>Charlie scooted back from her chair and slouched, stifling a soft burp
>"Wow, I gotta hand it to you Bel. When you said your people could cook, you meant it!"
>Belphegor raised a plump hand in thanks as he blotted his mouth with a napkin
>"The pleasure is all mine, Madame Charlotte," he spoke in a dignified French accent
>"After all, only ze best for ze daughter of Lucifer, non?"
>he stood up and hopped out of his chair, surprisingly nimble with all his bulk
>"Not to mention how I am ze second largest shareholder in zis hotel, of course.
>Imagine what ze other princes would say if zey heard Monsieur Belphegor served supbar cuisine!
>Quel dommage! Speaking of, I have another gift to celebrate my patronage!"
>he snapped his sausage-like fingers, and out stepped a slender, elegant man with black wings in a tuxedo
>"Madame Charlotte, meet Monsieur Astaroth, ze new head of hospitalité at ze Happy Hotel!"
>Charlie, flattered but a bit confused, stood up to shake his hand, only to see a snake pop out of his sleeve
>"Sorry, he's an emotional support snake of mine..."
>Charlie, of course, wasn't deterred
>"Aww, don't worry! I'm great with snakes, my dad had them all over when I was growing up!
>Anyway, pleasure meeting you, mister Astaroth! I've got to make sure everything's perfect for our first guests!"
>"Actually, let me handle that!"
>Astaroth hastily tucked his pet snake back in his sleeve and hurried off
>meanwhile, Belphegor shuffled over to Charlie and guided her over to a couch
>"Now, now, Madame Charlotte! You needn't worry about a thing, let Monsieur Astaroth handle zis!
>Now if you'll excuse moi, I'm going for a second round of dessert in the kitchens!"
>as Charlie watched the obese demon waddle off, she mused about how grateful she was to have him
>he had brought so much with him, far more than what that creep Alastor offered
>her eyes fluttered and she rested, dreaming of what her hotel would become...
