He Owns the Hotel You Just Laughed At

The first day of college, and it was my turn to stand at the front and introduce myself.

"Hi, everyone. My name is Eugene Summers, and I—"

Before I could finish, laughter broke out across the room.

"Did you hear that? He said his name's Eugene. I can't breathe."

"Ha, never thought I'd live to see a real Eugene in the flesh. College really does broaden the mind."

I hadn't done a single thing. Just my name, and already the looks aimed at me were pure contempt.

"Oh my God, so this is what a Eugene looks like in real life? Look at that face on him. Makes me sick."

"Boys, since this Eugene's so eager to show off, let's give him a hand."

During a break in the orientation meeting, a few guys drifted over and closed in around me.

"Eugene, right? Look, we're all in the same class now. People coming together from all over, that's fate, you know?"

"Here's an idea. Since you're clearly such a big shot, why don't you step up today and treat the whole class to a meal? Guy named Eugene like you, you can't be short on cash, right?"

I nodded, unbothered.

"How about the Grand Harbor Hotel? Six stars, decent food, plenty of room in the private suites."

"As it happens, that hotel's in my name. If nobody objects, I'll have the general manager set aside the largest suite for us."

1

The words were barely out of my mouth before the whole room erupted.

The loudest of all were Cole Butler and his little crew.

"Ha, did you hear him? He said the Grand Harbor Hotel is in his name. I'm going to die laughing."

"So Eugene really is just like they say online. He'll say anything to get attention."

"Everybody knows the Grand Harbor is the only six-star hotel in the whole city, and he's claiming it's his. Not afraid the wind'll knock his tongue loose, huh."

The other students hid their mouths and snickered too.

"A second ago I thought Cole and his friends were being harsh. Turns out they were the smart ones. Saw right through this Eugene Summers's act."

"This is too much. Playing rich kid is one thing, but claiming the Grand Harbor is his? I'm about to die."

"Stop, stop, he's looking over here."

Seeing the whole class swing behind him, Cole looked even more pleased with himself.

"Tell you what. We're all classmates, meeting like this is its own kind of luck, so just apologize to everyone. Say you were showing off. It's normal for a guy to want to look big, we all get it."

"But if you keep running your mouth, and we actually walk into the Grand Harbor after this meeting, that's when you'll really make a fool of yourself."

"Don't say I never gave you a chance. This is me handing you a way out. I'm doing you a favor."

I gave Cole a cold, sideways glance.

"But the Grand Harbor Hotel really is in my name."

"First day of school. Treating everyone to a meal is fine. It's nothing to me."

The instant I said it, Cole's grin froze on his face, then slowly went cold.

"So you don't want the way out. You just have to keep up the act, don't you?"

"Everybody, we're going to the Grand Harbor right after class. Since Eugene wants to treat us, let's not turn down his kind offer!"

A few of the girls had had enough and stood up.

"That's enough, Cole. It's the first day. We're all classmates here, stop pushing him."

"Sit down. The academic advisor will be back any minute."

Cole turned his head toward the girls.

"What's your problem? Don't tell me you're taking his side because he's got a decent face?"

"Or do you actually believe he's some rich kid? Give me a break. Look how spineless he is. He's a real Eugene, every inch of it, just like the name."

"And do none of your dorms own a mirror? Even if he were a rich kid, you think he'd look twice at any of you?"

Cole's words kept getting uglier, and the girls' faces flushed red with anger.

I couldn't stand it. I stood up.

I had a good four inches on Cole, and the second I rose, his whole presence shrank a size.

"Whatever's between us stays between us. Leave the others out of it."

"You call yourself a man, talking to girls like that? Aren't you ashamed?"

Feeling the ground shift out from under him, Cole bristled.

"Fine, fine. Still talking tough, are you?"

"Then we'll see. Since you want to keep up this act, I'll eat you out of house and home today!"

I was about to answer when the academic advisor walked into the room.

"What's all this racket? Get back to your seats, now."

"The meeting isn't over yet."