Chapter 18: Chapter 18



This chapter is dedicated to TastiiCakkes19

Meg POV

I hated being reprimanded, corrected or told what to do. That was why James seemed like a pain in my ass. But if you were to look at it critically, you'd find out that I was the pain in his ass.

The guy has saved my neck too many times to count. I was constantly getting myself into trouble and even when I wasn't looking, trouble seemed to find me attractive.

I knew that I was a difficult person to put up with. Even though I was giving him attitude, he still looked out for me like a younger sister.

Ever since I got employed, James had been good to me. He was the only person that paid attention to the fact that I sucked at waitressing and decided to put me out of my misery by training me. When I asked him why he was being nice to me, he simply said, "You look a lot like my younger sister." There was no further explanation or compliments. Just a straightforward answer. So I proceeded to ask him about her. He looked at me then, with an unreadable expression on his face as he replied, "She went missing at age three."

That hit me. I understood how it felt to be alone. I had been an orphan since I could remember. The woman that took me in when I was young never failed to remind me that she picked me up from the streets and trained me. That was the only indication I needed to understand that I was alone in the world. I have had to do the worst things to survive. I would do absolutely anything to get ahead in life. Absolutely anything to change the shitty hand faith dealt me.

"I am so sorry James," I whispered. I didn't like that I was feeling remorse and sympathy. These were emotions I had killed a long time ago but James could somehow still bring them out of me. In another world, I would have loved to have him as an elder brother. But we were in my pathetic reality and it was very cruel.

I stood there as he scolded me for kissing Charles. I tried to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal to me even though I knew that it was. After the kiss and the embarrassing way he abandoned me in the corridor, I went to the staff lounge to sleep, but I wasn't able to because I kept thinking about who Charles was and why he was even in the hotel and soon, curiosity overtook me.

I stood up and went to my locker, picked up the beat-up laptop I had stolen from a poor customer while working at a store roughly two years ago, connected it to the hotel WiFi, and made myself comfortable on my bunk bed. The hotel provided bunk beds for staff who had to sleepover. Truth was, I was practically living at the hotel because my crappy apartment was a living hell.

When the WiFi came on, I began to research Charles. I discovered his father was the owner of "Harrell Global Enterprise." Which was roughly over a billion dollars worth.

Damn! The guy was in millions, but if he was in millions what was he doing in a 3 Star hotel when he could be in 5 stars hotels like Tanscop? I began to research his family.

Charles mum was the owner of the harl supermarket and fashion line. The woman was societal. Always throwing and sponsoring parties and charities. A woman after my own heart.

A crazy idea began to blossom in my mind. what if I was able to successfully infiltrate Charles family using his mother? But, that would not be easy because I was a nobody. So if I wanted to succeed, I'd have to appear to be a part of her class which would require a lot of money to pull off. Money that I didn't have. And secondly, I had to find out what Mrs Harrell loved in a woman. I needed to understand the kind of person she'd want her future in-law to be. And finally, I'd have to act like my life depended on it.

Which it did! Cos baby, if you can pull this off, your life will change for good!

Damn!

Just thinking out this gave me chills. The sound of the door opening quickly got me shutting off my laptop and immediately dropping to the bed. If I was to pull this off, I had to do it as secretly as possible. No one could discover my plans. I looked with the corner of my eyes and discovered it was just a cleaner. Still, I had to be careful.

The fact I was invincible to the world was going to be an advantage for me in this game. Mrs Harrell would have a hard time researching me online and even if she wanted to, the way I was gonna present myself would get her so convinced she would have a change of heart.

For my plans to work accurately, I needed money, and the only person I could get it from was Ms Amy. This was the hardest part of all. I needed to get a loan from her so I could proceed with my plan. But the issue was that my contract said I had to have worked with the hotel for six months before I could get a loan.

You'll need all the strength you can mutter and every acting skill you have ever mastered to pull this off.  For, if you can convince Amy, you can convince a god. I told myself.

"Meg!" My supervisor yelled, whipping me out of the deep hole I had fallen into. Just like James, I also had a shift to finish up in an hour. So I quickly left the hallway and went back to the restaurant.

