Chapter 240
The grand opening ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. The old Harmonia Hotel had been completely transformed into Dreamy Ripples with a style so different it felt like crossing from one era into another. It was truly something to marvel at.
The hotel’s new name had been chosen at great expense by a celebrity fortune-teller, and the entrance was meticulously designed—every line, mirror, and crystal placed just so—to summon luck and prosperity. The whole setup was both ingenious and stunning.
The hall was packed with nearly sixty tables, the whole place buzzing with celebration and joy.
As the manager of the hotel, I was definitely in the spotlight today. Dressed in a vibrant magenta gown, with my hair swept up in a stylish bun, I looked both professional and charming as I mingled confidently among the VIPs.
My graceful presence and poise even caught Jared completely off guard.
To him, I’d always been the stay-at-home type. Even with my natural beauty, it was usually lost in the daily grind of chores and errands—plain and unadorned, like an uncut gem.
Maybe I seemed interesting at first glance, but after a while, I probably just faded into the background—nondescript and forgettable.
Guys were drawn to gentle, pure women like that at first—they felt secure knowing she would stay at home. But the moment she turned dazzling and glamorous, that sense of security became a threat.
Deep down, men still wanted to call the shots in a woman’s life—expecting her to have kids, be caring and thoughtful, support her husband, and raise the family.
They didn’t want a woman who burned bright like fire or hit hard like whiskey—someone who made them feel like they had to run just to keep up, or someone they could only admire from a distance.
Today, Ryan was my temporary assistant, darting around me, serving drinks. He had a face mask on, saying his lips broke out in an allergic reaction yesterday and turned all red.
I was feeling a little tipsy, and through the crowd, I caught Nathan staring at me, completely entranced.
He wasn’t the only one. There were plenty of other guys looking at me, too, their eyes filled with admiration and a hint of possessiveness.
Jared was sitting at the table with all the big shots, surrounded by important guests he had to entertain. But today, he seemed distracted. Every now and then, he’d wander over to me and say a few words.
After I’d made the rounds with my toasts and was feeling a little tipsy, I watched Jared and a few other VIPs give their speeches. Then, as the manager, I stepped into the spotlight for a moment on stage.
The applause was thunderous. During the ribbon-cutting, Jared stood right beside me; suddenly, his hand slipped over and closed tightly around mine.
I quietly pulled my hand free without missing a beat, and Jared shot me a resentful, wounded look.
By the time things finally wound down around two in the afternoon and the guests had all left, Nathan made his way over to me. He hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, and there was a deep, unreadable intensity in his eyes.
“I’ll be heading out now,” Nathan said, his gaze burning with a heat I hadn’t seen before. Still, he kept his emotions tightly reined in, every move perfectly composed and gentlemanly.
I nodded at him with gratitude and said, “Thank you for coming to support me, and for being such a genuine partner.”
Nathan smiled and replied, “Wishing you great success. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”
“Thank you, take care on your way,” I said, walking him to the door.
Nathan glanced back at me twice, reluctant to leave, before finally getting into his car and driving away.
I must have been standing for too long—my heel wobbled on the carpet and I almost lost my balance, but Ryan steadied me just in time.
He asked, “Do you want to sit down and rest? You’ve been on your feet for hours.”
Sure, I was tired. But seeing the results made every bit of effort worth it; I was happy, even if I was worn out.