THIS STORY HAS A LOT OF SMUT, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Gabriel Maestri grew up in Italy with his parents, Sergio and Kaia. His father was a man who expected the best from everyone, and even better from his son. He was a man that believed showing love or affection towards anyone, even his own family was a sign of weakness and would not tolerate such things. Throughout his youth, Gabriel was groomed to become the successful, cunning and ruthless man his father wanted him to be. To Sergio love means weakness and women are only good for a man's pleasure in bed. A wife is just for public appearances and a mistress was for pleasure. For ten years he had tried to get his son to choose a wife from a wealthy family. His mother, Kaia was not much better, she was cold towards him, never showed him love, and he was mainly raised by nannies until he was old enough to go to boarding school.
With his father's backing, he started building his empire, paying him back with interest. He had his own home built as far from his parents as he could. They never celebrated holidays together, only got together occasionally.
Paige Mosley was a young woman with simple needs. She was an orphan from birth, going from one foster home to another until she reached the age where it was considered old enough to be on her own. She never really fit in, with her delicate features, her hair blond, so light in color it was almost white. From the age of sixteen, she worked jobs as a waitress, babysitter, and other odd jobs and went to school at night. When she turned eighteen she got a full-time job as a maid at the Maestri hotel in New York. In the three years she worked there she made friends with the other staff members. They became like a family of sorts.
But when news came that the hotel was shutting down a cloud of despair hung over everyone's head. Many of who worked there were getting up in age, others were young and had no education and jobs would be hard to find. As it was they weren't paid very well, they depended mostly on tips.
When word spread that the owner was coming to inspect the hotel to determine what was needed to bring it up to date to be sold the staff panicked. This hotel was the only one that had been neglected over the years and was in need of a lot of work such as carpets replaced as well as new furniture and paint. Though it was kept clean it still had become shabby.
The staff got together to talk, trying to come up with a way to persuade the owner to keep the hotel open and let the employees keep their jobs. Paige and a couple of the other maids cleaned the penthouse suite from top to bottom, it was the best suite in the hotel. Everything was ready for his arrival. The bar inside the room was fully stocked with his favorite wines and liquor upon his earlier request.
They all waited nervously for his arrival, having heard all about him it was obvious they were deathly afraid.
The morning of his arrival Paige checked his suite to make sure things were as he requested and also the suite next to it where his bodyguard would be staying. Satisfied she went back to work, she needed to finish the other rooms before the staff meeting with Mr. Maestri. All the employees got together and signed a petition to stop the sale of the hotel. It had been faxed to him and he replied, demanding a meeting. He hadn't asked or told them about the meeting, just said they better be there or they would be fired.
Having done her morning duties, Paige was talking to a co-worker when the revolving doors to the hotel swung open. All the happy chatter stopped when a man walked in and the air in the place seemed to stand still. He was tall, dark hair and handsome. He walked with the aura of a man who knew no fear, but one who put the fear in anyone in his path. She heard he was twenty-nine years old, and thought he was so young to be one of the richest men in the world, and even under his expensive tailored suit, she could tell he was muscular. But his face scared her, he looked mean, dangerous, like one of those mob bosses you see in the movies.
He was not alone she noticed, behind him was a big, husky man. He sported a suit and dark sunglasses. His lips set in a firm line, a scar ran down his face, he was even scarier than the other one. As they walked up to the front desk the clerk's hand shook as he handed the keys over, stuttering as he welcomed them to the Maestri Hotel. Without so much as a thank you the two men walked away and got on the elevator. For a second, just a split second her eyes met his before the doors closed. A cold chill ran up her spine at the way his dark eyes stared into hers.
The staff was summoned to the ballroom an hour later after his arrival. While waiting for Mr. Maestri to make his entry everyone was quietly talking, but it all ceased when his powerful presence entered the room. Paige thought he was more frightening up close once she gazed at his dominant figure. While he spoke perfect English you could still hear his heavy Italian accent.
"I received this fax and all I have to say is that the hotel is closing." Taking the fax he tore it in half and threw it to the floor.
Everyone's mouth dropped open in shock as they stared at each other. As he turned to leave Paige shouted out.
"No, that's not fair, you haven't even let us discuss it with you."
