Chapter 15 · 7 min

Chapter 15

15. An Unusual VIP Pickup

Thirty thousand dollars a night for thirteen nights made a total of $390,000,

roughly 550 million won.

Burning 550 million won in two weeks?

Just to eat breakfast and sleep?

Wow. World stars really operate on a different scale.

I never thought I'd actually see someone attempt the kind of thing only a guy like me with a trillion won in the bank could casually imagine!

Of course, our hotel now had a fire under its feet because we had to prove we were worth that 550 million won.

“Are the other preparations finished?”

“Yes.”

- Flutter.

At my question, a large sheet of paper was spread open.

It contained the two-week work schedule and service timetable,

plus detailed information such as the VIP's preferences and allergies.

“The breakfast buffet will be set up directly in the room every morning. If dinner is requested the day before, the barbecue company from our last festival has agreed to come.”

“James, Koa, and Al will also take turns standing by for room service!”

As expected of Frank, a hotelier with thirty years of experience!

It hadn't even been a week since the suite was created, yet everything was already neatly prepared to welcome the guest.

All that remained was the courtesy vehicle······.

“Normally it'd be a limousine or sedan, right?”

“Yes. Guests occasionally request something different, but Hawaii hotels don't keep that wide a variety of vehicles.”

A rental car was unacceptable.

The hotel's first impression couldn't be delivered in something we'd borrowed.

Of course, I had more than enough money to buy one.

The only problem was time.

“What did they say in LA?”

“Even the company that said they could ship one by air as quickly as possible couldn't guarantee it within a week.”

A week meant the singer Eve would arrive before the courtesy vehicle.

Even if I bought a car today, we'd be cutting it close once registration and other minor procedures were included.

“So basically, we have to solve this in Hawaii today.”

“Correct.”

There was no chance an expensive luxury sedan that barely sold would just happen to be sitting in inventory, so our only remaining option was used.

A like-new used car.

“Contact every rental company and used-car dealership. Tell them we'll pay full new-car price for anything under three years old, no questions asked.”

“Yes.”

“Wait!”

“Yes?”

A used car under three years old, practically new?

There was one.

In our own hotel parking lot!

Though it wasn't exactly a comfortable luxury sedan.

We headed straight to the hotel parking lot.

In one corner sat a car under a cover, lightly coated in dust.

- Flap.

“Pfft.”

When the cover came off, a cloud of dust drifted away and revealed the beautiful red body of the Ferrarin beneath it.

“This is······.”

“What was it again? Chili Spider?”

“It's the 13 Chilitrin Spider!”

“Yes, that.”

Ferrarin 13 Chilitrin Spider.

My car.

The one I'd bought with the incredibly nouveau-riche thought, ‘I've got money, so I should try owning a convertible at least once.’

Naturally, I'd chosen the most expensive convertible money could buy at the time.

Fully loaded, of course.

But its awful ride comfort, plus the annoyance of awkwardly waving every time someone shouted “Nice car,” had left it mostly abandoned exactly like this.

“Wouldn't this be a little impractical for escorting a VIP? It's a two-seater sports car.”

“It'll work.”

Not a guess.

A certainty.

And in the blink of an eye, four days passed and the promised date arrived.

***

May 14, outside the arrivals hall at Honolulu Airport.

“Looks like some celebrity's coming.”

“Yeah.”

Tourists murmured as they saw reporters with huge cameras camped out behind the barricades.

But the reporters themselves didn't look excited in the slightest.

(Seriously, do we really need all this just to cover some Japanese idols nobody knows?)

(Tell me about it.)

(I even have to get an interview.)

(I'm telling you now, the traffic's going to be awful.)

The reporters grumbled under their breath.

This was Hawaii, one of the world's greatest vacation destinations.

Thousands of celebrities and famous people visited every year.

Unless your name carried serious weight, you weren't newsworthy.

Each reporter had been forced out here for reasons they couldn't openly complain about.

Just as the bored waiting was becoming unbearable,

“Huh? Isn't that Eve Callaway?”

“What?”

“Where?!”

At someone's shout, every reporter turned toward the window.

Outside, Eve Callaway was stepping down from a private jet.

“Run!”

“Damn it! That's the private-jet terminal! It's far from here!”

The reporters abandoned even their tripods and sprinted out of the airport.

One photo alone could be a scoop, so they were running at full speed.

They had completely forgotten they'd come to cover the popular Japanese group 4X.

