My Wife’s Engagement Party Was at My Hotel

“Daniel Hayes, you’re seriously not coming tomorrow? It’s Logan’s engagement party. This is a seven-star hotel. You might never get another chance to step inside one.” Our old class president’s exaggerated voice came through the phone. I frowned. Logan Pierce—the same bully who had made my life hell in high school and led everyone else in shutting me out. “Work’s been busy lately. I can’t make it.” I kept my voice as even as possible. “What could you possibly be busy with? Too broke to show your face? Just admit you’re embarrassed. Quit pretending you’re some important businessman!” His laughter grated on my ears. Meanwhile, I finished signing a three-hundred-million-dollar contract and motioned for my secretary to leave. I took a deep breath and said nothing. After hanging up, I saw the class president’s Snapchat story: Thanks to Logan, I finally get to see a hotel this fancy before I die. Can’t wait to meet his fiancée—the city’s top female CEO. The attached photo showed a lavish hotel that looked strangely familiar. More importantly, the location tag read: The Grand Meridian. Wait. That was the hotel I’d bought for my wife. While I was still puzzling over it, my phone chimed again. Logan had posted a digital invitation in our class group chat. The name and photo left no room for doubt. Well, well. Logan Pierce’s fiancée was my wife, Sophie Bennett? ............ After everyone showered the invitation with praise, Logan sent another message: “Looking forward to seeing everyone at my new hotel tomorrow for the engagement party. Please don’t let the difference in our social standing stop you from coming. I may have made it big, but I haven’t forgotten my old classmates.” Below that message, everyone started tagging me: “He means you. Why so quiet? You’re not seriously afraid to come, are you? Logan doesn’t even mind that you’re broke.” “If I were Daniel, I’d be too embarrassed to come, too. Logan’s doing amazing, and his fiancée is the famous CEO of Sterling Group. Daniel could never measure up.” “He’s just a delivery guy. How did he ever have the nerve to make that bet with Logan?” I folded my tri-fold phone shut. I couldn’t be bothered to answer those social climbers. They thought I delivered takeout? All because my only Snapchat post said, “Late again”? With a photo of a takeout container? I’d just forgotten to switch to my private account before complaining. A bet? Right. There had been one. Back then, Logan had cornered me at the school entrance with a group of his friends. He’d grabbed me and said: “Ten years from now, you won’t even be worthy of licking my shoes. Want to bet? A screwup like me is still going to have a better life than a bookworm like you.” By the next day, everyone was mocking me for being stupid enough to bet against Logan. His parents had struck it rich in the stock market and started a small company. With a little money behind him, he’d acted like he owned the school. Well, if Logan wanted me there so badly, I’d grant his wish. That evening, Sophie called me. I used to love her sweet, breathy voice. Now it made my stomach turn. “Honey, you’re really not coming to the hotel opening tomorrow?” I paused before answering flatly: “No. I have a contract meeting.” “Aww, that’s such a shame. I really wanted you there…” She didn’t sound particularly disappointed. If anything, I thought I heard relief in her voice. The Grand Meridian had been my gift to Sophie. So had the company she used to sell herself as the city’s leading female CEO. I’d met Sophie when she was an intern at my company. Business had been booming, but my love life had fallen apart. Sophie had appeared just in time to fill that hole. She always found reasons to be around me, checking whether I’d eaten or gotten enough rest. Her stubborn determination had drawn me in, too. When her internship ended, I told her how I felt.I knew she might love my money more than me. But money was the one thing I had in abundance. I didn’t care how much I gave her. I thought that, given enough time, our feelings would grow into something real. And over the years, she had been attentive. When Sophie heard that our neighbor’s husband had bought her a luxury yacht, she begged me to build her a seven-star hotel. I agreed without hesitation, found the land, and called in the right people. And what did she do? Handed it to her boy toy. Who just happened to be my old nemesis. Thinking back, that flicker of excitement when I’d told her I couldn’t attend the opening hadn’t been my imagination. Even now, she was calling to make sure I wouldn’t show up. I could make her fall just as far as I’d raised her. The next day, I postponed my business engagement and drove my