Walking through endless corridors, I scanned the room numbers so I wouldn’t get lost.
The hotel was huge. It was a palace built in the nineteenth century, now turned into a lavish five-star hotel. With the mixture of antique architect and modern decorations, it gave a feeling of royalty. From the paintings on the walls, the huge gold-plated flowerpots on both sides of the corridors, the gorgeous chandeliers shimmering with a golden glow, to the red carpet down the way, everything screamed money.
As soon as I neared my destination, I found the whole area separated from the others by a pair of glass doors. VIP Area was written in bold red letters on the glass. Two men in dark uniforms stood on both sides of the door.
Not again!
I remembered Carter’s warning about some restrictions.
Mentally groaning, I approached the VIP conference area. The guards straightened, noticing me, their hands blocking the way in.
“Our apologies, miss. But random people aren’t allowed here,” one of them said in their thick Russian accent.
Random? Who are they calling random?
My brows creased. “I need to go inside. It’s important. And I’m not any random girl wanting access. I’m Emerald Hutton, Achilles Valencian’s girlfriend and a board member.”
“We don’t know you. No matter who you are, no one is allowed to go inside whose name is not on the list. And you’re not on the list we were given.”
What the hell? Not allowed? Were they having a CIA meeting or something?
They were definitely not Ace’s men. Otherwise, they’d have immediately recognized me.
“Listen to me. I need to go in there, please. I need to talk to Achilles about something very urgent. Please, let me go,” I pleaded.
That rude man shook his head. “We’re afraid, we can’t, miss. We have strict orders not to let anyone in until the meeting is over.”
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. “And who gave you the orders?”
“Arthur Valencian.”
Of course. I should’ve known! That fucking leech didn’t want anyone to interrupt the signing. That’s why he put guards here.
I groaned.
What do I do now? They won’t let me in at any cost. I can’t even call Ace.
Damn it!
Wait, Carter must have access.
I looked over my shoulder. There was no sign of him. Where the hell was he?
Distancing myself a few feet from the guards, I dialed Carter’s number. He didn’t pick up.
Why isn’t he picking up his phone!
As I dialed again, I saw him approaching me with hasty steps, still panting.
“Carter, where the hell were you?” I snapped. “They won’t let me in. Please talk to them. You have access, right?”
“I do. But just to deliver these files,” he huffed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Hutton. I had to wait for the elevator.”
His words went ignored when my eyes found a shadow at the end of the corridor, around the corner. Someone stood there with their phone against their ear, their back facing me.
I knew the person very well.
Arthur.
What was he doing out of the conference room?
“Please tell them to let us in,” I said, not moving my eyes from that silver-haired villain.
Nodding, Carter went to the guards. But I stood there, watching Arthur. When he slightly turned his body towards me, I saw his face.
A smirk was stretched across his lips. With malice in his expression, he nodded at something the other person said through the phone.
Without realizing it, my feet moved closer to hear what he was saying to the other person. I managed a good distance not to come into his sight, but enough to hear his words.
“Is everything ready?” he asked, glancing down at his watch.
Then he nodded, old eyes sparkling with malice.
“Stay there. I’m coming.” He turned on his heel and walked away. But not towards the elevator, he turned down a dark corridor.
Who was he meeting here? Was it one of his partners who was involved in all his conspiracies along with Antonio?
I had to know.
“Ms. Hutton?” Carter called out, making me turn to him. “I’m going in, but unfortunately, they won’t let you through. Your name isn’t on the list.”
I cast a swift glance to where Arthur disappeared before saying, “No worries. You go in and give Ace my message. Tell him I’ll meet him in a few. Go stop him. I’ll be back.”
A confusion etched on his features. But before he could ask anything, I pivoted on my heel and followed Arthur, ignoring the way the guards shared a discreet look with each other.
I had a much more important task to do than thinking anything about it. Ace wouldn’t sign if he gets my message and wait for me. I trusted that. But now I had to find out if someone else was with Arthur in his plan to destroy us. Because if we kick him out of our company and life after I expose him before Ace, it wouldn’t be that beneficial for us if he leaves a minion of his behind to continue to betray us.
