Chapter 132
Standing there, somewhat worried, Nora anxiously called David. "David, Mr. Smith drank too much. Aria and the secretary drove him back. I bought some hangover medicine, and I'm taking a cab back now. Can you meet me?"
"Nora, I'm not at the hotel. Mr. Smith sent me to Lin'an to handle something. I won't be back until early tomorrow morning." David sounded a bit anxious. "You need to get back there quickly."
Nora tried to hail a taxi, but it was hard to find one on the street.
Standing there anxiously, Nora started running toward the hotel.
After running for about five minutes, Nora finally managed to flag down a taxi.
"Ripple Court Hotel, can you hurry, please?"
The driver was helpful and stepped on the gas.
After getting out and paying, Nora ran into the hotel and headed for the elevator.
"Excuse me, are you a guest here? We need to verify your identity. Please bring your ID to the front desk."
Nora's steps froze. Although she hadn't stayed in a hotel in six years and had been almost completely cut off from society during her time in prison, she knew hotels wouldn't ask guests to verify their identity again.
Clearly, someone was deliberately trying to delay her.
"I have a room card." Nora showed them the card.
"Sorry, we need to verify your identity."
"My ID is in my room." Nora anxiously tried to leave.
"Sorry, if you can't prove your identity, we can't let you go. There's a crackdown on prostitutes right now, and you don't look very respectable." The front desk staff's words were unkind and sarcastic.
Nora was angry, but she didn't have time to argue. "Then call the police."
With that, Nora headed for the elevator.
The receptionist angrily grabbed Nora. "Our manager said you can't go up. Have you no shame? Everyone upstairs knows what you're here for. If you have any dignity left, just leave."
"What am I here for?" Nora looked at her.
"You're a prostitute, aren't you? Stop pretending." The receptionist rolled her eyes.
"Which manager said that?" Nora glanced at the time, her eyes reddening with anxiety.
"Our hotel manager personally sent us your photo and said not to let you in, that we had to check you. Everyone knows what you do, so stop pretending and just leave." The receptionist refused to let Nora pass, no matter what.
Nora stood there somewhat at a loss. How could she get upstairs quickly?
"I'm the executive assistant to the president of the Smith Group. Here's my employee ID." Nora suddenly remembered she had her work ID on her and showed it to them.
The receptionist froze and looked back at their department manager. "She says she's the executive assistant. But the manager said... did we make a mistake?"
"The manager told us to stop her, so we..."
Before they could finish, Nora had already rushed into the elevator, quickly swiped her room card, and pressed the floor button.
"Stop right there!"
The elevator was already moving. Nora breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew this must be Aria deliberately making things difficult for her, but she had no choice.
On the way back, even the taxi driver knew that the Clark family and the Smith family of Emerald City were planning a marriage alliance. It was truly the marriage of the century.
From Nolan's attitude toward Michael, it was clear that Michael's position in the Smith Group was precarious. He needed this marriage alliance to secure his position.
Luna and James were probably the people who least wanted Michael to marry Aria.
The elevator doors opened, and Nora hurried toward Michael's room.
Nora knocked on the door anxiously.
No one answered.
Nora's breathing tightened as she searched for the room card.
When leaving the hotel, David had given her both room cards and told her the room number.
But when she opened the door, the suite was empty. There was no one there.
Nora anxiously called Michael, but he didn't answer.
Aria must have booked another room.
"David, I can't find Mr. Smith. He's not in his room. Aria probably booked another room. What should I do?" Nora crouched on the floor, her voice breaking with tears.
"I've already found out. Aria is in room 80269. Get there quickly." David also sounded anxious. He had guessed this would happen.
The way Aria looked at Michael, she wanted to devour him alive.
If they were late, Michael would definitely be taken advantage of.
Nora got up and ran out.
Nora stood outside the door, knocking anxiously.
But Aria wouldn't open the door at all.
Nora was so anxious she wanted to cry, but now wasn't the time for tears.
Perhaps annoyed by Nora's knocking, Aria finally opened the door.
She was wrapped in a bathrobe, her hair wet, and only opened the door a crack. "Nori, what is it?"
"Where's Mr. Smith?" Nora was breathing rapidly.
"We're about to rest." Aria smiled at Nora. "Nori, you don't need to be so nervous. You know the relationship between Michael and me. We're going to get married sooner or later."
Nora clenched her fingers. "I need to see Mr. Smith."
"Nora, you're just an assistant." Aria laughed. "It's not really appropriate to meddle in your boss's private life, is it? Go rest, Nori. I'll take care of Michael."
"You're not married yet. I need to see Mr. Smith." Nora didn't know where she found the courage, but she was determined to bring Michael back.
Aria's expression soured. "Nora, Michael's situation at the company is more difficult than you think. He can only secure his current position by marrying me. Do I need to spell it out for you?"
Nora took a deep breath and lowered her head, her heart aching numbly.
"I need to see Mr. Smith. There's important business to discuss." Nora still insisted on seeing Michael. She only listened to Michael.
If Michael told her to leave, she would go.
"Michael, Nori says she needs to see you." Aria called back into the room.
There was no response from inside.
Nora stood there trembling, waiting.
"You see, he doesn't want to see you. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow." With that, Aria moved to close the door.
"I need to give Mr. Smith his medicine."
"Give it to me." Aria reached for the medicine.
Nora kept her head down and didn't hand the medicine to Aria for a long time.
"Nora, you like Michael, don't you?" Aria laughed at Nora. "You need to be realistic. Mud on the ground can't dream of clouds in the sky. Do you understand what I mean? You'd better hide your feelings."
Women understand women best. Aria could clearly see what Nora felt for Michael.
Nora denied it in panic. "I don't."
She didn't dare to like Michael.
She wasn't worthy.
"Six years ago, you were already Emerald City's biggest joke. Don't make yourself a joke again." Aria's mockery was pointed as she closed the door.
Nora stood outside, her legs stiff.
She didn't know if she should leave or just stand outside and wait.
She didn't know if she should let Michael and Aria stay in the same room.
A marriage alliance with the Clark family was indeed the choice that would maximize Michael's interests.
She and Michael just had a working relationship, after all.