"Thalia." Ben's voice echoed through the living room as he entered. Claire and I glanced up, admiring his handsome features. "I have to head to the company. Join me. I will discuss matters with you and Claire on the way there," he proposed. His voice was confident and businesslike. He offered me a sexy smile. There was a certain charm to it, yet there was also an unsettling feeling about it.

“Of course. Let me just grab my phone," I responded.

"Ben, do you really need me to come with you?" I asked. "I don't want to be an inconvenience."

Upon hearing my words, Ben's expression shifted into a displeased frown. "You need not worry about that," he stated straightforwardly.

“I understand what is troubling you,” I said gently. "I won't suddenly vanish like I did last night."

I could not just get up and leave Ben like that. It hurt my heart to think about leaving him, but eventually I had to. I needed to get away from that psycho who was after me. For now, though, I just wanted to soak up every moment with Ben.

"Considering that you are aware of what bothers me, it would be best not to make such a suggestion. Are we clear?"

I bit my lower lip as I slowly nodded, almost like a child who had just been scolded.

"Come. Time to go!" he urged with insistence.

Ben extended his hand towards me. Not wanting to prolong his wait any longer, I rushed over and grasped it. His grasp was firm, making me feel secure and wanted. Throughout my life, I have not experienced the feeling of being wanted by anyone except for my mother. She was my sole source of love and affection, but being desired by a man was a whole new level of appreciation and admiration. In some ways, they both felt sort of the same. Of course, it was not the same kind of love, but it was still this intense feeling of someone wanting you and seeing you as special.

"Claire," Ben beckoned her with a subtle nod as he turned towards the door.

With a resounding "ding," the elevator doors slid open, inviting the three of us inside. As the doors sealed shut, Ben's presence overwhelmed me. His unmistakable cologne was filling my senses and making my heart beat a little faster. I tried to keep my attention in front of me, but I caught sight of Claire glancing at us. She had this polite smile that was kind of unnerving, but I could not blame her. I stole a glance at Ben; his sharp features and confident stance made me quiver. When the elevator began its descent, a suffocating silence filled the air. I nervously fidgeted with my fingers while Claire focused on her phone and Ben calmly scrolled through his. However, just as we reached the midway point, the elevator suddenly jolted, and the lights flickered before abruptly shutting off. Panic set in as we were plunged into utter darkness.

"Is everything okay?" My voice trembled with anxiety.

The darkness seemed to close in on us, making it hard to breathe. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I desperately tried to control my nerves. Ben's presence moved closer to me, his hand gently grazed mine in the darkness. My heart fluttered at his touch.

I heard Claire's sharp intake of breath and Ben's reassuring voice. "The emergency lights should turn on any minute now."

Claire looked up from her phone with a worried expression. "I can't get a signal in here," she said, her voice echoing in the small space. I could sense her nervousness as she checked her phone again and again.

"Just my luck," I thought to myself as I closed my eyes and tried to calm my racing heart. Ben's fingers tapped away on his phone. He seemed to be the only one who was not affected by the situation.

"Ben." I spun around. "Any idea how long we will be trapped in here?" My fingers clenched onto the fabric of his shirt. I braced myself for the usual response of "stop overreacting," but to my surprise, Ben pulled me into a comforting embrace. A sense of relaxation washed over me as I breathed in his familiar scent.

“I am here so you can feel at ease," Ben reassured me as he gently placed a kiss on my head.

Ben spent several minutes attempting to reach the building maintenance team, only to learn that they were already addressing the issue. We waited in the darkness for what felt like hours, but it was probably only a few minutes. Finally, the emergency lights flickered on, casting a dim light in the elevator. I could see the relief on Claire's face and the calmness on Ben's.

“Thank goodness!" Claire exclaimed, breaking the tense silence. "I was starting to worry we would be stuck here forever!"

I let out a small laugh, relieved that we were not alone in this situation. I attempted to get out of Ben’s embrace, not wanting Claire to see us like that, but the man just kept his hold on me. Suddenly, the elevator started to move, slowly at first, then picking up speed. We let out a collective sigh of relief as the doors opened on the first floor. The fancy hotel lobby from last night took on a whole new appearance. The space now glowed with natural light. The extravagant serenity of the previous night had been replaced with a flurry of activity. Bellmen bustled back and forth, expertly manoeuvring luggage carts filled with suitcases and bags.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hunter," a voice from the desk interrupted Ben's steps. "Would you be able to spare a moment for me?" The young woman enquired hesitantly.

“Can’t it wait?” Ben snapped, refusing to budge from where he stood. His voice held a cutting edge of impatience and rigidity.

The woman visibly recoiled from behind the front desk, clearly taken aback and unsure of how to respond. It was clear that the interruption had frustrated him. As if the elevator incident hadn't already caused a delay in his departure from the company.

"These workers are so incompetent," he snapped, his voice filled with annoyance, and he strode over to the young girl.

"Why would she suddenly call, Ben?" I wondered aloud.

"Well, that's because Ben's family owns the hotel," Claire said. "Maybe it's some work related matter."

“What?”

Claire chuckled, noticing the surprise on my face. “Ben’s family has owned this hotel for generations now.”

I could not help but wonder what kind of family owns a hotel. My mind was straight-up buzzing with so many questions. Who were Ben's parents? How did they build such a successful business? His family must have been some sort of hustler. What was Ben's role in all of this? Was he contributing anything to his family business, or was he just a lucky heir? At this point, I could not help but question my judgment. What was I getting myself into? As much as my heart yearned for him, I knew deep down that I needed to leave. To go far away from the situation I had found myself in. Whatever was happening between Ben and me would not amount to anything in the long run.

"Are you okay, Thalia?" Claire enquired with concern.

Was my expression betraying my troubled thoughts?

"Yes, I am just peachy," I responded sarcastically.