He stopped in his tracked, turned back around. "Who said that?" he barked.
No one moved or said a word, that was until one of the other maids pushed Paige, making her stumble forward.
"You," he points to her. "Come closer."
Putting her hands behind her back she took several steps forward, moving slowly and feeling as though her legs would give out from underneath her.
"What is your name girl?"
Casting her eyes down, afraid to look at him she stared at the floor.
"Look at me when I speak to you," he snapped harshly.
She snapped her head up and peered into his dark, cold eyes that held not an ounce of warmth in their depths and whispers. "Paige Mosley, sir."
"How old are you?" he asked as he looked at her from head to feet.
"Twenty-one," she answered nervously.
"You look to be nothing more than a child, or maybe eighteen."
"I'm not a child," she dared to snap at him.
"What is your job here?"he asked, staring at her.
"A maid, sir," she said, looking down at her feet.
"Then you will clean my room, and only you. I wake at seven o'clock and shower, you will come to my room at precisely eight to clean the bathroom. Be one minute late and you will no longer have a job, not that you'll have one much longer anyway."
She could feel her lips trembling, everyone's eyes were on her when she spoke. "Will you not at least listen to us, maybe you might change your mind."
"I never change my mind once I decide on something." He looked at the others. "I suggest you all get back to work or you are fired," he said, turning he walked out, followed by his bodyguard.
Her heart was beating like a drum in her chest. As a rule, she never disliked anyone without getting to know them better, and she could never find it in her heart to hate anyone. This man though, he was arrogant, rude and downright mean and for the first time in her life, she thought she could finally hate someone.
"Shit Paige, I feel sorry for you having to clean that bastards room." Sandy, the girl who pushed her forward said. "But I must say he is one fine piece of meat, I bet he knows how to satisfy a woman in bed."
Paige rolled her eyes, Sandy was always willing to sleep with any of the guests, and she has. "We better get to work. I have a feeling he means it when he say's we'll be fired." But she had to agree, he was indeed very sexy, if only he wasn't so vile.
She had trouble sleeping that night, the way his eyes stared into hers was unnerving. Yet she hoped that maybe if she tried talking to him he might listen, she had to give it a shot.
The next morning she arrived at his room right on the dot and was confronted by his bodyguard who was standing outside his door. When he wouldn't move she became agitated, not wanting to be a second late. "Let me in, he's expecting me."
"I need to search you, for concealed weapons," he said in a rough tone and a smirk on his face.
"I don't have any weapons," she cried out. When he put her up against the wall and ran his hands over her body she felt tears stinging her eyes and when his hand went between her legs she pushed him away.
"You're clear, you can go in," he said, again smirking.
Pushing the cart in she wiped the tear from her eyes. She looked away when Gabriel walked into the main room, wearing pants but his shirt was in his hand.
"You may clean the bathroom now."
Grabbing the cleaning supplies she went to walk past him but he grabbed her arm.
When he looked at her face he could tell she was upset by the way her face was red and she looked like she was about to cry. "Has something happen to you?"
She wanted to say no, just wanted to do her job and get the hell out of there. But instead, she looked at him, her face turning even redder. "Your man out there just felt me up, said he was searching for weapons. I have never felt so violated in all my life." She choked back a sob.
"He was just doing his job which is to protect me. It was nothing personal."
"Nothing personal, it felt personal to me when he tried to put his hand between my legs and up my dress." She tried pulling her arm from his grip but he held it too tightly.
"I will speak to him. It will not happen again, I give you my word," he said, letting go of her arm.
Finishing up cleaning the bathroom she went to clean the rest of the suite. He was gone by the time she started, she was glad as she didn't want to be around him. When she was finally finished in his room she left for next one, it was the one where the bodyguard was staying in. Swallowing the lump in her throat she knocked, praying he wasn't in there. Finding that he wasn't she let out a sigh of relief and went through the room as fast as she could. He was weird and she knew he was enjoying groping her. She was done working her shift when she got word that Gabriel Maestri wanted to see her in his suite. Reluctantly she headed for the elevator to go see what she was being summoned for this time. The whole ride up to his floor her thoughts ran rampant wondering if she had not made his bed to his liking, or was the bathroom in need of more scrubbing, or had the bodyguard complained about her work trying to get her fired. Approaching his door she hesitated, afraid that the big goon was going to search her again. But he didn't, instead, he knocked twice and opened the door for her, he did not look at her. Gabriel was sitting on the white leather chair, a drink of some kind in his hand. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes. Did he give you any trouble?" he asked, pointing at the door, indicating the man on the other side.
