CHAPTER 4

SANTA ROSA’S FRENCH EDITION HOTEL

Caramella drove through Paris arriving at Santa Rosa’s French Edition Hotel. She pulled up at the sidewalk as the valet opened door as she slid out and takes his offered hand and smiled, ‘Thank you’ as the young man blushed.

‘You’re welcome madam,’ answered the valet.

She leant beside his ear and whispered, ‘Don’t scratch my baby and you won’t get fired.’

He gulped with eyes wide open, ‘Oui, madam.’

‘Thanks,’ Caramella smirked and walked past him entering the lobby.

Many familiar faces crowded the room. Weaving through the guest she strolled into the conference room. Invited enterprisers, charity foundations, employees, relatives and the press were seated in an orderly fashion. Manager Grace noticed when she stepped in and went to greet her with a smile.

‘Ms Caramella you made it!’ Manager Grace beamed and hugged her. ‘On behalf of the staff and I please accept our deepest condolences. Maria was such a cute sugar pie it hurts to see her taken away from us like this.’

‘Thank you, Grace. Yes, I’m still grieving the tragedy. It’s been a very longtime since I last saw you. How’s your family?’ Caramella smiled politely.

‘Yes, they’re doing fine. How are you coping these days? The media isn’t so sincere you know,’ Manager Grace said referring to their break-up article.

Caramella chuckled a little and then smiled, ‘I know that’s why I’m putting on a strong face just get through today.’

‘That’s my girl. Well go have a seat in the front with the board members. I’ll be right with you in a minute,’ Grace suggested.

Caramella nodded, ‘Okay, thanks Grace’ and made her way to the front where she greeted by the board members. Accepting their sympathy gracefully with a smile she assured them that she and family were doing well. Guests, relatives and the staff occupied the seats as Manager Grace and Simon who hosted greeted everyone with smiles and announced.

‘Will the presenters please rise and assemble on stage?’ Simon asked nicely.

‘This is so nerve-wracking. I hope I don’t trip on the staircase or on stage or break anything,’ Caramella thought with a plastered smile ascending the staircase stepping onto the stage and gathered with the board members as Grace gave an introduction of member and her. With applause reining the conference ballroom she mumbled to herself, ‘I wish this finish quick then I don’t have to be here’ as prayer started off the event and then the ceremony commenced.

‘For your hard work and achievement we’ll to recognise the employees who excel great lengths to make our clients happy and our five-star hotel much appreciated for their creativity and hospitality. I’m blessed that I’ve spent my forty-five years accompanied by individuals who are loving and kind. I would like to say to you may Lord bless your lives with prosperity and continuous love in this business. Thank you,’ Manager Grace said.

Her speech was so heartfelt the staff shredded some tears of joy as well as Caramella who was proud be representing the awards to every member who collected their award with a smile. After the event guest were dining in style and drinking champagne mingling with laughter. The upgrades to the hotel were flawless: the press wouldn’t stop interviewing the employees, videotaping, snapping pictures especially of Caramella who avoided questions about Ray and calling off of their July 4th wedding. She headed to the master suite floor exiting the elevator her eyes couldn’t move when she saw Ray Martinez looking at dead in the eye.

‘What is he doing here?’ Caramella thought and turned heel quickly to realise the elevator doors had just closed. She was pressing the downward button repeatedly to get off the floor as she mumbled, ‘Open, open, open….stupid thing.’

‘Caramella?’ His voice was as sweet as honey flowing off his tongue when he said her name.

Turning her heels Caramella faced his handsome face with an awkward smile as she thought, ‘Shit!’ and answered, ‘Hi.’

He embraced her and smelt her fruity perfume and whispered beside her ear, ‘Football princessa it wasn’t my fault she kissed me’ and kissed her but she slapped him.

‘Don’t you dare do this? Why didn’t you push her away, you pig?’ Caramella frowned and punched him the stomach as he winced.

‘Caramella….I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I deserved this,’ Ray apologised holding his onto painful belly.

Caramella shook her head, ‘No! You does more of this!’ and she kicked in the balls as he fell on the ground groaning while shouting her name as she entered the elevator crying unaware of the handsome gentleman beside her. ‘It was all a lie! Why couldn’t you just tell me that you didn’t love me! Why couldn’t you say it wasn’t real? Just tell me you met someone else that’s better than me!’ She cried out and slides down in snoop sobbing.

‘Need a tissue Madam?’ asked the handsome gentleman.

‘What? Ow….’ Caramella got startle and ended hitting her head against the wall as she winced in pain while rubbing her forehead.

