The Bottom CEO

A Stranger In Hallway

"Miss? Can you hear me?"

Savvy bent down and picked up the woman's phone.

The screen had gone dark.

No password.

No contact information.

Nothing that could help.

The woman reached for the wall again, but her legs suddenly gave out.

Without thinking, Savvy caught her before she could fall.

"Hey!"

The woman closed her eyes for a second.

"I'm... fine."

"No, you're definitely not."

Her breathing was uneven.

Her hands were trembling.

And her face was noticeably pale.

Savvy looked around the empty hallway.

"Are you here alone?"

The woman didn't answer.

That wasn't a good sign.

A hotel employee walked past the hallway entrance.

"Excuse me!"

The employee stopped.

"Yes?"

"I think she needs help."

The employee quickly approached them.

"Ma'am, are you feeling unwell?"

The woman slowly opened her eyes.

"I'm fine."

Savvy almost laughed.

Because she had heard that answer twice in less than a minute.

And it was still a lie.

The employee recognized her immediately.

"Miss Laurent?"

The woman didn't respond.

But the employee's expression changed instantly.

"Would you like me to call someone?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Something wasn't right.

And now Savvy was absolutely certain of it.

"Do you know her?" she asked.

The employee nodded.

"Yes."

"Then call someone who can help her."

"I'll contact her assistant immediately."

The employee walked away.

But before he could disappear around the corner, the woman suddenly grabbed Savvy's wrist.

"Don't leave."

She froze.

"What?"

The woman's eyes were still unfocused.

But there was something in them.

Fear.

Confusion.

Desperation.

For a brief moment, Savvy forgot about the party downstairs.

She forgot about going home.

She forgot about everything except the stranger standing in front of her.

"Okay."

The woman closed her eyes again.

"Can you tell me your name?"

No answer.

"Can you tell me where your room is?"

Still nothing.

A few moments later, the hotel employee returned.

"I'm sorry. I can't reach her assistant.

"Great."

He cleared his throat.

"Miss Laurent has a suite on the top floor."

"Can someone take her there?"

"We can arrange that."

But before anyone could move, the woman grabbed Savvy's hand again.

And refused to let go.

The employee looked just as confused as she felt.

"This is awkward."

"A little."

She looked down at the woman.

"Are you seriously not letting go?"

Nothing.

Only silence.

She sighed.

"Fine."

Several minutes later, they were standing outside an expensive hotel suite.

The employee unlocked the door.

"If you need anything, call the front desk."

"I think she needs a doctor."

"We'll continue trying to contact her assistant."

The employee quietly stepped outside and closed the door.

And suddenly...

The room became completely silent.

Savvy carefully helped the woman sit on the edge of the bed.

The suite was enormous.

A living room.

A dining area.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Bangkok.

This single hotel room was probably larger than her entire house.

"Rich people are unbelievable."

The woman looked at her.

And for the first time, there was a small reaction.

The corners of her lips moved slightly.

"Did you just laugh?"

No answer.

She sat in the chair across from the bed.

"Okay. Let's try this again.

"And you are..."

Silence.

"Very helpful."

The woman closed her eyes again.

Minutes passed.

Savvy checked the time.

Her friends were probably still celebrating downstairs.

Her family probably thought she was on her way home.

And Est would probably start asking questions tomorrow.

She should leave.

She absolutely should leave.

But every time she stood up, she looked back at the woman sitting alone on the bed.

And every single time...

She sat back down.

"You're lucky I'm a nice person."

The woman finally opened her eyes.

"No, you're not."

Savvy blinked.

"What?"

"Nice."

For the first time that night, she started laughing.

"Oh, so you can talk."

The woman looked away.

And suddenly, another wave of discomfort crossed her face.

Immediately, the laughter disappeared.

"Hey."

No response.

"Should I call a doctor?"

"No."

"Your assistant?"

"No."

"Your family?"

"No."

"You're making this very difficult."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Outside the window, the city lights illuminated the night sky.

Cars moved through the crowded streets below.

People laughed.

Music echoed somewhere in the distance.

And inside a luxury hotel suite, two complete strangers sat together.

A billionaire CEO.

And a basketball player from a delinquent school.

Two people who had no reason to meet.

No reason to know each other.

And no reason to remember each other.

Or at least, that's what they thought.

Savvy looked at the clock again.

She really needed to leave.

But then she heard it.

"Please..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Savvy turned around.

"What?"

The woman slowly looked up.

And for the second time that night, she said the same thing.

"Don't leave."