Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

In the elevator’s close quarters, Eileen claimed a corner, her finger pushing the button for her floor. She watched the digits climb, trying to calm her quickened breaths.

Next to Bryan, Vivian’s complexion was flushed with anticipation, her lips a tight line. To quell her rising anxiety, she moved closer to Eileen. “Eileen, your efforts today haven’t gone unnoticed. Thank you. Rest tonight,” she said.

“I appreciate it, Ms. Warren,” Eileen mustered a small smile. As the doors glided open, she stepped through, courteously holding them for the others to step out before trailing behind.

Vivian hung back near Bryan, offering a subtle sign to Eileen with a playful wink.

Noticing Vivian’s bubbling excitement, Eileen paused momentarily before continuing to walk without reciprocating the gesture. A few paces away, she addressed Bryan, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll retire for the evening. If you need anything, I’m a call away.”

Bryan came to a halt, the others following suit, his eyes shadowed. “Why would I need to call you this late? What could I possibly need?” he said.

His jest, laced with undertones of discontent, didn’t escape Eileen. She acknowledged him with a nod, her cheeks warming as she entered her room.

Vivian’s voice was tender with concern, “Bryan, if you’re angry, take it out on me, not Eileen.”

Bryan continued walking, his expression stormy and unseen by all. Suppressing a yawn, Jacob made his way past Bryan, offering a casual farewell. “Enjoy your evening. I’ll go back to my room to rest now,” he said.

Settling in next to Bryan’s room, he inserted his key card, teasing, “Not sure if I’ll be needing earplugs.”

Hardly had the words left his mouth when Bryan’s playful ambush sent him straight into his room. Jacob’s protest was halfhearted and amused. “Watch it, Kian. Will you side with Bryan against me once he’s officially family?”

Exclusive updates available at gⱯlnσνeℓs․cøm Their playful scuffle lightened the mood, and Vivian, feeling somewhat relieved, readied her own entry, slipping into the room with a quick swipe of her card.

Observing Kian and Jacob’s exchange, Bryan smiled. “Why don’t you two join us for a bit? It’s still early,” he said.

Jacob paused mid-stride, taken aback by the invitation, and exchanged a curious glance with Bryan, whose gaze had taken on a sharper edge as he looked at him.

Meanwhile, Eileen became acutely aware of the less-than-perfect soundproofing, as sounds from the adjacent room floated through the walls, causing her heart to flutter with unease.

Seeking solitude, Eileen retreated to the sanctuary of the bathroom for a hot shower. Wrapped in the comfort of her blanket afterward, she reclined in bed and absently scrolled through her phone, finding a string of new messages from Huey awaiting her attention.

It seemed like Huey felt his abrupt departure from their call earlier was a bit odd, and his later message, insisting he was his own man, came across as slightly defensive.

Eileen couldn’t help but smile at his need to assert his independence. His youthful enthusiasm grew on her despite him not being her type. As she sent a casual reply, she thought about the game everyone was talking about.

To keep herself from overhearing any disconcerting sounds from the next room, she decided to try the game herself. Diving into a game was a welcome distraction.

After logging in, she noticed that Huey was already in the game, which explained why he hadn’t responded to her messages. Eileen took some time to get acquainted with the game’s various modes, considering starting with the practice rounds to build up her skills.

Just as she was about to enter practice mode, an invite popped up from ‘KnockWood,’ Huey’s account. She clicked on it, only to find the slots full, with her in it.

In the midst of the team’s chatter, Huey received a barrage of questions. “Who’s this new player? A bronze tier? Seriously?”

“KnockWood, are you sure you invited the right person?”

“We’re top-tier players here, and you bring in a noob?”

The skepticism and astonishment were clear, and though Eileen was not familiar with the gaming tiers, their tone told her all she needed to know about the gap between them.

“Then you guys go ahead. I’ll start a new game with her alone,” Huey announced decisively. Before Eileen could grasp the situation, she was ejected from the team and promptly reinvited by Huey. This time, it was just the two of them.

Despite the stark difference in their ranks, Huey, as the game’s creator, had no trouble circumventing the rules. He initiated a new game with Eileen immediately.

