by Christina OW
Ruiz shook his head. He was stumped on that one, but seeing her with another guy who looked more suited to her class right after she told him to hit the road was a message he received loud and clear.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Where do you guys want me to go next?”
Reno and Allan just stared at him probably both silently debating who’ll throttle him first.
“Paris,” Matthew added, coming up next to Allan with a bottle of beer in his hand.
Ruiz was grateful for the save, but that was the last place he wanted to go. He had wanted this globetrotting job and he had to do it whether he liked it or not. He’d just have to push the memories back, do his job as fast and as efficiently as he possibly could and move on.
“What do you want me to checkout?”
“The books don’t add up and we’ve received some complaints from some well known clientele. Apparently the Paris Red Roses doesn’t live up to the standards we preach and we’ve had enough bad press to last us a lifetime with the whole Torino business.” Ruiz caught Allan’s clenched jaw and he bet the rest did too, but none commented on it. “You’re going to straighten the place out. Stay there as long as it takes to make sure things don’t fall out of sync again.”
Ruiz nodded. He’d heard the Red Roses in Paris had begun to struggle holding itself up and that was becoming a liability to the entire franchise. He knew exactly what Matthew meant. Ruiz had to fix the issues there and if he failed, Red Roses Paris would have to be shut down immediately. Cutting off a rotting finger before it putrefied the rest of the hand. That would mean the loss of hundreds of jobs, a hold up for the ground breaking of the Rio De Janeiro Red Roses and of course the bad publicity. They had come too far with Red Roses, had sacrificed a lot and suffered much because of it. They couldn’t let it fail.
“When do you want me to leave?”
“Tomorrow would be great.”
Good. Ruiz stood brushing the wisp curls away from his nephew’s little forehead, kissing it before handing him over to his father. He watched as Allan took his namesake in his arms. The look that crossed his face was so powerful it shook Ruiz to the core. Ruiz felt jealous of the love in Allan’s eyes for his son that Ruiz never received from his own father.
“I should go home and pack.”
“Ruiz, if Melody is your true love, you should think about what your brother and I went through before you completely dismiss our concern.”
Ruiz nodded. “I’ll think about it Allan, but you need to understand this is what your sister wanted.”
Reno stood. “We wanted different things and were ready to give up the women we love until they and life told us otherwise. If you don’t want to listen to us, talk to Matthew. He’s the only one who had a drama free relationship.”
Matthew laughed. “Not exactly drama free but the normal kind of drama—disapproving father and an overconfident brother.”
Ruiz chuckled. “Yeah, I think I’ll get my advice from Matthew. My drama is in his category.”
“Smart ass!” Allan smiled at him, a first since he came back to the States without Melody.
“More like damn ass.” Reno clapped him on the back. “Make sure to say goodbye to the ladies before you leave. I don’t want Loraine biting my head off over it.”
“Life with a pregnant wife.” Matthew and Allan spoke in unison and they all laughed except Ruiz who forced a grin. He wished he was part of the group with his own pregnancy comedy—horror stories. But Melody had stolen that chance from him and he couldn’t see himself going through that with anyone else.
His phone rang and he quickly excused himself, glad not to have to pretend any longer. He stepped into the house, answering his phone.
“Ruiz?”
He groaned closing his eyes. He never thought this day could go from bad to worse. Why hadn’t he checked the caller ID?
“Ruiz, are you there?”
“Yes mother, what is it?”
“Is that anyway to talk to your mother?” she admonished.
“When I know you’re going to start harping about getting what’s rightfully mine, yes.”
“You should never have let him sell your inheritance,” she hissed.
Ruiz rolled his neck. He was tired of this argument. “You wanted what was yours and I paid you back—with interest in fact, so will you please let this go!” He heard the impatience in his harsh tone but he was beyond caring. He’d grown up listening to her complaining and whining and he just wanted the matter closed.
“No, I won’t! I wanted the resort not payment. When you left here you were supposed to get the resort and what did you do? You let that bastard sell it!”
