Ben stood in the doorway, flanked by three men in tailored suits. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me—on my wine-stained dress.
The gentle man I knew was gone. In his place was someone powerful. Commanding. Unshakable.
He marched toward me.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, his voice calm—but his jaw was clenched. “Who did this to you?”
Lisa stepped forward too quickly. “Ben, don’t overreact. We were just having fun—”
“Fun?” Ben’s voice was deadly quiet. “You humiliated my wife.”
“She doesn’t fit in,” Lisa hissed.
“She doesn’t need to,” he replied, eyes flashing. “Because none of this belongs to you.”
He turned and nodded to the man behind him, who opened a briefcase and handed Ben a set of documents.
Ben held them high. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “I’d like to introduce myself properly. I’m Benjamin Carter, CEO of Meridian Hospitality Group.”
A gasp swept the room.
“This hotel,” he continued, “and 43 others around the country, are mine.”
