The lobby went silent. You could hear the hum of the air conditioning. Dani's face went from sycophantic smile to horrified mask in a split second.
The blond man adjusted his glasses. "I am Lars. Mr. Franklin's Executive Assistant."
Betsey froze. She slowly retracted the towel tray, keeping her face neutral. "Apologies, sir."
Dani stepped in immediately, her voice shrill. "She's new. Incompetent. I will handle her discipline personally."
Lars ignored Dani. His eyes scanned Betsey. He looked at her hands, her posture, her eyes. It was a professional assessment.
"Mr. Franklin values privacy," Lars said coolly. "He bypassed the lobby."
Lars checked his watch. "He should be in the suite by now."
Betsey's stomach dropped. It felt like the floor had opened up beneath her.
The intruder. The wounded man. The man she had ordered to jump out the window.
That was Celestino Franklin.
And she had bandaged him. She had spoken to him like he was a common criminal.
Lars turned to Dani. "Send the personal attendant up. He requires... assistance."
Dani glared at Betsey. Her eyes promised murder. "Go. If you messed this up, you're dead."
Betsey nodded. She backed away toward the elevators. She felt like she was walking to her execution.
She entered the elevator alone and pressed the button for the Penthouse. As the doors closed, she leaned her head against the cool metal wall.
"Stupid," she whispered. "Stupid, stupid."
She replayed the interaction in the suite. The way he had smirked. The way he had said Maybe I am the guest. He had played her. He had enjoyed it.
The elevator rose, each floor increasing the dread in her chest.
She fixed her uniform again. She buttoned the collar all the way to the top, as if the polyester could protect her from him.
She needed a strategy. Deny everything? No, he knew. Own it? Risky.
The elevator opened on the Penthouse floor.
Two massive bodyguards were now standing outside the suite doors. They crossed their arms as she approached.
"Personal attendant for Mr. Franklin," she stated firmly, though her knees felt weak.
One guard touched his earpiece. "The girl is here."
He listened for a moment, then nodded. He opened the door for her.
"He's waiting for you."
