"I will make sure your life is a misery, Elly. Not even this brat will escape my grasp," Erick threatened. His voice was low, little more than a whisper, yet it was heavy with a lethal promise. His eyes seemed to want to pierce through the photograph, peeling away the face of the innocent child whose existence made him feel so utterly betrayed.
Matthew, who had stood by Erick's side for years, felt a chill run down his spine. He recognized that look. It was the gaze of a predator who had locked onto its target. To prevent his master from sinking further into a destructive darkness, Matthew cleared his throat softly.
"Sir, I believe you need to see this hotel's financial report immediately," Matthew interrupted, attempting to pull Erick back to the reality of business.
Erick took a long, heavy breath, exhaling the remnants of his immediate emotions. With a rough motion, he shoved the folder containing Elly's information to the edge of the desk and turned to the stack of financial reports he had previously ignored.
"The food supplies sent to the main kitchen are all below standard, Sir," Matthew began, his tone professionally cold. "However, in the monthly reports, the disbursed budget reflects the prices of top-tier ingredients. There is a massive discrepancy in the funds."
Erick narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping the desk in an impatient rhythm. "Who is playing behind my back?"
"The hotel manager, Sir," Matthew answered directly.
Matthew continued, "He has also drastically cut the cleaning service staff, claiming hotel occupancy is down. On paper, the reduction is only ten percent. But facts on the ground show that the actual labor force has been slashed by fifty percent."
Erick frowned, staring at the rows of numbers before him in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"There are dozens of ghost employees on the payroll, Sir. Their salaries are paid out every month, but the people don't exist. Consequently, an overwhelming workload is heaped upon the remaining staff. That is the primary reason our cleanliness standards have plummeted and why we've become a target for guest complaints," Matthew explained without hesitation.
"Is this the manager's doing as well?" Erick asked. His voice rose an octave, a sign that his fury was shifting targets.
"Precisely, Sir. After we traced the names, we found that nearly every ghost employee on the payroll is a member of his extended family."
CRACK!
Erick slammed his hand onto the desk with a force that made the glasses rattle. He stood up, his breathing ragged.
"Just because I rarely set foot in this hotel, he thinks he can play with fire behind my back!" Erick growled. His eyes were no longer dull. They burned with the rage of a ruler who had just realized rats were devouring his granary.
***
Elly walked with steps that were beginning to feel heavy, her arms tightly cradling Felix's small body. Her son rested his head in the crook of her neck, his steady breaths warm against her skin. Amidst the bustle of the street, Elly stopped in front of a mobile phone shop with a gleaming glass storefront.
She remembered her shattered phone, her only means of communication. "I suppose I have to buy a new one," Elly murmured, mostly to herself. With a long sigh, she pushed open the glass door, carrying the weight in her arms into the room cooled by air conditioning.
"Mama...?"
A raspy voice, typical of a child who had just woken up, drifted from her shoulder. Elly immediately looked down, and a loving smile spread across her tired face. "Felix... sweetie, are you awake?"
Felix lifted his slightly messy head. His round eyes blinked, looking left and right to identify the strange room filled with glass shelves.
"Mama dropped her phone earlier, honey. I have to buy a new one so we can still talk," Elly said softly, trying to chase away the confused expression on her son's face.
"Mama can use Felix's phone," Felix suggested innocently. His small voice was so sincere it made Elly's heart ache.
Elly chuckled softly, rubbing Felix's back. "If Mama uses your phone, then you won't be able to call me, right?"
Felix pouted, his face turning gloomy. "But Mama never picks up Felix's calls anyway. It's useless for Felix to have a phone if Mama doesn't answer," he protested with a childishly annoyed tone. He remembered how panicked he had been earlier, trying repeatedly to reach his mother to no avail.
Elly's heart throbbed with pain at the complaint. She pressed her forehead against his, then landed a long kiss on his brow. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Mama was truly busy working. I promise I won't let it happen again."
"Good evening, Ma'am. Is there something I can help you with?" a shop assistant greeted them, breaking the intimate moment between mother and son.
