Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"What do you want?" Beverley gritted her teeth as she spat out the question. The more upset Beverley became, the more Maisie savored the moment.

"I get it, you want to wrap up this deal quickly, but we've been stuck in Lumina City for nearly a fortnight now, holed up in a hospital ward, sleeping on those flimsy fold-out cots they have. My back is killing me, and my legs cramp up something fierce! And let's not forget the scare we got from your driver the other day. I'm telling you, both my body and my soul have been through the wringer. I need to be pampered a bit before we can talk..."

"Cut to the chase, what do you actually want!" Beverley could feel a vein throbbing in her forehead the moment Maisie began to speak.

With a sly smile, Maisie said, "Well... how about booking a hotel room for me and my son for starters. Oh, and it has to be five-star, preferably, what's it called... the Presidential Suite?" Farley chimed in softly, "The Presidential Suite."

"Right, the Presidential Suite!"

Beverley had lost count of how many deep breaths she had taken by now. "...Fine!"

She immediately instructed her butler to book a hotel room for them.

That evening, Maisie and Farley checked into The Elite Haven Hotel, not far from the hospital.

Since the Presidential Suite was fully booked, the butler had to call and negotiate in a rather humble tone before Maisie finally agreed to settle for the next best thing, an Executive Suite. But the luxury of it still took both mother and son by surprise-

are two bedrooms and three bathrooms! And it's got its own gym and swimming pool..." Farley gaped in awe as he explored, "Do rich folks really

places to take care of business! Do they rotate them morning, noon,

"Gosh... how much does one night

how much it costs, it's not like we're paying! Mom, come look, there's a menu

walked over and

covering cuisines from

what shocked her most was the prices. The cheapest

as

arranging a room isn't

just sign it to the

that, she hung

her phone, "Hungry, are you? Let's

really don't

you hear? Just put it on the

she ordered some

staff arrived, pushing a cart loaded with their gourmet meal, pouring wine with a smile and providing service neither Maisie nor Farley had ever experienced before. They were floating on air, basking