Chapter 2:

Lingering Curiosity

The next three days blurred together in a haze of fresh sheets and polished marble. I kept getting assigned to the fourteenth floor. Every morning when I checked the roster, Room 1407 was on my list. Ms. Vesper would just shrug and say, “Guest request. He likes consistency.”

I knocked louder this time. “Housekeeping!”

No answer. I let myself in carefully. The room smelled like him sandalwood and something richer. On the perfectly made bed sat a small cream envelope with my name written in elegant handwriting.

Hazel,

Thank you for your thorough work. The room has never looked better.

~ Lucian

I stared at the...