Chapter one

Chapter 1

Elite Evening

"The guests will be arriving soon. Make sure you all put on your best faces," Miss Pat announced sternly, her sharp eyes scanning the workers.

"Yes, ma," they all echoed in unison, trying to avoid her piercing glare.

"Tia," Miss Pat’s voice cut through the murmurs, "you’ll be in charge of the Black private suite. Make sure it’s in perfect order."

Tia nodded quickly, swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn’t need reminding that the Black family was no joke. One mistake, and she’d be hearing about it for weeks.

"You can all go start your work. And don’t even think about doing anything petty, like stealing from the rich," Miss Pat warned, her voice dripping with suspicion as she dismissed them with a wave.

Tia sighed quietly and walked briskly toward the Black private suite. She didn’t want to give Miss Pat another reason to yell at her.

“Tia, wait up!” Nora, her best friend and partner in misery, jogged to catch up. “Can you believe her? Acting like we’d risk our jobs for something so dumb.”

Tia gave a weak smile. “You know how she is. Let’s just get through today.”

As Tia and Nora neared the Black private suite, the sound of clicking cameras and muffled chatter grew louder. Tia paused for a moment, her pulse quickening, before nudging the door open.

A sleek black limousine sat at the entrance, surrounded by a frenzy of paparazzi. Tia squinted, wondering what the fuss was about.

Then, the limo door opened, and a tall, striking man stepped out. His black hair was neatly styled, and his confident smirk screamed privilege.

Nora gasped, clutching Tia’s arm. “Oh my God, that’s Adam Black! I can’t believe I’m seeing him in person!”

Tia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And? What’s so great about him?”

Nora stared at her like she’d just committed a crime. “He’s Lucas Black’s son! The heir to the Black family fortune! Billionaire, basketball star, total heartbreaker... how do you not know this?”

Tia rolled her eyes, brushing off Nora’s excitement. “Great. Another spoiled rich guy.”

“Come on, Tia,” Nora whispered, practically bouncing on her heels. “I wish I could go ask him for a selfie. Imagine posting that on social media!”

Before Tia could respond, another figure stepped out of the limo—a tall, glamorous woman with flawless makeup and a designer dress that probably cost more than Tia made in a year. She walked confidently, her heels clicking as she caught up to Adam Black.

Tia smirked, crossing her arms. “Enough drooling, Nora. He’s clearly taken. Let’s get back to work.”

Nora sighed dramatically, tearing her eyes away. “You’re no fun, you know that?”

“Yeah, but at least I won’t get fired for gawking at guests,” Tia replied, already walking toward the suite.

The suite was beyond anything Tia had ever seen—lavish, almost excessive, like a scene straight out of a luxury magazine. It looked more like a mini-casino than a suite, with golden accents on every corner and a chandelier that probably cost more than her entire neighborhood.

She paused, noticing a plaque on the wall that read: The Black Suite, accredited to Adam Black, Forbes’ Youngest Billionaire.

“Hm. Impressive,” Tia muttered under her breath as she wiped the logo, the cloth in her hand catching on its polished edges.

“You see!” Nora exclaimed, leaning on the mop handle as if she’d just found her soulmate. “I told you—he’s not just handsome. He’s worth billions. Billions, Tia. God, I wish he could be mine someday.”

Tia glanced at Nora, rolling her eyes. “Right. Because billionaires are lining up to date hotel staff,” she said, her tone dry as she moved to clean another corner.

“A girl can dream,” Nora shot back, grinning.

“Then stop dreaming he could be yours. It’s not happening unless a fairy godmother suddenly appears,” Tia said, her tone laced with sarcasm as she scrubbed the edge of the marble table.

Nora burst into laughter, clutching her sides. “Lmao! So funny. You know I’m joking, right? I already have my boyfriend I’m managing.”

Tia smirked, shaking her head. “Managing, huh? Poor guy.”

Nora shrugged, a playful grin on her face. “He’s doing okay for himself. Besides, I don’t need a billionaire when I’ve got a journalist boyfriend who knows how to keep me in the loop. Front-row gossip, girl!”

Tia chuckled, knowing Nora’s boyfriend was indeed doing pretty well for himself. Despite her playful nature, Nora was loyal to the core, and her relationship always gave Tia a little hope.

They were so caught up in their chatter that neither of them noticed Adam Black standing at the suite door. He leaned casually against the frame, exuding confidence in his tall, commanding presence.

He cleared his throat lightly, but when they still didn’t notice, he knocked once—firm, but polite enough to grab their attention.

Nora’s head whipped around, and her knees gave out as if the air had been knocked out of her. She clutched Tia’s arm, struggling to steady herself. “Oh my God… oh my God… it’s him,” she whispered, barely audible.

Tia turned, her heart skipping a beat, but she forced herself to stay composed. Almost. She straightened her posture, clutching the cleaning rag tightly as though it could anchor her.

Adam smirked faintly, his sharp eyes sweeping over them. With a subtle motion, he gestured toward the door. “You’re done here. You can both go now,” he said, his voice smooth and unbothered.

Nora stumbled, barely able to move, while Tia held her head high, brushing past him without saying a word. But as they walked out, Tia couldn’t shake the sensation that his gaze lingered just a little longer on her.

“Oh my God, Tia… did you see that? He just talked to us,” Nora squealed, gripping Tia’s arm like she might faint all over again.

Tia shook her head, suppressing a laugh. “Relax, Nora. It was just a few words. No need to make it a headline.”

Nora pressed a hand to her chest, looking as though she was about to hyperventilate. “Just a few words? That’s Adam Black we’re talking about! Adam freaking Black! Do you know how many people dream of being this close to him?”

“Sure, but last I checked, dreaming doesn’t pay bills,” Tia said, giving her a pointed look. “Now, let’s get back to work before Miss Pat finds another excuse to cut our pay. You know how she is.”

Nora groaned but followed Tia down the hallway, still muttering under her breath. “He talked to us,” she repeated, more to herself this time, as if reliving the moment.

Tia smiled faintly, her thoughts elsewhere. Nora might be starstruck, but Tia knew better than to get distracted. People like Adam Black lived in a world far different from theirs, and she had no intention of getting caught up in it.

No matter how handsome he was.