The west hall glowed beneath the chandeliers, every crystal reflection dancing across the gold-trimmed walls. Laughter mingled with the faint notes of piano music, the scent of wine, and the quiet hum of power.
Long tables stretched across the room, draped in ivory linen and candlelight.
Mr. Alex and his wife, Mrs. Emma Alex, were already seated when Dante and I entered. Everyone from both teams had arrived — except Sky. I silently hoped he wouldn't come.
A young woman from the MS team smiled playfully at Mr. Alex.
"Sir, how long have you been married? And how did you two meet?"
Mr. Alex chuckled. "Almost forty years ago."
Mrs. Emma raised an eyebrow. "Forty-two."
He laughed softly. "Ah, I was just testing you, honey."
The room filled with laughter.
Just then, the doors opened — and Sky walked in.
The air shifted immediately. His confident stride, calm poise, and faint trace of cologne struck me harder than I expected.
"What's going on? You're all laughing without me?" he asked lightly, smiling.
Our eyes met for a fleeting second. His expression was unreadable, but something flickered behind it — something restrained.
He greeted everyone politely, took a seat a few chairs away, and one of his team members leaned over.
"Sir, Mr. Alex was sharing how he met Mrs. Emma."
Mr. Alex nodded, smiling. "Yes — I was telling them how I met my wife. When I was in my last year of college, her best friend Sophia had a boyfriend. I became friends with him just to tag along whenever they all went out together."
Laughter filled the room again.
Mr. Alex smiled fondly at his wife. "But from the first day I saw her, I knew she was the one. She didn't talk much, but her presence was enough."
Sky leaned forward. "How did you know she was the one, sir?"
Mr. Alex's eyes glimmered mischievously. "Why do you ask, Mr. Sky? You already have someone, don't you?"
My heart skipped. He looked directly at me.
Sky froze for a moment, his ears slightly red. Mr. Alex laughed again. "I'm joking! You're still young. There's time."
The same woman from the MS team teased with a grin, "But sir, you got married in your twenties! Maybe our CEO just needs a little push."
The whole room laughed, but then Mr. Alex's tone softened into something deeper.
"At that time, people were simpler. Honest. You could trust someone's word. Nowadays, people wear masks — too many faces, too many lies. Finding someone genuine… that's the hard part now."
Silence lingered for a moment before he chuckled again.
"But who knows — maybe one of you still has a chance."
The teasing employee raised her hands quickly. "No thanks, sir! I'm glad to stay single. Our CEO barely takes one month for himself — I don't want to be part of that month."
Everyone burst into laughter again. Sky tilted his head with a faint smile. "Is that so? Then be ready with your resume tomorrow — and good luck with your next job."
The entire room went silent for two seconds — then laughter roared louder. The tension melted back into amusement.
Mr. Alex eventually stood up, smiling. "Alright, I think that's enough fun for tonight. Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone. If you need anything, my assistant will help. Tomorrow's meeting will start later — around eleven. I don't want to be unfair to our guests."
Everyone cheered softly and thanked him as he and Mrs. Emma left.
Dante turned to me. "Let's call it a night."
I nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave.
The Next Morning
By the time we reached the conference room, the MS team was already there — laptops open, papers neatly arranged. Everything about them was perfectly timed.
The meeting began. One of Sky's employees started presenting their redesign plan: changing nearly every detail of The Grand Liora Hotel — new pools, gaming zones, even replacing the restaurant with a bar.
Sky sat silently for most of it, arms crossed, eyes sharp and unreadable.
When the presentation ended, Mr. Alex spoke first, his voice calm but weighted.
"I appreciate your creativity," he began. "But The Grand Liora Hotel isn't just a business. It's the first legacy my family ever built. My father named it Liora — the light of our lives. That name carries our story, our struggles, our faith. It will never be changed."
Sky leaned forward slightly, his tone even. "Of course, sir. The name is a symbol — but symbols can evolve. My intention isn't to erase your history. I want to strengthen how people see it."
Mr. Alex nodded slowly. "I understand. And I'll admit — I liked some of your details. The design flow, the experience model — they show vision. That's why we're still considering your company."
He looked between Sky and me. "My wife and I will review both proposals tonight. The final decision will be mutual — a partnership choice between us. We want to be sure who truly understands what Liora stands for: its heart, its light, its story."
Then he smiled warmly. "Until then, enjoy your stay. Tomorrow, we'll announce our decision — which company will guide Liora's new chapter."
Everyone began standing and shaking hands, the mood formal yet cordial.
Sky looked into my eyes as if he were searching for something — his gaze soft yet intense, like he was trying to read every detail of my face, trying to remember what once was.
Then, he smiled faintly. "It's always a pleasure to meet you. Take care, Miss Isabella."
He turned toward Mr. Alex. "Sir, I'll have to return to my company tomorrow morning. You know it's still new, and I need to be there. My team will remain here, of course. I hope you understand."
Mr. Alex nodded. "Of course, Mr. Sky. I appreciate your commitment."
Sky glanced at me one last time, offering a polite nod — a silent goodbye — before leaving the room.
I sat there, frozen, until he disappeared beyond the door.
Dante tapped my shoulder gently. "Isa, we have some time before dinner. Let's go shopping for a bit, clear our heads."
I nodded, though my thoughts were far away — still tangled in Sky's expression, his voice, his distance.
Should I talk to him… or just let it be like this?