CHAPTER 96

Kyle King

‘Go ahead and get all your evidence, but trust me, you will lose the battle.’ Tessa’s words repeated themselves in my head as I walked into Rpbert’s hotel. Throughout the week, I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation and, most especially, how she spoke to me. I also noticed that she was avoided throughout the meetings with her dad and her mom. Even when I addressed her, she barely answered me. I guess I was still the unforgiven ex-husband. 

I strolled into the working space and joined my team. Xavier was supervising some of the team members, and I could read his cold expression. My team members were giving him a hard time. I contemplated joining him, but no, it would be better to let him be. This wasn’t his first time dealing with it anyway. 

I checked up on the progress of the installations and realized the team had made a mistake again. I called the people in charge and made them redo the wiring again. I checked the new tablets that Xavier ordered before giving them to the team to change. I emphasized the essence of ensuring that they did an almost perfect job. Even though Mr. Robert was still pissed that I was the owner of the company and had tricked them to get closer to Tessa, I still had to make a statement with my technology.

By noon, we were done with the second phase of the project. The hotel had three restaurants, and so far, we have done just one restaurant fully. I still wonder why they didn’t delay the grand opening of the hotel. We weren’t done yet, but the Roberts wanted to make a statement before other hotels grabbed their ideas and potential clients. It was a smart move, but they had just one restaurant ready, and looking at the crowd I saw at the reception, they were going to have a hard time taking care of their guests.

It was none of my business, though. I just had to complete the second restaurant, which was the main one since it was on the ground floor, focus on the third one, complete it, and get the Roberts off my back.

I walked into our small kitchen or dining room and joined the team in eating the sandwiches the hotel kitchen staff had prepared for us. They were the best, and the sandwiches made sense. I was adding more to my plate when Mr. Robert walked in. impressive figure with a well-shouldered body and an impressive gait for someone his age. I was always wowed by his stature. He made old age look interesting, and his brown ponytail gave him a boyish, fine look. Tessa looked a lot like him.

‘Kyle, I thought I told you I didn’t want the black tablets! Why did you install them in the second restaurant?’

I looked up, confused. That was odd. We hadn’t started with the second restaurant yet. I told him that much. ‘I think you mean the first restaurant, and we changed everything this week. You can check them, sir.’

He growled, ‘Don’t be stupid, Kyle! I know what I saw. Either you and your team had some miscommunication or you are just playing dumb. Anyway, I am not bothered, though. You had better change those tablets and use the neutrals. Also, for the rewiring, you will be paying for the damages. I won't cover anything again.’ 

He stormed off, leaving me confused and angry. The team members avoided my gaze as I stared hard at them. They knew something.

‘Start talking, everyone. What did you guys do while I wasn’t on site last week?’

They swallowed, dropping their sandwiches but not saying anything.

I banged my fist on the table. ‘I won’t repeat myself after this. What the heck did you guys do?’

One of the team members, a lean young man, replied, ‘Xavier told us to do the second restaurant because Mr. Robert complained only about the first one. We were just following orders, sir.’

I bit my lips. ‘Why didn’t you guys give me a call before going ahead? I am your boss, not Xavier. He’s just the project manager, fools! Who’s going to pay for the damages now?’

The lean young man replied, admiring my eyes, ‘We were told not to disturb you, and we did ask Miss. Tessa asked if her father was okay, and she gave it a go-ahead.’

I laughed drily. Of course. I should have suspected the team wouldn’t have gone ahead with the plan if someone within the family hadn’t given them permission to do so. It just had to be Tessa. She was there when I had the meeting with her father and promised to change the tablets to neutral colours. She was definitely bent on making me suffer for the sins of my past. 

Right now, I had to make sure the situation was contained before Mr. Robert did something bad. I couldn’t underestimate the man, not now. I had learned a lot about the family after the Roberts project, and getting into their bad book wasn’t something I wanted. 

I sent a text to Xavier to get to the second restaurant immediately while I took the elevator to the ground floor. It was funny how I didn’t notice the changes all week until now. I wondered what Xavier was thinking when he decided to take this decision without consulting me. They were done with all the tables. The expensive cushion tables Mr. Robert had customized it for him. I would have to reorder anyone who got damaged while we changed the tablets. 

Xavier showed up after I was done creating a list of what we needed to change and the cost estimation. 

‘I am sorry about this, man. Tessa gave us the go-ahead and I didn’t feel the need to consult you. Besides, that week was the King's quarterly meeting, and you were occupied with it.’

I sighed, ‘And you didn’t bother to tell me today? We talked about the plans a few hours ago, and you nodded all through, not knowing I was making a fool of myself.’ 

He replied with concern written on his face. ‘I will take care of the damages, okay? I am sorry, man.’ 

I looked at my best friend for years and walked away. I wasn’t in the mood to exchange words with him today.