ALONSO

he desk in front of me. I looked at the wall clock. 8:00 am. What was

sn't so mad at me. I let out a tired sigh as I sunk further into my

I looked up to

ere yesterday. But our sources couldn't get a hold of the pa

ar around the front. I want to go speak with my

dispelled any pessimistic thoughts and left my hopes soaring high. Why wou

Ernest and another bodyguard -Lorenzo. I walked up to the receptionist's desk and put on my most cha

blishment this fine morning. Shall I prepare a presidential suite for y

d. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she held her hand h

, sir," she said, h

. Heather Winston. Just tell me what room she's lodged in and I'd be on my

ng earlier and scanned through it. Her fac

on the list, Mr. Alonso," she ann

s together. Heather has divorced her hus

ther Howard instead,

orward to the last entry until her pen

r. It's against our customer policy to give up room numbers without prior information to them. If you'd just h

Just give me the room number and I'll go u

wish of a powerful man. One call I could terminate her employment with immediate effect. I knew that feeling very well. It would have been the easier way out in fact. B

tened to the receptionist br

e a father?" I as

ll-scale merchant in Puebla C

up with your

ding her head in response. "Yes, I did, sir. He was a

to a friend," I began. Rita's eyes went wide in surprise upon realizing the implication of my wor

nce at redemption. I just want to see my daughter, Rita. I made a mistake and she's upset. If she gets wind of my presence in this bui

igh and I nearl

ope I don't get into trouble for this, Mr. A

r kindness," I reassured her as I slipped a business card into her hands. She held the card like

d gestured for my

tionist called out as we walked away from her desk. I gave her a

ack? What if she told point blank that she never wanted to have anything to do with me? The I'd live the rest of my life lone

renzo to move down the corridor so she didn't fee overwhelmed

ew as wise as the bags underneath them would allow. Her eyes looked as red as scarlet a

.," I beg

" she cut me off weakly

e. It doesn't have to be like this," I pleaded softly, my own ey

e struggling with.. a weight on your shoulder, and somehow, by coming to show me some pity you'll f

omise," I said and meant it. It was foolish of me t have spurned Sarah and make her move on to Austin all those years ago

me. I'll t twice as hard. I'll do anything you want me

rs I had to live in pain and put on a smile because nobody cared eno

her in silence. She

sniffed and wiped her eyes with t

r that hit my face felt like a slap on my soul. I fear