Chapter 40: Whiskey & Power Plays
Anna’s POV
Standing before me, Samuel Griffin was undeniably fit, his physique speaking to regular workouts and a disciplined lifestyle. His arms looked powerful, his abdominal muscles well-defined beneath droplets of water that clung to his skin.
I quickly averted my eyes, focusing instead on arranging the wine bottles on the table with steady hands that belied my inner turmoil. *Could Samuel possibly be..?* No, that was absurd. The timing, the build, the height... it could be pure coincidence.
But the seed of suspicion had been planted, and I couldn’t shake it.
"How often do you visit Skyview City, Mr. Griffin?" I asked, keeping my tone conversational as I uncorked one of the bottles.
Samuel raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "Why the sudden interest in my travel schedule, Ms. Shaw? Planning to arrange more *attentive* hospitality for my future visits?"
His deliberate emphasis on "attentive" made my skin crawl, but I maintained my pleasant smile. "Just curious. For someone based in Sovereign City, you seem quite familiar with Skyview."
He didn’t answer directly, merely accepting the glass of wine I offered.
’This hotel has quite decent facilities, don’t you think? Though their service leaves much to be desired."
I noticed Samuel’s face darkening when he saw the flowers on the table.
"Can’t this hotel even fulfill a customer’s requests?" His tone turned sharp, genuine annoyance breaking through his carefully calculated demeanor.
Before he could berate the server, I smoothly intervened. "I’m allergic to roses, so I asked the staff not to place roses. It’s entirely my fault for not mentioning it earlier," I said softly.