“I never knew Kyra loved to gamble,” Ella said to Charlie as they watched Kyra at the poker table.
“She was a champion back in college. Don’t tell anyone, but she was a total hustler. Raked in the cash left and right for a while there.” Charlie’s eyes sparkled as she watched Kyra.
“What happened?”
“She met the man who would become her husband.”
“It’s always surprising how much I don’t know about you gals, even though we’re best friends.” Ella took a sip of her tropical drink.
“It’s impossible to know everything about another person, El.” Charlie wrapped an arm around Ella’s shoulders. “Enough contemplating and drinking; let’s gamble!” She dragged her over to a roulette table. “Now, time for you to be my lucky charm. Take a pick.”
“Shouldn’t you be picking if you’re gambling?”
“Come on, let loose, and bring me some good luck!”
The girls enjoyed themselves on Leon’s dime. After a while, they sat down to eat pub food in the lounge area.
“Since when is pub food this good?” Charlie moaned as she ate.
“Since this is a high-class hotel,” Alice said, picking up another chicken wing.
“But.” She held up her own chicken wing. “It’s chicken wings; how’d they do that?”
“You know, if you’re really planning on working here, you should learn how to eat without getting it everywhere.” Alice held a napkin up to Charlie’s face.
“Planning on? I start on Monday.”
“Oh! Didn’t even give your old job two weeks’ notice then? Wait, does that mean you’ve moved into the hotel and didn’t tell us?”
“She told me,” Kyra said.
Alice’s jaw hung open. “What gives? Why—”
Ella patted Alice on the shoulder. “You know now, good enough, right? I’ll be right back guys; the bathroom’s calling.”
Ella headed into the ladies’ room and used it quickly. She stared at herself in the large mirror for a moment. Ella Hunt… I guess I could get used to that. Hopefully, I’m actually up for it. She took a deep breath and went to leave.
Tack, tack. The door wouldn’t open.
“You have to be kidding me.” She tried a few more times, but it wouldn’t open.
Thud. “Ow!” She kicked the door and hurt her foot. “Hello?”
No one responded.
What’s with this bad luck? Wait, would something have happened if I went to the rehearsal? Is someone after me? But wait, there’d be no reason to be after me. I haven’t even met any crazy exes of Leon’s… assuming he has any. Her heart raced.
“Hello?” Ella called out again. She could feel someone on the other side, but they didn’t say anything. “Can you let me out, please?” Guess I’ll just call someone. She went to pull her phone out, but it wasn’t there.
“If you marry him, you’ll both be ruined…” a deep voice came through the door, but it was muffled like their mouth was covered.
“Oh, no… This can’t be happening.” Ella pounded on the door. “Please let me out,” she cried out. Her breathing went ragged, and she sat down on the floor by the sink. She shook out her hands and counted as she slowed her breathing. Seriously? I know Leon is a bit high profile, but so far, it seemed like we’d be okay, and no one was against us. Okay, his mom is iffy, but as long as Leon is happy, she’s fine. His dad just wants him married, that’s it.
Tack, tack, tack. “Is this locked?” Kyra’s voice came through the door.
“Kyra? Is that you?” Ella rushed up to the door.
“Ella? You’re still in there? The girls thought you went to gamble on your own, since you vanished a while ago.”
“Someone locked me in here, and I don’t know where my phone is.”
“Hold on, Ella; I’ll get an attendant to get you out.”
“Thank you.” Ella let out a sigh of relief. Nothing really happened to me other than a scare, so it’s not a big deal, right?
It took a few minutes, but Kyra came back with someone who had a key, and they opened the door.
“Why would someone lock you in here?” Kyra linked arms with her, afraid to be apart.
“I have no idea.”
“Did you see who it was? I suppose not if you were inside… Did they say anything?”
“It was all muffled…”
“So they did? I guess there’s no chance it was an accident then,” Kyra grumbled as she all but dragged Ella back to their spot in the lounge.
Maybe I shouldn’t mention it at all.
They sat down, and Alice was instantly beside her. “Are you okay?” Alice asked. “Kyra said you were locked in the bathroom.”
“I’m okay; nothing actually happened to me. Felt more like an immature prank than anything,” Ella said.
“But why? Are you finally getting some hate for being with the boss?”
Maybe it is that… “I don’t know, but it’s not like they hurt me. Although… has anyone seen my phone?”
“When did you last remember having it?”
