Rodney escorted Zaijan back to their presidential suite on the top floor of this hotel.
The Peninsula has only twenty floors, but the hotel is vast and has more wings than the Empire Dragon Hotel, with only fifty-two levels in one building.
Zaijan quickly went to his room to get his laptop and brought it to the living room. He then called his assistant to fix some documents for him.
Meanwhile, Rodney took a quick shower. He wore dark blue jeans and a black shirt that emphasized his well-built body. He paired his outfit with brown boots and combed his hair with his fingers.
He now looked far different when wearing a tailored suit from a known brand. Tonight, he appeared more pleasant and calm, from the guy who always frowned when a woman kept looking in his direction. Rodney really hates it. He doesn't like to be looked at.
Rodney stepped out of his room and saw Zaijan already in front of his laptop. He doesn't want to interrupt the guy, so Rodney signals to Zaijan's assistant, Harold Hernandez, that he is going out.
Although Zaijan knew already that he was joining the men for drinks, Rodney always had the manners to let his older cousin know his whereabouts.
*
On the third floor…
Rodney made long strides, following the aisle toward the barroom; Matt texted him where to meet up, as that floor has two pubs. One has a solemn live show bar, while one is a noisy pub.
Christian chose the quiet pub as he could no longer tolerate too loud music now that he was getting old, and rare to have nightlife unless it was about business.
"Where are you?" Matt asked Rodney from the other line.
"I'm on my way."
"Hurry up, dude!" said Matt before he hung up.
Rodney put back his phone in the back pocket of his jeans and resumed walking. He takes a right turn when he passes by a woman.
He stops on his track when he hears a loud thud; an object dropped to the floor.
Rodney wanted to ignore the woman he passed, but he noticed she was in terrible shape. He isn't interested in paying attention to a woman, but his training teaches him to determine if someone's life is in trouble or was in danger.
Rodney groaned in his heart. His conscience cannot stand when he knows something is going on.
He turned around and looked at the woman. The blood on her face had drained. She leaned her forehead on the wall to seek strength, not to collapse.
Rodney's observation was using the knowledge he earned from his training.
"Miss, are you alright?" Rodney tried to speak tenderly, but he knew he always sounded irritated if he talked to other girls that are strangers to him.
"Go away."
It dumbfounded Rodney when the woman only rejected the help he offered. Once in a Blue Moon, he would approach a woman, especially give his service, but she only ignored him!
'Who the hell does this woman think she is?'
Rodney gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly. He wanted to leave this stubborn woman, but if she died here? Might he be pointed out as a suspect, or the internet blame him that her life was in danger, but he didn't help?
There are hidden cameras scattered throughout the entire hotel. He should not act carelessly.
Rodney sighed, then attempted to communicate with the woman once again.
"Miss, I'm here to help you. So I need to know how I can do that. Do you want me to bring you to the hospital? Or should I call the Front Desk for an emergency instead?"
"No. I just came from the hospital. I don't want to go back." The woman hurriedly replied to him.
"Then? What are we going to do now? Do you want me to take you somewhere where you can take a rest?"
"Toilet…"
"Huh?"
"I need to go… Ummm..." The woman stopped talking when she felt like throwing up.
Rodney was startled and panicked; might the woman vomited on the floor, and people mistook him for her company.
"Miss, don't throw up here! I'll bring you to the toilet now. It was just in the next corner!"
Rodney picked up the woman's briefcase he dropped on the floor and helped her walk toward the nearby restroom.
When they arrived there, it stunned the women who were currently retouching their makeup to see him entering the ladies' room.
But they remained silent when they noticed the pale woman he was holding looked not okay. Then she runs toward the cubicle and throws up on the toilet bowl.
The other women there shared a knowing look. They glanced at the woman who kept vomiting in the cubicle and then shifted their gaze to Rodney, who stood frozen near the door.
"Oh, congratulations. Your wife is pregnant."
"But perhaps you should comfort her as you rub her back."
It shocked Rodney when these women mistook him for the husband.
Wait… is the woman really pregnant? Rodney thought to himself; then he heard the other girls gossiping further...
"It must be their first child. He has no experience yet."