***

Had I been waiting beside the hangar for about an hour?

After finishing the formalities, Eve Callaway approached my car with a bright smile.

“Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Woo-jin, owner of Hale Makani.”

“I'm Eve Callaway. You waited a long time, right? The reporters delayed me a little.”

I bowed politely, only for her hand to suddenly shoot out.

After a slightly awkward handshake, I opened the passenger door.

“I'll take you to the hotel. Your party can ride in the van behind us.”

“Sounds good.”

- Click.

The passenger door gently closed,

and my sports car carrying a global star glided smoothly out of the airport.

“Nice car.”

“I'm glad you like it.”

“Look! It's Eve!”

“Hi!”

The unexpected small talk was briefly interrupted by fans who spotted Eve outside the airport.

“Eve! Look over here!”

“Nice to see you all!”

Every time we stopped at a light, Eve rolled down the window and waved.

As expected, world-star-class fan service.

“I've never been picked up in a sports car before.”

“I thought that if photos were taken, you'd probably prefer being seen in a sports car, so I prepared it specially.”

“Pfft. Thanks for being considerate.”

My gamble had paid off.

A convertible would attract far more attention than some dull sedan hastily bought from a used-car dealership.

And every time someone recognized her, Eve waved out the window with a smile as though she were riding in a parade.

“Sorry. I'm distracting you while you're driving, aren't I?”

“Not at all.”

Actually, she was.

But simply apologizing already put her in roughly the top one percent for personality among the singers I knew.

Of course, Eve Callaway was also the only singer I'd ever personally spoken with.

The drive to the hotel took about twenty minutes.

- Screech.

“We're here.”

“Thanks for the ride! Here's a tip!”

“Huh?”

As Eve Callaway got out, she pressed a hundred-dollar bill into my hand.

Huh? Didn't I just tell her I owned the hotel?

She must have forgotten while waving to fans outside the window.

I have over seven hundred million dollars in my bank account, and I just got tipped······.

This··· isn't bad?

It's strangely satisfying.

Feels like I actually earned money by working for the first time in ages.

I can't let this pass without posting it.

━━━━━━━

Pathological Liar Gallery

━━━━━━━

[General] Yo! Made over 150,000 won in tips just for driving someone lmaoooo

HotelMan | 2027.05.14. 10:32:59 | Views 310 | Likes 19

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Drove for like 20 minutes?

They just handed me over 150,000 won and said thanks.

When I think about how much money I have in my account right now, this is hilarious lmaoooo

Still, reminded me of the old days and felt good.

People really should work for their money.

Might do this now and then.

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└ Anon(39.7): This bastard lmaooo now you're doing chauffeur gigs too?

└ HotelMan[OP]: No, I got it for driving a guest.

└ Anon(39.7): Society has collectively agreed to call that chauffeur driving

└ CaptainChoiThePipe: This kid works construction and chauffeur gigs at night too? Young fella's pretty diligent.

└ Anon(101.73): Holy shit true lmaoooo

└ CutieCoco: lol that's a huge tip. You must drive well.

└ 2YearsOnFluoxetine(58.140): ↑Please, everyone, look at the name of the gallery..

└ Anon(290.31): But why isn't this a hotel diary?

└ HotelMan[OP]: Gonna write that when I get home later.

└ Anon(290.31): You're seriously diligent for no reason... You don't have to...

***

Honolulu Airport after everyone had left.

(Passengers departing for the mainland are advised that all checked and carry-on baggage will undergo Hawaii agricultural inspection······.)

- Whoooosh.

Amid tourists bustling through the airport, four men in flashy outfits stood awkwardly by themselves.

They were the Japanese idol group 4X.

“Hyung, shouldn't we go straight to the hotel?”

“They said they'd pick us up after the interview and once we came outside. Let's wait for now.”

“But no one's here.”

“They'll come soon. The manager went to check. Just smile and wave for now.”

“Nobody's even looking over here, so why······.”

“Someone's coming this way!”

“Hello! Would you like an auto······.”

“You can't stand here. This is a passageway.”

“Ah, sorry.”

***

At the same time, in the lobby of Waikiki Sun Beach Hotel.

“Why are those Asian singers taking so long?”

“The interview seems to be running long.”

Elena answered the chairman's irritated question.

“Really? Haha, looks like they're getting proper coverage. This is why spending money on publicity pays off.”

“I'll call just in case.”

“Leave it. If they're going to give us a proper headline, why ruin the mood? Let's wait patiently.”