Love Me Again

Chapter 12 - Royal Hotel

Chapter 12 – Royal Hotel 

"Two days ago. Open it." Mrs. Summer urged eagerly.

"I will open it later." Ashley eyed her busy-body mother and added childishly, "Alone."

Mrs. Summer clicked her tongue. "Oh fine, spoil my fun. Let's go and have our lunch, Advin. We will have our date and let our daughter find food for herself."

"Ashton prepares my meals every day," Ashley reminded her, rolling her eyes. "And he also prepares both of your portions every day. It should be ready by now."

After Mr. Summer's hospitalization, he had been recuperating back at home. His meals would be prepared by Ashton at the diner, and to be brought home by Mrs. Summer, who often drop by to help out with the cashier.

"Oh, look at her. Once your brother marries, he won't care about your meals anymore!"

"She will know when that happens," Mr. Summer assured his wife.

Ashley was helpless with her parents' antics. "Did you guys forgot Ashton works here even after he get married?"

Mr. Summer stood up with the help of his cane, and Ashley's heart squeezed in pain every time she saw it. Advin Summer would not allow anyone to help him, especially with his legs. He managed to walk in just two months after the incident that left his leg crippled. But he was pushing himself too hard to get himself back on his feet, and his legs often hurt from the lack of ample rest.

After pushing himself too hard to bring back their restaurant's business, he landed himself in the hospital for the second time. He had just left the hospital, but that did not stop him from continuing to force himself.

That was one of the reasons why Ashley and Ashton worked hard, just to reduce the burden on their father's shoulders.

"Remember what I told you, Ashley," Mr. Summer reminded her.

"I will, dad. Go and have lunch with mom. Will join you in a few minutes."

"You better be," he said sternly, and Ashley meekly nodded. As soon as they left her office, she ripped open the envelope.

She was curious about who the sender was and what was in it.

Sweet Ashley,

Look, I have planned to come to you to talk things out about Sean if you would allow me. I know it's not my right to meddle in Sean's and your business. But as a friend, I love you and Sean very much, and I can't stand him moping around and harassing me any longer. Not to mention harassing his co-workers and clients. I always have to clean up the mess that he left behind, but I'm afraid I don't have any extra life to spare. There's only you now that can calm down the beast. I know you are thinking why should you, and I am begging you to do this for me.

I will be coming on the 6th of July. My flight will arrive in the afternoon, and I would love to meet you at the Royal Hotel, which is where I will be staying. Hope to meet you at 7.30 p.m. sharp in a lovely dress for our get-together meal. And don't worry; I'm not bringing Sean along. But I did, for a moment or two, consider bringing him along before finally deciding I don't want to get stuck beside a gloomy guy for the whole flight.

Love,

Kyle

Ashley read the whole letter for the third time before dropping it onto her desk with a deep breath.

"He has nicer handwriting than mine," she said to the empty office rather absent-mindedly.

She did feel a bit angry that he assumed she would turn up and even purposely sent her a letter. With the letter delayed in reaching her hands, the appointment was actually tomorrow. There was no time for her to consider it for long, but it was no trouble for her, as she did not plan on declining in the first place.

Kyle was a rather nice friend to keep, even if he came for Sean.

Glancing at the letter again, she wondered if Kyle was working at Terin Company as well. What position was he in? He must be in quite a high position to be able to clean up Sean's mess.

Sighing, she folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. She would listen to what Kyle had to say, but she also needed him to understand that Sean could only help himself.

֎ ֎ ֎

Ashley stared at the hotel in front of her with huge respect. Who would not when this building was a five-star hotel with the motto 'customers are royalty'?

She gulped at the thought of Kyle, who was able to book a room here. He must be super-rich. Or a great spender.

She was not complaining, as this gave her the chance to finally visit the Royal Hotel.

When the bellboy opened the impressive-looking double doors and flashed a friendly smile at her, she could only return him a nervous smile before stepping into the grand hotel.

She could not contain her gasp as she took in the spacious foyer. It was a place that screamed of money, with everyone dressed well and expensively.

Ashley did not know if the pillars, cabinets, and mirror frames were real gold or not, but they looked very lavish. Even the gold vase on the round table in the middle of the foyer that no one dared to approach looked expensive.

"Welcome to the Royal Hotel, madam." A man with a manager tag came forward and greeted her with a warm smile. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"May I know the way to the restaurant?"

"Do you have an appointment, ma'am? There is an event today that booked the entire space, and only those who have made an appointment could enter."

"Yes, with Mr. Herrington."

"Your name, please, ma'am?"

"Ashley Summer."

The manager nodded in confirmation, the checklist already memorized in his head. "Thank you. Will you please follow me, madam?"

Once they reached the front of the restaurant, the manager asked a waitress to take over. "She will guide you to your seat."

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Mannington." For a manager to personally escort her without being rude or bored-looking, she was truly grateful for his help.

The waitress smiled and took over the escorting. "Mr. Herrington had already arrived."

The interior of the restaurant was classy and elegant. The soft music playing in the background did not turn into an obstacle for conversation. There was also no heavy smell of food, saving the customer from smelling like heavy oil once they left the restaurant.

Ashley spotted Kyle seated at a corner that provided good privacy. He was the perfect picture of an elite white-collared worker in his dark blue suit and combed-back hair.

Discreetly looking around, Kyle was true to his words that he did not bring Sean along.

As soon as she reached his table, Kyle's blue eyes sparkled with joy as he saw her. He immediately jumped out of his seat and hugged her tightly. "Oh, my savior!"

"When did I become your savior?" Ashley retorted and blushed slightly as she caught the waitress smiling at their interaction before leaving them alone. "Come on, release me. Your welcome greeting will make people misunderstand!"

Kyle laughed and released her. "I was so afraid that you were still angry and wouldn't come. I was already prepared to wait for the entire day."

"If you had not chosen the Royal Hotel as our meet-up place, I might've really not come," Ashley teased and took a seat.

"Am I that unpleasant of a company?"

"You could remedy that if you buy me some delicious food from this restaurant."

Kyle grinned. "Not a problem. I have ordered their famous dishes. You will love them."

"I can't wait. So, what's the occasion that you would be this dressed up?"

"I'm also here for work other than meeting you."

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