CHAPTER-5

When Sophie arrived home, she noticed that all the lights were on, a sight not uncommon as she often returned late. With her own set of keys, she let herself in. Inside, she found Rebecca and Lauren enjoying dinner together, their joy evident. Seeing their happiness brought a smile to Sophie's face. Despite being around 50 years old, Rebecca's slender figure lent her a youthful appearance, making her seem like a sister to both Lauren and Sophie. "Wah! Mom, you're still awake," Sophie exclaimed, diverting their attention towards herself as she sat at the table. "Sophie, wash your hands," Rebecca instructed sternly. "Oh, sorry, Mom. I couldn't spend time with you due to being late, so I got excited," Sophie quickly apologized before heading to the bathroom to wash her hands. Rebecca smiled at Sophie and said, "It was you who strictly told me to be in bed by 9:00 p.m. But today, Lauren needed my help, so how could I not assist her?" She expressed this while placing her hand over Lauren' to which Lauren replied 'Thank you, Mom". "Lauren needed your help? In what, Mom?" Sophie asked Rebecca, turning her gaze towards Lauren. Rebecca explained, "She has a party at her friend's place tomorrow, but the dress she got ready for it was a bit loose, so she just needed some adjustments. It was a bit tricky because the dress is quite modern, but I'm also your mother; how could I not make it right? Sophie, the dress is absolutely beautiful; you should see it too." Rebecca expressed this while highlighting the positive aspects of the situation. "Sophie, you should also go to sleep. Mom, you should go to bed too," Sophie began to say, intending to mention that she had already seen the dress because it was the one she had picked up from the showroom. Before she could finish, Lauren interrupted and took Rebecca away from there. As Sophie began to serve the food, she noticed that both bowls were empty. "Actually, I forgot that you also come home around this time. I would have made something for you too. Anyway, you always eat at Melinda's house," Lauren said, heading towards her room. "Hmm, it's okay. I'll eat something else," Sophie replied in an understanding tone. Rachel was saying, "You confirmed your size yourself, so how did such a big designer make a mistake?" Sophie wanted to discuss her sister's problem, but Lauren left for her room, completely ignoring her. Sophie felt a pang of disappointment but smiled, thinking that perhaps Lauren was just tired. As Lauren entered her room, she noticed a tiffin sitting there, containing fruit pudding and mushroom soup. "Sophie, you don't deserve my mother's handmade food," she said, smiling evilly.

Rebecca had prepared food for Sophie too, but Lauren had put it in her room. Despite Sophie contributing financially to the household, she often felt left out. On the other hand, Sophie stood in the kitchen, sipping water from two filled glasses and eating strawberries because she didn't know how to cook. Due to the dress incident with Lauren, she couldn't even eat the food Melinda had cooked. Sophie's home was a rental, but she took care of all the bills, including the medical expenses for Rebecca and other household necessities. Despite being knowledgeable about managing a home, Sophie lacked basic cooking skills. The house, though small, was cozy and comfortable, with two rooms occupied by Rebecca and Lauren respectively. Lauren preferred solitude for her studies, while Sophie's erratic routine meant she didn't share a room with Rebecca either. So, Sophie had turned the upstairs storage room into her living space, making it suitable for her. Sophie could not sleep; she kept tossing and turning, her mind replaying the events of the day. Hunger also kept her awake, and she worried about tomorrow's party—any misstep could jeopardize her job. She couldn't figure out Orion's intentions; his behavior was puzzling. On one hand, he treated all the staff like guests, and on the other hand, he acted strangely towards her. The relationship between Lauren and Mr. Orion also lingered in her thoughts. Sophie tried to sleep, aware of the importance of reaching the hotel on time tomorrow. Clutching a pillow, she closed her eyes and drifted off. After a long day's work, she fell into a deep, restful sleep. Sophie arrived at the hotel earlier than expected the next day, which proved beneficial as Mr. Orion Fortier also arrived early in the morning. He called Sophie to his office. As Sophie entered Mr. Orion's office, she noticed that all the floor managers of the hotel were already present, waiting for her and Mr. Orion. Sophie's floor manager knew why she was called there. "Sophie, come sit here," the manager gestured towards a chair for Sophie. When Mr. Orion entered, everyone stood up as a sign of respect. Orion took his seat and looked around at everyone before speaking. "As you all know, we excel in hospitality, ranking number one in the country. Today marks the beginning of our friendship with the Grey's group, which holds significant benefits for our business. However, along with friendship, they also aim to compete with us." Orion explained, "Sasha Grey, the sole daughter of the owner of Grey Group of Industries, is constructing a royal palace in every city in the country. Not only will this expand their properties across cities, but it will also pose competition in the hotels and resorts business." He continued, "So, to all of you who are close to me and special, I want you not only to enjoy but also to observe their hospitality techniques and understand their business strategies."