Ruiz clenched his jaw at the insult. He felt it as if it was meant for him, and in fact it should. He already knew who the legitimate son was and who wasn’t. Reno had told him the truth a few months back after Ruiz fessed up about his true intentions the first time they met. So though technically his mother’s money was the capital, legally it all belonged to Reno as the old man had willed it because his mother was the old guy’s legal wife. If Ruiz let his father’s betrayal continue to overshadow his life, eating him up inside, he would have missed out on what he currently had. Ruiz turned around to face the backyard and he couldn’t help but smile. Truthfully, he liked having a family more than the resort, one that loved and immediately accepted him without demanding one thing from him. The only reason his mother wanted it was for vengeance and Ruiz didn’t want to hurt his brother and sister. The funny thing was, Reno had being trying to give it to him and he’d refused it adamantly. If his mother knew, she would flay him alive.
“Goodbye mother.”
“Ruiz, if you don’t get it back, I’m going to disown you!”
It was probably the best thing that could happen to him, being set free from her malice, but Ruiz would never say that to her.
“Goodbye mother,” he finished, hanging up.
* * * *
Paris. He never thought he would be back here, not willingly anyway. There were so many memories, so many unforgettable moments he’d shared with Melody there that he didn’t want to relive knowing he’d lost her forever. There was a good way to handle that. Avoiding all the places they went to together. However, avoiding the hotel was impossible, but drowning himself in work would do. That wouldn’t be hard to accomplish because he was sure that was exactly what he was in for if he was to save it.
He nodded at the hotel driver who’d come to pick him up at the airport and frowned at how rude he was. Yanking the trolley out of his hands without even a ‘by your leave’ and walking briskly away, expecting Ruiz to follow him through the crowds playing catch up. When they got to the car, the guy threw his bags in, banged the trunk door shut and moved to the driver seat without a word, leaving Ruiz standing there with his mouth hanging open. The driver sat in the car, waiting for Ruiz to enter and the moment he did, he jetted off not even giving him a chance to close the door or buckle his seat belt.
If this was what Matthew was talking about, Red Roses Paris may just end up with a whole new staff once Ruiz was done.
At the hotel, the doorman and the bellboys were no better. They sat at the door smoking while Ruiz pulled out his own luggage from the trunk. The second he got the last bag out, the car shot off, not even waiting for him to close the trunk door. Shaking his head, he made his way to the concierge table and groaned when he found the lady there, sitting with her legs up on the desk filing her nails.
“Excuse me, I need the key to my room,” he gnashed out, barely able to contain his rage.
The lady gave him a rude once over then sneered going to back filing her nails.
That does it! He was done! “Give me the key to the Family Suite, then follow that up with your resignation!” he barked.
The lady jumped off the chair clearly startled. She narrowed her eyes at him and with a heavy French accent said, “Who is you to fire me?”
“Ruiz Albury. Part owner of the Red Rose
s hotel. Now where is my damn key!”
She blanched her mouth opening a few times as if she was trying to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. Ruiz took a little satisfaction in that, but his rage was still flaring.
“It’s clear you speak and understand English so I’m not going to ask you again. Get a bellboy to take my luggage up then tell the staff we’re having a meeting an hour before dinner service.”
She nodded then began on a stutter, “M-monsieur, the manager lives in the Family Suite.”
Ruiz placed his elbows on the counter and leaned forward, the lady instinctively leaned back. “Is his last name Albury?” he asked in a menacing tone.
She swallowed hard then vigorously shook her head.
“What about Barkhurst?”
Again she shook her head.
“Not even Sinclair?”
She shook her head.
“Then get his shit out of my suite and make sure the place is cleaned up in half an hour. When you’re done, make sure to ask for his resignation too. Am I clear?”
She nodded, her eyes widening at his harsh tone, but Ruiz was beyond caring if he’d scared her. He was pissed! He pushed away from the counter picking up the lady’s panicked voice as she yelled out a name that was followed by rapid French as he walked away. He hoped once he was done touring the hotel, he would have at least set one room straight.
When he got back to his room, he didn’t even bother to see if his orders were carried out. He muttered angrily to himself as he dialed his phone. Things were worse than what Matthew had thought. He was surprised the building was still open for business considering it was practically empty. The few guests that he had met half were on their way out to a better hotel and the other half was actually hotel staff lazing around. How the hell had things gotten this bad? It was a shadow—a bad one at that—of what he’d left behind a year ago. What happened to the manager he and Melody had left in charge and who the hell was the new guy and how did he get the position? Only Reno, Melody and he could hire managing staff and he was sure Reno didn’t hire him. Could Melody have possibly done this?
He shook his head. “No way.” She wouldn’t condemn her gift, one that had almost cost Allan and Riana their lives to such careless hands. That would be an insult to them!
