KAYLA'S POV:
The office had grown unbearably quiet.
The ticking clock on the wall echoed through the room like a constant reminder that I was wasting time, time I didn't even know how to use properly.
Files were scattered across my desk like a battlefield of numbers and contracts that refused to make sense to me.
I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temples.
"Why did my father love this place so much…?"
I muttered under my breath.
"This is a nightmare."
Just then...
Buzz… buzz…
My phone vibrated on the desk.
My eyes snapped toward it immediately.
An unknown number.
My heart skipped a beat.
I stared at the screen for a second before quickly grabbing the phone.
"Hello?"
There was a brief pause.
Then a deep, calm voice spoke from the other side.
"Kayla?"
My fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
I would recognize that voice anywhere.
"Ryuk?"
A low chuckle came from the other end of the call.
"So you do remember my voice."
I rolled my eyes, leaning back into my chair.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," I replied lazily. "I just remember useful people."
He laughed softly.
"That sounds exactly like the Kayla I remember."
I picked up the pen on my desk and began spinning it between my fingers.
"So you finally decided to call back," I said. "You're getting slower these days."
"I was in a meeting," he replied calmly. "But when my assistant said your name, I figured it must be important."
A faint smirk tugged at my lips.
"Important enough for you to interrupt your meeting?"
"That depends," he said. "What kind of trouble are you in this time?"
I sighed and glanced at the mountain of files in front of me.
"A very annoying one."
"Oh?"
"My hotel manager resigned," I explained. "The previous one also quit. The new one spent more time on leave than actually working."
Ryuk hummed thoughtfully.
"And?"
"And apparently she didn't pay the staff for an entire month."
Silence fell on the other side.
"So now everyone is coming to me asking for their salaries," I continued.
"I have no idea where half of the documents are."
I flipped through the files again with irritation.
"And these numbers look like they're written in an alien language."
Ryuk chuckled quietly.
"So you called me because you need help."
I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling.
"Don't make it sound so dramatic."
"But yes."
"I need someone who understands business."
"And numbers."
"And disasters."
"So naturally you thought of me."
I smirked slightly.
"You did say I could call you anytime."
"That I did."
Another moment of silence passed before he spoke again, his tone calmer now.
"Send me the financial reports."
I blinked.
"That's it?"
"No interrogation?"
"No teasing?"
"No long speech about responsibility?"
His voice carried a hint of amusement.
"You calling me is already surprising enough."
"And besides…"
He paused briefly.
"I owe you."
My eyebrows furrowed.
"You owe me?"
"Since when?"
"You'll remember eventually."
I frowned.
"I hate it when you talk in riddles."
"You'll survive."
I scoffed.
"Fine."
"I'll send the files."
"Good."
Then his voice turned more serious.
"And Kayla?"
"Yes?"
"If the situation is really as messy as you described…"
He paused for a second.
"You might end up losing the hotel."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
For a brief moment, I glanced around the office.
The polished wooden desk.
The tall windows.
The walls my father had proudly shown me years ago.
A small smile slowly formed on my lips.
"That's not happening."
Ryuk chuckled softly.
"I admire your confidence."
"But confidence doesn't solve financial problems."
"No," I replied.
"But you do."
Another quiet laugh escaped him.
"I see you're still manipulative."
"Efficient."
"Hmm."
"I'll look at the files," he said.
"And I'll call you again tonight."
The line went silent.
The call had ended.
Slowly, I lowered the phone and placed it back on the desk.
For a moment, I simply stared at the scattered documents in front of me.
Then I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.
A faint smile curved my lips.
"Let's see what you can do, Ryuk."