Author's Preface
[Cont.]
[Annie]
I check my phone.
It's been ten minutes now since Kai stepped out into the dark storm, insisting I stay in the hut.
There's still zero cell service, and as far as I know, we're miles from civilization.
I have no idea how he actually expects to find help.
I sit in the quiet, listening to the rain beating against the roof while straining my ears for any sound outside.
A moment later, muffled noise breaks through the storm, and the door swings open.
A soaked Kai steps inside, his hair dripping and his wet shirt clinging to his chest, followed by two broad-shouldered men.
Kai glances between them and me.
"We'll have to find a place to stay for the night. We can come back tomorrow to inspect the damage."
Then, he gestures toward the men. "This is John, and that's Steven."
He turns to them. "…Annie."
We exchange quick, polite nods as Kai explains, "They're company staff who regularly patrol these sites. Since they knew we were coming out today, they happened to come check on us."
I breathe a small sigh of relief. "That's lucky."
"Let's head over to the car," he says, quickly glancing at his watch.
"The weather report is not favorable till next morning. I need to report to the Director and the site supervisor about the issue too."
Steven steps forward to help with my things.
"I've got it, thanks," I say, quickly packing my iPad and water flask into my bag.
I follow Kai and Steven outside while John stays behind to lock up and do a quick sweep of the hut.
I immediately spot two black SUVs parked near the trees in the dark.
Steven pops open a large umbrella, holding it over me as he guides me to the lead vehicle, opening the passenger door.
"Thank you so much," I say, offering a grateful smile as I climb in.
"No problem at all, ma'am," he replies with a brief nod before shutting the door.
Through the rain-streaked window, I watch him head back toward the hut.
The three of them talk for a minute under the porch light before Steven locks the front door.
John shines a flashlight to guide the way as Kai walks toward the vehicles.
For a second, I expect Kai to join me, but he walks right past and gets into the trailing SUV instead.
A strange tinge of disappointment hits me.
It's not that I need him next to me, but after everything today, he's the only familiar face here.
I watch as John climbs into the driver's seat beside me, while Steven joins Kai in the back car.
Engine revving, our SUV pulls out onto the muddy, waterlogged track, Kai's headlights illuminating the path right behind us.
"Um... where are we heading?" I ask, keeping my voice light as John negotiates a sharp turn.
"A hotel," he replies smoothly, eyes glued to the road.
"Right. Which one?"
He pauses for a split second before answering, "Just a few miles down."
I almost laugh.
It's the classic vague non-answer Kai always gives, but exhausted, I lean my head back as my eyes grow heavy and drift off completely.
[ *** ]
"Ms. Annie? We're here." John's voice gently wakes me.
I rub my eyes, checking my phone screen—I've been asleep for nearly forty minutes.
Outside, the heavy storm has died down to a faint, gentle drizzle.
I look out the window and my jaw nearly drops.
John steps out, comes around to my side, and opens the door for me.
"Oh, you really don't have to do that," I stammer, gathering my bag. "Thank you, though."
"Of course, ma'am," he says easily.
The formal title still feels surreal.
I step out into the cool night air and take in the surroundings.
This isn't just any roadside hotel, but a massive, sprawling resort.
Palm trees and neat lawns surround the entrance, with warm lanterns and fountains lighting the stone paths in the drizzle.
"You must be exhausted," Kai's voice startles me from behind.
"Let's check in. We still have work to catch up on tomorrow."
I turn to him, taking in the grand entrance behind us. "Kai... who's paying for all this? It looks incredibly expensive. Shouldn't we look for a cheaper option?"
Kai barely blinks, gesturing toward the lobby door. "Don't worry about it. It's on the company."
Before I can pry further, he's already walking toward the entrance, leaving me to scramble after him.
"Where are John and Steven staying?" I ask as we reach the front porch.
A uniformed guard holds open the heavy glass doors for us.
"They're staying elsewhere on the property," Kai replies without looking back.
We walk into the reception lobby and compared to the grand, open layout outside, the interior feels unexpectedly warm, rich, and inviting.
The receptionist greets Kai immediately, speaking to him with the ease of someone who recognizes him.
I glance around the grand lobby, looking at the high ceilings and artwork on the walls.
"Ma'am?"
I turn to find Kai, the receptionist, and a staff member waiting for me with a key card.
"I'll show you to your room," the staff member says with a polite smile.
"Sure, thank you."
Kai and I follow him into an elevator, up to the second floor, and down a quiet, carpeted hallway until he stops outside a heavy wooden door.
"Room 204. The executive suite," the employee announces, tapping the key card and pushing the door open.
He inserts the card into the slot inside, and the suite lights up softly.
He gives us a brief tour.
It's huge—a central sitting area, a separate bedroom with a soaking tub in the bathroom, a minibar, and a balcony overlooking the gardens.
