Jaden's wrist was suddenly grabbed, and his heart raced with panic. He froze, not daring to make a move. Fortunately, the woman was still lying face down, so his identity remained undiscovered.
Jaden's mind worked rapidly. If he pulled away and bolted, the woman might immediately get up to check, and he would surely be exposed.
But now that she was holding his wrist, he couldn't leave either. Did he have no choice but to give this woman a massage?
After weighing his options, Jaden found no better plan. So, in a falsetto voice, he responded softly, then reluctantly placed his hands on her back and began to massage her.
The woman's skin was fair - just like Sherry's. But then, most beautiful women tended to have smooth, white skin, the kind of complexion that masked flaws effortlessly.
Still, this didn't help Jaden confirm the woman's identity.
As he pressed lightly, Jaden noticed her skin was taut, indicating she was likely young. This made him suspect even more that the person lying there was Sherry.
Tilting his head slightly, he tried to get a glimpse of her face, but the design of the massage table - allowing her face to rest fully in a cradle - gave him no such opportunity.
Left with no choice, Jaden continued his awkward massage, mimicking techniques he had only seen before.
Luckily, the woman didn't seem to notice anything amiss. She lay still on the massage bed, basking in relaxation.
The woman's curves were exquisite, with enticing areas covered by nothing more than a single towel. Any man would have found the sight difficult to ignore, but Jaden had no time to appreciate such scenery.
Without seeing her face, all Jaden could think about was finding a way to escape. He couldn't possibly keep massaging indefinitely.
What if the actual masseuse came back? Or if the woman decided to lift her head?
Trying to think of an exit strategy, Jaden accidentally used the wrong amount of pressure, prompting the woman to murmur, "A bit more force - focus on my shoulders and back."
This simple sentence was clear to Jaden's ears, and he immediately realized something.
It wasn't Sherry's voice. This woman wasn't his girlfriend.
Jaden's panic grew. If she wasn't Sherry, then he had no reason to be here. But where was Sherry?
Hadn't the attendant said that one of the women in the arriving group had entered this room?
Could he have made a mistake? Could the woman he saw earlier not have been Sherry at all?
Though Jaden tried to convince himself otherwise, he vividly recalled spotting Sherry through high-magnification binoculars.
As his thoughts raced, his hands slowed down.
"What's wrong? You seem distracted. Aren't you going to use the essential oils or at least apply some lotion?" the woman complained, sounding like she might raise her head to see what was going on.
Jaden was alarmed. If she saw him, it would spell trouble.
Instinctively, he reached out to press her head back down, careful not to use too much force.
Fortunately, the woman interpreted this as him massaging the base of her neck. She relaxed, and Jaden began kneading the area, feigning expertise.
Looking around desperately, he noticed some bottles on a nearby table. One of them seemed like it might be massage oil. Without thinking, he grabbed it and poured some onto her back.
Positioning himself in a wide stance, Jaden used one hand to massage her neck while the other worked on her back, keeping both hands busy.
"Not bad at all! Where did you learn these techniques?" the woman asked, letting out a satisfied sigh.
This accidental success seemed to please her, and she stayed face down, fully relaxed.
While tending to her, Jaden's anxiety mounted. He had been in the room for quite some time. Where was the real masseuse? Surely, they should be back by now.
How could he get out of this situation?
At that moment, Jaden's sharp ears picked up the sound of footsteps outside, growing louder as they approached.
Shit! Was the masseuse returning? What should he do?
Jaden's heart pounded. He stopped massaging the woman and used one hand to fumble noisily with the bottles on the table, creating the impression that he was preparing something.
Without waiting to see if she would lift her head, Jaden swiftly slipped into the adjoining restroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Just in time, the real masseuse entered, carrying equipment for cupping therapy.
The masseuse didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. She walked past the slightly open restroom door and gently nudged it closed before heading toward the massage bed.
Seeing this, Jaden quickly stuck out his foot to stop the door from fully shutting. Once the masseuse was focused on her task, Jaden stealthily slipped out of the restroom and exited the room entirely, closing the door behind him.
The masseuse glanced briefly at the door upon hearing it close but didn't react further. Noticing the woman's oil-covered back, she frowned slightly before politely asking, "Shall I begin the cupping therapy now?"
Unaware of what was happening inside, Jaden exhaled in relief as he crept down the hallway. That had been far too close, like something straight out of a spy movie.
Heading toward the exit, Jaden encountered another problem - the receptionist had returned to her desk. If he walked out now, she would surely question him.
With no other option, Jaden hid in a nearby corner, waiting for a chance to slip away unnoticed.
Fortunately, the receptionist soon left her post to attend to another matter, allowing Jaden to make his escape. Taking the stairs down to the next floor, he finally felt a sense of relief and gratitude.
Catching his breath, Jaden's thoughts returned to Sherry. He was sure he had seen her enter the elevator with a group, and the elevator had stopped on the eighth floor. Where could she have gone?
Could it really have been someone else he had seen?
Considering returning to investigate, Jaden decided against it. He had already taken enough risks, and there was no point in pushing his luck.
Besides, while he wanted to confirm Sherry's presence at the resort, he didn't want her to notice him.
Checking the time, he realized it was nearly mealtime. Opting to head to the dining area, Jaden found a secluded corner to sit in.
The resort's attentive staff approached to take his order even though it wasn't officially mealtime yet. Without much thought, Jaden ordered a drink and stayed in the shadows, quietly observing everyone entering and leaving the restaurant.
As the dining hall filled, Jaden kept his focus on the women, scanning for any sign of Sherry.
Eventually, a group of men entered through another doorway. Jaden's eyes lit up - he thought he spotted Sherry among them.
Leaning forward slightly, he strained to catch a glimpse of the woman's face. Just a little closer, and he'd have a clear view…