LEAVE A NOTE

******FLASHBACK

As Theo made his way to the entrance of the hotel, he retrieved his card from his pocket, only to have a different card fall out with it.

A black card!!!

Before he could fully process his surprise, his phone chimed with a message from Paul. Apparently, Paul had predicted his visit to the hotel and had provided him with this black card, which promised free services and help in case things got heated.

"I've never touched a black card before. It feels so promising," Theo thought to himself.

******END OF FLASHBACK

His excitement was soon brought to a halt when the manager swooped in and snatched the card from Palma's hands.

"Where did you get that?" the manager demanded, examining the card in disbelief.

His shocking gaze then shifted to Theo. "This is an authentic card, so where did you see it?"

Clutching onto his phone, Theo shrugged off his hesitance and confidently replied, "I own it and I demand to be given a room with respect."

The manager's laugh was laced with skepticism. "You have the nerve after getting arrested? This time, it might be a new record. Theft!"

Unfazed, Theo remained determined. He needed to pay back the people who had often bullied him.

With a deep breath, he continued, "This card is a reward for my hard work and determination. It belongs to your company, and it would be a shame to let go of such an important customer."

The manager's tone suddenly changed. "An important customer, you say? Well, you're welcome to the hotel, but only if you comply with legal terms."

Taking a jab at Theo's shoulder, the manager smirked. Theo knew he needed to play his cards right in order to get what he wanted.

"You know what, I'll take my money elsewhere for now. As a nobody, I'll make sure to leave a review using the card. People trust the reviews of the BLACK card owner, not the owner's influence," he stated confidently, pulling out his phone.

But before he could do anything, the frantic manager reached out to stop him. "Wait, please. You can have the room," he pleaded, quickly adjusting his suit.

Theo couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had managed to solve a crucial problem without Paul's help, although he did rely on the mysterious black card.

The manager led him to his room, which turned out to be even more luxurious and farther away than expected.

Theo entered his room and swiped his black card to open the door. Immediately, the door extended open, accompanied by a robotic voice saying, "Welcome back. How may I assist you?"

He dropped his bags on the floor and flopped onto his bed, feeling overwhelmed.

"Today has been a tough day. I could go for some champagne and chicken ribs, but if I was a glutton, I'd probably order everything on the menu. Pathetic bastard," he grumbled under his breath.

"Noted! Your order will be delivered to you within the hour," the robotic voice replied.

"Fine by me!" Theo replied.

He opened his bags and realized he had forgotten about the precious thing he had hidden in the house from Gemma.

"I'll have to go back for it later," he thought.

******

The manager, who was in his office, frantically called Gemma after receiving a shocking update from Theo.

"She answered her calls," he said, out of breath. "What's going on? Why are you calling me in the middle of my yoga?"

"Your ex-boyfriend has a black card and I don't know what to do. Should I call the police?" the manager explained.

"A black card? How did he get that? Have you checked if it's fake?" Gemma asked.

"I did, and it's definitely real. I don't know what's happening, but you need to find out which company issued it to Theo."

"I'll deal with Theo. You find out about the company and give me a proper report," Gemma snapped before hanging up.

"It looks like I have a lot of work to do," the manager thought to himself.

******

GOLDEN SUITE, 006.

Two hours later.

Theo, relaxing in his deluxe suite, fell into a deep sleep after finishing his meal. He felt content for the first time in a long time.

He suddenly woke up, checked the time and realized it was already 6 pm.

"I should head back to my place and get that picture," Theo thought to himself.

He took a quick shower and put on some clothes he found in the drawer before stepping outside.

As soon as he stepped out, he was greeted with a warm smile from Gemma.

"Argh!" Theo exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, you're leaving? I was just about to come see you. Do you need anything before you go?" Gemma asked kindly.

Her gaze scanned up and down, taking in his extravagant attire in the lavish room. She clenched her jaw and then forced a smile.

Theo noticed her reaction and couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, I'll be on my way. Do leave a note on the door," he said with a stoic expression.

Without looking back, he took a few steps and she yelled out, "Where did you get that black card?"

"Again with this?" He turned around, his frustration clear.

"Am I a thief? Have I ever stolen from you?" He asked, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"I used to trust you!" she exclaimed.

"And now you don't? Look who's talking. I'm just a customer and I don't understand why you're accusing me of a crime. I could sue you for harassment," he retorted.

Theo burst into laughter, turned around, and called out, "Are you going to leave a note? That wasn't a reasonable conversation."

Gemma muttered to herself, "You should be the one leaving a note for me."

*****

Theo got out of the taxi and walked towards his apartment, only to find all his belongings missing.

The place was spotless, not a trace of dirt in sight. This was shocking.

Suddenly, his landlord appeared out of nowhere and greeted Theo.

Without wasting any time, Theo asked, "Where are my things? There was something important there."

"Something important? I don't remember seeing you with anything important. And you're just in time to meet the new tenant," the landlord replied.

"Oh, really? I would love to meet them," Theo said sarcastically.

The door to his apartment opened and a figure emerged, dressed in an expensive gown.

Gemma!

She wore a devilish smirk on her face and held something up in the air. "Looking for this?" she taunted.