Page 7 of Cutthroat

She was irritated, but instead of showing her frustration, she stood, closed her Accounting Systems textbook, and smiled. Her smile didn’t waiver even though she could see that the woman that stood before her was not in a pleasant mood.

“Hello Ma’am. Welcome to the-”

“I’m going to make this easy for you Richelle,” Eden interrupted as she read the clerk’s name tag. “Jermaine Shelton and Envy Merci. What room did they check into?”

Richelle was caught off guard by the woman’s straightforwardness. She could tell that she wasn’t one to ask the same question twice, but she didn’t want to get fired for giving out private information. She needed this job.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry. I can’t give out customer information. It’s against our policy.” Richelle said as she backed away from the desk.

Eden glanced down and saw the textbook. She smiled a little because it wasn’t too long ago that she was behind a hotel desk, studying from the same book. She decided to take a different approach and take some of the hostility out of her voice because Richelle wasn’t the person that had done her wrong.

“Richelle, let me apologize for my demeanor. You didn’t do anything to deserve that. That’s a gorgeous pendant of you and your sister,” Eden complimented.

“My daughter,” Richelle said as she absent-mindedly grabbed the custom-made pendant that cost her two paychecks.

Eden smirked inwardly because she knew the girl had know idea that she gave her the information that she needed.

“Richelle, my name is Eden Shelton. I’m the Investment Banker for Rashid Zayed International Banque,” Eden said as she handed the young attendant her onyx business card.

Richelle was stunned.

“Mrs. Shelton, I’m-”

Eden interrupted because she wasn’t interested in what she had to say.

“Richelle, when I was around your age, I sat behind a hotel desk reading that same book. Studying for the same test that you’re probably about to take. Back then I brought home $328 biweekly. That’s $164 a week. Not even $700 a month, not even enough to be considered pocket change.” Eden stated.

Richelle looked away because she was only making $100 more biweekly.

“By the way you diverted your eyes, I can tell that you aren’t making much more than I was nearly eighteen years ago,” Eden said factually.

“I’m not trying to get in your business, but when I was sitting behind a desk, studying for classes I prayed for a financial blessing every day. Maybe I can be that blessing to you. Jermaine Shelton and Envy Merci. What room are they in?” Eden asked as she opened her Chloe Bag and slid ten brand-new hundred-dollar bills over to the desk clerk.

Richelle’s eyes bulged. She had never seen $1,000 at once. She could smell the newness of the bills, and it was the most intoxicating thing that she had ever smelled.

“Mrs. Shelton. I’m sorry. But I can’t. Even though this job only pays me pocket change as you call it. I have my own responsibilities. I need my job,”

Eden pulled out another stack.

“Mrs. Shelton, I-”

“Richelle, I’m a mom. I know how beneficial two thousand tax free dollars can be. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. You can take the money and give us the room key. Or my sister can put themoney back in her purse and I’ll knock you out and look the registry up myself. How would you like to handle this matter?” Eve asked as she slid the new bills in Richelle’s direction.

Based on the names alone, Richelle was able to put two and two together and understand exactly what was going on. It wasn’t her place to get involved in familial disputes. She didn’t get paid enough for that. Nodding her head she said,

“Envy Merci. Room 305. It’s across from the elevator,” Richelle said as she slid the room key to Eden as she pulled the money backwards.

“Thank you,”

Eden’s hands shook and her eyes twitched when she pushed the number three button to go to the third floor. The feelings that were taking over her body were new.

“You already know that what you’re about to see is fucked up. There’s no coming back from watching your husband having sex with someone else. Our sister, our enemy. Do you think you can handle seeing that?” Eve asked as the elevator chimed and stopped on the third floor.

“No, I won’t be able to handle it. But I need to see it anyway. It’ll justify everything that’s going tocome,” Eden said as she stepped off the elevator and stepped directly in front of room 305.

Loud theatrical screaming and pounding could be heard as soon as the elevator door opened.

“It’s go-time lil’ sis,” Eve said as her nostrils flared.

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