Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Chapter 21:

Eileen couldn’t tell how much time had passed. Night had fallen when Bryan finally released her. His arms enveloped her waist beneath the thin blanket. She tried to push him away without success and resigned herself to his hold.

A knock sounded from the adjacent room. In his embrace, Eileen stiffened. She turned, her eyes wide with alarm. “Miss Warren is in the adjacent room.” Vivian’s eyes, heavy with sleep, fluttered open at the knock. She went to open the door. Greeted by a figure outside, she groaned, “Kian, I’m still sleepy.”

“Come on, you need to eat. Why don’t you rouse Bryan? Let’s all eat together,” Kian said with a warm chuckle as he stepped past her into the room.

Vivian’s gaze fell on the sealed master bedroom door, a look of concern in her eyes. With a determined press of her lips, she knocked firmly. “Time for dinner, Bryan,” she called out.

There was only silence. Pivoting, she faced Kian, worry creasing her brow. “Could Bryan be so worn out that he’s still asleep? Maybe we should let him rest a little longer.”

Kian’s brow furrowed in a frown. He moved to the door, opened it, and found the bed untouched and empty.

A chill swept over Vivian, her mind racing. “Where has Bryan gone?”

Her expression darkened. She didn’t wait for Kian’s reply. Instead, she dashed to her room, slipping into fresh attire in haste. Coming out swiftly, she declared, “Let’s go find him.”

Thirty minutes later, Eileen and Bryan entered the dining hall. The team, back from their morning excursion, was buzzing with conversation and laughter. They made way for Eileen and Bryan as they approached and sat down. When Kian and Vivian arrived, they found Bryan at the center of attention.

Clad in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, Bryan reclined in his seat with a grin that commanded the room. Beside him, Eileen’s outfit was simple—a T-shirt and jeans, her hair swept into a playful ponytail. She was smiling as usual.

Vivian approached Bryan. “Where have you been? I’ve been searching everywhere for you,” she said.

𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Bryan met her gaze with serene assurance. “Couldn’t sleep, so I took a stroll. Are you hungry? They’ll be serving dinner shortly.”

His voice, ever gentle, seemed to brighten Vivian’s mood, and she relaxed, a smile warming her features. She glanced at Eileen and said, “I’m fine, not really hungry. But what are you guys talking about? It seems fun. Spill the beans!”

Eileen understood the meaning behind Vivian’s glance. Rising, she offered her seat with hospitable grace. “Miss Warren, why don’t you take this spot? I’ll go and see if they’re ready to serve dinner.”

“Sure,” Vivian replied with a nod. She settled in, casually joining the conversation with others.

Bryan watched Eileen leave, his gaze lingering on her, his smile dimming slightly.

Eileen had requested the kitchen to whip up additional fare, knowing the climbers had returned famished. Stepping out from the kitchen, she bumped into Kian, who seemed to have been waiting for her.

“Mr. Warren, are you hungry? The kitchen staff is putting the final touches on dinner,” Eileen said calmly.

Kian inquired, “What did you do this afternoon?”

“I took some rest in my room,” Eileen responded.

Kian arched an eyebrow. “Could you assist me with something?”

“Certainly. What is it?” Eileen asked.

“It seems you’ve lost an item. It must have slipped away this afternoon. Could you help me locate it?” With that, Kian took hold of Eileen’s wrist, ushering her outside. Despite her resistance, Eileen felt compelled to follow. “What have you lost, Mr. Warren? Where did you go after lunch? Should we organize a search party with the hotel staff?” she asked.

They reached the reception, and Kian said, “The specifics of what’s missing aren’t for public ears. Could you request a review of the security footage for me, Miss Curtis? Start around one. I’ve not roamed much, mostly staying on the top floor. Focus the search there.”

Meeting Kian’s gaze, Eileen sensed that his earnest facade thinly veiled his true intent—he didn’t want to search for a lost item; he wanted to find out about Bryan’s whereabouts this afternoon.

Seeing Eileen’s expression, Kian narrowed his eyes. “Is something troubling you? Don’t you want to help me find the lost item, Miss Curtis?”

Inhaling sharply, Eileen couldn’t bring herself to say no. After all, liaising with the hotel was her responsibility.

Addressing the front desk, she requested, “Could you show us this afternoon’s footage from the top floor, around one?”

The receptionist at the desk rose, acknowledging her with a slight nod. “Did you lose something?”

Nodding, Eileen explained, “Mr. Warren here has lost an item of great value. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.”

Kian added, “Inspect the footage near room 8808 and room 8809 if you would. I lingered in 8808 and passed 8809 on my way to the elevator.”

The subtext wasn’t lost on Eileen; Kian was suspecting something.

