Chapter 2 The Man Behind The Name

"Lock down every entrance. Nobody leaves until I know who's behind this."

Lorenzo ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

The hotel manager stood a few feet away, looking uncertain.

"Sir, should we inform the guests?"

"No. Keep everything quiet. I don't want panic spreading through my hotel."

"Understood, sir."

Lorenzo turned towards Marcus Reed, his right-hand man.

"I want the surveillance footage from every entrance. Check the parking area, the service corridors, and every camera facing this building."

"Already on it."

"Who received the message requesting a meeting with me?"

"The receptionist. It came through the hotel's general email account."

"Bring her in. I want to know exactly what she received and whether she responded."

Marcus nodded.

A security guard appeared at the doorway.

"Sir, there's a woman waiting at reception. She says she has an appointment concerning the charity gala."

"Tell the manager to handle it."

"She says the appointment was confirmed yesterday."

Lorenzo looked up from his phone.

"Then she can wait."

The guard nodded and left.

Marcus glanced at him. "You do have a meeting scheduled with the management team."

"Do you want to take it for me?"

"No, boss."

"Then stop reminding me."

***

Valentina checked her watch for the third time.

Twenty minutes.

She had been waiting long enough to begin questioning whether the people at Blackwood Grand Hotel understood the meaning of an appointment.

"Something is going on here," Maya whispered.

Valentina glanced at the security guards stationed near the entrance.

"I noticed."

"And you're still going upstairs?"

"We have a meeting, Maya. I'm not going to abandon a business opportunity because a few people are behaving strangely."

Maya folded her arms.

"Just be careful."

Valentina smiled reassuringly before approaching the receptionist.

"Good morning. I'm Valentina Hart. I have an appointment concerning the charity gala."

The receptionist checked her computer.

"Yes, Miss Hart. Someone will come for you shortly."

A few minutes later, a man in a dark suit approached.

"Miss Hart?"

"Yes."

"Please follow me."

Valentina collected her tablet and folder.

Maya caught her hand briefly.

"Call me when you're done."

"I will."

The man led Valentina through the executive corridor and stopped before a large wooden door.

"Mr. Blackwood is inside. Go ahead."

He opened the door for her.

Valentina stepped into the office.

***

Lorenzo stood with his back to the entrance, looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows while reading a document.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his broad shoulders filling it effortlessly. His dark hair was neatly styled, and an expensive watch rested against his wrist.

Valentina took a few steps towards the desk.

"Good morning."

He didn't turn.

"Leave it on the desk."

She glanced at the document in her hands.

"Excuse me?"

Lorenzo continued reading.

"Whatever you've brought. Leave it there."

Valentina frowned.

"I'm here for the event-design meeting."

He finally placed the document down, but still didn't turn around.

"Then wait."

Her lips pressed together.

She had dealt with difficult clients before, but this was becoming ridiculous.

"With all due respect, I've been waiting downstairs for quite some time. I would appreciate it if you could at least acknowledge me properly."

Lorenzo slowly turned.

His eyes met hers.

For the briefest moment, his attention caught on her appearance.

She was beautiful. Her long dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, complementing her warm brown complexion. Her expressive eyes and full lips gave her face a striking elegance. The fitted cream blouse and black skirt suited her graceful figure perfectly.

He registered it all in a fleeting glance.

Then his attention settled on her eyes.

There was no nervousness in them. Only irritation and a determination not to be dismissed.

Interesting.

Lorenzo's expression remained completely unchanged.

"You're the event designer?"

Valentina, meanwhile, had her own problem.

The man was exceptionally handsome.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharply defined jaw, dark piercing eyes, and a face that looked as though it had been carved to intimidate people. His expensive suit and commanding presence only added to the effect.

For one brief second, she forgot her irritation.

Then he spoke again.

"Are you going to answer me?"

Her admiration disappeared beneath fresh annoyance.

"Yes. I'm Valentina Hart. I own Hart Events."

"Who approved your appointment?"

"The management team. Mr. Collins confirmed it yesterday."

Lorenzo picked up his telephone.

"Get Collins in here."

Valentina watched him.

"Is there a problem with my appointment?"

He ignored the question.

She drew a quiet breath.

"Are you always this rude to people who come here for business?"

His hand paused over the telephone.

He looked at her again.

"Watch your tone."

"And you should watch yours. I haven't done anything to deserve this treatment."

The office fell silent.

Lorenzo studied her face without revealing what crossed his mind.

"Do you know who you're speaking to?"

"No. You haven't introduced yourself."

Before he could respond, the door opened and the hotel manager hurried inside.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

Valentina's eyes shifted towards him.

Blackwood.

She looked back at the man behind the desk.

This was Lorenzo Blackwood himself.

The billionaire.

She straightened slightly.

"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."

Lorenzo offered no greeting.

He turned towards the manager.

"Why is she here?"

"She's the event designer we hired for the charity gala. Her proposal was reviewed and approved yesterday."

"I didn't approve it."

"Sir, the management team believed-"

"I don't pay your team to believe. I pay them to make decisions that meet my standards."

The manager lowered his head.

"Of course, sir."

Lorenzo took the proposal from Valentina.

He skimmed through the pages.

"Too expensive."

Valentina's eyebrows rose.

"Have you reviewed the full quotation?"

"I've seen enough."

"Then you should have noticed that every expense is itemised. The cost includes the decorations, lighting, floral arrangements, installation, and the additional staff required for the event."

"I can read."

"Then you should understand what you're paying for."

The manager looked as though he wished he could disappear.

Lorenzo lifted his eyes.

"Do you always argue with people who hire you?"

"Only when they dismiss my work without considering it."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Lorenzo closed the folder.

"Leave it. I'll have someone review it."

Valentina collected her tablet.

"Fine. But I expect a response by tomorrow. My team needs time to prepare, and I won't keep them waiting because your management can't communicate."

She turned towards the door.

"Miss Hart."

She stopped.

"You're dismissed."

Valentina gave him a tight smile.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Blackwood."

She walked out, closing the door behind her.

Lorenzo returned to his desk.

Marcus, who had witnessed the exchange from the side of the room, placed a tablet before him.

"That was an interesting meeting."

"Do you have something useful to report?"

Marcus tapped the screen.

"We found the man from the entrance camera."

A photograph appeared.

A man stood across the street, holding a phone and looking directly towards the hotel.

"Who is he?" Lorenzo asked.

"Adrian Cole. He worked for your father."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"What happened to him?"

Marcus hesitated.

"He was declared dead six years ago."

Lorenzo stared at the photograph.

His phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT, LORENZO. ASK YOUR UNCLE WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

His jaw tightened.

"Trace that number."

"We're trying."

Lorenzo looked at the photograph again.

Six years ago, his father had died.

And now a dead man's name had returned to haunt him.

"Find Adrian Cole," he ordered. "I want to know whether he's alive, and if he is, I want him brought to me."

"Understood, boss."

Lorenzo picked up his phone and stared at the message once more.

Then he made another call.

"Find my uncle. I want to speak to him."