Free Web NovelChapter 99: Chapter 99 The Suite Dispute
Ryan was still surrounded by a crowd of people.
Tall and elegant, he stood at the center of the group, fastening the button of his suit jacket with one hand. His gaze was steady and unflinching as he looked over.
The two buildings stood right next to each other.
The distance between them had never been great.
Especially with the open plaza separating them.
Jordan’s voice carried exceptionally clearly.
Rose hesitated for a moment, not expecting Ryan to have been meeting with the company across the street for so long.
And now, by sheer coincidence, they had run into this situation.
Seeing that Rose wasn’t responding, Jordan stepped closer, seemingly leaving her no room to refuse.
“Even if G.S. has contingency plans, it’ll take an entire cycle to rebuild investor confidence. As an employee of G.S., if you secure my investment, I can guarantee a smooth rise through the ranks.”
He paused before continuing. “Agree to my terms. It’s a deal where you stand to gain tenfold.”
Rose lifted her eyes.
She met Jordan’s determined gaze.
The corners of her lips twitched slightly.
Before she could answer—
A car pulled up not far away.
In the blink of an eye, Ryan’s gaze swept across her.
As though he had merely happened upon a stranger.
As casual and indifferent as a blossom drifting past in the wind.
He stepped directly into the car.
Not the slightest curiosity appeared on his face regarding the answer his soon-to-be ex-wife might give.
The car drove away.
Rose silently weighed the pros and cons.
Jordan stared at the pale pink flush on her cheeks.
“If you agree, come with me to L.A. for a vacation. I can sign the investment contract anytime.”
Rose could naturally see the desire for conquest hidden in Jordan’s eyes.
But she didn’t care whether his intentions were pure.
“Since you’re being so generous, Mr. Dutch, having dinner together isn’t a big deal.”
She looked at him calmly. “What time?”
Jordan immediately understood the implication.
Dinner only.
Nothing more.
If he couldn’t accept that condition, there was no point discussing it further.
Her attitude made him frown involuntarily.
Rose was proving far more difficult than he had anticipated.
But he didn’t mind.
What he wanted was to watch her pride crumble.
Women, in his view, weren’t complicated.
They simply fell into carefully prepared traps.
He wanted to see whether Rose could maintain her principles until the very end.
“See you tomorrow in L.A.”
“Alright.”
After settling the time, Rose turned and walked away.
She didn’t think much of it.
G.S. was facing a funding crisis because of Samantha.
There was no reason to reject the investment Jordan was offering.
Jordan, however, was somewhat surprised.
Rose had rejected him so many times before that he had fully expected another cold refusal.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he looked at her retreating figure and raised an eyebrow.
Just as he had expected.
The fact that Rose had once fallen for Ryan despite his relationship with Samantha seemed, to him, proof that she admired status and power.
There was no way she could resist the conditions he was offering.
If money could move her, winning her over wouldn’t be difficult.
*****
That evening, Rose discussed the matter with Caleb.
Caleb scoffed. “Considering men’s inherent flaws, why exactly would Jordan suddenly be interested in you?”
Hadn’t he looked down on Rose for years?
Rose lowered her gaze to the project report in her hands.
“As you said yourself, men—apart from having little interest in their own wives and girlfriends—seem to have designs on every attractive woman they meet.”
“...”
Caleb paused. “Can you at least exclude me from that statement?”
Rose nodded seriously. “You’re right. Caleb, you’re not even participating in the market.”
“A complete workaholic,” Caleb said with a laugh.
Then his expression softened. “But you don’t need to force yourself into doing something you don’t want to do just for G.S.’s funding. We’ll figure it out eventually.”
Rose smiled. “I’m going to L.A. because I also want to inspect their smart healthcare system. New technologies in the U.S. are usually piloted in places like L.A. before they’re rolled out in New York.”
“L.A. has the newest resources and the most complete infrastructure. I want to understand the market better before we officially launch the project.”
For her, the trip was less about dinner with Jordan and more about market research that happened to include an investment opportunity.
Caleb understood immediately.
