Chapter 3 - Curiosity

"Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last."

― Samuel Johnson

BELLA

The Grand Palazzo stood tall in the middle of a busy district. At first glance, it looks like a typical office building, with its standard glass windows and steel frames that form a consistent grid from the bottom to the top. It was one piece of geometric extravagance.

The sun had just peeked over the distance, creating some sort of halo around the building. This was a hotel? I couldn't believe it. Or maybe it's the country-bumpkin in me that was in awe, I had never seen a building this grand my entire life. The entrance was concealed by tall hedges, the only way to be aware of it is if a vehicle enters the driveway on the east side of the building. There was no sign of the hotel name either. I wondered why they intended for the exterior to be this bare, it looked like they were hiding that it is in fact a five-star hotel. I guess its concealment add to its appeal.

I stood there admiring and gawking at every inch of the structure before I headed towards the corner alley on the left to find the employees' entrance that was stated in the email sent to me a week ago. A guard that stood by the door checked my identification and his sheet before directing me to the office of the head of housekeeping.

"You lack experience, Miss Dwyer. The experience and the knowledge in housekeeping." Miss Mallory sat on the edge of her desk and crossed her arms in front of her, looking down at me through her thin-rimmed gold glasses, assessing my reaction.

I nodded at her because I didn't know how to respond to that, and I already think she's the type who'd hate to get interrupted.

She clapped her hands once. "Fortunately, we have a new beta program for fresh hires who have no background on housekeeping." She went on to tell me some kind of syllabus of the training which would last for around two weeks before we get to be in-charge of our own carts and rooms.

"Looking at your resume, I assume you're a quick learner so you will be the first to be dispatched to Mr. Cullen's penthouse by the end of the first week of training." I felt my mouth hang open in disbelief.

"Mr. Cullen? The owner?" Miss Mallory sighed as she circled her desk and took a seat on her chair, obviously looking like she detested the decision as well.

Before I applied, I've already looked up all there is to know about the hotel, its location and its people. Edward Cullen is the youngest owner of all the hotel chains across the country; he started branching out when he succeeded his grandfather, Henry Cullen the First. He looked grim and intimidating in all his photos, which I found to be very few. All that I've read about him was focused on his position as the new representative of the Cullen family, there was nothing written about his private life.

This Edward Cullen sure sounds like an enigma, no man with a family who is known all over the world could be this private. I'm surprised there has not been any single leak of information about them. Curiouser and curiouser.

"Yes, he needs to check and approve all trainees. Don't forget that this is a beta program and the future of other non-educated people who want to be join this company relies on your batch of trainees." Her haughty tone kept grating on my nerves since the moment I entered her office and I gathered all my strength to not grab that stapler on her desk so I can shut her fucking mouth with ten staples. Or maybe fifteen, she has a really wide mouth. Yes, ten to fifteen sounds good.

As I pondered all the types of hurt I want to do to her in my head, she handed over a printed schedule of the training and where to find the uniforms and my locker number. Miss Mallory then stood and smoothed down her skirt before shaking my hand. She bid me good luck just before I left her office and went in search of the uniform room.

As I walked, my mind flashed with the image of Edward Cullen that I saw in a news article a few days ago. His eyes were glaring at the camera with his lips set in a straight line and his jaw rigid as if he was biting his teeth too hard, which made his sharp jaw look more prominent. I had never seen someone so handsome my whole life.

Before I knew it, I was wondering about the man himself. Suffice to say, I have never been intrigued about anyone before. There's something about him - it's too early to know if it's good or bad - that turns my mind into mush and the only thing I hope is that this curiosity does not kill this cat.

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