The president of the Royal Falcon Hotel Group, Ricardo Patterson, had just returned from his overseas trip when he narrowly avoided being hit by a crystal chandelier that suddenly plummeted in the hotel lobby. Thanks to Parker Franklin, the deputy manager, Ricardo sidestepped the disaster. "If you can get to the bottom of what happened with the chandelier, maybe I'll play matchmaker for you," Ricardo said with a playful grin, his gaze fixed on Parker.
"Deal! That's a promise!" Parker exclaimed enthusiastically, slapping his hand on the ornate desk in front of him. "For Suzy's sake, I'll get to the bottom of this chandelier mystery, even if it means skipping meals and sleep!"
Seeing Parker's determination, Ricardo sighed lightly and said, "If you showed this much enthusiasm in your regular duties, it'd save me a lot of headaches."
Parker chuckled, "You know I perform best when I'm free. The more pressure there is, the less productive I become."
"Well, there's no pressure this time, but if you don't start investigating soon, I might reconsider what I said," Ricardo teased, his tone icy yet amused.
Parker quickly saluted and said, "Yes, boss! I'm on it, finding out why that chandelier fell. Expect my report soon!" With that, Parker dashed out of Ricardo's office.
Watching Parker's hurried departure, Ricardo shook his head slightly, realizing the influence Suzy had over Parker. He made a mental note to leverage this motivation in the future.
As Ricardo pondered ways to boost Parker's work ethic, a beeping sound filled the office from the plasma screen on the wall. He furrowed his well-groomed brows slightly before picking up the remote to turn on the screen.
An elegantly dressed middle-aged woman appeared, her expression tense and worried. "Ricardo, are you okay? I heard about the incident right after you got back—it scared me half to death!" she said, her kind eyes filled with concern as they locked onto Ricardo.
With a reassuring smile, Ricardo said, "Mom, don't worry about it. It's nothing serious, just a chandelier falling. I'm perfectly fine."
The woman on the screen was Lilah Patterson, Ricardo's mother and widow of the former president, Reginald Patterson. Sadly, Reginald had passed away due to health issues, leaving Ricardo as her only child. Lilah poured all her love and concern into Ricardo, constantly worrying about his safety.
"A falling chandelier is no small issue! It happened the moment you returned to headquarters—there must be some sinister plot afoot!" Lilah declared with anxiety. "Ricardo, please, just stay away from headquarters for a while, alright?"
Ricardo rose from his swivel chair and stepped closer to the screen. "Mom, I'm fine, as you can see. No harm was done," he reassured her with a smile.
"My dear son, waiting until something happens is too late," Lilah lamented. "There are people lurking in the shadows. You might dodge one incident, but you can't hide forever. Please, take some time off at home, okay?"
Ricardo maintained his smile, "Mom, you know I face challenges head-on. Retreating over a fallen chandelier would be out of character, and it'd become fodder for gossip among the staff."
"I couldn't care less about gossip! To me, these businesses are nothing compared to your safety. I only want you safe and sound, that's all," Lilah insisted emotionally. "You're my only child—what would I do if anything happened to you?" She quickly wiped away her tears with a tissue.
Ricardo felt the warmth of her care. "Mom, I've been through a lot and I'm still standing, right? This time won't be any different. I'll find out who's behind it and won't rest until I do."
Seeing his steadfastness, Lilah knew there was no changing his mind. She sighed, as she'd expected this. "Ricardo, since that's the case, I won't push further. But there's one thing you must agree to."
Aware that his mother's plans often led to awkward situations, Ricardo listened patiently. "Okay, Mom. What's your proposal?"
Wiping her tears, Lilah said, "I've arranged for a bodyguard to watch over you full-time."
Here we go again, Ricardo thought. He'd lost track of how many inept bodyguards she'd hired over the years. However, this time he chose not to dismiss her idea, having turned down her concerns too often before.
"Alright, I agree. But tell me more about this bodyguard so I can be prepared to work together," Ricardo replied warmly.
Surprised at his immediate acceptance, Lilah asked, "You really mean it, Ricardo?"
Ricardo nodded, "Absolutely, Mom. You're just looking out for me. Why would I object?"
Overjoyed by his agreement, Lilah's eyes filled again with tears, which she wiped away quickly. "So, about this bodyguard—tell me, who are they?" Ricardo prompted, keen to keep the conversation moving.
Lilah responded calmly, "This bodyguard is quite remarkable—a legendary figure and someone you've always admired."
Ricardo's eyes narrowed with interest. "You can't mean... Adan Bradley?"
"Yes, exactly!" Lilah confirmed with excitement.
The mention of Adan's name sparked excitement in Ricardo. As a child, he'd been captivated by martial arts, especially the combat skills of Adan Bradley, known for taking down notorious hitmen. Adan had retired after a mishap on a case and disappeared from the public eye.
"How do you know Adan Bradley, Mom? You've never mentioned him before!" Ricardo asked, his curiosity growing.
"Twenty years ago, your father and I found him unconscious on a raft during a yacht trip. We saved him, and he promised to help us if we ever needed it," Lilah explained. "I hesitated to trouble him, but you are too important to me."
Ricardo was moved by her words, realizing the extraordinary connection to his childhood hero. "When is he arriving? I can't wait to meet him!"
Lilah, relieved by his enthusiasm, replied, "We've arranged for him to come today. Make sure the staff treats him with the utmost respect."
"I will, Mom. I'll handle it," Ricardo assured her, his anticipation growing for Adan Bradley's arrival.
