Built to Last (Middleton Hotels 2)

“You know I would love to, Joseph,” she purred. I thought I was going to be sick.

“Here you go. I hope you enjoy,” I said with a smile as I handed him the worst place I knew of. They were known for giving people a terrible stomach ache and, well, other unpleasant things. I felt bad for doing it, but he seemed dismissive of me and that bitch was smiling at me like she won.

An hour later I was home and hiding in my small apartment. I left my parents’ home to be closer to school, but I had to accept their support. I didn’t trust them, but I needed the money and they were worried that acting like a normal college student struggling to get by would ruin their image. I cried into my pillow as I thought about him with her all night. It was painful to think of it, so each time I did, I sobbed.

Chapter 3

Joseph

I didn’t want to invite Roxie up, but it would be in poor form not to do so. She drove all this way for no reason, and I didn’t want to send her back home to just come back for the meeting in the morning. It was a two-hour drive and I wasn’t that much of a hard ass. The suite had two bedrooms separated by a ton of living space. It took up nearly the entire top floor of the hotel, so I wasn’t worried about seeing her undressed or anything. We’ve had to share suites a couple of times, but I had no interest in her whatsoever.

“Ah, that explains the reason you’re here,” she said, looking at the large screen television that I had connected to the camera feed downstairs. I rushed down there like a man possessed when I saw her talking to two male guests who were clearly flirting with her. I was a fucking jealous bastard where she was concerned, but I didn’t care. Then Roxie surprised me and I pretended like I wasn’t interested in Rachael. I’d been quiet, staid, and in self-control my entire life; the moment I started to become undone by her, I was caught.

“That’s nothing. I’m here to test all the systems to make sure they are functioning. I ran through the cameras and remembered that I needed to eat. Not that I need to explain myself to you.” She blanched as I gave her stern reprimand.

“I was just kidding around.”

“Well, I don’t kid around and you know that.”

“So why is Preston Harrison’s daughter working here anyway? Doesn’t she bathe in old money?” she scoffed. Wow, Preston Harrison’s daughter? No, she couldn’t be because there was no way she belonged in my hotel. I hated Harrison, and then I remembered he wanted her to be with Jacob. She was a plant. A way to meet Jacob and seduce him. Last time I saw him was at his home when he tried to pressure us into making a deal. When I said hell no, he said he would bury me. The problem was that he tried and hadn’t succeeded.

I was pissed that my heart was beating for her and her father was a fucking piece of shit.

“That’s not her. Right?”

“Yes, it is. I saw her last month at that charity function you refused to go to. Her father looked like he was at a cattle market, hoping to sell her to the highest bidder, but the girl is a feisty one and left early.”

“Really? Well I’m going to have to keep an eye on her. I don’t know how…never mind.” I almost slipped and said that I looked up her file.

“You can fire her for anything, you know?”

“I do, but I don’t make decisions on a whim, and just

because she’s here doesn’t mean anything.”

“She’s worth millions and she’s working as a concierge. It sounds suspect.”

“I’ll have it looked into. So what kind of pizza do you want?”

We ordered food and planned the meeting out in the living room area. It was about ten o’clock when I called it a night. We went into the separate bedrooms. By three in the morning, my stomach wasn’t feeling too good. In fact, I wanted to vomit and shit all at once. I called down to the front desk telling them to bring me up some Pepto-Bismol or something because I didn’t feel well enough to go get it. Denise at the reception desk brought it up and handed it to me. “Mr. Middleton, do you need a doctor?”

“No, just think I got a lousy recommendation from the front desk for pizza.”

“Oh no, not Davanzo’s. That place is the worst for getting sick. People love the food, but at least one person gets food poisoning.”

“Thanks, wish I had the heads up earlier.”

“No prob…” she stopped because Roxie came out of her room less than fully dressed and I closed my eyes. That wasn’t going to look good for me. “Well, there should be enough for two there, but I can send someone out for more in the morning.”

“Yeah, as long as it’s not Rachael. She’ll probably pick the expired bottle.”

“Oh wow. Well, hope you both feel better in the morning.” She left giving me a look that said she really meant that.

“I’m telling you she’s working for her father,” Roxie said the moment I closed the door.

I waved her off and took the medicine. “Yeah, well I’m too sick to talk about it.”

Chapter 4