BONUS Chapter 5/6
In Sumeri and Nikolai's house.
Sumeri and Nikolai were having dinner at their table while the latter couldn't stop talking about his adventure with Ren and the others.
"This Boss is like a huge pinball of blazing magma, and it was so fast that no one could follow its movement! . . . Except me, of course. You should have seen me, sister! I saved everyone from the Boss and its minions!"
Sumeri chuckled. "Don't talk while your mouth is full. Eat your food first."
Nikolai didn't hear anything as he continued, "I have saved so many of sister Silvia's group that I became a hero, and they even rewarded me with the [Fiery Cape]. And also, this Mister is so cool! He is so awesome and amazing and . . ."
Nikolai couldn't organize his thoughts from the sheer excitement, and he spouted whatever came to mind.
However, Sumeri wasn't listening. Her mind was hung up at Robert's betrayal, and Silvia would surely call her . . . . right about now.
RiiinNgG!
And right on cue, Silvia's name appeared on her phone, and she immediately excused herself and went into the living room.
"Silvia–"
"Sumeri, the hell did you recommend that asshole Robert to us knowing that bastard's character?! Are you trying to sabotage our guild, huh?! Are you jealous because you won't enter COVENANT?"
Sumeri released a sigh, and she let Silvia rant on and on, so the latter could free all her pent-up frustration.
When the coast was clear, Sumeri took a deep breath and said her side. "I'm sorry. Okay?" she cooed.
"I didn't know that Robert would do that. I was pressed with few options at that time, and Robert happened to reach out to me when I posted that you needed a tank. Who would thought that Trixie would get together with him just to get to you?"
"I know. But you didn't tell me about his asshole character. A heads up should have been nice."
"Honestly, I don't know Robert that much except that he's always on Scar's tail."
"Oh yeah, that ex of yours is also in the same raid with us. Can you believe it?" Silvia chuckled. "Have you heard the news how we defeated Black Lion, with him even leading his group?"
"Yes." Sumeri knew about it, which was why she was in a good mood. "It's all over the forums."
"Aha! So you are still checking the game. I know it. You still wanted to play, don't you?"
Sumeri released an audible sigh. "Silvia, even if I want to, I can't. The company is being taken over in a hostile manner that I don't even have time to sleep."
". . ." Silvia was quiet before she said in a solemn voice, "I'm sorry I can't do anything. The best I could do was begged my father not to join in taking over your company."
"It's fine." Sumeri sadly smiled. "It's already a miracle that Mr. Rutherford back down. That father of yours is a doting father but a ruthless businessman."
Their company mainly dealt with hotels, The Richers Hotel. They have numerous hotels across the zones, and Sumeri was supposed to be an heiress of this chain of hotels until Nikolai was right of age.
However, due to the sudden death of their parents, the other shareholders took it as an opportunity to take over, wanting to sell the chain of hotels to the highest bidder.
Sumeri was doing everything she could not to let that happen, even though she was losing the battle. Their company was constructing numerous hotels all over the world and acquired billions of loans in the bank. With her parents' death, those constructions halted while their stock value plummeted.
And now faced with a huge debt, and a down curved stock price, the board wanted an easy way out by selling the hotels to either Mr. Rutherford, Silvia's Father, or Mr. Axis.
Thanks to Silvia, Mr. Rutherford back down while Mr. Axis wasn't interested.
Sumeri could breathe easy knowing that there were no bidders. At least she could still think of a way to convince the board not to sell the hotels while finishing the other hotel constructions.
It was not like the hotel was doing badly. They still generated a good amount of income. It was only those old bones who wanted to make more profit out of it.
If only their stock didn't continue to plummet, and maybe she wouldn't have a hard time now.
Sumeri needed a backer. Maybe a partnership with another hotel? To make all investors at ease and invest again.
First things first, she had got to stop the plummeting of their stocks, and everything would follow from there.
"Hello? Sumeri? Still there?"
"Y-yeah . . . what are we talking about?"
"I said . . . why not just give up and sell the hotels?" Silvia said bluntly. "The sum you would get is more than enough for you and Nikolai to live in comfort for the rest of your life. Plus, you wouldn't be faced with so many problems left and right. Though you have to mind your spending . . . No more Gucci bags for you. But it'll work out.
"And without worrying about anything, you can now enter the game and earn there. Don't worry. I'll pay you a hefty monthly salary if you join our guild. And if ever you find yourself without a home, I have plenty of houses you can chose from," Silvia joked, but Sumeri wasn't laughing.
She knew Silvia meant no harm, but Sumeri couldn't laugh at her joke.
If Sumeri could get away, she would. Who wanted to be stressed out day in and day out that she couldn't even properly eat, thinking all day about the hotels.
More often than not, she also wanted to give up and just set herself free.
However, The Richers Hotel was the only thing left of their parents. It's their legacy, and Sumeri couldn't just let that go without a fight.
Silvia wouldn't know since she was born filthy rich.
The Richers Hotels were just average hotels that catered mostly for the middle class and couldn't contend with the big guns of the Hotel industry.
If the Rutherford's lost a hotel company, it wasn't a big deal. They have other businesses that could make up for that loss.
However, The Richers Hotel was all she had left of her parents.
"I can't give that up, and you know that," said Sumeri with a sad smile on her face.
"I know. I'm just joking," replied Silvia when she sensed the fluctuation in Sumeri's tone.
"Anyway, I have to meet up with the girls in my penthouse and have a bath party there to celebrate us getting firstblood. Wanna' join us?"
"I'll have to take a rain check. I have enough of Nikolai spouting all about your raid since the moment he went down the stairs from his room. I'm not going there and hear the same thing all over again."
Silvia laughed. "Suit yourself. Bye."
Sumeri ended the call and took a deep breath.
She then took a peek at the falling stocks of their hotel on her phone and covered her mouth with a hand to swallow her cries.
She felt so lost and alone, and she badly missed her parents. She really wanted to give up. She really did.
But she couldn't.
Nikolai's image appeared in Sumeri's head, and she took another deep breath to calm herself.
Wiping off the tears in her eyes, she put a bright smile on her face and went to Nikolai.
