Adrian walked the short distance from the station to Sonata Sunlight with steady steps.
The Sunday afternoon sun was warm on his back, but his mind was already running through the day ahead. He had sent a message in the hotel's staff group chat late last night: All employees are required to report to the lobby tomorrow at 10 a.m. sharp. The new owner will be present to introduce himself and discuss the future of the property.
No further explanation was sent. He wanted them to show up curious and a little uneasy.
Instead of using the main entrance, he slipped through the narrow backdoor that the previous owner had shown him yesterday. He straightened his button-up shirt, adjusted the sleeves, and stepped into the lobby.
Around twenty employees were already waiting. Some stood in small clusters near the front desk, others sat on the worn couches, checking their phones or talking in low voices. Maids in faded uniforms, front-desk staff, a couple of maintenance workers, and even the young woman who had greeted him yesterday.
The moment Adrian stepped into the lobby, the low chatter died instantly. All eyes turned toward him at once.
He could see it clearly on their faces, the quick widening of eyes, the slight frowns, the barely-hidden surprise. In their minds the same thought was obvious.
He's just a kid.
The young receptionist from before blinked rapidly, her mouth slightly open. An older maid in the back crossed her arms, one eyebrow raised in clear disbelief. Even the maintenance guy in his late forties tilted his head, looking like he was trying to figure out if this was some kind of joke.
Adrian kept his expression calm and professional, but inside he almost smiled.
Yeah… I know exactly what you're all thinking.
Adrian walked straight to the front desk, placed his hands on the counter, and gave them a calm, professional smile.
"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
The silence stretched for a few seconds. A few people exchanged quick glances. One older maid whispered something to the person beside her.
Adrian didn't wait for them to settle. He stood in front of the group with hands resting lightly on the front desk, and spoke with calm authority.
"As of yesterday, I am the new owner of Sonata Sunlight. My name is Adrian Cross."
A ripple of surprise moved through the lobby. Several employees exchanged quick glances. The older maintenance worker in his forties crossed his arms, brow furrowed. Many of them were caught off guard.
Adrian continued without raising his voice, keeping his tone steady and professional.
"From this point forward, the hotel will be under new management. I've reviewed the current situation, and I intend to make several changes to ensure its long-term success. Some of these changes will be significant, and I want to be upfront with all of you from the start."
He paused, letting the words settle. The room grew even quieter. A couple of the employees shifted in their seats nervously. Whilst some staff leaned over and whispered something to their nearby colleague.
Adrian met their eyes one by one before delivering the main point.
"The most important change is this. We will be rebranding and renovating the hotel into a full love hotel."
The lobby went dead quiet for half a second.
Then the whispers started.
A young receptionist's eyes widened. "A… love hotel?"
Someone else muttered. "He can't be serious."
A middle-aged maid shook her head. "We've been running a normal hotel for years. Now he wants to turn it into… that?"
Adrian raised a hand, cutting the growing murmur.
"I understand this is sudden. But the numbers don't lie. Love hotels in this area have significantly higher turnover and cash flow than traditional hotels. Guests pay hourly, in cash, and they don't ask many questions. With the right upgrades and rebranding, this place can go from barely breaking even to turning a healthy profit within a few months."
A few employees looked skeptical. One of the older front-desk staff raised her hand hesitantly.
"Sir… with all due respect, some of us have worked here for years. This hotel has a reputation. Turning it into a love hotel… won't that damage the image?"
Adrian met her eyes calmly. "The image is already suffering because we're losing money."
"I'm not asking for your approval. I'm informing you of the direction we're taking. Those of you who have ongoing contracts will be expected to stay and help make this transition successful."
"Hard work will be required over the next few weeks for the renovations, new systems, new policies and advertisement that will be implemented. In return, I will make sure your pay and benefits are reviewed and improved where possible."
He let that sink in before continuing. "Those of you without long-term contracts are free to resign. You can come to my office later today and we'll handle the paperwork immediately, no hard feelings. I won't force anyone to stay if they're uncomfortable with the new direction but for those who stay I'll appreciate your cooperation."
The lobby stayed quiet for a long moment. A few people exchanged uncertain looks, but no one spoke up immediately. The air felt thick with surprise and unease.
Adrian let the silence linger for a few seconds, then gave them a small, confident nod.
"I know this is sudden and unexpected for many of you. Change like this can be… uncomfortable. But I believe it's necessary if we want this hotel to survive and grow. I'm not here to make empty promises, I expect hard work from those who stay, and in return I will make sure the effort is rewarded."
He straightened slightly, his voice steady and final.
"That's all for now. I'll be in the manager's office for the rest of the day. If you have questions or concerns, come see me one at a time. Otherwise, please return to your normal duties until we begin the transition next week."
The employees slowly dispersed, some still whispering among themselves as they headed toward the staff room or back to their posts. Adrian watched them go, then turned and walked toward the manager's office, the same room he had sat in yesterday as the new boss.
The rest of the day unfolded in a steady rhythm of practical work.
He spent the first hour reviewing the employee list, payroll records, and current bookings on the old computer, the screen flickering softly under the desk lamp. Only three rooms were occupied at the moment. Two short-stay couples and one solo guest that booked for the entire week.
Adrian made a mental note, then called in staff members one by one.
Some asked practical questions about the renovation timeline. Others quietly submitted their resignations, sliding the forms across the desk with hesitant hands. A few long-time employees looked visibly relieved when he told them their contracts would be honored and their pay would be reviewed favorably if they helped with the transition.
Before letting the staff return to their duties, Adrian gave one clear instruction.
"Inform the current guests that the hotel will undergo major renovations starting next week. If anyone's stay is affected or needs to be shortened because of the work, we will fully compensate them either by refunding the remaining days or arranging equivalent accommodation elsewhere at our expense. Make sure they're treated politely and given options. I don't want any complaints."
The staff nodded, some looking surprised at how decisively the new young owner was moving.
By late afternoon the lobby had emptied of the initial crowd.
Adrian stayed in the office, making notes on the first upgrades he wanted. soundproofing for the upper floors, new bedding and lighting in four priority rooms, and a simple rebranding plan for the sign and website.
When the last employee left for the day, the hotel fell quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioning.
Adrian locked the office door, slipped out the back exit, and hailed a cab on the main road.
As the car pulled away from the curb, he leaned back against the seat and opened the System screen. His Villain Points balance sat at 512.
A tired wry smirk tugged at his lips.
'Other system users hoard their points like misers and here I am, spending them like a storm.'
The cab rolled through the evening streets, neon lights beginning to flicker on. Adrian slid the window down a little and leaned his arm on the edge, letting the cool night air brush against his face.
He stared up at the darkening sky, the first stars just starting to appear between the buildings.
He let out a long, slow sigh.
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AN: Hmm... Brain dead smut is easier to write for some reason lol. Pleasure is paramount and Greed is a voyage of the abyss.