He laughed at her lightly but helped her up, ‘A young woman shouldn’t cry over a snake that can beat her over and over again without a care in the world’ and watched her eyes grew with curiosity her as he used his thumbs to wipe her tears away, ‘You’re sunshine no matter where you go just don’t dim your light for anyone who isn’t worth your time and shine.’

‘Why is this guy helping me? Why is so kind to me? Stupid you’re crying of course, oh….’ Caramella thought and gulped still amazed by his handsomeness.

‘Are you tongue tie or do I have to kiss you to make you talk?’ He asked as she pulled away without hesitation as he chuckled at her cute expression.

‘Sorry,’ Caramella apologised. ‘Thank you by the way your words meant a lot to me.’

He smiled at her and quipped, ‘I’m glad that it works. It took a lot of practice.’

Caramella laughed, ‘I can see that. And you are?’

‘I’m your Shakespeare,’ he joked as she giggled.

Caramella shook her head with a smile, ‘No really what’s your name, Shakespeare?’

‘I’m Lionel Michelle, the architect and founder of Modern Paris Design Company,’ he introduced himself.

‘It’s a pleasant to meet you, Lionel,’ Caramella smiled. ‘I have a feeling you know who I am, don’t you?’

‘On the cover of every fashion and hotel magazine, don’t forget social media calling off wedding with Ray Martinez you just kicked in the balls. Tells me a lot about you, Ms Caramella Williamston,’ Lionel smirked.

Caramella blushed embarrassedly and quipped, ‘Lionel. He started it first.’

‘Well he didn’t deserve your love either Caramella,’ Lionel replied affectionately.

Caramella swallowed hard with a blush, ‘Yeah…I guess you’re right’ and thought, ‘since he’s a cute-looking architect I could get him to remodel my home into a club for my party’ and continued, ‘how would you like a job working for me? I’m looking for an architect to renovate my palace into a modern style home and club to host my very first event as a single professional woman that’s happening in three days time.’

‘Now that’s a tough challenge. Your home is actually a freaking palace don’t forget,’ Lionel admitted. ‘When can I come over to survey the building? I think I can fit you into my busy schedule.’

Caramella smiled widely; ‘Really?’ her eyes twinkled in the light as he loved it. ‘You would do that for me? I can’t believe this, thank you so much, Lionel.’

‘No thank you, Caramella for crying into my arms,’ Lionel flirted.

Caramella rolled her eyes and laughed, ‘Great line.’

‘It’s one for the history books,’ Lionel joked as the elevators opened and they stepped out laughing. He pocketed out a business card and offered, ‘Here’s my card Caramella. Give me a call when you’re ready.’

Caramella took it and smiled, ‘I will, defiantly Lionel, thanks’ about to walk away she felt something held her hand as she looked back and realised that he holding it, ‘You don’t want me to go, do you?’ She asked.

‘No. I rather if you stayed with me than I would have some company to drive home tonight,’ Lionel responded before realising the rest of sentence, ‘I meant if I could drop you off at your place.’

Caramella liked Lionel and she knew what he actually meant but she a gut feeling telling it’s better to keep the distance, ‘Another time Lionel, have a great night’ and tip toed and kissed his cheek before she left the hotel.

‘She’s something sweet really sweet,’ Lionel mumbled with a smirk and went to the bar for a drink.

Evening had settled in with gloomy skies and drizzles. Caramella parked two blocks away from the famous Mega Casino. Gamblers from all rankings flocked the building in luxury playing to win a great price. Scanning through her phone she checked the encrypted auction database she stole from Organist. It showed their major annual Underground Organ Black Market Auction was being hosted in the casino in an untraceable chamber. She realised their auction system was spread throughout the world’s greatest nations such as New York, Russia, China, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Brazil and the Caribbean. Caramella thought, ‘What a low-key place to run an organ auction there’s plenty of livestock for purchase. No wonder they chose this casino’ and continued to read, ‘Their clients specifically for today’s auction were the usual trillionaires from mafias, business organizations, government officials, cannibals, animal scientists and hospital firms’ and summarized the topography of the building, it’s escape exits, the security guards and cameras.

Caramella polished her undetectable custom made guns and smirked, ‘I bet I’ll seeing Stephen and Pique there. I can’t wait to give them a show to remember’ and tacked her six guns to her magnetic belt. Her sliver suit was bulletproof, her metal blade spiked heels were sharp as her ego with grey contacts that tempers with the wireless signal in scanners and detectors, and thin blades looked like scales designed all over her outfit. Her hair was pulled into an explosive device bearded bun to form a doughnut and a ring which was an EMP and tempering-signal device. She looked elegant and mind-blowing, shoving on her jacket exiting her vehicle with a smile.

‘Let’s stir up some trouble,’ Caramella muttered to herself as she smirked strolling into the Mega Casino.