"Breakfast starts at seven in the main hall," the staff member says, before gesturing to the phone on the desk. "Room service is available all night if you need anything."
I nod.
He turns to offer Kai a walk-through of his own room, but Kai simply reaches out. "I'll take the key card, thanks. That'll be all."
The employee nods politely and takes his leave, closing the heavy suite door behind him.
Once we're alone, Kai turns to me. "I'll send the initial report to the Director and site supervisor tonight. I'll let you know about tomorrow once I finalize the schedule."
"Okay," I say softly.
He hesitates, his hand resting on the door handle. "I'll leave you to get some rest. You've had a long day."
I nod again. "Thanks, Kai."
He turns to leave, then pauses, looking back at me for a long moment. "Reach out if you need anything. Seriously."
Our eyes lock for a beat.
"I will," I reply softly, letting the silence wrap around us as he closes the door.
[ ***]
Once I'm alone, I sink into the deep porcelain tub in the bathroom, letting the hot water work through the tight knot of tension in my shoulders.
I stay submerged until my fingers wrinkle and the water turns lukewarm, completely losing track of time.
Stepping out, I wrap myself in the hotel's plush white bathrobe, feeling refreshed—right up until my eyes land on the pile of clothes I tossed over the bathroom chair earlier.
I suddenly realize everything, including my undergarments, is dirty from the muddy site.
There is no way I'm putting those back on, and I haven't packed anything else suitable for sleeping.
Sighing, I walk over to the nightstand and pick up the desk phone to call reception.
"Front desk, how may I assist you?"
"Hi, I was hoping to get some clothes sent down for laundry service?" I ask, pulling the sash of my bathrobe tighter around my waist.
"Ah, I'm so sorry, ma'am," the receptionist replies. "Our laundry service closed at eight. Since it's already past nine, any items called in now won't be collected until seven tomorrow morning, with a standard turnaround time of noon."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Right. No problem, thank you."
I hang up, tossing the receiver back onto the cradle.
I guess I'm sleeping in a stiff hotel robe tonight and figuring it out tomorrow.
I'm just settling under the heavy duvet, a sharp pang of hunger reminding me that I haven't eaten properly all evening, when there's a firm knock on the door.
Frowning, I swing my legs out of bed, slip into my slippers, and pull the door open a few inches.
A hotel staff member stands in the hallway pushing a room service trolley covered with a fresh white cloth, holding a hot covered tray alongside two sleek, frosted boutique bags with silk ribbon handles.
"Good evening, Ms. Annie. These were just sent up for you from Mr. Kai in Room 208."
I blink, completely caught off guard. "Oh... thank you."
I wheel the cart inside, close the door with my foot, and set the boutique bags on the edge of the bed.
I lift the silver cloche on the food tray first—a warm, light soup, fresh crusty bread, and a hot pot of chamomile tea.
My stomach rumbles.
He noticed I skipped dinner.
Turning my attention back to the bed, curiosity wins over my confusion, and I open the first shopping bag.
I pull out a gorgeous, muted light-blue silk dress—simple, soft, and clearly high quality.
It's stunning, but before I can fully process it, I reach into the second bag.
Right on top of the tissue paper rests a small, folded note.
My hands shake slightly as I unfold it.
Annie,
I know the hotel laundry is closed, so I had a local shop send over a few things before they shut for the night.
The owner picked out the silk dress and the undergarments herself based on an approximate size.
I also had room service send up a light dinner since we didn't get to eat earlier.
If the clothes don't fit or you'd rather not wear them, feel free to just leave them behind—no pressure at all.
I just want to make sure you have what you need for the night.
Please know you don't owe me anything.
Kai
I pull aside the tissue paper beneath the note, and my face instantly burns.
Inside lies a delicate set of peach-colored lace lingerie that looks painfully expensive and deeply intimate.
I'm suddenly mortified as the realization hits me: Kai just bought me lingerie.
My first instinct is to throw the whole bag in the trash, but I stop myself.
Throwing away brand-new, ridiculously expensive clothes is absurd.
Okay, fine. I'll return them to him tomorrow.
I stare at the peach lace, then look down at myself, wrapped in a heavy, stiff hotel bathrobe over completely bare skin, with a pile of muddy, unusable clothes sitting in the bathroom.
The reality of my situation hits me: I literally have zero other options.
It's either wear this or spend the night uncomfortable and cold in a hotel robe.
I let out a long, slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose.
It's fine , I tell myself.
It's just fabric . Everyone wears it.
The shop owner picked it out anyway, and Kai is just making sure I have what I need.
I make a firm mental note to calculate how much all of this cost, reimburse him down to the last cent, and return the favor as soon as we get back.
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I pick up the peach lace and head toward the bathroom to get changed.