This is not happening. That was my first thought as Noah fastened his seatbelt and turned the car. This whole situation felt like one big joke. I almost expected a camera crew to pop out of somewhere, and exclaim Ha-ha! You have been pranked!

How was it possible that on my first ever work trip I was stranded in a flood in the middle of nowhere? There had to be an award for this type of shitty luck. And I couldn’t even blame someone else for this. Who was the person who insisted on tagging along with her own damn mouth?

Noah slowed down the car and looked through the sheeting rain. “The hotel should be somewhere around here.”

Maybe because I’d watched too many Bollywood movies with my mother, there was only one thought inside my head right now.

There won’t be a single room left in the hotel, right?

Now that would be absurd. I swallowed nervously and stole a glance at Noah. He didn’t look fazed at all. Was he used to such emergencies?

“There it is!” Noah pulled into the driveway and parked the car.

I stared up at the so-called ‘hotel.’ Even in the rain, I could see the cracks in the building. The signboard had worn off, so it read HOT instead. I already had a bad feeling about this.

Noah and I stepped out of the car. I waited for him as he took his gym bag from the trunk. We stepped inside the lobby, and I scrunched up my nose at the heavy scent of smoke. The receptionist switched off the TV and snuffed her cigarette on the ashtray. “Good evening,” she said in a bored voice.

I exchanged a hesitant look with Noah. He shrugged and walked over to the middle-aged woman. He started, “Hi—”

“We have packages for one hour, three hours—” She looked between us and showed off her tobacco-stained teeth. “—six hours. Extra charges for props.”

Blood rushed to my face, and I coughed. Just what services was this hotel offering? Noah maintained a professional tone as he said, “We would like two rooms for the night, please.”

The receptionist rolled her eyes and said, “Let me check the availability.”

There was no computer in front of her. Instead, she opened a drawer and rummaged around with her hand. I heard the clinking of keys and prayed, please let there be two rooms, please let there be two rooms…

She slammed two sets of keys on the table. “You made it right on time. These are the last two rooms left.”

I muffled my squeal and did a quick celebratory dance. Noah turned to look at me—as if to check if I had gone crazy—and I grinned at him. Only one room? A single bed? Ha! That stuff only happened in the movies!

Noah pulled out his credit card from his wallet. “Charge it on this.”

“Wait!” I hurried forward and unzipped my purse. “I’ll pay for my room.”

“Ms. Rose, you don’t have to—”

“I can’t make you pay for me, sir.” I took out my card as well and placed it next to Noah’s card. “Charge my room on this.”

The receptionist sighed, not at all impressed, and said, “We only accept cash.” She pointed to the sign behind her. CASH ONLY.

“Oh.” I bit my lips and shuffled my feet. Of course I wasn’t carrying this much cash. How was I supposed to pay now?

“I’ll pay.” Noah turned to me. “It’s a work expense. Will you help me reimburse the amount, Ms. Rose?”

I looked at him in surprise. Work expense? Right. We were on a work trip, after all. “Of course, sir.” I took my card back and gave him a grateful smile. He had somehow made this less awkward for me.

As Noah paid for the rooms, the door opened behind us. Cold air swooped in, and I looked back to see a young couple enter the lobby. I was about to turn away when I noticed the baby in the woman’s arms. The young man rushed up to the reception and asked, “Can we have a room for the night?”

The receptionist stopped counting the cash and brushed him off. “No more rooms left.”

“Are you sure?” he asked in a desperate tone. “My wife needs to feed the baby.”

She pointed at us and said, “They took the last two rooms.”

The man looked at us, and I gave him a small apologetic smile. He turned to the receptionist again. “Is there another hotel nearby?”

“A few at the coast.” She cursed as she forgot the count and started over again. Noah sighed and checked his watch.

“But the roads are flooded!” The man pointed outside. “And the rain won’t stop anytime soon.”

“Next ones are in the city then,” she said and motioned towards the couches. “You can stay here.”

Behind us, the baby whined and started to cry. The man rushed back to help his wife. They sat down on the couch, and the woman bundled up the baby in her arms. I looked at the weather outside and frowned. The baby was going to freeze in the lobby. 

The receptionist finally finished counting the money and turned to us. “Your keys. Rooms are on the first floor.”

Noah took one of the keys. I hesitated. My stomach twisted as I looked at the family’s desperate situation. How were they going to survive the night? I thought of the alternative. If we gave them one room, I would have to share a room with Noah…

Would I survive the night in that case?

My head spun. Noah picked up his gym bag and walked over to the staircase. He paused when he realized I wasn’t following behind. “Ms. Rose?”

I pursed my lips. What to do? Is it my sanity or a family’s safety?

Noah walked back to me and picked up my key. “Aren’t you coming?”

Without looking at him, I took my key back from his hands. I spun on my heels and placed it on the counter. “Please give this room to the family!”

That was it. I had done it. My heart thumped erratically, but I didn’t dare glance at Noah. I bit my lips. I should have asked for his opinion at least! 

“What did you say?” the receptionist asked.

Noah stepped up next to me and said, “Give the room to that family. We’ll only take one.”

I widened my eyes. Did Noah agree? I didn’t get a chance to ask because the man rushed over to the reception. He beamed at me. “Thank you so much!”

I waved off his gratitude and returned his smile. I turned away and caught Noah’s gaze. His expression didn’t reveal his thoughts. Was he mad? I gave him an apologetic look, but panicked inside. 

What have I gotten us into?!

The receptionist returned the extra cash to Noah. He didn’t bother counting it and walked away. Before I could follow him, the receptionist caught my eyes. A devious smile played on her lips, and she whispered, “Enjoy your stay.”