Rodney's ears buzzed upon hearing it. And the following opinion he heard made the veins on his forehead appear.
"Jeez…. The reason I hate men? They just love leaving their sperms, and when it forms into a fetus, they actually stop caring for us girls anymore."
'Well, the feelings are mutual! I hate you, women, too!'
Rodney protested, but he could not openly blurt out what was on his mind. He shut his mouth and chose not to correct the wrong assumption of these women about him and the girl he helped, who they mistook for as his wife.
Anyway, they also have a point. Since he had already helped this woman, he at least offered his service entirely.
Rodney went to the restroom corner, took a few sheets of paper towels, then handed them to the woman.
He studied her condition. She looked even paler than earlier he saw her.
They were alone in the restroom now, as those women had left already. The woman slowly takes steps toward the washbasin and washes her face. Rodney could tell she was too weak and trembling.
"Miss, you should have to call your husband or boyfriend to pick you up." Rodney's intention was good. But once again, he receives a glare from the woman. 'What wrong did I say?'
He was frustrated as he didn't understand why this woman was so stubborn. He had been helping her, but she was still the one who looked irritated between them.
Rodney is short-tempered when it comes to women. But he is just considering her, as she doesn't seem to look well.
"Miss, since I already helped you, then let me help you completely."
"I'm not pregnant. It doesn't mean I am throwing up; I expect a child. There are other reasons a person vomits."
Rodney had rendered speechless after the woman snapped at him. He pondered how to retort to this woman. Her explanation somewhat made him curious to know.
"I actually didn't ask for help. But since you act as a good samaritan, thank you," said the woman.
Rodney raised a brow when this woman thanked him, but she sounded blurting out with firmness in her voice.
"I am fine. You can go now," she is dismissing him.
Rodney remained listening to the woman. When he still didn't move from where he stood, she glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He meets her gaze, realizing that the woman is somewhat familiar.
'Where did I meet her before?'
Rodney heaves a long sigh, then shrugs a shoulder. He said, "Alright. If you think you feel better now, I will take my leave. Here's your stuff."
He placed the briefcase on the counter and left.
The woman just then remembered the things she dropped on the floor. The guy actually gave the care to pick them up. This briefcase contains an important contract.
Upon recalling what happened just a while ago, she couldn't help frowning. 'What a day!'
The woman picked up her stuff and made slow strides out of the restroom. She needs to reach her suite and get some rest. She struggled to take another step as she could feel her body was still out of energy.
She stretched her arms to reach for something to hold on to when she felt her surroundings are spinning.
Once again, she dropped her things and expected the floor to catch her falling body. However, she hit something else, and then she felt she was floating in the air.
"I knew I should not leave yet."
Fraine opened her eyes and saw the same man who had helped her a few minutes ago.
'So he came back.' Fraine felt all of her energy drained from her body, and even speaking made her unable. She opened her mouth, but it only trembled.
"Did you have a suite here?" Rodney asked Fraine.
She nodded and realized that the guy had started walking toward the door.
"Which floor?"
"In…"
"What?" Rodney saw her mouth move, but he couldn't hear what she said. "Come again? I can't hear you."
Fraine glanced at the floor and pointed at her bag. Rodney squatted down, and Fraine tried to grab her belongings, but she didn't have the strength to carry her stuff. Thankfully, a cleaner came in and helped them pick up the stuff.
"Thank you," said Rodney with a smile. When it comes to the elderly, Rodney is polite to them.
Fraine saw when he pursed his mouth into a genuine smile. This man is actually respectful to older women.
Rodney noticed that the woman in his arms was staring at his face. Instantly, he frowned, as he really doesn't like to be stared at.
"Now, which floor is your suite?"
Fraine realized she had been staring at him for some time now. She averted her gaze and pretended she had opened her bag. She pulled out a keycard and showed it to him.
"Okay." Rodney nodded, then walked toward the elevator and instructed the elevator girl on which floor they were going to.
Fraine tried to hide her blushing cheeks. She curses herself for being in that kind of situation. Now she has completely lost her composure in front of a stranger.
She doesn't want to owe anything to anyone. But she felt too helpless.
Being too ill; hinders her from relying only on herself.
'When will I be healed?'