Maybach to the hotel. The moment I entered the lobby, I saw a huge LED screen cycling through intimate photos of Sophie and Logan. A caption ran underneath: “Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Grand Meridian and the Engagement of Logan Pierce and Sophie Bennett.” Logan stood among a crowd, laughing and chatting. Our old high school classmates surrounded him. And the custom Armani suit he was wearing was identical to mine. Sophie had actually asked my personal designer to make two of the same suit. Bold of her. Had she really thought I’d never find out? I walked through the crowd toward them. Logan’s face fell the moment he saw me, while everyone else looked at me with contempt. “Huh? Daniel Hayes? Look who it is. You said you weren’t coming and ignored everyone in the group, but you still came crawling over like a little lapdog.” The class president, Logan’s most devoted lackey, spoke first. A woman beside him spotted my suit and pointed. “You actually wore the same thing as Logan? This is his day. Did you do that on purpose?” Logan and I met each other’s eyes. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. “Daniel, I know life hasn’t been kind to you. I get it. But why wear a knockoff? Isn’t it embarrassing standing next to the real thing?” Everyone nodded, their disgust deepening. One eager flatterer jumped in: “Look, there are two letters embroidered on his cuff. Logan’s doesn’t have those. Obviously Logan’s is the real one.” DH. My initials. I always had my designer embroider them onto my custom suits. “Daniel, did you spend two hundred bucks on that getup hoping we’d mistake you for some business tycoon and kiss your ass? That’s pathetic.” I remained calm as they laughed at me. “Mine is real.” That only made them laugh harder. “A delivery guy can afford the real thing? Please. I bet even that two-hundred-dollar fake has you crying under your blankets over the money you spent.” “If he can afford a real one, I’ll eat shit on a livestream. What a shameless liar.” “Someone’s scared of losing that old bet and licking Logan’s shoes, so he’s putting on an act.” Their voices buzzed around me like a swarm of flies. With everyone backing him up, Logan grew even more arrogant. “Since you’re doing so badly, I’ll be generous and go easy on you. My hotel still needs someone to unclog the toilets. Beats working outside in the heat and rain. Beg nicely, and I might consider hiring you.” Everyone roared with laughter. They were already waiting for me to drop to my knees. Even passing guests began pointing and whispering. I narrowed my eyes and surveyed the magnificent lobby. “You’re saying this hotel belongs to you?” Before Logan could answer, someone rushed to speak for him: “Logan’s got game! He landed the CEO of Sterling Group, and she gave him a seven-star hotel just like that. This place must be worth tens of millions. You’re going crazy with jealousy, aren’t you, Daniel?” Logan stroked his chin smugly. “Probably closer to a hundred million.” I gave a dismissive laugh. The hotel had cost a billion to build. He didn’t even understand the luxury he was pretending to own. At the mention of a hundred million, everyone’s eyes widened, and they redoubled their efforts to flatter him. “Your fiancée is seriously loaded. A hundred million, just like that! Only Logan could pull that off. With his family’s money and a wealthy wife, you’ll shoot straight to the top of the rich list!” Logan glowed under their praise. I sneered inwardly. All their wealth combined wouldn’t amount to a fraction of mine. “By the way, Logan, where are your parents?” The class president’s question made Logan’s expression shift. “They’re traveling around the world. They couldn’t make it.” Someone noticed his reluctance to discuss them and quickly changed the subject. “You’re such a good son! When Logan makes it big, we’ll all get a piece of the pie. Unlike certain people, who don’t even deserve the scraps.” “Exactly. Logan’s the real deal. Some people borrow fancy clothes and pretend they’re rich when they’ve probably been patching the same underwear for years.” Everyone turned to me again and rolled their eyes. After all these years, their bootlicking faces hadn’t changed. Letting them stay would only dirty my property and drag down the hotel’s standards. I took out my phone to call the general manager, cancel the banquet, and have security throw them out. “Oh, you rented a tri-fold phone, too? Too embarrassed to bring your old flip phone?” I shot the speaker a cold look, and he shrank back. After years at the top of the business world, I knew how to intimidate someone. Just as I was about to place the call, Logan lunged forward, snatched my phone, and punched me. “Why do you