Maya hesitated, eyes flickering with uncertainty. "I… I know Ethan—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a security guard appeared beside them. "Ma'am, you need to come with me," he said firmly, addressing the drunken woman.
"What? Why should I?" she slurred in annoyance.
"We've received complaints about noise and disturbance—"
"Was it Ethan? Was he the one who complained?!" she snapped.
"I'm not at liberty to disclose that," he replied professionally. "Please come with us."
The woman huffed and cursed, but eventually followed the guard, grumbling all the way. Once they disappeared down the hall, Maya quietly stepped back into her room and shut the door. She leaned against it, breathing out slowly.
"What are you doing, Maya?" she muttered to herself. "Didn't you promise yourself never to get involved with him again?" She rubbed her temples. "Argh. Whatever."
The next morning, Maya needed to check out of the hotel. But she delayed her departure, waiting until she was certain Ethan had already left. She couldn't risk him seeing Noah—not yet.
Once she was sure the coast was clear, she and Noah headed to the airport. Just as the taxi rolled through the city streets, Maya's phone rang.
"Ma'am, it's urgent," her assistant said, voice slightly panicked. "We need your presence at the office. There's a situation."
Maya's brows furrowed. She glanced at Noah, then hesitated before giving instructions to the driver. "Change of plans. Take us to the office."
At the office, the tension was palpable. Papers were scattered, phones ringing non-stop, and her team looked overwhelmed. Maya quickly assessed the situation and understood—there was too much work, and not enough leadership at the moment. She turned to Noah.
"Sweetheart, would you be okay staying here at the office for a bit?"
"Sure, Mom," Noah said, offering her a small smile despite the unfamiliar environment. "No problem."
Maya crouched down and kissed his forehead. "Thank you. I owe you one."
To make sure Noah wasn't left alone, Maya called Dane, who agreed without hesitation to come by and keep him company. Relieved, she turned her full attention to work.
Hours passed in a blur until suddenly, a group of unfamiliar people entered her office.
"Ma'am, you'll need to vacate the premises," one of them said.
Maya froze. "Excuse me?"
"I'm the broker who provided this property. There's been… a complication," he said, clearly uncomfortable. He had assumed she'd be easily intimidated. He was wrong. Her presence was no joke.
"Why should we vacate?" she asked, her tone sharp and commanding. "We purchased this property. Isn't that right, Catherine?"
"Yes, ma'am," her secretary replied instantly. "All legal documents have been processed and finalized."
"So?" Maya crossed her arms. "Why the sudden order?"
The broker looked nervous now. "The original owner never intended to sell. It was an error in our system. They're demanding the property back."
Maya narrowed her eyes. "Then give me the contact information of the previous owner. I'll speak with them directly."
Catherine nodded and approached the man for the information. When she returned with the name, she handed the note to Maya.
The second her eyes landed on it, her world tilted.
Ethan Cole.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
She gritted her teeth," You've got to be kidding me."