CHAPTER 2

Her most recent international travel took place when she was ten years old and her mother was still living. However, Daniella did not like the event. Her parents intended to spend her birthday at Disneyland, but they quarreled the entire day, and she ended up sobbing and unhappy in her room.

However, instead of reminiscing about a sad past, she took a cab from the airport to her hotel, checked in, and paid the room's security deposit. She walked towards the elevator that would take her to the nineteenth level, where her room was located, a minute later.

She disliked elevators after viewing a number of Asian horror films in which a ghost or supernatural figure appeared in the lift. She attempted to regain her composure as the elevator filled with visitors. She overheard their chats and was relieved that there was other Filipinos present. However, on the fifteenth level, everyone except her and a guy wearing a face mask departed the elevator.

She was apprehensive and fearful. When the lift doors opened, she instantly exited and headed quickly to her room. As Daniella turned around, the man pursued her, which scared her. She clutched the card key hard in her palm and raced towards the door. She felt secure only while she was within the room.

The man who followed her may have been a visitor as well, as his room was likewise on the nineteenth floor. If he intended to hurt her, she would already be dead, correct? Feeling brave enough to explore alone, she changed into a more comfortable attire for the winter. Then, se paid a visit to the restaurant close to the front desk and ordered her supper despite the fact that it was still early.

She was then on her way out!

Daniella returned to the hotel after two hours of wandering and exploring. She was exhausted. She was already nodding off when she heard faint noises coming from the other room. Although the hotel's soundproofing may be inadequate, she might bear it. It's simply that her neighbour's sounds seemed as though they were having a good time. It would be impolite to disturb them, so she switched on the television and began searching for something interesting to watch. However, regardless of the volume level on the television, she could still hear them... and it's simply excessive!

She contacted the front desk and demanded to speak with her neighbour. Finally, after ten attempts, someone picked up the phone. It was a man with a well-modulated, pleasant-to-listen-to voice. However, she was enraged and did not call to praise him. "Are you capable of muting your voice while having sex?" Without further ado, she informed him that she had the authority to report him to the front desk for producing a public disturbance.

When she was fed up, she decided to call the front desk and requested that her call would be connected to the room beside hers.

"Take care of your own business, sweetheart." The man responded, which enraged Daniella even more.

"How did you say that?" She yelled.

"Why don't you join us if you're bored?"

She hung up, fearful that she might lose control of her lashing tongue. Was she hearing correctly? Did he extend an invitation to her to join him? That bastard's nerve! Daniella was enraged as she returned to her bed and attempted to sleep.

Daniella awoke late the following morning, irritable and unmotivated to see any of the country's tourist attractions. She walked to the restroom, quickly showered, and then made her way down to the restaurant for breakfast. To be honest, she was famished!

It was a breakfast buffet, and all she needed to do was pick whatever she wanted to eat. She scooped up some rice, chicken curry, and placed an order for an omelette. Then she sought out a table that was somewhat apart from the rest of the guests. Before she dug into her lunch, she took a quick look around to see if there were any familiar faces. However, the majority of guests that ate breakfast were Chinese and Indians. There were just a few people whose country she couldn't discern, such as the man dining alone and situated one table away from her.

She locked her gaze on the man from head to toe. To be honest, he did look fantastic and quite beautiful. The man was tall and slender, with his long hair pulled back at his temple in an untidy bun. She despised guys with long hair because they were untidy, but she could forgive him for it, and his blue eyes were an added plus. Tan complexion combined with blue eyes creates super-hotness. What nationality may he be? She was perplexed!

She was caught looking at him once more! She shifted her focus to the steaming coffee and sipped it as quickly as she could. It was scorching, and she scalded her tongue! Daniella swore loudly, and the guy chuckled as if he had heard her. Alternatively, she simply assumed.

She then dropped her eyes and concentrated solely on her eating. Daniella returned to her room after breakfast to catch up on some sleep. Mr Blue Eyes approached her while she waited for the elevator, and he smiled at her. They were the only ones ascending, and she was delighted at the prospect of being confined in a tight area.

"Hello," he greeted.

Daniella nearly collapsed to the floor as he grinned at her. How did an angel come across her? “Hi. I apologize if you caught me earlier gazing," she said, and he nodded.

However, they were joined by a seductive woman who wasn't afraid to show the man how much she admired him. The lady inched closer to Mr Blue Eyes with her alluring body, and the bastard appeared to like it, and both of them left the elevator on the eighteenth level.

Daniella was dissatisfied that ladies flirted in plain daylight! It was her first time showing interest in the opposite sex, but it was doomed from the start. When she returned to her hotel room, she examined herself in front of the mirror. It was difficult to believe, yet her appearance was far from alluring or sensual. She exhaled heavily and covered herself from head to toe as she headed to bed.

However, she rose from her bed a few minutes later and opted to buy new attire at the second-floor department store. She need a good outfit, but all she had in her suitcase were slacks and simple shirts. Who knows when she'll meet the ideal man in Hong Kong? Mr Blue Eyes was undoubtedly considered for the position...but she despised someone who flirted with random strangers.

Marcus needed to exit on the eighteenth floor to avoid Daniella suspecting him. He simply took the stairs up one story. He waited until the woman was already in her room before rushing into his. He made a mistake by following her to the elevator immediately following breakfast. He couldn't take the chance of being identified!

The second woman came in useful in reversing his mistake. What if he introduced himself to the woman as a potential suitor? That way, he would be visible to her lovely eyes and it would be simpler for him to do his duties. However, fate has other plans for Marcus.

"Hey, are you going anywhere?" Marcus waited for the appropriate moment to approach the woman waiting for the third-floor elevator. He only hoped she wouldn't recognize his voice. He hadn't seen a woman in a long time, and when an acquaintance from his younger years flirted with him, he didn't resist and let her into his apartment. He was unaware that the person of the adjacent room would have the audacity to summon him and instruct him to speak quietly.

Marcus was intrigued by Daniella and desired to learn more about her as a person, not as a detective. Yes, he was taken aback when she called last night, and Daniella's complaint was really impolite. He assumed her to be an intelligent woman, yet her callousness and rudeness were beyond his comprehension. So what if she overheard him having sex with a woman? Wasn't she supposed to remain silent and oblivious to them?

She stared at the man who attempted to arouse her. "How are you doing, where is your girlfriend?" Daniella inquired since he appeared to be alone and flirting with her.

"Oh, by the way, I'm still single...and available! May I have your name, Miss Lovely?" He was aware that flirting with his subject was not part of his work description, but he couldn't stop himself when Daniella appeared too fresh and attractive in the morning.

"Daniella, and yours, if that's all right?" She realized Mr Blue Eyes was a good talker, and she wondered whether ladies wouldn't fall for him with those abilities.

"Marcus Madrigal," he said, suddenly regretting having given the woman his true name.

Daniella smiled at Marcus and offered her hand. "However, it was a pleasure meeting you, Mr Madrigal," she stated.

"Ah, Dani, just call me Marcus." He was back, calling her Dani when they were not in close proximity.

She grew uneasy when he addressed her as Dani. Nobody addressed her as such. At home, she went by the name Ella, which she despised because it was too feminine; she preferred Dani, or was it because of him?