"No," she answered.
"Sit," he ordered.
Knowing the kind of man he was she did as she was told.
"Would you like a drink?"
Remembering what happened in the ballroom she looked at him when he spoke to her. "No thank you."
"Do you know why I asked you here?"
"No."
"I want for you to walk me through the hotel. To point out the things that need fixing, painting and what new furniture we need to get this hotel up to date. I can't very well sell it looking the way it is. You'll take notes and make any and all necessary calls to have the work done."
"Why me?" she asked, her hands in her lap, trying to stop them from shaking.
"Because you were the only one brave enough to talk to me, the others stood looking like scared little rabbits."
"I'm sorry I can't. I am already busy with cleaning."
"That's so cute, you actually think you have a choice in the matter," he scoffed. "You will do as I say, Miss Mosley." He got up and poured himself another drink and poured one for her. "Here, drink this, it will calm your nerves."
Putting the glass to her lips she took a long swig of the whiskey, she made a face as it burnt her throat going down. "What about the cleaning? I can't very well do it if I'm busy trailing after you all day."
"Someone else can do it," he said and poured them both another shot. "Tell me why it's so important to you that the hotel stays open."
Taking another long sip of her drink, and not used to drinking the hard stuff it gave her courage to speak to him. "Mr. Maestri, this is a fine hotel, it just needs some work done on it. Our clients are regulars who come here every year. They love the place and are treated with the utmost respect. They've come to know us as we have gotten to know them. The people who work here, well some of them have been here for years, it's like a second home to them."
"Miss Mosley, of all my hotels this is the only one that is not making as much money, so I see no reason to keep it running."
"Money isn't everything," she said, her eyes watching him.
"It is to me," he said, staring back at her.
"Won't you please at least think about it? What does it matter if one hotel is not as profitable as the others? It is still making money." She was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol she had consumed.
"Are you OK? he asked her when he saw her swaying in her seat.
"I don't usually drink hard liquor, it's starting to hit me. I think I should go home now if you don't mind."
"I will have someone drive you home."
She looked at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Not that man who is outside your door. I don't like him. I'll find my own way home." She stood to leave but her legs felt weak and she had to sit back down.
"Do not move," he ordered her and stood up. "I will make you some coffee first and then I'll have a cab drive you home." He left her and went into the tiny kitchen and plugged in the kettle, then added a teaspoon of instant coffee into a cup. Once the water boiled he poured it into the cup and took it out to her, her eyes were closed. "Miss Mosley."
Her eyes popped open and she sat up, reached out for the cup when he handed it to her and she thanked him.
"I wasn't sure how you took it so I left it black."
"This is fine," she answered and took a sip.
"Take your time, I will call for a cab and have it wait for you when you're ready." Going to his phone made the call and hung up.
Her hand shook a little, but that was because he was watching her, making her nervous. Putting the cup down when she was only half done stood up. "I'll go now."
"He walked her over to the door. "So tomorrow you will come with me, I will see to it that someone takes over your shift. Good evening Miss Mosley." Opening the door he waited till she was out before he shut it. Paige was dropped off at her small apartment twenty minutes from the hotel and when she went to pay the driver she was informed it had been taken care of. She knew it had to have been Mr. Maestri who paid so she would make sure to pay him back when she saw him again. Walking into her small two bedroom apartment that she shared with three other women went to the cabinet and grabbed the aspirins. The others weren't home yet, they never were as they had a busy social life. They only spend maybe four nights here, which was fine with her since it was small and she liked having some privacy. With two women in each bedroom, it was agreed they wouldn't bring a man back to spend the night. If she made a better income she would have gotten a place of her own, but the hotel did not pay their employees that well.
Slipping into her nightgown and getting into bed she laid there, unable to sleep. What would the others think when they find out she was going to be spending the day with the man who held their future in his hands. Would they resent her for helping him to get the place fixed up? She didn't want to do it but he was a man that without much effort was able to put fear in one's heart and she knew he wouldn't let her out of helping him.
