At 8.00PM, Nigel left his parentsâ home after dinner and started driving back to his place. He turned the music up while driving and began to enjoy his alone time as usual when all of a sudden, he started getting the feeling as if he had left something undone.
Soon, a womanâs face popped up in his head. He narrowed his eyes. Right. That womans still at the hotel. She shouldâve gotten off work by now. Where did she go? Did she go home? But she did say she ran away from home and even refused to leave my place last night, so sheâs probably too ashamed to go home. That means she could still be at the hotel.
His brain was telling him to forget about Queenie, but his hands had already started steering the car toward the hotel.
Half an hour later, Nigelâs distinguished figure made its way across the hotel lobby. He had a pretty good idea of where he could find her. If she were still in the hotel, there was only one place she could be-the staff lounge.
He headed up to the floor with all the various lounges. No one else seemed to be around at this hour, and he started checking every single one of the staff lounges until he finally found Queenie all curled up and fast asleep on the couch in the lounge at the end of the corridor.
The air was chilly in the air-conditioned lounge, causing Queenie to curl up like a ball. Her hair was tied up, which left her beautiful face clear for all to see. As the light in the room cast upon her, her pretty features looked all the more mesmerizing. She looked even more alluring in her sleep. Nigel had to admit that she was a fairly attractive woman.
He started thinking that her fate would have been very different if another man had taken her home instead of him last night.
âHey! Queenie Silverstein! Wake up.â Nigel started calling out to Queenie.
However, she was sound asleep and didnât stir at all. Nigel had no choice but to resort to physical means. He started patting her soft, tender cheek with the back of his hand. âHurry up and wake up, Queenie.â
Queenie was startled awake at last. She shot up straight on the couch and looked at the man in front of her in fright before realizing who it was.
The anxiety in her eyes gave way to a look of child-like surprise. âItâs you! Are you here to pick me up?â
The look in her eyes and the words that came out of her mouth made her seem like an abandoned puppy that had grown to rely on Nigel. He felt a pang in his heart. Is she really that ecstatic that Iâm here to pick her up?
He stood up and said coolly, âWe have rules in this hotel. Employees are not allowed to spend the night in the staff lounge.
Queenie was still smiling. His words didnât affect her sense of joy in any way. She felt as if someone had extended a warm hand out to her at her bleakest point in life.
âAhh!â She had just planted her feet on the floor when she suddenly fell back onto the couch. Nigel, who had just turned to leave, turned his head around to look at her. He frowned and asked, âWhatâs wrong?â
She was a little too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. She massaged her calves and said, âMy legs have gone numb from the way | was sleeping.â