Still, he said: “Then I’m going with you.”
“I won’t feel comfortable otherwise.”
He added casually, “Besides, your birthday is coming up. I can’t exactly let you spend it alone.”
Just like that, he made the decision.
Rose agreed.
As for Diana—
She planned to retrieve the documentary’s raw footage after returning from L.A.
She already knew exactly how she intended to deal with Mike’s allergy incident.
That very day, Rose and Caleb booked flights and flew to L.A.
Over the next two days, they visited several leading hospitals and toured multiple cutting-edge smart healthcare companies.
Only after gaining a solid understanding of the market did Rose head to the resort hotel Jordan had reserved.
It was one of L.A.’s most luxurious hotels.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched a breathtaking ocean view.
Rose had fallen in love with a spectacular oceanfront suite that included a private pool.
Even though she couldn’t swim, the scenery alone was enough to make her want it.
The price, however, was eye-watering.
Since it was a rare vacation, she gritted her teeth and booked it with her own money.
After confirming the reservation online, she arrived at the hotel with Caleb to check in.
The receptionist checked her reservation and immediately looked apologetic.
“I’m very sorry, ma’am, but that suite is no longer available. Would you mind selecting a different room?”
Rose frowned. “I booked it online. How can it suddenly be unavailable?”
Caleb stepped forward as well. “This sounds like a mistake on your end.”
The receptionist looked uncomfortable. “We encountered an unexpected situation. Rooms with that view are extremely limited. Aside from the eighteen-thousand-dollar suite you reserved, the only room with a similar view is the Presidential Suite.”
She paused awkwardly. “It costs over three hundred thousand dollars per night.”
Rose immediately understood.
Someone had taken her room.
She looked at the receptionist.
Not wanting to make things difficult, she asked calmly: “So what you’re saying is that if I want that view, my only option is the Presidential Suite for over three hundred thousand dollars a night?”
Never mind the fact that Ryan hadn’t transferred her divorce settlement yet.
Even if she had the money, she wasn’t willing to spend it that way.
“My reservation is right here.”
Rose held up the confirmation. “Your hotel needs to resolve this and give me a satisfactory explanation.”
The receptionist hesitated.
Then, catching sight of someone approaching, she immediately said: “Mr. Knight, regarding your girlfriend’s suite, this guest refuses to—”
Rose’s back stiffened.
She turned around.
A group of people had just entered through the lobby doors.
At the front was Ryan.
Samantha walked beside him.
Oliver followed behind while speaking on the phone.
Several executives in business suits accompanied them.
Rose recognized two of them immediately.
They were CEOs from major smart healthcare companies.
Apparently, they were here to discuss business as well.
And Mike’s condition must not have been too serious.
Otherwise, Samantha wouldn’t have left New York so casually.
Ryan had been looking at his phone.
At the sound of the receptionist’s voice, he raised his eyes.
His deep gaze landed on Rose.
No emotion appeared on his face.
Rose frowned slightly.
She had traveled all the way to L.A.
Only to run into this jinx again.
Samantha glanced at Rose before speaking to the receptionist. “Follow the rules. I’ve already checked in. Just have the other guest choose a different room.”
Her commanding tone brought Rose back to reality.
This ultra-luxury hotel...
Apparently belonged to the Knight family.
Samantha sounded exactly like the owner issuing instructions.
Caleb leaned casually against the front desk.
“So this is how a hotel of this caliber operates?”
He looked directly at Ryan. “Mr. Knight, don’t you think this is a little inappropriate?”
To seize a guest’s reservation simply because his girlfriend liked the room—
Wasn’t that abusing privilege?
How was that any different from letting personal feelings cloud business judgment?
Only then did Ryan put away his phone.
He strode forward and stopped in front of Rose.
A faint scent of fir and ebony drifted from him.
“She likes the pool in that suite.”
His eyes settled on Rose. “Ms. Bennett, what will it take for you to agree?”
Rose looked up at him.
Ms. Bennett.
The form of address was impeccably polite.
And impeccably distant.