Today was a very important day for him. He was close to finishing his plan. And if he wasn’t in the conference room and going to meet someone, then it must be something important.
Turning left, I came face to face with a long, wide hallway. A man and woman were busy in a conversation, but there was no sign of Arthur.
Continuing down the hallway, I took another turn. I knew he came this way because there were no other routes.
But where is he?
Then a distant figure caught my eye.
Still talking on the phone, his silver-head disappeared around the corner. And I followed. Thanks to my sneakers, it didn’t announce my presence with loud clicks, like heels would have done.
I stopped in my tracks once he halted before a staircase that led upstairs. But at the foot of the stairs, ‘No Entry. Under Maintenance’ was written in bold words on a whiteboard, a barricade tape stretched across the way in.
And to my surprise, he ducked down the tape and climbed up the stairs.
Why the hell would he meet someone in a forbidden place?
Of course! So no one can see him.
Should I follow him?
I hesitated. If upstairs was under maintenance, and then no one would be there right now. The workers wouldn’t be there at this time.
But…I needed to know. I wouldn’t let him do any more chaos.
With a determination surging through me, I put my phone in silent mode and went forward.
Once Ace gets my message, he will call me. And I don’t want to get caught while spying on Arthur. Especially when no one will be there for my safety.
I knew this step could cost me a lot, but I would do it for my Ace. I wanted this backstabber out of our lives.
Once I reached the upper floor silently, I kept a good distance from him. His distance murmurs could be heard, along with his heavy footsteps. I glanced around. Compared to the rest of the hotel, this place was covered with dust. And it was eerie. Not to mention the flickering of lights every once in a while.
I froze as he suddenly stopped in his tracks, his shoulders went rigid. My breath caught in my throat as he put the phone down slowly.
Shit!
Just as he started to turn around, I jumped and curled into a ball behind one of the huge flowerpots. My back slammed against the wall, and I slapped a hand over my mouth to cover my whimper.
Silence.
I could hear my heart pounding against my ribcage as I waited for a sound. Sound of his footsteps.
But for some moments, there were none.
Then I heard him taking some steps closer.
No, no, no!
Closing my eyes, I shrunk against the cold wall as he approached. I couldn’t get caught.
As I prayed in my mind relentlessly, the blare of his phone echoed throughout the empty hallway.
His footsteps stopped.
“Hello?” His slimy voice reached my ears.
Silence.
And then I heard him again. “Yeah, I’m almost there. Did you bring your dogs with you?”
Dogs?
“All right, see you in a minute.” His footsteps retreated and slowly faded away.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Coming out from behind the flowerpot, I stood up. That was close. Thank God for his phone call.
I have to be more careful.
But what dogs was he talking about?
Without wasting another second, I tiptoed down the narrow corridor that led to another wide, darker one.
Gulping, I tried to ignore the fear knotting inside my stomach. I felt the pepper spray in my back pocket that I always carried and gripped my phone tighter in my hand. Just in case.
My heart thumped down my chest as I slowly peeked around. No sign of him. The corridor seemed endless, with endless rooms on both sides.
Sweat trickled down my spine as I took slow steps ahead.
Carter should’ve told Ace by now. Why hasn’t he called me yet? I hope he didn’t sign the contract.
I looked at the phone to see if there were any missed calls or messages. But there was none. Keeping an eye around, I called Ace. It went unreachable again. With a silent groan, I called Carter.
But it was switched off.
What the hell? What’s wrong with his phone now?
I tried again, but to no avail. It went directly to voice message.
Something churned in my stomach. An ominous feeling rolled inside me.
Why were both of their phones off? Ace should’ve switched on his phone by now. And Carter? He never kept his phone off, nor did he ever let his battery die.
Was everything okay?
And then I heard them. Male voices.
Following the sound, I came to a halt before a room with its door slightly ajar. Though the hallway’s light was dimmed, the room was bright enough for me to see every faces clearly.