Elly approached the glass display cases that sparkled under the bright spotlights. She tightened her hold on Felix, as if seeking strength from his small body. Her eyes scanned the rows of the latest smartphone models, their prices clearly displayed.
"Evening... I'd like to buy a phone," Elly said, her voice sounding hesitant, nearly drowned out by the shop's cheerful background music. She cleared her throat to dismiss the awkwardness. "Just something simple. As long as it works well."
The assistant, a young man in a neat uniform, welcomed her with a friendly, professional smile. He showed no sign of disdain, even though Elly appeared a bit disheveled after her long day.
"Of course, Ma'am. Right this way," the assistant said, gesturing toward a corner of the display case containing more economical models. "You can browse these and choose whichever fits your needs best."
Elly nodded slightly, her fingers slowly touching the surface of the glass. Her mind began to race with calculations, dividing the money in her wallet between Felix's living expenses and the communication tool she so desperately needed.
A short while later, Elly stepped out of the shop. The night air, which was beginning to bite, made her reflexively tighten her grip on Felix's small hand as he walked cheerfully beside her. In her other hand, she carried a plastic bag containing the cheap phone she had just purchased.
A polished black sedan slowly pulled over to the curb directly in front of them. The electric window slid down with a smooth hum, revealing the figure of a man behind the wheel who offered a kind smile.
"Miss Elly, get in. Let me drive you and Felix home," the man said. His voice was calm and authoritative.
"Mr. Walker!" Felix exclaimed in a high, joyful tone. His eyes brightened as he recognized the man. Benjamin Walker was a well-respected local businessman in this small town, and a regular donor to the church where Felix stayed while Elly worked.
Elly forced a smile, even as a sense of awkwardness crept up her neck. "Thank you very much, Mr. Walker. But there's no need to go to any trouble. Our home is quite close from here."
Ben let out a small laugh, his gaze shifting to the boy at Elly's side. "Come on in, Felix. Your mother must be exhausted after such a long day, isn't she?"
"Yes, Mama must be very tired! She's been working since this morning," Felix replied enthusiastically. He began to tug at the edge of Elly's jacket, looking up at his mother with a pleading gaze that was difficult to refuse.
Elly took a short breath, feeling defeated by her son's persuasion and Ben's genuine kindness. "Alright... thank you for the ride, Sir."
Elly opened the rear passenger door. The expensive scent of leather upholstery met her senses. She seated Felix first, ensuring he was comfortable, before sitting beside him. The door closed with a solid thud, and the luxury car glided smoothly through the night toward the outskirts of town.
The car eventually slowed and came to a stop in front of a dingy, old apartment complex. The peeling paint and flickering corridor lights provided a stark contrast to Ben's shiny black sedan.
Before Elly could reach for the door handle, Ben had already jumped out. With quick, polite movements, he opened the door for Elly, standing tall as he gave the mother and son room to exit.
"Th-thank you, Sir," Elly stammered. Awkwardness clouded her face. She was not used to being treated with such respect, especially at a residence that was far from dignified.
"You're very welcome, Miss Elly. It is an honor for me to be of help," Ben replied with a friendly smile that seemed sincere under the dim streetlights.
"Thank you, Mr. Ben!" Felix chirped, looking up at the tall man.
Ben chuckled, then gently stroked Felix's hair with a loving gesture. "You're welcome, champ. Get some sleep tonight."
"Goodnight, Mr. Ben," Elly said in farewell. She took Felix's hand and began to walk toward the cramped, damp-smelling lobby of the apartment.
Unbeknownst to Elly, a few dozen yards away, a dark luxury SUV was parked in the shadows of the trees. From behind the tinted windows, a pair of sharp eyes watched their every move. To a stranger, the scene looked like a sweet, romantic family parting.
"You really are a slut, Elly," Erick hissed from the back seat. His voice was cold, yet saturated with a boiling hatred.
His hand gripped the tablet he was holding so tightly his knuckles turned white. His eyes remained fixed on Elly's back as she slowly disappeared behind the apartment door.