Chapter:15
1435 Words
Alex tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she stepped off the bus and walked toward the grand entrance of the Central Centre Hotel.
The sun was warm on her skin, the city bustling with life as if nothing had happened the night before.
But Alex felt different now — more alert, more careful.
She adjusted her work uniform and clocked in, grabbing her cleaning cart from the back room.
Today was supposed to be just another shift, but she couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder every now and then, half-expecting someone dangerous to be lurking in the corners.
As she rolled the cart toward the elevators, she caught her reflection in the polished walls — a young woman who should have been worrying about exams and parties, not about bloodstains and gunshots.
She shook herself out of it.
Focus, Alex. Just another day at work.
The elevator doors slid open and she stepped inside, pressing the button for the fourth floor.
Maybe by the time her shift ended, she'd be able to convince herself it had all been a bad dream.
And maybe — just maybe — she'd find Ethan still waiting for her when she got back.
The thought made her chest tighten strangely... but she pushed it aside for now.
Work first.
Then... whatever this strange connection with Ethan was, they'd figure it out together.
---
The next morning, Alex pulled on her uniform and tied her hair up neatly. She moved carefully, still thinking about Ethan, who was back at her dorm resting. Her heart felt strangely heavy leaving him behind, but she needed this job.
When she arrived at the hotel, everything felt a little different. Every squeaky cart wheel, every closed door made her a little more jumpy than usual. She kept thinking about the night before — about Ethan bursting into that room, bloodied and desperate. About that kiss, unexpected and wild, still lingering on her lips.
"Alex!" her supervisor called out sharply, breaking her out of her thoughts. "You're assigned to the third floor today."
She nodded quickly and pushed her cart toward the elevators. As she cleaned the familiar hallways, her mind wandered. She realized just how easily danger could slip into the most ordinary places — like a hotel hallway — without warning.
She moved room to room, scrubbing, dusting, changing sheets...but deep down, she was counting the hours until she could go back and check on him.
---
As Alex was finishing up one of the rooms, she heard voices coming from down the hall. Two men, speaking in hushed, urgent tones. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but something about their body language made her pause.
One of them glanced her way, and she quickly looked down, pretending to adjust the linens. Her heart thudded against her ribs. Relax, she told herself. You're just being paranoid.
Still, she finished up quickly, gathering her supplies and pushing the cart to the next room. She couldn’t help but think about Ethan again — about how much trouble he might still be in.
By the time her shift ended, Alex was exhausted, both physically and mentally. She signed out, grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the hotel without looking back.
All she wanted now was to get home, see if Ethan was okay... and maybe, just maybe, get some answers.
---
When Alex finally got back to the dorm, the sun was just beginning to set, casting a soft golden light through the windows. She closed the door quietly behind her, dropping her bag with a tired sigh.
"Ethan?" she called softly.
From the couch, he stirred. Ethan sat up, a blanket falling off his shoulders. His color looked a little better, though he was still pale, and there was a small stack of tissues and a bottle of water next to him — signs he had been trying to take care of himself while she was gone.
"Hey," he said, his voice rough but steady. "You're back."
She smiled gently and moved closer, noticing how his eyes softened when he looked at her. "Yeah...long day," she said, sitting down on the armrest next to him. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks to you," he said, giving a small smile. "I owe you more than I can say."
Alex shrugged, trying to hide the warmth she felt at his words. "Let's just get you fully healed first. Then you can start figuring out how to pay me back," she teased lightly.
For a few moments, they just sat there, the room filled with a calm, unspoken connection. The danger outside still lingered, but for now, in this little corner of the world, they had found something like peace.
---
---
Meanwhile, back at the Richmond estate, the atmosphere was thick with frustration. Lucas paced the grand hallway, his jaw tight with rage. Days had passed and still no sign of Ethan. Every lead his men followed ended in a dead end, and his patience was wearing thin.
If I can’t find Ethan... I'll find someone he cares about, Lucas thought darkly.
He knew exactly who to target: Lily.
That afternoon, Lucas paid Lily an unexpected visit. He found her sitting outside the family stables, brushing one of the horses with a soft, distracted look on her face.
"Lily," Lucas called smoothly, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes curling his lips.
She looked up, surprised. "Lucas? What are you doing here?"
"Just checking on you," he said casually, stepping closer. "You know, with Ethan away and all... figured you might be lonely."
Something about his tone made the hairs on Lily's neck stand up. She kept her expression neutral and offered a small shrug. "I'm fine."
Lucas studied her, eyes sharp. "He’s still in Italy, right? Or did you two finally talk?"
Lily forced a light laugh, pretending to brush dust off her jeans. "Nope. Haven't heard a thing from him. You know Ethan... always terrible at keeping in touch."
She could feel Lucas watching her closely, and it took everything she had to keep her body relaxed. Deep down, her instincts were screaming at her — danger.
"Hmm," Lucas said, his smile tightening. "Strange. I figured you two were close. He usually tells you everything."
Lily just smiled sweetly, pretending not to notice the suspicion flickering in his gaze. "Maybe he's just busy sightseeing."
Lucas didn’t answer right away. He simply nodded, studying her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. Finally, he turned, tossing a glance over his shoulder as he left.
"Well... let me know if you hear from him."
Lily watched him walk away, her heart pounding. She knew, deep down, that Lucas wasn't fooled — and now he was more dangerous than ever.
---
After his tense conversation with Lily, Lucas didn't waste any time. He needed someone closer to keep an eye on her — someone Lily wouldn't suspect.
Ava.
He found her in the courtyard, leaning against a marble column, completely absorbed in her phone. She was giggling softly, her cheeks flushed pink as she played with a strand of her hair.
Lucas narrowed his eyes, stepping closer just in time to hear a familiar male voice through the speaker — Liam.
"You're ridiculous," Ava was saying, her voice sweet and playful. "Okay, fine, I miss you too—"
"Ava," Lucas barked sharply.
She jumped, startled, quickly ending the call with a fumbling hand. Her smile dropped instantly, replaced by a tight, annoyed glare.
"Can't you knock or something?" she snapped.
Lucas ignored her attitude. "You can flirt with your little boyfriend later," he said coolly. "Right now, I have something more important for you to do."
Ava crossed her arms, clearly irritated but curious. "What?"
"I want you to keep a close eye on Lily," Lucas said, voice low and dangerous. "I don't trust her. She's hiding something, and if Ethan reaches out to anyone, it'll be her."
Ava frowned. "You really think she knows where he is?"
"I know she does," Lucas said, stepping closer, his voice a whisper. "But she's not stupid enough to hand him over. That's why I need you watching. Every move. Every call. Every whisper."
Ava hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But you owe me for ruining my call."
Lucas gave her a sharp look. "Do your job right, and you’ll be rewarded."
As he walked away, Ava stared after him, her stomach twisting in discomfort. She didn’t like being used like this — but going against Lucas wasn't an option either.
Not yet.
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