Chapter 43

"Lisa, are you in there? We need to talk about the dinner party tonight." Lisa heard her father's voice and got up from her bed, feeling a sense of dread. She was still looking forward to attending the event as her father's representative since it seemed that was the only way to get in contact with Ethan, but the hotel where it was supposed to take place was several hours away, and she was afraid she might not be able to make it in time.

She opened the door to her room and saw her father standing in the hallway, looking excited. He walked into her room and sat down on the edge of her bed, patting the spot next to him for Lisa to sit down too. She complied, still feeling anxious about what he was going to say.

"I've got some great news for you," he said, beaming with a smile. Lisa looked at him

Lisa looked at him skeptically, wondering what he was talking about. He pulled out his phone and showed her a message he had just received. "The dinner party would likely get postponed until tomorrow, so you'll have plenty of time to get ready and make it there on time."

Lisa peered at the screen with her eyes and read the content. A look of uncertainty spread across her face. "How true could this be?" she questioned immediately, ignoring the fact that Mr. Kin, her father had just mentioned that it was from a reliable source.

"Don't worry my dear, it's certain ," Mr. Kin said, staring at his daughter. "All you have to do is get ready for the journey to Kilton" He said reassuringly.

"Dad, Kilton Hotel is still far away," Lisa said, her voice tinged with doubt. "What if this news about a postponement isn't true? Besides, after reading this, I can see that it's something still being deliberated on, and it hasn't been announced yet. What if they change their minds? Does that mean my efforts would be fruitless? No way, I'm not interested anymore." She turned to the other side, dismissing the topic.

Mr. Kin felt helpless at his daughter's reaction. He had expected a happy response to the message he just showed her but it seemed to have made her even more upset than she already was.

Realizing that it was impossible to convince Lisa about the possible postponement, he got up from his seat, prepared to depart. Before leaving he turned to apologize to his beloved daughter. "I'm sorry...de..

Midway through his apology, he felt a vibration in his pocket, indicating an incoming notification. Intrigued, he reached for his phone and read a message that caused him to break into a broad grin. Interrupting his own speech, he turned to Lisa and exclaimed, "Hold on a moment! The event has just been postponed! Look at this notification I just received!"

Lisa looked up at her father, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Really, Dad? Are you sure?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

"Yes, I'm sure. The organizers just concluded a meeting where they reached the decision, and my insider was able to alert me. We have this night to prepare," Mr. Kin said, his voice filled with excitement.

Lisa's face broke into a smile. "Thank you, Dad. That's such great news!" she exclaimed, jumping up from her bed and hugging her father tightly.

Mr. Kin felt relieved and happy that he had been able to lift his daughter's spirits with this news. "Of course, Lisa. Now, let's start preparing. You're going to do a fantastic job representing me," he said, his voice full of pride and admiration. Few minutes later he left leaving Lisa to get prepared for the journey the next day.

As for Lisa, her heart raced with excitement after she heard the news. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and the anger and hopelessness she had been feeling just moments ago were replaced with joy and anticipation. She couldn't believe her luck - things had just fallen into place unexpectedly.

She bounced around her room, her steps light and airy as she gathered her things for the trip. Her mind was abuzz with thoughts of what lay ahead.

After packing all she needed, Lisa grabbed her phone and opened the flight app. She scrolled and searched, her fingers tapping frantically as she looked for the perfect flight.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she found the perfect flight - a first-class ticket that would take off the next day at 7:00 am. She smiled as she hit the "book" button, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment as the confirmation message flashed on her screen.

Satisfied with her booking, Lisa laid back on her bed and closed her eyes, a contented smile spreading across her face.

****

Meanwhile after spending long hours on the road, Mel and Ethan finally arrived at Kilton hotel. After checking in, they made their way to an eatery within the hotel. The ambiance was inviting, and the scent of freshly cooked meals wafted through the air.

Earlier, an announcement was made that the scheduled business dinner for that night had been postponed due to unforeseen technical issues that the organizers were already addressing. As a result, Ethan and Mel were presented with an opportunity to grab a meal together

As they sat facing each other, Ethan found himself stealing glances at Mel. In his opinion, she looked incredibly beautiful while eating.

So, how was the ride?" He suddenly asked, trying to break the silence.

Mel giggled and remarked, "The journey was quite lengthy, but no regrets, I'm just relieved to have finally arrived. Had we spent another hour on that rough road, my entire body would have been in pain," Mel quipped and Ethan comforted her.

As they sat down for dinner at the hotel's restaurant, Mel couldn't help but admire the beautiful decor and craftworks that adorned the walls and ceiling.

"Wow, this place is absolutely beautiful," she said, taking in the intricate designs of the wooden carvings and colorful paintings.

Ethan smiled, "Yes, it is. You know, these crafts are an integral part of the culture of this region."

Mel looked at the wooden carvings and colorful paintings, "That's interesting. Do you know more about them?"

Ethan nodded, "Yes, I do. These crafts have a business value. Many of the local artisans make a living selling their creations to tourists and locals alike. In fact, our company has been working with some of these artisans to showcase their crafts in our products."

Mel was impressed, "That's amazing. I never realized how much of an impact these crafts had on the local economy."

Ethan continued, "That's why it's important for us to support these artisans and promote their work. By doing so, we not only help to preserve their cultural heritage but also contribute to the development of the local economy." He explained as Mel listened attentively.

Their conversation flowed seamlessly, and they spent the rest of dinner talking about the different ways in which businesses could make a positive impact in their local communities.

Mel suggested, "I feel it's a good idea if our company indulges in the production and selling of artifacts like this. You could create a branch, just like the shoe and the cloth branch and I'm pretty sure it would yield positive income for the company."

Ethan nodded, "Well, a similar thought has crossed my mind a couple of times, but for some reasons I haven't been able to implement my plans, mostly because I'm still hoping to find someone capable enough to handle it."

"I would like to employ the local artisans and have them create arts which after been sold, the proceeds would be used as charity to the less developed villages. Artifacts yield a lot of profit returns so I believe it will be nice," Ethan said.

Mel marveled at Ethan's response, she had never even expected his thoughts to go to charity.

"That's a very wonderful idea though. It's great to see that our company is not just focused on profits but also on making a positive impact in the communities we operate in."

"As for the local artisans who make these arts, what would they gain from it?" Mel inquired.

"Well, not much actually, they would just get fully employed and be placed on the company's payroll," Ethan said, scratching the back of his head.

Mel's eyes lit up, "Wow, are you being serious? That's much, and I think it's the best anyone would ever be able to do for them. You're amazing," she said happily.

They soon rounded up the topic about arts and they continued to talk and laugh for a while, enjoying each other's company over their meals.

As the night wore on, Mel's eyelids began to droop and soon she was half awake, Seeing how she laid her head on the table in front of her, Ethan knew it was time to lead her to her room

Gently, he stood her up, and she groggily followed him to her room. Once they got there, she flopped onto her bed, barely awake. Ethan watched her for a moment, admiring how peaceful she looked while sleeping.

Feeling a little guilty for dragging her on this journey, he carefully tucked the duvet around her, ensuring that she was comfortable and warm.

A wide smile formed on Ethan's face as he watched Mel sleep peacefully. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and contentment in that moment. Leaning down, he whispered, "Goodnight, Mel," As he made his way out of her room, he closed the door quietly behind him, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber. Walking down the hall to his own room, he felt grateful for the chance to get to know Mel better..