Chapter 87

The river breeze blew, and the night fog lingered. A large, black Mercedes-Benz with a high chassis sat parked by the river. An hour passed, then two… it remained motionless. Emma finally understood Liam's recent fondness for driving; he'd even bought a large SUV. As he'd said, it was spacious and convenient. She anticipated a weak-kneed reaction upon seeing the vehicle again.

Meanwhile, after finally giving in to his desires, Liam hadn't let Emma go for a single day. Suddenly, a knock echoed against the car window. Emma let out a low cry of fear. Liam hugged her, sheltering her face in his arms. He didn't open the window, but the knocking ceased. This brief interruption didn't separate them; instead, Liam and Emma drew closer, their intimacy intensifying.

Emma blushed. "Should we… go back?"

Liam kissed her, a tempting, suggestive reply on his lips, "Can't go back…"

The large black car remained parked by the river all night.

The next day at work, Emma's colleagues gossiped about the handsome, imposing man from the previous evening, speculating if he was her boyfriend. She couldn't dissuade them. "That's right. Are you envious?"

Her female colleagues were instantly green with envy.

"Oh my god, your boyfriend is so handsome," one exclaimed.

"Emma, does your boyfriend have any brothers? Introduce me!" another suggested.

Thinking of Brad, Emma replied wickedly, "Yes, but his brother is no good. He's a murderer. Still interested?"

Silence fell. "Forget it. My life's more important."

Emma couldn't help but laugh.

Elsie was already in jail. Brad's mood remained volatile after his transfer to the branch office as deputy manager. However, to maintain stability, the Vark College project remained under his control. As long as he held onto that project, he could continue to manipulate Emma.

The following week, Emma's work progressed smoothly. Liam secretly deleted the photo Brad had taken of Emma on the night of Alva's death at Holy Mountain. Everything was going well. In another week, she would receive her hotel internship certificate.

"Hey, Emma," a colleague said suddenly. "The hotel's administrative floor needs extra staff and asked our catering department to help. You're smart; you should go."

"Alright, Jasmine," Emma replied.

The hotel's administrative floor catered to VIP members who valued privacy and stayed in private suites.

Initially, Emma assumed it was a simple staffing shortage. Upon arriving, however, she discovered a conflict.

"Sir, sorry. I'll call a colleague. I won't disturb you anymore…" a staff member said, running out in tears.

Observing from afar, Emma asked another staff member, "What's going on?"

"A male guest booked a presidential suite for a month, but he has a terrible temper and is incredibly picky. This is the twelfth staff member he's reduced to tears…"

"I'll try," Emma said, unafraid of being scolded. She approached the guest.

A man in black sat by the window. His slender frame and sharp, refined features hinted at a difficult personality. His narrow chin and dark eyes spoke volumes.

Emma approached. "Sir, what do you need?"

The man extended a slender hand from his sleeve, picked up a black cup, and took a sip. He glanced at Emma, recognition dawning. "You look familiar. Are you Sean Rivera's niece?"

"Yes," Emma replied calmly.

"You're quite good-looking. Why are you working here?" he asked.

His question stunned the administrative floor staff. The affair between Sean and a mysterious woman had caused a scandal, with photos of Emma surfacing online. However, the photo quality was poor, and Liam quickly suppressed the news. After the commotion subsided, no one recognized Sean's niece working among them. They were unknowingly employing a celebrity's relative.

Emma replied calmly, "It's an arrangement through my school. Do you know my uncle?"

Aiden Singh didn't answer. He set down his cup. "For Sean's sake, I won't make things difficult. Just get me something to eat. But if the meal dissatisfies me, I'll complain to the Global Hotel Association."

An uproar ensued. Complain to the Global Hotel Association? Someone spending $1.2 million on a hotel stay must be influential. They feared a complaint would ruin their hotel's reputation, impacting salaries and year-end bonuses.

Resentful glares from her colleagues fell upon Emma. They felt her presence had raised the guest's expectations, and any dissatisfaction would be her fault.

Emma calmly responded, "Understood. Please wait. I'll find something you'll like."

After Emma left, a catering colleague voiced concern. "Emma, he's a lunatic. He's been here three days, and nothing satisfies him. Even our chef's food was rejected. If he criticizes you, the administrative floor staff won't let you off…"

Emma smiled and shook her head. "It's alright. Leave it to me. You can rest."

Seeing her refusal to heed his warning, the colleague sighed, pitying her boldness. If she continued to seek the spotlight, she'd become a target.

As Emma left, the administrative floor staff erupted.

"Boss, what are the catering interns doing here?" one said. "Seriously, they're annoying."

"If he complains, my month's work is for nothing," another added.

The manager attempted to reassure them. "If anything happens, we'll blame the interns. Don't worry; I'll fight for your rights…"

"What's so great about Sean's niece? Look how smug she was. If she has money, she shouldn't be working here," another commented.

"Shh! She hasn't gone far," a voice hushed.