"Even though Mr. John Grey himself may not be directly involved in this business, he will not let his daughter's business falter. He will make every effort to ensure that his daughter's business is at the forefront. As you know, his grandsons made headlines for taking their export business to the top at a young age. And who knows how much Mr. John Grey has influenced Mr. Adir Grey's success. Mr. John Grey is skilled in business, but his praise is far less than it deserves." As all the managers engaged in conversation, Sophie found herself struggling to understand her role in the meeting. Despite her efforts to comprehend everyone's discussions, she couldn't quite grasp her purpose there. Orion noticed her unease and the confusion on her face, secretly smiling at her adorable expression. "You stay right here," Orion says, gesturing toward Sophie, causing her to pause in her tracks as everyone else was leaving.

"You heard the conversation, you must have understood something," Orion remarked with a raised eyebrow. "Yes," Sophie replied, adjusting her glasses.

"You'll be staying there the whole day, so tomorrow, in the morning, I'll take notes on all the important points. Whatever you observe there, try to absorb it. I want to know everything," he said.

Sophie contemplated to herself that in this environment, uniqueness seems to fade away, as everyone approaches business differently. However, she refrained from voicing her thoughts aloud and simply replied, "Okay." Seeing Sophie's expressions, Orion felt that she wanted to say something but was holding back. So he added, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask." No, Sophie nodded. "Alright then, you may leave," Orion replied, permitting Sophie to go. "Sophie went to perform her normal duties, and at 9:00 AM, Sophie's manager handed her a card. It was green in color, unlike the red cards given to the rest of the staff. Confused, Sophie asked, 'Why is mine different?' 'Not just yours, but Mr. Orion's, his family's, and his bodyguards' cards are also green,' the manager explained patiently. 'This is because you need to go earlier to make arrangements and oversee things, like the security checks being conducted there." Sophie replied with a cute nod and wide-eyed innocence, indicating her understanding of the explanation. "Did you manage to arrange the dress for tonight, Sophie?" Coral inquired as Sophie prepared to depart for the palace. "Well, I don't think I can attend the event as a regular guest," Sophie replied confidently, smiling. "Remember my 'punishment' from yesterday," she added playfully, referencing the previous day's incident. "Yes, I remember perfectly," Coral responded. "He said I have to come earlier to take care of the preparations, and later I can enjoy the party." Coral's statement confused Sophie, but she didn't bother to attend tonight's event as she wanted to go home as soon as her duty was over. She looked forward to spending some time with her mother.

As Sophie drifted into her thoughts, Coral rummaged through her bag and pulled out the dress Melinda had given her, remarking. "Thank goodness you had the sense to at least prepare yourself. The dress is quite beautiful, Sophie." In a hurry, Coral asked, "Do you prepare shoes?" Sophie hesitated before replying, "No shoes, and I don't want to wear this dress. It's way too deep for my comfort zone. Don't worry, though. I have a cropped leather jacket in the same color that will complement this dress." Sophie's reluctance was evident, her words reflecting her discomfort with the deep plunge of the dress. Coral, however, tried to reassure her, offering an alternative with the leather jacket. Sophie shot Coral an irritated look, to which Coral responded, "You have no option." Dressing in her hotel uniform, Sophie set out on her bicycle journey. After nearly half an hour of cycling, she arrived at a massive gate. The massive gate had a smaller gate within it, which was currently open. Four tall and muscular security guards stood by, each armed and vigilant. Sophie summoned her courage, approached them, and presented her card, signaling her need to enter. At 5 feet 4 inches tall, she felt diminutive in their imposing presence. Glancing at her card, they requested her to wait for a moment as they needed to inquire about something. One of the men stepped inside and returned after 15 minutes with a tablet displaying the guest list. He asked Sophie for her ID. Simultaneously, he was engaged in a call, and his expression suggested that he was discussing Sophie with someone over the phone. Sophie patiently waited for them to grant her entry into the palace. After half an hour of thorough interrogation and strict checking, they finally allowed Sophie to enter. A few minutes walk from the main gate leads to the grand white Marble Palace, built in Neo-classical style. Upon entering the premises, one is immediately struck by the grandeur of the white edifice, complemented by a picturesque pond adorned with a stone fountain and statues of mermaids. Surrounding the palace is a meticulously maintained green lawn, embellished with marble statues of elephants, seemingly standing guard over the estate. Scattered throughout the lawn are seating arrangements and tables with marble tabletops, offering an inviting space for relaxation and repose. Sophie stood in awe, marveling at the hidden treasure nestled in the heart of the city.

"After waiting for half an hour and enduring my punishment, it seems like it's been a success," Sophie remarked, admiring the building, feeling fortunate to have spent the entire day there. "I should thank Mr. Orion Fortier," Sophie said, expressing her gratitude as she marveled at the breathtaking palace. As Sophie stepped into the palace, she was greeted by the sight of immense rooms adorned with beautiful paintings and statues depicting Greek mythological gods. In another hall, a collection of '80s and '90s cars caught her attention, prompting everyone to snap pictures in today's social media-driven age. The cars were all original and exceedingly valuable, including two gold-plated Rolls Royces and one green Rolls Royce adorned with emeralds. It was a sight to behold, and Sophie couldn't help but marvel at the mind-blowing collection. Remembering Mr. Orion's instructions, she quickly made notes of her observations. As Sophie was making her notes, she began to feel uncomfortably warm. She noticed that the heaters throughout the palace were set to a high temperature, making her feel even hotter in her uniform.