Cassian Black walked through the revolving doors of the Black Grand Hotel, his branch on Catalina Island.
The lobby was quiet and not as busy as usual because it was off-season, with mostly locals littering the lobby and a few tourists.
The doorman instantly recognized him and straightened up offering his greeting at which cassian simply nodded.
He was three steps in when his personal butler appeared by his side.
“Mr. Black, welcome back, sir. I hope you had a great flight.”
Cassian handed him his briefcase without even looking at the man.
All his luggage was handled by the bellboy, being transported straight to the presidential suite.
“The presidential suite is all ready for you. Your clothes will be pressed and arranged; we’ve already stocked the bar with your usual preferences. If there’s anything else—”
“It’s fine,” Cassian cut him off, blinking back the dull throb around his temples, he had a long flight and he had been awake all through it.
He pulled out his phone and texted Jaxon; “Landed at the hotel”, before he pocketed the device and kept walking towards his private elevator.
He didn’t need to check in because he already had a master card which unlocked every presidential suite across his hotel chain.
It was a little feature exclusive only to him.
The butler was glued to his side, still talking.
“I’ve also prepared the fresh flowers, and I have drafted your menu for the weekend if you would like to approve it before I send it to the chef. And also, I would like to know when you are free for the spa appointment.”
“Enough, Peter,” Cassian said.
“We’ll talk later.”
The butler nodded, crossing his hands firmly in front of him.
Cassian finally reached the elevator and pressed the button, waiting for the sleek metal doors to slide open.
Just then, an older woman rounded the corner, clutching a small carry-on and walking faster than she should have been.
She nearly collided with him, catching herself just before she bumped into his side.
She looked up, her eyes going slightly wide.
“Oh, I didn’t see you there. I’m so sorry.”
Her voice was warm and apologetic, and Cassian froze when she spoke.
Something about her voice felt familiar.
He would have sworn he knew her, if only he had never seen this face before.
“It’s fine,” he found himself saying before he stepped back to give her enough room to pass by.
She smiled at him, a kind and genuine one that reached her eyes.
Before she turned and moved toward the elevator, Peter was quick to step forward, blocking her path.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, ma’am, but this elevator is reserved for exclusive use only.”
“She can use it,” Cassian pointed out.
Peter blinked at him, wondering if it was truly him who spoke.
“Move. You can take the standard elevator,” Cassian said.
Peter nodded quickly, catching himself.
“Of course, I apologise,” he said to the woman before he turned and quickly disappeared down the hall.
The woman turned to Cassian, her eyes wide in surprise.
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Please, after you,” Cassian said, gesturing for her to enter the elevator.
She hesitated for a second before she obliged, and Cassian followed behind her, pressing the button for the presidential suite.
“Which floor?” he asked.
“The fifth, please,” she said.
“atleast that’s what it says on this key card. You see, my granddaughter booked the room, and I am terrible at following directions.”
Cassian pressed the button for the fifth floor, and the doors slid closed.
The elevator trickled by slowly.
At the same time, the number on the display was going up.
“Are you here with family?” the woman asked, breaking the silence.
He usually wouldn’t respond, but for some reason, he couldn’t ignore the woman.
She nodded at him, not pushing for more.
“Well, I’m here because of my granddaughter,” she started.
“She’s a very stubborn girl, that one. She sent me on this trip, saying it was doctor’s orders and whatnot.”
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
“I think that she lied. But I came anyway. Maybe she would worry less this way.”
Cassian felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Sounds like she cares about you a lot.”
“She does. It’s too much at times,” the woman said.
“What about you? What brings you to Catalina?”
He paused at her question because he usually didn’t answer personal questions.
But the familiar air about her made him want to answer.
“It’s my mother. This was her favorite place.”
The woman’s expression instantly softened.
“She must have good taste then, because the ocean here is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Cassian nodded, not saying more.
The woman suddenly straightened, her eyes going wide like she just realized something.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I need to call my granddaughter to let her know that I arrived.”
She tried to reach for her phone, but her hand was full with the heavy carry-on.
She pinned it under her chin and pulled out her phone from her jacket.
“Um, my glasses are in my purse,” she said as she held out her phone to him.
