his own business."

"I know but I love the fun of it. I heard you fought with someone yesterday."

"I couldn't just allow that man to carry on punching her. No one was going to help. Someone had to do something otherwise it would have gotten worse.", Riya explained.

"I know. But I didn't know that you fight.", Holly was being serious.

"I just know some moves."

"But people were commenting on how good you are."

"I don't care. I just wanted to save that woman. You know how I feel when I see that."

"I understand. We all don't want to go through that.", Holly agreed with Riya.

'Now I have to meet the owner's son."

"What for?", Holly asked.

Riya and Holly stopped in front of the elevator doors. "I don't know. I met the son yesterday. He is arrogant. I think he just coming up with something horrible because I took off with him. He is probably taking revenge.", she explained.

"Do you think it was a bad idea to accept the job?"

"I think so but we need the money. There is nothing we can do. We also need to provide for ourselves for now.", Riya answered.

The elevator doors opened. Riya went inside the elevator. Holly waved at her and Riya did the same. The doors closed and Riya waited for the elevator to go to the ground floor. She took a deep breath because she was feeling nervous. The doors opened in front of her. Riya walked out and went straight to the entrance. There was no one standing in any corner of this area. The morning shift staff could be at the hotel already. Riya pulled the door and walked out of the building. It was boiling outside. Riya found this weather worse than South Africa's weather. There were so many people walking around the area. As Riya was walking, the people were greeting her and she greeted them back to them. Riya was looking at the environment. It was beautiful during the day but it was better during the night. Riya decided to walk because the hotel was three minutes away. It was also good for her to get some exercise.

Riya stopped in front of a tall wide building. The window glasses were tinned in red. On the windows had 'The Rose Valley Hotel'. Riya arrived at the right place. She took a deep and let it out. She walked towards the entrance with full confidence. People were entering and coming out of the building. This building could be famous because of its good hospitality or the price of staying in this hotel. Riya entered the building. There were so many roses in every corner including on the walls. And the roses were real. Riya felt like she wanted to sneeze but she held it. She was looking around for help but there were too many people there. She decided to admire the place. It was perfectly neat and spacious. That was all she could describe the hotel. There could be more further inside.

Riya saw a man dressed up in a red buttoned shirt. He was standing by the receptionists. Riya walked to the area. He was having some discussion with the ladies. The women started to laugh for a moment. Then they became serious because he was discussing something really important. Riya stopped behind him about one meter away.

"Excuse me.", she called for him.

The man turned around and looked at Riya. "Yes.", he answered.

Riya examined the man. He looked handsome with a muscular body and a fair skin tone. His hair was set neatly. He also had similar features to Michael and he had the same height as Michael. Riya wondered if this man and Michael were related.

Riya came back to reality. "I'm here to see Michael Wu."

The man looked at her with a smile. "What's your name?", he asked.

"Riya Moodley."

"You are the new employee. I'm Wu Yingjie, the manager.", he offered a handshake.

Riya accepted the handshake. "Nice to meet you. You look far too handsome to be a manager, to be honest with you."

"I do get that a lot. Why did you come here? You only start on 24 June."

"I received a message from Michael that I need to meet him."

"Oh okay. Let me walk to his office.", Yingjie said with a smile.

"Thank you."

Yingjie walked next to Riya. Riya was looking around the area. The only thing she could see was roses. Riya could feel herself wanting to sneeze but she held it. There were so many people in here. Yingjie's eyes widen because he forgot to remind Riya of something.

"Miss Moodley, Michael is with a woman right now. I don't want to tell you what's going on there. If you do meet but I hope you don't, please don't say anything to her."

Riya looked at him with confusion. "Why?", she asked.

"Her name is Lan Bingting and she is a famous dancer and singer. She is known for her good looks and appearance. She is those people who will comment on you. She will give people a hard time. She also manipulates Michael to fire people that she doesn't like."

"Why would she do that when she doesn't own this hotel nor does Michael?"

"Bingting wants Michael to take the position because he is giving her half the shares once he becomes the owner. He wants her to be his partner. Since she is famous, she can turn people's lives into misery. If someone goes against her decision, she will post it on social media and twist the story around. That's what a person she is. She loves money.", Yingjie explained.

"Then I will stay away from her. Are you related to Michael?", Riya asked out of curiosity.

"We are cousins. I have to admit he is a very irritating man. But I like what you wrote in that report that you want to become a businesswoman. I'm a good friend of the owner of The Lotus Flower Hotel. I already sent him your report but I'm waiting for him to respond. He will help you."

Riya was so grateful for that. "Thank you Mr. Wu.", she was so excited about this.

"Didn't I warn you that your salary will be deducted if you don't come on time.", a man spoke with so much arrogance.

Riya's smile faded immediately. She and Yingjie slowly turned their heads to the front. Michael was standing in front of them. Riya looked at his hand and there was a red folder. Then a woman appeared in front of them, standing close to Michael. She looked tall and beautiful with good facial features. Her light brown hair was shiny with those lovely curls. The purple tight long dress gave her a good figure. It was also a simple dress. The woman had a smile.

"You must be Riya Moodley.", she said.

Riya nodded at her. "Yes.", she answered.

"Lan Bingting, Michael just told me about you.", she said. Riya was shocked to hear that. "Michael, I need to go now. I had so much fun today, better than two days ago.", she said with a loving expression.

Riya and Yingjie looked at each other with shock. They did not want to know the details. "Yingjie, please make your friend respond faster.", she said.

"Me too.", Michael kissed Bingting.

Riya did not want to see that. She could not see Michael dating someone with his attitude. Bingting looked at Riya. "Nice to meet you."

"You too.".

Bingting started walking towards the entrance. Michael was now looking at Riya who had an absurd expression. She even had her arms crossed. "Now that you are here. You will be starting in two days. Here's the contract. Take it home and go through it. Come back here at the same time tomorrow with this file.", he literally took her hand and placed the file on it.

Riya looked at the file then Michael with a shock. "You can't do that. I just got here. I need to settle in.", she was being vocal.

"Well honey, I made the decision and you can't change it."

"Come on Michael, she just got here. Give her a break and she also needs to get used to the city.", Yingjie was being considerate.

Michael looked at his cousin. "I'm being considerate. She needs the money so she can start early."

"That's not what I need right now.", Riya corrected him.

"You are very lucky that I didn't make you start tomorrow. Sort that attitude of yours and be more respectful to me. One more thing, you will never become a businesswoman because I don't see women in business.", he hissed.

Riya looked at him with some anger but she did not show it. "You are allowing...", Yingjie slightly kicked her on her knee. Riya knew why he did that so she kept quiet. She looked at Michael firmly. "I made a wrong decision by coming here."

Riya started walking away from the area. She had no time for any nonsense. Yingjie looked at Michael with some anger. Michael still had that arrogant smile. Yingjie shook his head and walked away. He found this so unfair to Riya. He went after her to sort this out.