Chapter 7

• The elevator door closed, so Peri wasn’t able to answer the guest. Her face heated up. She pushed the open button, but she saw the guest was already walking down the hallway. When he turned his head, the elevator doors closed again. He smiled at himself.
• Meanwhile, Peri decided to go down, asking herself if the guest found it rude of her to just leave like that. She bumped a fist on her forehead.
• ‘What should I say to him if we meet again?’
• Her heart was pounding in her chest. She had no idea what to do.
• She stepped out of the elevator when it opened and headed to the laundry room.
• “Hey, you look distracted,” Lenny observed.
• “Huh?” she uttered, startled at her supervisor’s voice close to her face. She immediately stepped back.
• Lenny scrutinized her face with squinting eyes. “Don’t tell me it’s because of a guy,” she teased.
• “Eh?” was all she could say.
• “I knew it!” Lenny flicked her fingers delightfully. Her eyes danced with excitement. “Who is it? Do I know him?”
• Peri grimaced, weighing the odds if she’d tell Lenny about what had transpired last weekend and how her conversation ended just a short while ago.
• “No, no, it’s nothing. Just some… school stuff,” she murmured, not meeting Lenny’s gaze. She went on to busily unload the cleaning trolley to separate the soiled sheets and others.
• “Hmm. I thought your life has become colorful,” Lenny muttered, still giving Peri a suspicious look.
• “You’re quite imaginative, madam,” she countered, giving the supervisor a dull grin and quickly finishing her work. “I’ll go clock out.” She started to leave.
• “Hey, you’re starting to get cheeky!” Lenny teased her more. “I like it!”
• Peri hid a smile. It was gone when a female kitchen staff blocked her in the hallway. “What is it?” she asked.
• “A guest specifically ordered the kitchen to give this to you before you clock out,” the woman answered, handing her a paper bag.
• “Which guest? Should I send it to their room myself?” she inquired, bewildered.
• “No. Weren’t you listening? It’s for you.”
• “Eh?” She looked confused.
• Her colleague just grinned, didn’t give her more details and left her speechless. She wasn’t even able to thank her or the guest. She then peered at the paper bag in her hand again.
• “But I’m still going to the campus,” she murmured to herself. “Who has given me this anyway? Isn’t it unethical to accept this?” She grimaced, afraid to get in trouble if others would think it biased or something.
• Lenny caught up with her at the lobby, eyeing the paper bag in her hand. “Hmm. Someone’s being biased, isn’t there?”
• Peri pouted and handed the paper bag to Lenny. “The kitchen staff just handed this to me, and she didn’t tell me who ordered it. Could you take care of this instead?”
• Lenny’s eyebrow rose, pushing her hand back. “No worries, I’ll take care of the kitchen staff, so this thing won’t spread out and escalate. You go and keep it. We can’t afford to offend the guest who may not have any ill intent by doing this.”
• “But—”
• “I’ll talk to the guest, as well as to the management, to explain this kind of conduct, if necessary. Basically, it isn’t unethical or whatsoever. The guest was or is obviously happy with you or your service. For now, off you go. You might be late for your next job.”
• Peri couldn’t do anything but oblige. She thanked Lenny and left the hotel with an addled mind. She was lucky and grateful to have such kind colleagues and superior.
• At home, her grandmother and father were appreciative to hear this story. The beef pie was so delicious that Peri herself craved to eat more of it.
• ***
• Asher regarded Lenny, who knocked and stood outside his suite. “Yes?”
• “I’m sorry to disturb you, sir.”
• “It’s okay. How may I help you?” He glanced at the supervisor’s nameplate, taking note of it. He already knew this was the woman that Peri was always with. He had noticed it a few times already, so it appeared both women had a good relationship.
• “I’m here to talk about the gift you sent to one of our employees.”
• He curtly nodded, aware that what he had done could be inappropriate, since he had no idea about the rules. Still, he couldn’t help himself.
• “Oh, I apologize if it gets her in trouble. I didn’t mean it.” His eyes and facial expression reflected concern.
• Lenny smiled at him, shaking her head. “No, no. It’s alright, she won’t be. But may I know why you did it, considering it could get her in trouble?”
• “I learned she was the one who cleaned up the mess I did some days ago.” He shrugged, appearing nonchalant.
• The supervisor gave him a measuring look and slowly nodded. “Understood. I’ll let her know—”
• “No, no, please. Don’t let her know it was me.”
• Lenny’s eyebrows rose. She was intrigued. “May I know why, sir?”
• “No reason, just that,” he simply uttered with a stoic face.
• The woman gave him a mysterious and teasing smile at the same time. “Got it. I’m sorry again for bothering your resting time. I appreciate it. Have a good evening, sir.”
• He watched her leave and took a deep breath. He then closed the door to his suite, wondering if Peri would answer his question when they met again.
• He decided to take a shower, called room service and rested. And yet, Peri’s face seemed to appear in front of him, despite the fact that he was watching a stupid comedy show. He shook his head, drinking some red wine in the glass he was holding.
• His phone rang. Seeing that it was his PA, he immediately answered it. They talked about work, which needed his approval.
• “Just send it to my email. I’ll check it out tomorrow,” he instructed.
• “One more thing, Mr. Stewart,” his PA added before he could end the call.
• “What is it?”
• “Miss Williams was here, looking for you.”
• “Don’t tell her where I am, including my sister. I’ve already told you this, haven’t I?”
• “Of course, Mr. Stewart.”
• “Thanks for telling me, Charles.” He then hung up and released a deep breath. His head seemed to feel heavy that he rested it on the back of the comfortable leather sofa.
• ‘What does she want from me now?’
• He closed his eyes tightly. However, he could still see in his mind’s eye that silver-painted coffin being lowered in the ground one rainy day. His heart thumped hard. No matter how much time passed by, he could still remember that tragic day, and it hurt.