“The top floor’s corridor security is always active, Warren. Don’t worry; you’ll find the item you lost.” With a courteous smile, the receptionist reached for the phone, dialing to engage the surveillance team. “I’m connecting with our security lead now. Just a moment, please.”

Eileen’s complexion paled, a wave of anxiety washing over her.

She fought to hold steady under Kian’s scrutiny.

Observing her, Kian probed nonchalantly, “You seem under the weather, Miss Curtis. Are you not feeling well?”

Eileen offered a weak smile. “Adjusting to new places is a challenge for me. I had a restless night. I appreciate your concern, Mr. Warren.”

Kian’s response came with a gentle tease, “Trouble sleeping in a strange bed? Just endure it for a few days, and then you can enjoy your own bed’s embrace.”

Eileen’s smile remained, but she held her silence. At that moment, the receptionist got through on the call.

“Greetings. Could you check today’s top floor security footage, starting from one P.M.?” After conveying Kian’s instructions to focus on the area around the elevator, there was a pause on the line.

The receptionist’s expression shifted to one of regret as she ended the call. Then, she turned to Kian and said, “I’m afraid the top floor cameras suffered damage in the recent storms and are pending repair. My apologies, Mr. Warren. May I inquire what is missing? Should I send someone to look for it? Given that only your party occupies the top floor, it would be easy to track down your lost item.”

At this news, Eileen’s tension eased. She turned to Kian, saying, “You could specify what’s gone missing. We can begin the search right away.”

Kian’s expression shifted to one of amusement. “Don’t bother. It’s not of any importance,” he said.

With that, he sauntered off towards the restaurant, hands casually pocketed. Eileen offered the receptionist a thankful nod and left as well.

Once back in the restaurant, she chose a secluded corner and settled in. The buzz from her phone broke the tranquility; there was a message from Huey.

“Eileen, you owe me a big favor this time.”

Eileen furrowed her brows in confusion, pausing before replying, “My wallet’s thin, Huey. I don’t have the money to pay you back. Maybe you should stop sending gifts to others in the game.”

Huey’s reply came fast. “Money isn’t the issue. We’ll chat later. How about a game tonight?”

“We can talk about it tonight,” Eileen responded.

With a thoughtful gaze, Eileen sent her response. Bryan, reclining nonchalantly nearby, observed her amidst the ebb and flow of surrounding chatter.

As the dinner crowd gathered, a symphony of clinking cutlery and warm laughter filled the air. Eileen joined the table with Bryan and his companions. Vivian naturally claimed the seat beside Bryan, with Kian sitting beside her.

Eileen took a seat opposite Bryan, leaving the other spot beside him for Jacob.

Dragging his feet, Jacob descended last, stifling yawns and barely keeping his eyes open. “Count me out of the card games tonight; exhaustion got the better of me,” he said.

Bryan’s gaze flicked to Eileen, noticing her cheerful demeanor. He seemed to have understood something. As Jacob prepared to sit, Bryan suddenly kicked his chair away.

With a thud, Jacob met the floor, his face contorted in discomfort. “Bryan, what’s your deal? Are you trying to kill me or something?”

A cold smile played on Bryan’s lips. “Consider this a gesture to help you wake up.”

Jacob was perplexed, retracing his last few interactions with Bryan. He couldn’t remember when he had offended him. He stood up, dusting himself off, and resettled into his chair with a shake of his head.

Eileen bit back her laughter as she continued her meal.

Post-dinner, the group’s enthusiasm spilled into the hotel’s spacious karaoke hall. Eileen, self-aware of her less-than-melodious voice, skillfully dodged the microphone, leaving the spotlight to the more eager vocalists.

Bryan and Kian lounged among their peers on plush sofas, their laughter weaving through the air. Dressed in sleek sportswear, Bryan radiated a charm that was both effortless and captivating. His charisma didn’t wane in the relaxed atmosphere. Groups of female staff chatted in hushed tones nearby, stealing glances at Bryan and his friends.

Jacob approached Eileen, his face lit by his phone’s glow. “Eileen, I’ve roped in your boyfriend for tonight’s game fest. It’s all set up.”

He offered his phone to Eileen, showing a new group chat that included him, Bryan, Kian, Vivian, and Huey.

With a hesitant expression, Eileen weighed her words. “Gaming’s not my strong suit. You all can play without me.”

Jacob was quick to veto her refusal. “No backing out. It’s only fair for you to join since your boyfriend’s here. We’re teaming up for a friendly showdown—three on three. Think of it as a fun chance to brush up on your skills.”

Eileen had no choice but to agree to the offer. Huey’s growing presence in her circle was unexpected; she hadn’t anticipated that the game would make Huey and Bryan’s companions become close so quickly.

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