Morning came and she crawled out of bed, dragging her tired and aching body into the shower. As the warm water ran down her body she thought about the day that was in store for her. How was she going to cope being around such a loathsome man? Putting on her best pair of jeans and blouse, applying just a touch of make-up she headed to the bus station. God help her if she was late meeting the all mighty Mr. Maestri.
Arriving at his room she knocked, The goon opened it and motioned for her to come in and when she did he walked out, shutting the door behind him. She stood there waiting and turned to look at him when he came from the bathroom. He was dressed casual, black pants, light blue dress shirt, no tie, no jacket. When he walked over to her she got a whiff of his cologne, that mixed with his own scent was pleasing to her. God, he smells so good.
"Miss Mosley, you're on time, I like that. Have you got a pen and pad to take notes?"
"Yes, sir," she said, looking him in the eye.
"Good, shall we go?" he asked. Placing his hand on the small of her back ushered her out the door.
His touch felt warm on her back, making her nervous. "Is your bodyguard not coming? I thought he was your shadow."
"I gave him the day off and I know how uncomfortable you are around him. So it's just you and me Paige, may I call you by your first name?"
"Yes," she answered, relieved that he finally removed his hand. "Where would you like to start?" she asked, taking out the pad and pen from her purse.
"Might as well start at the beginning, the main entrance and work our way up. I will tell you what I want changing and if you see something I've missed you will point it out."
Paige saw the looks they were getting from some of the employees. She wasn't sure if it was jealousy or disgust at the fact that she was helping the enemy. He was rattling things out so quickly that she was struggling to keep up with everything he wanted to be changed and they were not even off the main floor.
"Is there a problem?" he snapped when he noticed her frowning.
"Not really. I just wish you would slow down a little. It's hard keeping up with you and I'm not a secretary, I can't write shorthand."
"Well you better keep up Paige, time is money. Let's move into the kitchen," he said, his tone was harsh.
She clamped her mouth shut to stop from yelling at him. He was making her feel incompetent and she resented him for it. Following behind him she had an urge to give him the finger but knowing him he probably had eyes in the back of his head. He walked through the kitchen, frowning. It was not up to his standard, not clean enough and the kitchen staff wore their regular clothes under an apron. "I want this kitchen closed for a good cleaning, every inch must be washed and sterilized. Also, the staff will wear uniforms, no more street clothes. This is supposed to be a classy hotel, not some greasy diner." His eyes flashed anger and he knocked some pots down, making them crash to the floor to get everyone's attention.
"But the guests, they expect to have most of their meals here," Paige squeaked. Shock coursed through her body.
His head snapped to her. "Then give them vouchers to a restaurant where they can go eat until this disaster is cleaned up." Going over to a pot filled with food he dumped it into the sink and turned to the chefs. "As of this minute the kitchen is closed," he said and walked out, followed by Paige.
"Mr. Maestri," she called out as she tried to keep up with him. "Do you realize the cost of that? Not to mention all the people who will be out of work until it's cleaned, the kitchen help and the servers."
"Then the sooner they get it cleaned the sooner they can get back to work. And don't you ever question me again Paige, I won't tolerate it. I hope I've made myself clear."
His angry glare into her eyes made her take a step back and she looked away. "You have," she said, looking back up at him.
"Good, now let's check out the rooms."
She took notes as fast as she could, he had even more changes he was making. Her fear was that the hotel would have to be shut down while all the repairs and changes were being done. If that was the case would he be willing to continue paying their salaries? She would have to find the courage to ask him.
It was past noon and she was beginning to feel weak from lack of food. When he suggested they stop for lunch she had no idea he intended for them to dine together. He took her arm and led her outside and hailed a cab. "Shall I meet you back here after lunch?" she asked, looking confused when he opened the cab door and motioned for her to get in.
"We'll eat together, that way we can go over a few details," he answered, getting in next to her. He felt the friction between them when his thigh was up against hers, that was until she moved further over.
Stopping at the Hilton she looked over at him. "We're eating here?"
"Yes, do you have a problem with it?" he asked, curious.