“Ciao.”
“Dante,” Ruiz began speaking into the phone. “I know you only operate in Italy but I need your help in Paris and I need it fast.”
A heavy sigh came through the ear piece. “So, you have seen the disaster for yourself? It’s such a shame all things considering.”
Ruiz flung his jacket off and began working on the buttons of his shirt. “Shame isn’t the word for it. I need a lawyer, by today if possible. I’m going to be firing a number of people and I need it handled legally and fast if I’m going to save this place before Matthew shuts it down.”
“Matthew? Is it not your brother Reno who is in charge?”
Yes, it was, but even as much as Allan owned Sinclair Enterprises, if Matthew didn’t like something, as small as it may be about a particular deal it was shut down immediately. His brother and brother-in-law took his advice seriously as their lawyer. And besides, he was also a part owner—though a small part—in the franchise. It made sense to Reno to give him that considering how much work he’d put into it especially when Allan was out of commission.
“Yes, but we both know it would only take a word from him to have this place boarded up. And I can’t have my brother worrying about this right now with Loraine being pregnant.”
“Ah si. I will find you the best law firm France has to offer. You can count on me, Ruiz.”
Feeling a little relieved, Ruiz thanked him and hang up. He finished undressing as he walked into the master bedroom and went straight for the shower. He was tired, but he wasn’t sure if he could afford sleep at this point. A relaxing hot shower would have to do.
Twenty minutes later he came out of the bathroom to a man yelling and the familiar voice of the concierge. The manager, he guessed and his jaw clenched tight. He had a few choice words for the frog, three of them being ‘you are fired’. He tucked a towel low around his hips and marched into the living room where a man in his bathing suit and a towel hang over his shoulders yelled at the concierge who was dishing as much as she was getting.
“What?” he yelled immediately silencing the room before he lowered his voice to a cool and harsh tone, “Are you doing fighting in my room?”
The man glared at him, his lips curled in a snare. “You mean my room.”
Ruiz folded his arms over his chest and looked down at the man who was a half a foot shorter and a few sizes smaller than him. He hadn’t had to use his size advantage to intimidate someone in years, but since that was what the ass had been trying with the concierge Ruiz wanted him to be at the receiving end. The beady eyes moving up and down his form and the cautious step back told Ruiz the guy was thinking about his next words, carefully.
“You’re not a Sinclair or an Albury or a Barkhurst, so I find it hard to see how this is your room.”
The man smiled smugly up at him and announced in a heavy Italian accent, “No, but I’m married to a Sinclair.”
Ruiz felt like he had been punched in the gut, but he schooled his features to hide his emotions. He was married to Melody? How? Ruiz looked him over carefully and he immediately recognized him. It was the man he’d seen Melody with after she’d told him she didn’t want him in her life anymore. That he had been a mistake and the biggest regret in her life. She’d followed that up with throwing the key he’d given her at the bridge out the window. That had hurt immensely and it felt like salt to a wound staring at the new man in her life, but how could she let him do this to Red Roses and stand idly by?
Ruiz fought to cover his pain with cool indifference. “Congratulations and where is your beautiful bride?”
Before beady eyes could answer, the concierge spoke up. “She lives in the manager’s house monsieur.”
Ruiz pulled his lips in a smile, “Well then, that’s where your room is. Now get out of my suite before I throw you out. Oh and another thing, you’re fired, married to a Sinclair or not.”
He sputtered with indignation, “You can’t do that!”
Ruiz dropped his arms to his sides in tight fists as he approached the man, forcing him to back pedal. “I can and I just did. Get. The hell. Out!”
The man spun around and rushed out of the room leaving Ruiz and a smug concierge behind. The look in her eyes told him there was more to that relationship than coworkers between her and the manager. And when she turned to look at Ruiz, she confirmed it with the lecherous perusal of his naked torso. He could guess how she got her job and how she intended to keep it.
“Don’t you have a desk to get to?”
“Oui monsieur,” she purred strutting towards him, but he signaled to the door with his chin.
“The exit is that way mademoiselle.”
She stopped in her tracks and for the first time since he entered the room in his state of undress looked him in the eye. She must have read something there because the seduction was gone and she nodded curtly heading out the door. Once the door was shut and he was left alone, Ruiz fell into the couch rubbing his chest over his aching heart.
“Married to a cheating beady-eyed bastard? Is that how much you hate me Melody?”