“Could you dial for me, please? I can’t see the screen without them. It’ll take me long before I find them inside the clutter of my bag.”
Cassian stared at it for a second before he took it.
“What’s the contact name?”
“My stubborn Rory,” she said.
With an awkward smile, he typed the name in, not thinking about it twice.
He dialed it and put it on speaker so she could hear.
The line rang twice before it went through.
“Maggie, are you okay? Have you landed?”
The voice that came through made Cassian’s breath catch in his throat.
He knew that voice.
He knew it from the car showroom when it snapped back at him.
He knew it from the balcony when it told him to freeze his balls off.
And he knew it from Black Corp when it rained insults on him.
Aurora Bennett.
The older woman’s face lit up when she heard her granddaughter’s voice.
“I’m fine, Rory. I’m already at the hotel, and it’s beautiful. And I’ve also met a nice young man who’s helping me with my phone.”
“What young man?” Aurora asked, her voice instantly going wary.
“Maggie, you shouldn’t trust strangers so easily. Please get away from him.”
Grandma Maggie winced at Aurora’s words before she shot Cassian an apologetic smile.
“You’re on speaker, Rory,” She grimaced.
“Shit,” Aurora said.
It was meant to be under her breath, but Cassian heard it clearly.
“Hello,” Aurora said, her voice timid like she didn’t want to speak.
Grandma Maggie nodded at him, encouraging him to respond.
Cassian paused for a second.
He felt nervous all of a sudden.
The realization that he is with Aurora’s grandmother hit him right then.
“Hello, you must be Rory,” he said, his voice steady, but it had an undercurrent of something else, something only Aurora could recognize.
“Your grandmother is a lovely woman,” he said as he smiled at Grandma Maggie, who returned it.
“I will make sure to take care of her. no worries.”
His words were left for Aurora to interpret however she deemed right.
And though it was a threat to her ears, it sounded sweet and kind to Grandma Maggie.
There was a beat of silence again before Aurora sucked in a sharp breath, and the line went dead.
Grandma Maggie looked at the phone.
“She hung up.” Her brows scrunched up.
“That’s unlike her. I promise, she’s not usually this rude.”
“Maybe a bit stubborn,” Cassian shrugged, a faint smile on his lips as he handed Grandma Maggie back her phone.
“How did you know?” Grandma Maggie laughed.
“Oh, the contact name?”
He nodded, and they both laughed.
She studied him for a long moment, her eyes warm and curious.
“You know, she’s really a wonderful girl. Hardworking and loyal. And even though she’s been through some rough times, she never gives up or complains. She always takes care of everyone—me and her brother. never asking for anything for herself.”
Cassian just listened to her, not interrupting even once.
The image he had painted of Aurora being a manipulative, gold digger was slowly fading away.
“What else?” he asked, wanting to hear more.
Grandma Maggie’s smile widened at his question.
“Well, she’s smart—too smart for her own good. She always thinks she can solve everything by herself, and she’s a terrible listener,” she paused for a second.
“And she’s beautiful, too.”
She gave him a knowing look.
“Don’t mind me, but are you single?”
Cassian’s smile widened, and before he could answer, the elevator chimed, finally arriving at the fifth floor.
Grandma Maggie glanced at the open doors, then back at him.
“Oh, I’ve been talking for way too long. I’m so sorry. What about you? What did you say your mother’s name was? I would love to meet her if she’s here.”
Cassian’s smile slowly dropped, and he looked at her for a long moment before he spoke.
“You can’t meet her. She’s dead. I’m here for her death anniversary.”
Grandma Maggie’s expression shifted from shock to sadness, and then pity.
Cassian hated pity, but he didn’t feel the need to shield himself away from this woman’s gaze.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Cassian just nodded without speaking a word.
She stepped out of the elevator before turning back to him.
“Well, thank you for helping me and for the elevator. I truly hope that you find the peace you’re looking for here.”
Cassian only smiled at her before she turned and walked down the hall.
He leaned back against the elevator wall just as the doors closed, releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Aurora Bennett’s grandmother was staying in his hotel.
The universe really had a sick sense of humor.