Chapter 1

Shane lost count on how many times she sighed since she left her apartment until this moment that she's in front of Reiage Hotel, a well-known international luxury hotel, today is her first day at her new job as one of the hotel manager.

Anxiety is getting the better of her but who could blame her, new job meant new environment and new colleagues that she have to adapt to. At her last work, she had a hard time getting along with her co-workers that it became very toxic for her to handle that she decided to leave.

She let out another sigh before walking to the hotel's entrance while psyching herself that she can do this and be more confident.

The security guard in the entrance was about to greet her but upon seeing her, he looked so surprised and he has his look in his face that he couldn't believe whatever he is seeing.

It's very weird that even gave her some chills, maybe it's just a coincidence or something so she just ignored it. Though it made her thinking, does he know her? But she doesn't remember ever meeting him. Oh well, maybe he just mistaken her for someone else so she just shrugged it off.

She just politely greeted him when she passed in front of him though he didn't have any respond that she just ignored but she could feel that his eyes didn't left her until she reached the reception counter.

"Hi. Good morning." She greeted one of the ladies behind the counter who's busy typing something.

"Good morning." The lady looked up at her with a smile but it immediately faded upon seeing her then her big doe eyes widen while looking at her the way the security guard looked at her.

Weird.

"Miss..." She said trying to break off the receptionist's uncomfortable stares at her but it seems her thoughts is lost somewhere. "Excuse me, Miss."

The receptionist is staring at her like they're longtime friends that didn't see each other in a long time but she's pretty sure that she doesn't know her or meet her so why does this girl looked at her like this?

"Miss, are you okay?" She asked since this lady is now teary-eyed. What the heck is going on? "Is there something wrong?"

"Gia, what are you doing?" The other receptionist asked with a puzzled look.

So, Gia is her name but still she still have no recognition of meeting her before.

"H-Huh?" This Gia immediately turned to her colleague breaking from her reverie with troubled face. "W-Wha~What?"

The other receptionist motioned at her direction. "She's talking to you."

"I-I-I'm sorry." Gia said in stutter while wiping her teary-eyes. "W-What can I help you with?"

She smiled to show her that it was not a big deal. "Ahm... I'm here for Miss Therese Walton, I'm Shane Dowell, the new hotel manager recommended by Miss Fhouden from Horryx Hotel. It's actually my first day today but she asked me to come early before I start my shift."

That took them by surprise based on their reaction that she can't help smiling playfully, it nice to see this kind of reaction sometimes.

"She's expecting you in her office, Miss Dowell. It's on the fifth floor, I could accompany you if you'd like." Asked by the other receptionist.

She smiled. "That would be great if it's not a bother, Miss~"

"Fiona. I'm Fiona Hempton, Miss Dowell." She showed her nameplate that she didn't immediately noticed a while ago.

She turned to Gia and she's also wearing one, how stupid of her for not noticing that they're wearing nameplates.

Fiona returned her smile. "This way to the elevator, Miss Dowell."

She looked at Gia again, who's still have that look on her face. "I hope you're alright."

She didn't wait for any kind of response and immediately followed Fiona to the elevator.

"Is your friend alright?" She worriedly asked when they entered the empty lift.

"I don't know, she was alright a while ago."

She thinks that she's the reason why Gia's mood suddenly changed but she really have no idea why.

After a few seconds, they already reached the fifth floor and Fiona guided her to the left wing. They passed some people and most of them have the same reaction with Gia and the guard when they saw her, honestly, it's really giving her goosebumps.

"Is there something unusual on my face?" She curiously asked Fiona.

Fiona shook her head. "You're very pretty, Ma'am."

Then, why does the people in this hotel look at her like there is something on her face?

"We're here." Fiona knocked on a tinted glass door before pushing the door. "Miss Therese, Miss Dowell is here."

"Let her in." Said the sweet voice inside. "Thank you, Fiona."

She thanked Fiona before entering the office. Inside, there's a gorgeous woman behind the desk staring earnestly at her the way the other people she encountered and she's on the verge of crying.

"Okay. This really is giving me huge chills, what the heck is going on with you people?" she suddenly bursted out. "Is this your way of welcoming new employees? Or there's something on my face that only you guys could see cause honestly you baffling my mind."

The woman wiped the tears on her eyes. "I apologize for that, Miss Dowell. You just resembles someone that most of the people here adores which we haven't seen for two years."

