Chapter 81 - Don't Dirty Your Hands

"Would you like to rename it?" She asked after thinking about it.

"I'm still thinking about that. Why do you ask? Do you have a suitable name in mind?" He threw the question back at her.

"Nope." She shook her head. She had not even thought about it.

"Do you have anything against renaming?" He asked for her opinion, even though he wasn't planning to rename it. He felt the name was perfect as it was.

"I don't." I think "Regal Hotel" is perfect." She looked up at him as though trying to read his eyes for his opinion on what she had just said.

"What a coincidence. I have the same opinion." He smiled." We compliment each other, don't you think? I only thought of replacing the employees with new ones from a different chain."

"I would not advise you to replace any of the employees, especially if you want to send the new ones over from another chain. Not only can this create an imbalance, it might cause the opposite of the desired effect since there are many changes to be put in place within the shortest time possible." She countered.

"Mmh?" He probed for her conclusion.

"It's better to keep them as they are unless there are black sheep who need to be fired. I will do a detailed check on them." She offered.

"Thank you." He placed a hand on her knee, and she slowly pushed it off.

"It's my job. You don't need to thank me." Besides, Regal Hotel was once under the Su family. She doubted there was much dirt for her to find on any of the employees.

Desmond knew that she had swatted his hand away because the chauffeur was present, so he was not disheartened.

....

They got back to Preston and Fort Group because they had unfinished business which they had to complete before going home. When he entered his office, the first thing he was was an uninvited guest making his way out of his resting chamber after not finding him. It was Liam of all people, and he couldn't pretend that he was happy to see him.

"What are you doing here?" He closed in on the man he was supposed to call his friend.

"There you are, we need to talk." Liam was in the middle of speaking when his collar got grabbed and he was pushed against the wall in the next instance.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He tried to maintain his calm as Desmond tightened his hold on the front part of his shirt.

"That's my line." Desmond resisted the urge to throw a punch across Liam's face. "What the fuck are you trying to do?"

"I don't know what on earth you are talking about, but I have one answer for it. Whatever I do is none of your business."

"What kind of deal did you make with Evan?" Desmond was huffing in anger, only to hear the other snicker. "That has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me. What's the deal? Do you have a thing for Zaria?"

"Let go of me." Liam roared, holding back his anger or he would have kneed his friend in the stomach.

"Speak!" Desmond insisted.

Liam took a deep breath, his usually calm eyes raging in fury. "Don't make me hit you."

"Desmond?" A sweet voice called from the door just as the two men were about to explode into a fist fight.

Zaria was flabbergasted when she clearly saw the situation in the room. She had just come to say goodbye and did not expect to bump into her superiors who were about to fight. She suddenly didn't know whether to proceed or turn back and leave. She then pretended that she had not seen anything.

Hearing Zaria's voice, Desmond's eyes restored their calm as he let go of the other's shirt. He then straightened up and looked at Zaria who was standing awkwardly at the doorway. "Come in. Do you need something?"

She was about to shake her head and leave when her eyes met Liam's sharp ones. He was sending a warning glare her way. She initially didn't know why they were fighting but after seeing that kind of gaze from Liam, it wasn't hard to guess. She averted her gaze back to Desmond. "Didn't I tell you before not to dirty your hands? Come here. Are you hurt?"

Like an obedient child, Desmond took a few steps to close in on her. She took his hand to carefully inspect it like he was severely injured.

"My hands hurt." He exaggerated when he saw her caring gaze.

She raised her head to glare at him. "Why did you go to touch trash?" With her hand still holding his, she used one hand to fumble into her handbag for a piece of wet antiseptic wipes, then rubbed it against his outstretched palm. She cleaned it thoroughly, and when she was done, he held out his left hand as well. She finally threw the antiseptic wipe in the trash bin when she was done. "You're alright now."

Liam frowned and could not watch whatever charade they were acting out anymore. He left Desmond's office. There was still time.

...

As soon as the door closed, Zaria dropped Desmond's hand that she had been holding. "Don't think too much about it. I was just proving a point."

"I know." Although he knew what she was up to from the word go, he played along because he enjoyed the hand-cleaning service, and because he was trying to prove the same point as she was. As long as she and Zaria wanted to be together, it was pointless no matter what Liam wanted to do. All his attempts at stopping them would only appear as the buzz of a fly.

"The hearing is on Monday." He spoke out of the blue.

He didn't need to elaborate as she already knew that it was Alyssa's hearing in court. She moved close to him to place a hand on his. "Are you tense about it?"

"What if I am?" He wasn't, but he enjoyed the close contact, so he didn't mind being misunderstood.

"Don't be. It will be alright." She assured him.

"You are just saying it to make me feel better, aren't you?" He raised an eyebrow. If there was anyone who thought of Alyssa as the guiltiest party, it was her. She must believe that unless there was underhanded means involved, Alyssa would be convicted. However, it was almost impossible to bribe the courts in Olphire. The police force was much easier to have in one's pockets. The chances of Alyssa being pronounced innocent in Zaria's opinion must be zero, right?

She did not answer his question. Instead, she took out a flash drive from her bag. "I also came to report that my proposal is ready. Please check it out when you have the time."

"Okay." He took the flash drive, wondering why Zaria was of the same opinion as him regarding everything but this. Just what made her think that Alyssa was guilty?

...

On Saturday.

Ximena had arrived to do Zaria's makeup when her eyes landed on the gown on the latter's bed. She gushed in admiration and helped Zaria wear it, then gasped in a mixture of shock and awe. The blue sequined gown had a deep V and a high slit at the side, and it made Zaria's figure stand out all the more.

"Such a beautiful gown? Where did you buy it?" Ximena asked curiously.

"Vie Luxe." Zaria knew where it was from since she had once looked it up. She then looked through the full length mirror at Ximena. "Do you approve of it?"

"With ten stars!" The latter's eyes were still glued on her in admiration. "It must have cost a dime, right? It looks expensive."

"Desmond bought it for me." She confessed, since there wasn't any way she would buy anything from Vie Luxe. Even a mere handkerchief would put a dent in her wallet.

Ximena was shocked by her words, and her voice lowered. "I've been meaning to say, don't you think he is treating you a little too nicely? It's almost as though he has feelings for you."

"Xim…" Zaria turned to face her with a tired expression.

"Okay. I won't lecture you." Ximena let her off, which wasn't something that happened often. "But if someone can't keep his dick in his pants and needs a beating, you can count on me." She promised, looking like she was ready to fight Desmond as soon as Zaria said the word.

She laughed at her friend's antics. "When will you stop fighting men?"

"Are you going to taunt me about me being single?" Ximena smiled in good humor. "Whoever has the guts to fight with me can be my boyfriend. What's the point having a man if he will cower away whenever a problem arises?"

She looked to be deep in thought, and Zaria shook her head. "I don't like that look."

Ximena defended herself. "What about it? I'm only thinking that I should wrestle with all your admirers to see if they are capable of physically protecting you."