I couldn't wait for my shift to be was over. And when it finally came to a blissful end, I made my way to the penthouse, where I could find Amy. When I got to her door, I took a moment to think about what I was gonna tell her. But before I could even think to knock on the door, it swung opened and a bewildered-looking Amy stared back at me. I was sure she wasn't expecting a visitor and I could understand that, but what I couldn't understand was the guilty expression I found on James face, who was standing behind her.

Wow! This just got interesting. The universe was really on my side.

I looked back at Amy and said, "Can we talk ma'am? It's kind of an emergency."

"Yeah, yeah, come on in," She said, ushering me in with her hands. "Could you please give us a minute James?" She said, making sure not to make eye contact with him.

"Yeah, I was just on my way out." He said as he stepped out of the office, sending me a look before leaving.

"So, what's this emergency Meg," Amy said as she rested her hips on the edge of her desk and folded her hands on her chest.

"I need a loan for a year," I said, going straight to the point.

"What?" Amy exclaimed, shock plastered on her face. "It's either you are joking or very stupid. Did you read the contract you signed?"

"Yes, I did Amy. I did. And you are going to give me the loan." I replied, using her first name to show her I was in charge of this conversion.

"What on God's name makes you think I would approve such an outrageous request?" She said, frowning her brows in suspicion.

"Let's just say, you wouldn't want the management to find out that you are having an illicit affair with the Head Waiter." At that statement, Amy busted out in laughter.

"Meg, Meg, Meg. Firstly, you can't prove that. And secondly, I can get you fired right now for trying to blackmail me." She replied with a smirk on her lips.

"Yep! I know I can't prove it ma'am, but do you know the power of rumours? People see the attraction between you and James. It's quite clear for everyone to see. All I have to do is start a rumour, and all you have to do is fire me to prove my point."

At this point, I chuckled.

"The story will sound like this "MEG DISCOVERED AN ILLICIT AFFAIR, AND SHE GOT FIRED FOR IT." Do you know that I could even sue you just based on that simple sentence?" I asked, watching the expression on her face turn to stone.

"When do you plan on returning the loan?" She asked coldly, her face a stony mask.

I could see she didn't like being put in the corner, but I also knew she could damn it and fire me. So if she wasn't doing it, it was not because she was scared, No. My guess was, she agreed to my terms to protect James. She did like the guy.

"I'll return it in two months or more cos you never know these things. They have a way of delaying." I muttered.

"Okay then. You'll get an alert by tomorrow. Now, get the hell out of my office." She ordered, her eyes shining with hatred. It seemed I was very good at making people despise me.

"One more thing." I said, meeting her fiery eyes with mine." I'll need to take a two-month leave. I am sure you can make that happen. Thanks for your understanding." Without being told twice I walked out and shut the door behind me. The moment I was out of her office I quietly screamed yes!

Opportunity was a bitch and she loved me.

I went straight to the staff room to plot my next move because one of the obstacles to my plan was Mr Money and he had just been Checked.

Next was thorough research.

As I stepped into the room, I found James sitting on my bed waiting for me. At seeing him I smiled.

"Hey James," I said as I walked towards him.

"What the hell are you up to Meg?" He replied.

That stopped me in my tracks. He was pissed, but why? I was sure Amy couldn't have told him anything so fast. Or could she?

"What are you talking about?" I replied, pretending to know nothing about what he was saying.

"What did you discuss with Amy?" He asked as he fixed his intense gaze at me.

"That's none of your business James. It was a private discussion." I replied. Intending to sound angry.

"Was it?" He snorted, "What are you playing at Meg?" He implored,  slowly rising from the bed and stalking towards me.

"What's up with you James? Look, if you are scared I will tell......" The look he gave me stopped my words mid-sentence. After a breath, I babbled on, "Look, I just asked for a loan and some days off that's all. I am not feeling well so obviously I need medication and rest. Nothing more okay?"

James stared at me for a long while. He just stood there silently observing me and it made me nervous as hell. After what seemed like forever, he nodded his head and walked out of the room.

I released the breath I didn't even know I'd been holding and pulped down on my bunk bed. That was so intense. James has never been angry with me before, so this was new to me. I just hoped he believed me. He was the only one who truly cared about me and I really couldn't afford to lose him. But I have to do what I have to do.

Picking up my computer I went back to researching the Harrells. The plan was in motion and I wasn't going to let anyone stop it.

I was going to see this plan through completely. Even if it kills me.

Or someone else.