C7 Encounters

Lily

I groaned, frustration filling me to the brim as I faced another dead end. Almost twenty minutes had passed since I left Alexander's office, but I hadn't found it.

And considering the amount of time I'd taken, my chances of meeting Me Collins was becoming more and more bleak.

His office was the goal, but I'd committed my greatest blunder yet; I hadn't gotten the directions to it. I was in such a rush to leave Alexander's office that I hadn't thought to ask for it.

I glanced at the document in my hand, sighing.

Was I really going to fail my first official task like this?

I began walking again. As I navigated the surroundings, I took note of the different places I passed—a lavish ballroom with crystal chandeliers, a chic lounge with plush velvet sofas, and a corridor covered with a stunning art collection. Luminous Works truly lived up to its reputation.

Yet as I turned again, I found myself reaching another dead end.

My internal compass clearly failed me.

Direction had never been my strong suit but this time, I was completely lost.

Just as I was contemplating my next move, a familiar voice echoed down the corridor.

"Lost your way, Miss Lily?"

I swiftly turned in surprise to see Ron, leaning casually against the wall. I immediately straightened as he moved towards me.

"Ron," I greeted, clearing my throat.

‘This is embarrassing.’ I winced internally. It was the second time I was meeting him and I needed help again.

Swallowing what little pride I had left, I moved towards him. "I'm uh… looking for Mr. Collins' office."

He must have noticed my embarrassment as he passed a comforting smile.

"Don't be embarrassed Miss Lily. This place can be quite tricky, especially if you're new."

A touch of my frustration eased from his words. I sighed out in frustration.

"Tell me about it. I've been wandering for almost half an hour. You could say I'm lost.” I chuckled self deprecatingly.

‘At least this would be a nice tale to tell Malina’, I thought to myself.

I could have sworn his smile grew brighter. He moved towards me, a strange smile on his face.

"Well, how about this? I'll help you find Mr. Collins' office, but in return, you have to promise to give me your number."

I raised an eyebrow, surprise and confusion filling me. Did I hear that right?

"My number?" I asked again

He chuckled, his grin widening as he nodded "Yes. It's a small price to pay for my expert guidance through the hotel."

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating his proposal. Was he…trying to ask me out?

‘No,' I quickly denied. Ron's offer seemed more like a flirtatious joke than a genuine request.

‘Calm the heck down Lily' a part of me scolded, making me relax. Why not? It was just a number, it's not like he'd asked for a date or anything.

Plus, in the short time I spoke to him, he didn't seem like a bad person. Rather, he was entertaining to be around.

l couldn't deny the appeal of his company.

With renewed determination, I nodded.

"Alright, you've got a deal," I agreed, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

With that, Ron took the lead, guiding me through the corridors with confidence. As we walked, he regaled me with even more stories of his time at Luminous Works, constantly passing jokes that forced me to hold down my laughter.

I barely noticed the time or environment pass until he stopped in place. I did the same, looking around.

“Well, here we are." He shrugged, gesturing toward a door.

True to his words I followed his gaze to see the door imprinted with the name I was looking for.

Looking back at him, I smiled. He was a total lifesaver.

"I really appreciate this, Ron. There's no way I would have found this place without you." I thanked sincerely.

He grinned, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Remember our deal, Miss-"

"Lily. Just Lily is just fine." I said before he could finish.

Sure we were still in a professional setting, but he was also the first acquaintance I'd made here. He deserved that at least.

His grin grew wider. “Alright, Lily then…" he drew out.

Taking out a pen from my blouse, I carefully wrote my number down on his hand.

With a final nod of gratitude, I pushed open the door to Mr. Collins' office.

“Come in.”

Entering the office I gasped.

He was huge, easily the biggest man I'd ever seen. His slicked back chestnut coloured hair made him look even more imposing. He looked slightly older than me, with a shadow of a beard.

But what truly caught my attention the most was the scar that marred his face. I trailed my eyes over it. It was a jagged mark, as if it had been inflicted by some type of animal, though I couldn't guess what kind.