“I’m sure I had it when we got here, but since I’m with you guys, I haven’t used it.”
“Let’s try this first, ladies.” Charlie pulled her phone out and called Ella’s number. “Hello? Who is this?”
“Lost and found.”
“The owner of the phone will be by to pick it up.” Charlie hung up on them. “I guess you did just lose it.”
I’ve never lost my phone before. “I suppose so…” Ella got up and Alice grabbed onto her. “What’s up?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask,” Alice said.
“I’m going to go get my phone.”
“Not alone, you’re not.” Alice stayed attached to her as they headed to the front desk.
“I know this place as well as you; I don’t think I needed an escort.” Ella chuckled.
“You know this has nothing to do with that. First, that weird thing at the rehearsal, and now this? I don’t think you should be alone right now… at least until we figure out what’s going on.”
“Probably just someone being childish; it’s nothing to worry about,” Ella said it more for herself than for Alice.
“I hope you’re right.”
“If someone was actually out to get me, don’t you think they would’ve done something more than locking me in the bathroom?”
“I guess… unless they knew you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re a bit prone to anxiety attacks, and that situation seems like one that could set it off. We’re lucky Kyra went looking for you.”
They stood at the front desk. “You have my phone?” Ella asked the person there and then told them her phone number and name for confirmation., even though they knew who she was.
The attendant looked at the listing on the phone. “Here you go.” they handed her phone back.
“Thank you. By the way, did you see who handed it in? I’d like to thank them, too.”
“No, sorry; the phone showed up when I took a break.”
“Ah, okay. Thank you, anyway.” Gripping her phone, Ella went back to the lounge with Alice. “So, have you girls had enough gambling and drinking yet?”
“I’m only a little drunk…” Charlie complained.
“Your words are slurring,” Kyra pointed out. “Do we need to call your husband to drag you out of here? He is in town still, right? He said he was going to go to the wedding, and he’s switching jobs, so I assume he’s available.”
Charlie pouted. “But—”
“For someone who misses her husband all the time, you seem reluctant.”
Charlie poked the tips of her index fingers together. “He’s… been restricting my drinking.”
“Good!”
“Hey!”
“It shows he cares. Now, I’ve had fun profiting from this party, and having drinks and food, so I think it’s time to head home. Alice—”
“Yup, I’m not letting her out of my sight until she’s in Leon’s arms,” Alice said, saluting.
“Good. I’ve got our drunkard.”
“I’m not drunk yet!” Charlie complained. She thought it took a lot for her to get drunk, and she was certain she knew her limit, though the rest knew she didn’t.
“If you want more, why don’t you drink with your husband? I’m sure he’s stayed up to wait for you to return.”
Ella watched the two of them leave and then turned to Alice. She raised an eyebrow at the odd expression Alice was giving her. “What’s that look for?”
“You’re hiding something, and I don’t like it. I also know you’re like a vault most of the time. Let’s go, too.”
Alice and Ella headed upstairs to Ella’s suite. Inside, they found Leon and Zeke passed out on the couch with several empty bottles around them of various types of alcohol. “Looks like Charlie would’ve preferred their party.” Alice poked at the bottles. Her gaze moved over to Zeke and she smirked. “Perfect chance to mess with him.” She tiptoed up to Zeke and poked his cheek. “Dead asleep,” she snickered and pulled out lipstick to draw on his face.
“What are you, twelve?” Ella rolled her eyes.
“Sometimes, yes.” She made a swirl on his cheek. “Ah!” The lipstick went flying out of her hand, and she found herself pinned to the floor.
“What are you doing?” Zeke grumbled, only half-conscious.
“Hmm…” The commotion woke Leon up. He saw Zeke and Alice, then Ella, and forced himself off the couch. “I don’t want to know what’s going on there… or what will happen.” He bumped into the coffee table and stumbled. Ella caught him, nearly knocking herself over in the process. “Thank you. Bed?”
“Sleep?”
He nodded.
“Yes, please,” Ella said. She wrapped an arm around Leon to help him to their bedroom as they ignored what was going on, with Alice and Zeke behind them.
As soon as he was in front of the bed, he collapsed on it, asleep.He looks so cute like this. He had a faint hint of pink on his cheeks. Ella struggled with the blanket to tuck him in before slipping in beside him. Am I really ready for it this time? Are you? She stared at him for a while before dozing off.
Continued in chapter 44.
Christina Maharaj 