Chapter 10: The Mysterious Manager
Startled by the knock, David rushed to the door, opening it to reveal a tall man on the other side. The man looked imposingly strong, his presence filling up the doorway. He appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties and had an indefinable air of authority. His suit was impeccably tailored, and his tie perfectly knotted. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and a pair of glasses perched on his nose gave him an intellectual look. A small badge on his suit identified him as the hotel manager.
“Good afternoon, sir,” the man greeted in a deep and resonant voice. “I’m Mr. Atlas, the hotel manager here at the Rising Phoenix Hotel. I hope the room is to your liking?”
David was surprised by the man’s sudden appearance. He hadn’t expected to meet the hotel manager, especially not in these circumstances.
“Y-yes, the room is more than I could have asked for,” David stammered.
Mr. Atlas nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
“I’m glad to hear that. If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to let me know. We want to ensure you have a comfortable stay here.”
His words were kind, and his demeanor professional, yet David couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. His gaze had a certain intensity, an underlying strength that seemed out of place for a hotel manager.
At the same time, there was an odd familiarity about him. David felt as if he had met or known him in the past, but couldn’t recall how they would have met. Who was he really? And why was he here? Despite the questions swirling in his mind, David simply nodded, thanking Mr. Atlas for his kindness.
“Also, we will be providing complimentary meals delivered to your door, so you don’t have to worry about walking down to the restaurant,” Mr. Atlas added with a reassuring tone.
David was taken aback by the offer. He hadn’t even thought about his meals, and the offer was more than he could have imagined.
Before David could respond, Mr. Atlas reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek phone.
“And this,” he said, handing the phone to David, “is for you to use at your own discretion. It’s a new, unlocked smartphone with a prepaid unlimited plan.”
David was speechless. The smartphone was an unexpected gift, a luxury he had never thought he would have. Compared to the old and battered phone Shiela had given to him, this smartphone was nearly half the size and had a beautiful, polished glass screen instead of the worn out rubber buttons he was accustomed to.
He held the sleek device in his palm, the glass reflecting the hallway’s light in mesmerizing patterns. As his thumb grazed the surface, the display illuminated with vibrant colors which seemed to dance with life.
“Sir-Mr. Atlas, I can’t accept such a gift. This suite, the food, the phone…I don’t even know when I would be able to repay you-”
Mr. Atlas interrupted David with a raised hand.
“Young man, consider these gifts from the hotel an investment in the future of this city.”
Before David could protest, Mr. Atlas continued on.
“You can repay us by staying focused on your goals. Don’t let distractions throw you off course, and always think carefully about your choices. Whatever may happen, stay firm in your decisions and stay true to yourself. If you can promise me you’ll do that, then this investment will be well worth it.”
David was overwhelmed. The generosity that was being extended to him, the sense of worth bestowed on him—it was like he was given a fresh start he didn’t deserve.
“Y-yes, I can. I will,” he finally managed to say, his voice choked with emotion. “Thank you.”
FROM THE AUTHOR
If you’re thinking “hmmmmm…this is a bit too sus…it’s too good to be true,” you are absolutely right. There’s no way that any hotel manager would offer a stranger a free hotel suite. Please don’t try running away from home thinking that you’ll be able to stay at a nearby hotel for free (I’m serious).
Anyways, I hope you’re enjoying the story so far! I know it’s a bit of a slow start, but I didn’t want to rush the whole process of David leaving “home.” The dude is only 17 years old and doesn’t have any formal education; of course he’s going to be hesitant and scared. Plus, Shiela Bringer’s house is like…miles away from the heart of the city. Based on my completely fictional mental projection of how far the Rising Phoenix Hotel is from Shiela’s house, it would have taken David nearly 8 or 9 hours just to walk to the hotel!
By the way, if you happen to prefer audiobooks, I’ve actually been posting audiochapters from this book on YouTube! Feel free to check them out there and subscribe while you’re at it (please subscribe to my channel, I need the help ty)! https://youtube.com/@tmdavidhall
- A. J. Knight
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