"It's just that we're not properly dressed."
"They know me very well here, it won't be a problem."
God, he was so smug. It was like he thought that everyone should drop what they are doing just to cater to him and she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
They were given a seat by the window, he ordered a bottle of wine and ordered for the two of them. He didn't even ask what she wanted which angered her and spoke a little too harshly.
"I'm allergic to shellfish."
Clearly, he was not pleased with her tone of voice, his dark eyes narrowed when he looked back at her. Handing the waiter the menu changed the order to the special of the day. "I suggest you watch your tone around me, Paige."
Lifting the glass of wine to her lips she took a sip before speaking. "Some of the work that you want doing means the hotel may have to be closed for at least a week or two. Will you still pay the wages to the staff while they are off?"
"I suppose I could do that."
She smiled, not expecting him to give in so easily. "That's wonderful, thank you." "Regardless of what you think of me, I'm not completely heartless." He knew that she didn't expect this from him and was pleased by her reaction, one of surprise followed by a smile. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"My personal life is none of your business and has nothing to do with why we are here. Can we please just stick to the renovations?"
"I like to get to know the people I'm working with. You can either tell me or I can have a private investigator get me all the facts on you. Save me the time and trouble, answer my question."
"No, I don't have a boyfriend. My last relationship was three years ago when I was eighteen. It only lasted six months."
"Why so short?"
"He left me for an older woman, one who had lots of money." She stopped talking as the memory was too painful. She had given her virginity to him, thinking he was her one and only true love. He broke her heart but she forgave him like she always did to anyone who hurt her.
"You are very young and beautiful, you will find someone else."
"I'm not looking," she said, setting her glass down when the food arrived.
They went over what had to be done back at the hotel while they ate. An elderly woman walked past their table and as she was reaching into her pocket to take out a handkerchief some money fell on the floor, she hadn't noticed. But Paige did. Getting up she bends down, picking the fifty dollar bill calls out to the woman.
"Madam, you dropped this," she said and handed it to her.
"Oh thank you, dear, that is so kind of you to give it back to me."
"You're very welcome," Paige said, giving the old woman a big smile.
Gabriel turned his head to watch her and waited for her to come back. "Why would you bother? you could have just kept the money."
"It's called doing the right thing and the money doesn't belong to me. Would you not have done the same thing?"
"I would not waste my time over a mere fifty dollars. If people are stupid enough to leave money laying loosely in their pocket then they deserve what they get."
"You're so cold, what has turned you into such a cynical man?"
"Life," he replied. "If you're finished we'll go back to the hotel. I have some numbers to give you to call."
"Calls, what calls?"
"I'll be leaving tomorrow for about two to three weeks. You will have to call the contractors, painters and pick out the new furniture." Seeing the haunted look on her face he continued speaking. "I will make arrangements for someone to take over your duties, it will give you time to do the job I've handed you."
She couldn't believe the audacity of the man to just assume she would do it. But on the other hand, he had made it clear he didn't care what someone thought, he just expected them to do what he told them to do. Something told her that nobody ever said no to him.
Back at the hotel, they go up to his suite. "If that will be all I'll be leaving now," she said after he gave her a list of numbers to call.
"One more thing Paige," he said as he moved closer to her.
Before she could stop him he backed her up till she was leaning up against the wall. The palms of his hands rested on the wall on either side of her, she was trapped. "What the hell are you doing?" she snapped, fear raced through her veins.
"Do you still want to save the hotel?" he asked, his eyes moved down her face to her lips.
"You know I want nothing more than to have the hotel stay open."
"Well, there just might be a way."
She felt the heat from his body, his warm breath on her face as he leaned in even closer, their bodies almost touching. Curiosity overtook her fear and she had to ask him. "How?" A tremor ran through her when she saw the lust in his eyes.
"I'm willing to make a deal with you, one that will benefit both of us."
"What kind of deal?" she asked, her voice shook when she spoke, not sure if she wanted to hear what he was about to say.
SO I BET YOU THINK HE'S A REAL JERK. BUT IS HE AS BAD AS HE APPEARS TO BE? WHAT KIND OF DEAL DO YOU THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT? KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING, I MIGHT POST ANOTHER EPISODES.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0