It showed a familiar picture hanging in the resort lobby. But where had Faye gotten the original photo that was signed at the back by the very family on the photo, the Thornton family, 1st generation Hoteliers? She squinted, wondering if Faye had any connection with the people in the photo. And why on earth would they give it to her?
The picture is something of a family heirloom so how come Faye has it?
Stella was puzzled.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Stella quickly returned everything to its original place, closed the locker, and stepped back, trying to look casual. As the footsteps approached, she saw it was just another housekeeper on her way to finish her shift. Stella nodded at her, her mind still buzzing with what she had discovered.
Stella knew she had to tread carefully. She couldn't confront Faye directly without more proof, but she also couldn't ignore what she had found. She would keep a close eye on Faye Reynolds and bide her time. If there was more to this story, she was determined to uncover it.
After Maria had passed, hurrying to meet up with her shift, Stella promptly went back to her ransacking of Faye's locker. She needed to find incriminating evidence that Faye couldn't deny.
Meanwhile, a few steps outside the locker room, Maxine suddenly stopped and smiled. Diane and Rachel noticed her change in demeanor and exchanged curious glances.
Rachel tilted her head. "Faye, why are you smiling like that? What's going on?"
Maxine turned to them, her smile widening. "I think I've seen my secret admirer."
The girls' eyes widened in surprise. "What? How did you know?" Diane asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Maxine chuckled softly. "I caught a glimpse of someone hiding behind one of the lockers as we were passing by. My hunch tells me that right now, whoever it is, is trying to put something in my locker."
Rachel looked skeptical. "Are you sure? What if it's just a coincidence?"
Diane, on the other hand, was immediately on board. "We have to see! Let's go check it out."
Rachel hesitated. "Why spoil the surprise? It's too soon."
Diane shook her head. "What surprise? We need to see who it is immediately."
With the majority agreeing to see, they all rushed back to the locker room. They moved quietly, hoping to catch the secret admirer in the act. As they approached, quietly and cautiously, none daring to make a sound, they saw Stella rifling through Faye's things.
"Hello, Stella!" Maxine greeted her with an intentionally loud voice. Stella started in surprise while screaming and throwing Maxine's bag high up in the air, all at once. The ladies thought she was going to have a heart attack because she was holding her fluttering heart afterward. But when she finally took a deep breath and glared at them, they lightened up.
The girls giggled, and Diane couldn't help but tease. "Stella, you're telling us that all this time, you have only been pretending not to like Faye? All this time you have been her secret admirer?"
Stella's face turned crimson. "What? No! I was just... uh..."
Rachel joined in, adding to Stella's discomfort. "Wow, Stella. Who would've thought? You've been hiding your feelings so well."
Stella stammered, trying to find a way out of the situation. "It's not like that! I was just... I thought I saw something suspicious and..."
The girls continued to giggle, making it so nerve-wracking and embarrassing for Stella that she left Faye's locker and walked away, her face burning with humiliation.
Maxine watched her go, feeling a small sense of victory. She had done that on purpose, hoping that this would keep Stella off her back for the time being and force her to focus on her own embarrassment instead.
As Stella disappeared down the hallway, Diane turned to Maxine with a grin. "Well, that was unexpected. But at least we know your 'secret admirer' won't be bothering you for a while."
Rachel nodded, still giggling. "And you handled that perfectly, Faye."
Maxine smiled, feeling the elation that comes after a minor victory, and a bit more confident about her mission. "Thanks, I wish everything that I have lined up was this easy to accomplish."
As they all left for their various destinations, Maxine knew she had to stay sharp and keep her wits about her. But for now, she could focus on the task at hand, feeling a little more secure in her position at Sunset Haven.
Back in her room, Maxine decided to close her eyes for a bit and take a short nap before preparing herself to step out that evening. The day's events had been exhausting, and she needed a moment to recharge. As she settled into the soft, plush pillows, her mind wandered to the nice man she had met the other day. She secretly wished she would get to see him again; his kindness had been a comforting contrast to the stress of her undercover mission.
The incident with Stella had been a close call indeed. Had they delayed, Stella could have gotten her notebook and read what was inside. The thought sent a shiver down Maxine's spine. That notebook contained sensitive notes and observations crucial to her investigation. She didn't realize that Stella had actually read the notes, only that she had dismissed them as mere journalling.
Maxine was thinking that maybe she should make Stella an ally, but not without finding out who she really was. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford to give freely. Stella's persistent suspicion had marked her as a potential threat, but perhaps there was more to her than met the eye.
Maxine decided to approach this carefully. If she could understand Stella's motivations and perhaps even gain her trust, it could turn a potential enemy into a valuable ally. But first, she needed to rest. With a sigh, she let the tension drain from her body and drifted off into a light sleep.
An hour later, Maxine woke up feeling slightly refreshed. She stretched and glanced at the clock. It was time to get ready for the evening. She had to blend in as a guest and gather more insights. As she dressed, she made a mental note to observe Stella more closely. She needed to understand the dynamics of the staff and who could be trusted.
Once ready, Maxine headed out into the twilight, the warm glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the resort grounds. She took a deep breath, ready to face whatever the evening had in store, with the hope that she might once again encounter Jeremy, the kind man who had caught her eye.
As Maxine strolled along the grassy path of Sunset Haven, the soft breeze played with her long, flowy white dress. The carpet of lush grass under her feet was comforting, and she felt a rare moment of peace. Suddenly, a grasshopper leaped into view, its vibrant green contrasting sharply against the dark green grass.
The sight stirred up old childhood memories of chasing grasshoppers in her family's expansive gardens. Before she could stop herself, she crouched down and tried to catch it, just like she used to as a little girl. With a swift movement, she scooped the grasshopper into her hand, her face lighting up with a nostalgic smile.
But as she stood up, her bejeweled sandals caught the hem of her dress. She stumbled, and a loud rip echoed through the quiet evening. Maxine looked down in horror to see that the skirt of her gown had torn. There was no way to fix it on the spot. She sighed, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her.
Just then, she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Need a hand, or perhaps a needle and thread?" Jeremy's voice had a playful lilt, and he appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as he often did.
Maxine turned to see him standing a few feet away, an amused smile playing on his lips. She realized he must have been watching her even before she'd stepped on her dress by mistake. So technically, it was his fault that she'd faltered.
"Jeremy!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "You startled me!"
"Sorry about that," he said, not looking sorry at all. "But it seems like you've got a bit of a wardrobe malfunction."
Maxine looked down at the damage again, feeling the fabric of her dress torn and hanging awkwardly. Then, her artistic instincts kicked in. "Well," she said with a determined glint in her eye, "if this was Xena, the princess warrior, she would turn this into an opportunity."
With swift, decisive movements, Maxine tore the rest of the skirt to create an asymmetrical hemline. She fashioned it into a more rugged, yet stylish, look that was surprisingly fitting for an island paradise. The new style showed off her legs and had a sort of adventurous elegance to it.