“See? Setting aside my team game with you,” he declared with a hint of pride. “Age is just a number, and I’m about being considerate.”

At a loss for words, Eileen hesitated, unsure how to respond. Any comment on his youthful eagerness might ruffle his feathers, yet she found herself unable to offer any compliment.

The game commenced, and she followed Huey’s lead, selecting her character with only a vague understanding of the game. She mimicked Huey’s movements on screen. As the symphony of game effects filled the air, her confusion was as evident as the cacophony erupting from her phone.

In a whirlwind of unexpected victories, Eileen found herself on a winning streak, claiming eight consecutive victories that catapulted her from the humble bronze tier to the illustrious Glory gold. Yet the thrill of the game was fleeting; she played solely to pass the time.

“It’s getting late. Time to rest,” Huey announced, signaling the end of their gaming session.

Eileen, caught off guard, had pegged Huey as one to flaunt his prowess a while longer. “You should get some rest too. Hope your mom doesn’t have to remind you,” she joked lightly.

Her comment, meant in jest, unexpectedly set Huey off. “Sleep? Not my thing,” he exclaimed.

Realizing she had inadvertently hit a sensitive chord, Eileen replied, “Alright then, I’ll go rest now.”

Feeling Huey’s dissatisfaction, Eileen quickly exited the game, casting her phone aside and trying to find rest. But sleep evaded her, adrenaline keeping her restless and alert throughout the night. The faint sounds from next door did little to soothe her racing mind.

As dawn approached, the fatigue of a sleepless night weighed heavily on her.

Resigned, she rose to refresh herself at five. With a few touches of makeup to mask the signs of her restless night, she ventured out, making a beeline for the dining area in search of an early breakfast.

The dining area was filled with early risers already enjoying their meals. They welcomed Eileen warmly, making room for her and filling her in on the day’s plans for a hike behind the resort.

“Are you all coming along, Eileen?” one of her colleagues inquired. “Mr. Dawson wasn’t exactly thrilled about hiking when it came up before and rejected Miss Warren’s offer. But it’s polite to ask him about it again today.”

Eileen pulled out her phone and sent a message to Bryan to get his take, half-expecting him to be catching up on sleep. His prompt response, however, suggested otherwise:

“Not going. Didn’t sleep. A bit tired. You should stay, too,” Bryan replied.

The message hinted at a restless night, mirroring her own. Puzzled, Eileen relayed Bryan’s decision to the group. “Mr. Dawson won’t be joining you. I’ll stick around—just in case. You guys go ahead.”

When pressed by a colleague suggesting she take the day for herself, Eileen’s resolve didn’t waver. “It’s fine. I’m not much for hiking. Besides, I’m here if anything comes up,” she said.

The breakfast crowd stopped chatting about this, each person absorbed in their morning meal until the room emptied.

Eileen, dressed in light purple sportswear with her ponytail a bit disheveled, watched from the window as people embarked on their hike.

Bryan, however, interrupted her solitude with a call. His voice, thick with a husky satisfaction, was brief: “Bring some breakfast here.”

“Okay,” Eileen responded. She revisited the dining hall, gathering a selection of breakfast items tailored to Bryan’s usual taste and not forgetting to include something for Vivian.

With a tray in hand, Eileen paused outside Bryan’s door, inhaling deeply before softly knocking and entering the dimly lit room. The sight of Bryan lounging with a bandage over his shoulder—a stark reminder of their intimate moments before—greeted her. He was half-dressed and smoking.

This scene was not new to Eileen. Bryan often smoked leisurely after having sex, a habit she disliked yet found oddly captivating in how it framed his figure. She usually watched silently, the ritual oddly mesmerizing.

However, the context now tainted the familiar scene. The smell of smoke mingling in the air turned bitter, as Eileen believed Bryan had just slept with Vivian. The once-familiar aroma now seemed to assault her senses harshly.

Paleness had crept onto her face, but the subdued lighting veiled her discomfort. Steadying her breath, she placed the breakfast on the table calmly. “Here’s the breakfast for you and Miss Warren.

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