###Chapter 33: He Was Still the One on Her Mind
On the third day after being fired, just as Nina Wainwright was starting to feel she’d never find a job, one of the hotels she had previously contacted actually told her to report to human resources.
Nina Wainwright had started her search with five-star hotels.
She was just about ready to lower her standards.
When Nina Wainwright arrived at The Gardenia Hotel, Manager Churchill immediately came to greet her. "If you’re available, you can start tonight. One of our private suite hostesses got involved with a patron and suddenly quit. We couldn’t find a more suitable replacement, so we’re giving you the first shot."
After completing the onboarding process, Nina Wainwright was assigned to a private suite that very evening.
However, when the guest arrived, she was taken aback. It was Evan Yardley, the man from a few days prior.
Liam Churchill led Young Mr. Yardley in. Seeing the surprise on Nina Wainwright’s face, he said with a smile, "You should really thank Young Mr. Yardley. He heard you were looking for work and having financial troubles, so he asked me to hold this position for you."
For a moment, Nina Wainwright was filled with complicated emotions.
She felt no gratitude, only a growing sense of dread.
Liam Churchill didn’t stay long before leaving.
Evan Yardley sat on the sofa. He had come alone, so he casually shrugged off his jacket.
"Your previous hotel said you weren’t willing to work on the upper floors because you’re married. But I heard from Manager Churchill that you’re planning to get a divorce." Evan Yardley decided to stop beating around the bush.
Nina Wainwright knew all too well that men like him only had so much patience. Push them too far, and they’d decide that women like her were simply ungrateful.
"That’s right," she replied softly.
"Once you’re divorced, come be with me. You won’t have to sell wine in private suites anymore. How much is your family’s debt?" he asked, leaning back on the sofa, a picture of sophisticated charm.
It would have been a lie to say Nina Wainwright wasn’t afraid.
She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before saying, "I don’t want that. I just want to make a living on my own."
"Your ability?" he replied. "Aside from a pretty face, you have no other assets. You know perfectly well I only ordered all that wine because I thought you were beautiful." Evan Yardley’s gaze was frank, and his words were brutally direct.
Nina Wainwright knew she had two choices tonight: give in or offend Evan Yardley. And if she offended him, she would lose this job.
Letting out a soft breath, she met Evan Yardley’s gaze. "I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t accept your proposal."
With that, she turned to leave.
But when she reached the door, she discovered it wouldn’t open.
Panic flared in her chest. She whirled around to face Evan Yardley. Still lounging on the sofa, the gentleness in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a blatant, predatory aggression.
"I’m not divorced yet... You can’t force me!" Nina Wainwright cried, her back pressed against the door in panic.
Due to work rules, she wasn’t allowed to carry her phone. She only had a walkie-talkie, but since Evan Yardley was on good terms with the hotel manager, he most likely wouldn’t intervene.
"You work in a place like this, and you’re still talking about being forced?" Evan Yardley stood up and slowly advanced on her.
Nina Wainwright’s limbs trembled violently. She turned and yanked on the door again, but it wouldn’t budge. She immediately rushed to the window, threw it open, and was about to climb out when Evan Yardley caught up, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her back.
He slammed the window shut.
He glared at the trembling Nina, his eyes burning with anger. "Do you have any idea how high up we are? You’ll die if you jump! You’ve slept with your husband, haven’t you? So what’s the big deal about one more time?"
For the first time, Nina Wainwright truly understood the meaning of the phrase "a beast in fine clothing."
"I thought... I thought Mr. Yardley was a gentleman..." His words were so vile they shattered Nina Wainwright’s understanding of decency.
Evan Yardley just laughed and forcefully scooped her into his arms.
Nina Wainwright screamed and struggled.
Evan Yardley lost his grip, and she tumbled from his arms to the floor. The impact sent a wave of pain through her, blacking out her vision for a second, but instinct screamed at her to escape.
She had barely crawled a few feet before Evan Yardley seized her by the ankle.
Nina Wainwright’s carefully pinned hair tumbled down in a mess. She kicked out wildly, her fingers clawing at the carpet as she shrieked in terror, "Let me go! Let go of me! Zachary Hawthorne! Zachary, save me!"
’How pathetic,’ she thought. ’In my moment of greatest danger, the one I call out to is the very person I’m trying to escape.’
Hearing the name she cried, Evan Yardley’s hand faltered for a second. Then he sneered, "So, you’re Mr. Hawthorne’s wife. No wonder you’re as delicate as a flower, just begging to be plucked."
Rage surged through Nina Wainwright.
As Evan Yardley’s hand traveled up her calf, she trembled even more violently, goosebumps breaking out all over her skin. She lashed out with a desperate kick and scrambled toward the bathroom, but in her panic, she tripped on the edge of the carpet.
She went flying, her head cracking against a nearby table before she crumpled to the floor.
At that exact moment, the door was kicked open.
Nina Wainwright lay on the floor, dizzy and disoriented. She tried to push herself up, but she had no strength left.
Zachary Hawthorne had arrived just in time to see Nina Wainwright fall and hit her head on the table. His expression instantly turned black as night.
Striding into the room, he snatched up a chair and advanced on Evan Yardley, one deliberate step at a time.
Silas Sinclair followed him in and helped Nina Wainwright up from the floor.
"Mr. Hawthorne..." Evan Yardley started, trying to explain.
Zachary Hawthorne brought the chair crashing down on his head, then tossed it aside. He hauled Evan up by the collar and smashed a fist into his face. "You dare touch my wife?!"
Evan Yardley collapsed to the ground, blood streaming from his head.
Zachary Hawthorne returned to Nina Wainwright’s side and scooped her up into his arms.
Nina Wainwright smelled his familiar scent and couldn’t stop herself from wrapping her arms around him. Her body was still trembling violently.
A dozen rebukes were on the tip of Zachary Hawthorne’s tongue, but he swallowed them.
Back in the car, her emotions had mostly stabilized, but she still didn’t dare to look at Zachary Hawthorne.
Zachary Hawthorne was smoking with the window cracked open.
He rarely smoked, only lighting up when he was in a particularly foul mood.
As he was finishing his cigarette, he said to Silas Sinclair, "Let’s head to the hospital for a check-up first."
Nina Wainwright instinctively glanced at him.
Zachary Hawthorne stubbed out his cigarette, tossing the butt into the ashtray in the front console before turning to look at Nina Wainwright.
His eyes were dark and deep, like bottomless pools.
His stare made Nina Wainwright’s heart pound, but more than anything, she felt guilty and utterly powerless.
"You’ve got a big lump on your head. Working in a place like this without even secretly carrying a phone... were you not afraid something would happen?" Zachary Hawthorne raised his hand, intending to rub the swelling on her forehead.
Nina flinched, shrinking away from his touch.
"Nina, have I ever hit you?" Zachary Hawthorne let out a laugh that was devoid of humor.
Nina Wainwright lifted her gaze to meet his. "I’m sorry..."
She still hadn’t fully recovered from the terrifying ordeal.
Zachary Hawthorne reached out, pulling her into his embrace and gently patting her back. "It’s over now."
Nina Wainwright leaned into his embrace, a little surprised. ’He isn’t using this incident to try and force me to stay at home.’
At the hospital, Nina Wainwright’s head wound was treated, and she underwent a full examination. Once the doctors confirmed there were no other injuries, she left with Zachary Hawthorne.
Against the night sky, his tall frame looked strong and reassuring.
"So, are you planning to go looking for another hotel job tomorrow?" Zachary Hawthorne suddenly turned, a mocking smile playing on his lips.*****