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THE MEETING
If the outside view left my jaw-dropping, Esotera Court's inside literally took my breath away as I stood stupefied by the foyer.
Across the entrance were two marble grand staircases, adjoining at the center. Its flight of stairs was covered with dark-red carpet. By the area where the grand staircase met, there was a large portrait of a lush landscape under the scenic blue sky intended for everyone to see the moment they set foot inside. At the base of the adjoining area of the stairs hung a seemingly heavy dark-red banner with an intricate unalome symbol. It covered the wall under where a huge bronze pendulum clock was situated amidst the two grand staircases. Its somehow eerie ticking was the only sound slicing through the silence of the spacious marble-floored lobby.
A huge chandelier of glimmering diamond cuts was also hanging in the middle of the high ceiling, by which the entire surface had similar images in the painting, Dante and Virgil, in Hell.
My brows quirked up in amusement. It seemed like the owner is a Divine Comedy fan, eh?
Diverting my attention somewhere else, I darted to my left and right side. There were two deserted hallways on both sides: each one seemed too inviting to explore.
As my eyes continued to wander around, they got locked on the silver embossing of Esotera Court behind the reception desk on my far left side. Spread around the reception area, were sets of dark-red velvet couches and ottomans surrounding a glass coffee table with porcelain vases full of blooming Malaysian mumps.
It was only seconds later then that my lungs ached for air did I remember to breathe. I absentmindedly brought my right hand under my chin and pushed it upward, finally closing my parted lips.
Gradually, my forehead furrowed. My gaze lingered at the empty reception desk.
Where's the receptionist?
I shrugged my shoulders.
Maybe he or she stepped out for a break.
That could be the case since it was already past noon.
Someone cleared his throat beside me, effectively pulling me out of my thoughts. Jerking my head to the right side, I blushed when I caught the amusement gleaming in Oren's light brown eyes. I instantly frowned at him.
"I'm just appreciating the view."
Oren bit his lower lip, obviously trying to contain a fit of laughter.
That made me frown even more. "Laugh and I'll wring your neck."
Nodding and still stifling a peal of laughter, he beckoned me to follow. I followed his lead to the right side, where an elevator was waiting for us. Inside was a lady attendant dressed in red velvet pencil skirt and vest over ivory-colored long sleeves.
She greeted us with a smile. "Good afternoon, sir, and esteemed guest. Floor number, please?"
"Sixth floor, if you may," Oren said in which the attendant curtly nodded in response.
I couldn't stop myself from arching a brow when the lady attendant pressed the button corresponding to Oren's reply. Why would they need an elevator lady for a mere sixth-story building? Another thing . . . was it only me or this place lacked people lurking about?
Once inside, a soft ding had me glancing over my companion. Oren fished out something in his pocket─a phone─eyes widening after tapping its screen. For a fraction of a second, I thought I just saw horror crossed his eyes. I paid it no mind and kept my head straight ahead.
It only took a minute for the elevator to reach its destination as signaled by a loud pinged, and the elevator slid open. As it did, Oren immediately stepped out and I scrambled unto my feet to catch up.
"Enjoy your stay, miss."
I looked over my shoulder, nodding at the lady attendant as a response. Oren, who seemingly forgotten he had a company, was already a few meters away from me, completely in a hurry.
"Hey, Oren! Wait up!" I called out, but he didn't look back.
I called out his name again before he turned a sharp left and disappeared in my line of sight. I picked up my pace, feeling an increasing irritation building inside me.
That son of─ugh!
I came to an abrupt stop upon reaching the hallway he took, and was more than ready to shoot him a piece of my mind . . . only to fell into utter silence.
The long hallway ornate with large paintings of different sceneries on both sides of the wall was empty.
No Oren.
Baffled, I started to walk through the red velvet carpeted hallway, looking for a room he might have entered. Minutes of walking and I've finally reached the end of the hallway─no doors or any turns. No freaking Oren.
Where that insolent man could have possibly disappeared into?
I threw one last glance at the empty hall I strolled through. A single, stupid thought echoing in my head as the eerie silence of the entire place, I failed to notice moments ago, gradually get into me.
Don't tell me this place is haunted? I laughed nervously at the thought. Don't scare yourself, woman!
Exhaustion from traveling and anxiety wobbled my knees. I spotted a long cushioned chair fixed by the wall nearby and flopped down. I shook my head, massaging my temple as I felt drowsiness.
Stupid, Oren.
He could have escorted me to my designated room, at least, before vanishing into thin air. How gentleman! They were already extinct!
Chivalry is dead!
Crossing my arms against my chest, I sat cross-legged and hung my head low. My neck-length wavy hair was covering my face.
Consciousness slowly leaving me when I heard it; a faint whir of what seemed to be a heavy moving thing. A thud followed suit, and then a whirring, and a thud again. Light footsteps echoed in the hallway. I slowly peeled my eyes open as they got closer and closer to my direction. Then it was no more.
A pair of shiny black shoes appeared before my sight. Sluggishly, I traced it upward to its owner─black shoes, black slacks, black cashmere coat over ivory sleeves unbuttoned once and─
Gone was all the drowsiness as I connected gaze at the very familiar forest shade pair of eyes of a man standing before me.
Gone was all the thought I have in my mind as he stared back with much intensity─I couldn't look away.
Gone was my tongue; the devil must have stolen it, rendering me speechless before the presence of this man I often see around the university and even exchanged smiles sometimes.
Like a lightning strike, a quick rush of vivid, month-old memory flashed before my eyes. As it vanished, I gawked at his silvery white hair. The picture which my memory showed, appeared to be projected in front of my eyes. An unsettling sense of wariness suddenly sprung within me as I finally managed to open my mouth to speak.
"Y-You're . . . how . . ." I trailed, unable to articulate my thoughts intelligibly.
Fully aware of how astounded I was, he shot me a small warm smile. But what he did next wasn't something I was prepared for─and probably never would.
All I remembered he was standing and another second, he was kneeling in one leg. My right hand was on his, holding it gently; his soft, warm lips pressed against its back.
My breathing hitched, eyes almost bulging out of its socket. Heat rising to my cheeks and I couldn't help but flustered. My entire body felt like it turned into a statue; I couldn't move.
I felt his lips twitched into a wide smile as he took his time to look up.
"We finally meet here, milady."
Nani?
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