Page 17 of Embriagado

“I don’t.”

“Okay then.” He pressed his hands together. “If we’re done⁠—”

“On second thought, I do have a question,” I blurted out before he could call off this meeting. Eager to steal a few more moments of his time, I didn’t think it through, and now, he was staring at me, waiting for the so-called question.

“Yes?”

I twisted my lips, trying to come up with something when my brain decided to go blank.

Fuck.

A question then popped into my dumb head.

“My brother said you’re hosting cool parties here.”

Confusion crossed his face. “Did he?”

“Yeah.” Shit. Why do I feel like this was the wrong thing to ask?

He turned his head aside, giving me a glimpse of his scar before he pushed away from the desk. “We do have a line of parties we host here, although I’m quite surprised your brother’s heard of it, given they’re reserved for guests only,” he explained as he slowly walked back to his chair, all while dragging his fingers along the edge of the table.

“His girlfriend was the one to bring it up, actually. She’s just a dumb kid.”

Sitting down, he placed his elbows on the table and crossed his palms. “Is that so?” He leaned his chin on the back of his hands.

I regretted bringing this up because now he probably thought I was looking for a free pass. “Just forget I asked. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“On the contrary. I want the Kallos to feel like a second home to you; therefore, feel free to ask anything.” Leaning back in his chair, he flashed me a big smile. “I’m an open book, Mr. Rivas.”

So why doesn’t it feel like it at all?

“Okay.”

“But back to your question, those parties shouldn’t bother you as they’re handled by an outside contractor. The employees of the hotel often don’t get involved.”

I nodded, cursing myself for ruining the meeting by bringing it up. Until then, everything was going smoothly. Now, Ariyan looked at me like I was a complete moron.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. “No.”

He replied with a smile. “Well then, I guess we’re done here.”

Nodding, I turned around and walked to the door.

“Oh, and Mr. Rivas?”

I moved to look at him too fast. “Yeah?”

“Don’t forget your name tag tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

5

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