“Yes?”

His voice startled me up and I remembered where I was.

What was wrong with me? I was staring at him like some kind of creep. This was the most unprofessional I'd ever been.

Walking shakily towards him I handed him the document.

"Thank you," he said, passing me a small smile that surprised me. Immediately his face brightened up.

I would have expected him to be mean and scary, but instead he seemed kind. He hadn't even mentioned my faux pas earlier.

My heart lightened as I smiled slightly, nodding in turn.

As he looked at the document, I stood awkwardly in place.

Was I supposed to wait? Conflict filled me as I wondered my next move.

In the end I opted to leave, turning away only for his voice to stop me.

“Wait.” his thick raspy voice stopped me short.

Turning around, I met his gaze.

“You're Alexander's…new secretary, correct?” he asked.

I blinked in response before quickly gathering myself.

“Yes.” I answered, a strange curl in my belly. Why did it feel like he was asking me something else?

As if noticing my thoughts, he looked up at me as though searching for something. His eyes narrowed in a mixture of curiosity and something I couldn't quite decipher. His gaze bore into mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

A flash of gold made me stumble back. I could have sworn his eyes flashed. I blinked only to meet a pair of black eyes again.

What was wrong with me?

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. I realised that he was staring at me with concern.

I swallowed, a strange sense of disorientation lingering. "Yes, I'm fine. Just… a bit dizzy."

I hoped my excuse worked, but I couldn't fully wrap my head around it. Was it really just my imagination? It had to be. That or a trick of the lights.

His expression softened, and he offered a warm smile. "No need to worry. Happens to the best of us."

Relief filled me immediately. Luckily I hadn't botched things up.

He looked at me, giving me permission to leave. As he returned his attention to the document in his hand, I turned away, exiting his office.

That was…strange.

Pushing the thought away, I traced my way back to the office, using Ron's directions as a guide.

Relief filled me when I found a familiar corridor only to stop at a strange sound.

Someone was…crying?

I followed the noise, diverting only to find the source in an empty corridor.

A woman stood there, blonde hair up in a bun. She was crying heavily.

It was a heartbreaking sight, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse for her.

I couldn't stand by and do nothing.

I stepped forward, approaching her quietly.

As I drew nearer, she must have sensed my presence as turned her tear-filled eyes towards me.

"Hey, it's okay," I began gently, offering a gentle, reassuring smile.

"My name's Lily. What's yours?"

She hesitated for a moment. Then, with a sniffle, she managed a trembling reply. "I'm Lisa."

"Lisa," I repeated, committing her name to memory.

"It's nice to meet you, Lisa. I'm so sorry for whatever you went through."

Lisa gave a small, appreciative nod in response.Her posture slowly straightened as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. Though she stayed silent, it was clear that she appreciated my presence.

"So, Lisa, how long have you been working here?" I decided to strike up a conversation, hoping to ease the tension lingering in the air.

Lisa's eyes met mine, and a hint of warmth replaced the initial wariness. "I've been here for about three years now. I work as a junior chef in the kitchens. It's just... sometimes it gets really rough, you know?"

I nodded in understanding, "I can only imagine. It must be a demanding job."

Lisa's shoulders relaxed as she began to open up. "Yeah, it is. The head chef can be really hard on us, and it's not always easy dealing with the customers, either."

I leaned against the corridor wall, offering a sympathetic ear as Lisa shared her experiences. As we conversed, I couldn't help but admire Lisa's resilience and dedication.

As the minutes went by, our conversation flowed effortlessly, and I told a few hikes to help her cheer up. Soon time passed by and even though I still had plenty of work to do. I didn't regret it one bit.

Before we parted ways, I offered a genuine smile to Lisa, a newfound…friend? It was strange how I'd made two in a day.

As I made to leave Lisa called me back. "Before you go home, could you meet me in the lobby for a bit?"

I didn't see a reason why not, it was hardly any problem on my part. "Sure, but why though?"

She smiles kindly at me.

"It's a surprise." She winked before turning away.

Before I could say anything else she was already out the door.