Rain’s heart clenched at the sound of her distress. She knew how much she had been struggling since Fay disappeared. Even though Rain didn’t think anything bad had happened to her sister, she still wanted to reassure her that she’d get to the bottom of it.
‘Don’t worry, Mum. I’ll find a way to get my foot in the door at that hotel. I promise.’
Sharon was quiet for a moment before she spoke again, her voice shaky. ‘Okay, but please be careful. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you too.’
‘Mum, come on. Fay’s not dead. You’ve gotta stop thinking like that. You know how she is.’
‘But she’s never gone this long without calling me. I just have this feeling that something’s wrong.’
‘Listen, I’ll call you later, okay? I need to go check into my Airbnb. But I swear, I’m gonna figure this out,’ Rain said, trying to sound reassuring.
Sharon’s sobs quieted, and Rain could hear the relief in her voice. ‘I know you will, buttercup. You’re such a good girl. You’ve never given me a bit of trouble.’
Rain couldn’t help but think about how different she was to Fay. Her sister had always been the drama queen, constantly stirring up trouble even though she was only two years younger. When Fay got the job at The Mayfair Heritage Hotel, Rain had hoped she’d finally settle down and start acting responsibly. But six months in, she’d vanished into thin air. Her mum didn’t want to get the police involved, and the hotel management had given her the runaround when she tried to find out what happened. So once again, it was up to Rain to put her own life on hold and clean up her sister’s mess.
She finished her drink and called an Uber to take her to the flat she’d rented for the next two weeks. It wasn’t much, but it would do for a place to crash until she found Fay.
After a quick shower and a bite to eat, Rain walked into The Mayfair Heritage Hotel’s bar just before one. She’d just taken a seat at the bar when her phone buzzed with a text. Rain quickly checked it, hoping Lauren wasn’t bailing on her.
Come up to the Penthouse Suite.
Rain’s lips parted slightly. The penthouse? When Lauren said she worked in management, Rain had assumed it was for some small company, not the kind of place that could afford to put employees up in five-star suites.
Rain headed for the lift, and when the doors opened on the top floor, Rain made her way down the corridor to the suite.
Just as she approached, the door swung open, and Lauren greeted her with a smile.
‘Right on time,’ Lauren said, sounding impressed.
‘I aim to please.’ Rain grinned.
Lauren moved aside to let her in, and Rain’s jaw nearly hit the floor. The suite was unbelievable – spacious and opulent, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of London’s skyline.
Lauren closed the door and led Rain over to a sleek black marble bar. She pulled a bottle of champagne from an ice bucket and poured two glasses, handing one to Rain.
Rain took a sip, savouring the way the bubbles tickled her tongue. ‘Mm, very nice.’
Lauren nodded in agreement as Rain looked around the room, taking it all in.
‘Gotta say, though, it’s a little cramped in here, don’t you think?’
Lauren laughed. ‘Totally. I’m thinking of asking for an upgrade.’
‘Don’t blame you,’ Rain said, playing along. For a second, she wondered if Fay had ever cleaned the very room she was now standing in. ‘But saying that, I think I’d keep it for the view alone.’
‘Well, in that case, I’ll hang onto it,’ Lauren said with a wink.
Rain sipped her champagne as she wandered around the room, admiring the artwork that probably cost more than she made in a year.
‘Wow, your company must really value you to put you up in a place like this,’ she remarked.
‘What can I say? I’m their star employee,’ Lauren said playfully.
Rain raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh yeah? Maybe I should put in an application.’
Lauren smiled and sat down on the plush sofa, patting the spot next to her. ‘Why don’t you come over here and sit with me?’
As Rain settled in beside her, she could feel the electric chemistry sparking between them.
I have a feeling this could be the start of something special.
Chapter Three
The phone rang once, twice, three times before the all-too-familiar voicemail message played in his ear. ‘This is Fay. Leave a message.’
He slammed his fist against the hotel room desk, his knuckles turning white from the force. He’d been calling her for days, but each time, the result was the same. Her phone was switched off, and she was nowhere to be found.
He paced the room like a caged animal, his mind racing with possibilities. Where could she have gone? His jaw clenched as a darker thought crept into his mind. What if she talked? What if she revealed what he’d done? It would be the end of everything. And that was a risk he simply couldn’t afford to take.
He grabbed his coat and keys, storming out of the room with a determination that bordered on obsession. He strode through the hotel lobby, his eyes darting around, looking for any sign of her. Denise, the hotel receptionist, waved as she called out to him, a look of concern in her eyes.
‘Hey, everything okay?’
He forced a smile. ‘Yeah, everything’s fine. Just a lot to do. I’ll be back soon.’
He had to find Fay, no matter what it took. He’d search every street, every building, every corner of this city. And when he did, he’d make sure she was no longer a threat to him. He wouldn’t let a cheap slut ruin him.
Not now. Not ever.