have a picture with my fiancée?”My lock screen was a photo of Sophie and me on a beach in the Maldives. Neither of us was wearing much. “So that’s why you dressed up and came to my engagement party to show off. You’re here to piss me off on purpose. I fucking hate freeloading pretty boys.” Logan smashed my phone, then grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it over me. My seven-figure custom suit was ruined. Everyone stared at me with fresh contempt. “I knew he was a kept man the second I saw him. Can’t believe he actually tried stealing Logan’s woman.” “He’s got two working arms and legs, but he’d rather be someone’s side piece. With a face like that, I bet he’s juggling several rich women. Disgusting.” “Those rich women get pretty wild. He’d better be careful, or they’ll wear him out so badly he won’t be able to get it up again.” Onlookers pulled out their phones, eager to record a cheating scandal unfolding in person. “Your mom was a homewrecker, and now you are, too. The whole family’s trash!” Logan spat at me, his eyes vicious. That sent me over the edge. I lunged forward and punched him in the eye. “Say that again. I dare you.” Back in high school, Logan’s father had harassed my mom when she dropped me off. His wife had seen it and caused a huge scene. My dad had died young. Raising me alone hadn’t been easy for Mom. She’d done nothing wrong, but people had whispered behind her back anyway. For several nights, she’d stayed awake crying in secret. That was where the feud between Logan and me had started. Bringing it up now was asking for trouble. Seeing stars from my punch, Logan lost his mind. He grabbed a painting off the wall and raised it to smash over me. A server hurried to stop him. “Sir, that’s an original. It’s worth ten million dollars.” Logan seized the server by the collar. “Open your fucking eyes. I own this place. If I want to smash something worth ten million, I will.” With that, he slammed the framed painting onto the floor. “Now get the fuck out of here and find me another room for the engagement party.” Terrified, the server nodded frantically. Still furious, Logan picked up several more antiques and smashed them. I stood aside and watched coldly. A rose-quartz ceremonial scepter worth six million. A blue-and-white porcelain vase worth thirty million. A bronze statue worth eighty million. The most expensive piece was a twelve-panel landscape painting worth nine hundred million. I’d sent them all over to help Sophie impress her guests. Logan destroyed every last one. Those who recognized their value broke into cold sweats. The clueless fools following Logan around were still clapping and cheering. “Hell yeah, Logan! Smash it!” “A lowly server thinks he can tell Logan what to do with his own stuff? What’s a few million to him?” Once he’d finished, Logan turned to the man who’d promised to eat shit on a livestream. “You wanted the procurement contract for my hotel, right? Strip that kept boy’s clothes off, and it’s yours.” The man swallowed, then marched toward me. “That goes for everyone! Put Daniel in his place and make me happy. There’ll be plenty of contracts to go around!” The crowd erupted. An opportunity like that was exactly why they’d been sucking up to him. My expression darkened. “Touch me, and you’ll regret it.” They only grew bolder. “What, you’ll get your rich girlfriends to come after us?” “You’re just their vibrator. They’ll toss you out when they’re done. You really think you’re somebody? Piss Logan off, and I’ll cripple you. Let’s see if those women still want you then.” “I hate the way you look at us like we’re garbage. You’re a filthy rag, and you still act like you’re above everyone.” Logan lit a cigarette and scoffed. “I don’t do regrets, Daniel. You touched my woman, then came to my hotel to cause trouble. Before I’m done, you’ll be on your knees begging for mercy.” At his command, more than a dozen people surged forward. I couldn’t fight them all. They soon pinned me to the floor and started punching and kicking, insults pouring from their mouths. The onlookers had also decided I was the other man and hurled abuse at me. Everyone wanted to land a kick in the chaos so they could take credit with Logan afterward. My stomach cramped from the blows. I could only curl up. My suit jacket had disappeared, wine stained my clothes, and my wet hair hung over my face. I was a wreck. Surrounded by his admirers, Logan strutted over and grabbed my hair with a cruel grin. “Had enough?” I clenched my teeth, my gaze deadly. “You’re finished.” Logan sneered and drew back his fist. Suddenly, engines roared outside. Groups of bodyguards in sharp suits filed in with small briefcases and lined up on either side of the entrance…