“Yes,” she replies, “How’s your throat?”
“It’s better after the medicine, thanks,” Charles says, “Anyway, I have some good news for you and some okay news.”
“Just tell me what it is,” Leilani says.
She languidly runs her fingers through her hair, and then cautiously raises her hands above her head to stretch. Her waist doesn’t hurt as much as it had the day before. She nods, satisfied.
“The good news is that I’ve found a hospital to transfer your nanny to. They’ve agreed that we can move her there in the next few days,” Charles says, “The other news is that the person who wants to buy your shares of the Zuri Hotel wants to meet you today to sign the contract.”
“Today?” Leilani asks, concerned.
“He’s very eager to sign the contract and insists on doing it as soon as possible,” Charles explains.
“Okay,” Leilani says, pushing Lucky aside and getting out of bed, “I’ll find a way to be there.”
“I’ll go with you,” Charles offers.
“I’m just going to sign a contract. I can handle that alone.”
“Yes, but I’ll worry the whole time,” Charles says.
“Who will you worry about: the buyer or me?”
“Which one do you think I’ll be worried about?” Charles asks, suddenly intense.
“I don’t want you to worry on my behalf,” Leilani says lightly.
“Okay,” Charles says with a sigh.
He knows that he’s making Leilani uncomfortable and he ends the call. Leilani throws the phone back onto the bed and sees that Lucky has curled up on the bed where she was lying moments ago.
“Lucky, you are such a naughty dog,” she says with a laugh.
“Mrs. Bamford,” a maid says as she opens the door and enters the room, “Mr. Bamford wants you to know that he doesn’t expect you to return to the hotel until you’re fully healed.”
“Where is Mr. Bamford?” Andrea asks.
“He left at about seven o’clock,” the maid replies.
“Hmm, even for him that’s early,” Leilani says, “But I guess the early bird catches the worm.”
She smooths her hair and ties it back, then looks at the dog, “Lucky, if you don’t get off the bed, I’ll feed you worms for breakfast.”
The dog calmly sniffs the pillows and then stretches and gets up. He hops off the bed and runs to Leilani and rubs himself on her legs. The maids snicker. Leilani gets dressed and goes to the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast.
Although Waylen has virtually forbidden her from leaving the house, she has to go to the hotel to sign the contract and complete the sale of her shares. She asks the driver to take her. To her surprise, the hotel is bustling with people.
A few gardeners carry a large cherry across the garden, pushing through crowds of people as they go. Claire follows the gardeners but pauses when she sees Leilani.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bamford,” Claire says with evident surprise.
“What’s all this?” Leilani asks.
She has to lean sideways to avoid getting hit by one of the tree branches as the gardeners pass.
“Mr. Bamford said that the open-air restaurant was too plain. He wants to plant cherry trees everywhere,” Claire says, “Honestly, I think it would be so romantic to have a meal under a blossoming, pink cherry tree, don’t you?.”
“Does he have some sort of a fetish about cherry trees?” Leilani mutters under her breath.
She recalls his Facebook profile photo: a girl standing in a beautiful dress, twirling under a blooming cherry tree.
“True, it’s unusual for a man to like cherry blossoms,” Claire says.
“Maybe the woman he loves likes them,” Leilani says.
“You like cherry blossoms?” Claire asks.
Leilani smiles but she doesn’t say anything. She wonders if Diana likes cherry blossoms—she assumes Claire might know, but she doesn’t want to ask the assistant. She’s frustrated by Waylen’s sudden attention and dedication to the hotel. She assumed he’d show minimal interest in the hotel, but he seems to be devoted to it. This unexpected attention makes her uneasy.
“By the way, the human resources director at the Hamilton Group will personally recruit and manage the employees at the Zuri Hotel,” Claire says, “I think Mr. Bamford is quite invested in the hotel’s success.”
“Is he?” Leilani asks sourly.
“Yes. We’ve been receiving many bookings and requests from important individuals who want to win Mr. Bamford’s favor.”
“Oh no,” Leilani thinks, “Waylen will not be so disappointed if he knows I’m trying to sell my shares in the hotel.”
For a moment she feels sorry, but she shakes her head immediately.
“This is a critical moment for my plan,” she thinks, “I can’t afford to let anything shake my resolve. I have to leave the Bamford family before Waylen finds a way to i.m.p.r.e.g.n.a.t.e me.”
“Mrs. Bamford?” Claire says with a voluble hint of concern, “Mrs. Bamford, were you all right yesterday?”
“Hmm, what?” Leilani says distractedly, “Oh yes. Thanks to your lipstick, Mr. Bamford was able to see my SOS message.”
Leilani looks towards the restaurant and continues to walk. Dozens of waiters are bustling around as if to prepare the restaurant for a large reception.
“What are they doing?” Leilani asks.
“Someone booked the whole restaurant today, so we have to hurry to get it prepared and decorated,” Claire explains.
“The whole restaurant?”
“Yes. The restaurant has been booked up for the entire week thanks to Mr. Bamford’s efforts,” Claire says admiringly, “Your husband is really so good to you.”
Leilani wants to roll her eyes.
“Did Waylen cast a spell on Claire?” she wonders, “Claire has been praising him to me nonstop.”
“I’d like to look at the latest financial statements on the hotel,” Leilani says before Claire can continue to praise Waylen. She sidesteps Claire and enters her office. As soon as she sits down she sees a text from Charles: “The buyer will meet you at the Zuri Hotel at 5:00 PM to sign the contract.”
At the Bamford Group offices, Waylen leans back in his chair.
“Mr. Bamford, Mrs. Bamford has arrived at the hotel,” Robert says.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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