So that's why they looked at her like they know her even though this is the first time she set foot in this hotel.

"May I know who she is?" She asked Miss Walton, based on the name engraved on a glass block on her table.

"She's the wife of the owner of this hotel and CEO of Dreia Group, Shanina Andreiage. She's also the only heiress of the Ashtons of Ashton International."

Something tighten on her heart hearing that name and she doesn't know why.

"What happened to her?" She really curious about this Shanina who looks exactly like her.

Miss Walton sighed heavily. "She got into an accident two years ago and she suddenly disappeared that even her husband doesn't know where she is until now."

"That's quite tragic." she commented since she really doesn't know what to say.

"It is but it is also very mysterious, for a person who was comatose to suddenly disappear into thin air without any kind of clue." Miss Walton added.

"W-What?"

Miss Walton just weakly smiled at her. "Let's get down to business, Miss Dowell."

"Just call me 'Shane', Miss Dowell is too formal and I'm not really used of people calling me with my last name."

"Okay, then just call me Therese."

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Therese toured her around the hotel and introduced her to the staffs, she just ignored the reactions of some staffs when they saw her before they went to the manager's office which is also located on the east wing of the fifth floor near the office of the owner and general manager of the hotel.

"Lily didn't mentioned why you resigned at Horryx when she gave me a call to recommend you for the position," Therese seems to be fishing for information about her. "If you don't mind my intrusion, just curious."

They're inside the elevator and on their way to the restaurant to have their lunch, there is an employee's lounge where the staffs take there lunch since this hotel also provide free meals to their employees but Therese said that she must familiarized herself to the hotel's menu as a hotel manager.

"I guess you could call it as social conflict." She grimaced.

Therese's forehead creased. "Social conflict?"

"I just can't get along with most of my colleagues, they were so hostile towards me and there's this girl that's so annoying, she keeps on slandering me to everyone around us so I have no choice but to leave." She explained.

Therese laughed. "I think that girl is just envious of your face and brain."

"Lily also said that every time I complained to her." She said while smiling.

When they went out the elevator, they were greeted by loud voices of a little girl around 3 to 4 years old and a woman in a skimpy off-white dress in the lobby. People were surrounding them but nobody was intruding or trying to intrude, but she noticed that they're quite worried.

"You little brat! If wasn't for your dad, I won't tolerate you and your brother." The woman shouted while firmly holding the little girl's tiny arms. "You both are huge obstruction for me and Vince, why didn't you both vanished with your annoying mother so that Vince would give me his attention that you both dominate."

"You're hurting me!" The little girl shouted with teary eyes trying to be free from the woman's grasp. "Let go!"

"Oh my gosh! Shaina!" Therese exclaimed and immediately walked to the center of the crowd. "Julia, what do you think you're doing?!"

She also followed to the scene.

"Let go of Shaina!" Therese furiously shouted at the woman while trying to remove the woman's hand from the little girl.

"This is none of your business, Therese. If you don't want to lose your job be smart and stay away from this!"

"Aunt Therese, my arm hurts." The little girl cried.

She noticed that the little girl's tiny arm was already bruised in the woman's firm grasp.

"You're not my boss, Julia. So why should I be scared of you?! Let go!" Therese is still trying to remove the hand but the woman is really stubborn.

She looked around and saw a man holding a cup of hot coffee, she took it and went near to them, she pulled Therese away then she lifted the little girl who stared at her in wide eyes before she pour the coffee on the woman's arm and it was effective.

"Whaaaa~!" The woman wailed exaggeratedly, it wasn't that hot.

She ignored her and started to walk away while carrying the little girl, Therese immediately followed with a smug smile.

"Are you okay, baby?" She asked the little girl who's still staring at her.

She was surprised when tears fastly fell from the little girl's eyes then suddenly buried her little face on her neck and hugged her tightly, she's murmuring something but she can't understand it with all her sobbing. She tried coaxing her to stop crying but it seems it doesn't work.

"Therese, what should I do?" She asked helplessly but Therese just shrugged.

Oh my gosh! She doesn't know what should she do for this little girl to stop crying, she was always been good with kids but no matter what she says or do, it doesn't work.

She stopped from walking when she noticed a little boy standing in front of her, he's staring straight at her with longing and sadness.

"M-Mommy..."

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