Chapter 5

My heart skipped a beat as I heard his voice. I lifted my head to gaze into his dark blue eyes, and his eyebrows raised in slight surprise.

I had never seen someone as handsome as Nicholas Shaw.

He wore a more formal suit than usual—shirt, vest, and jacket—each layer adding to his charm. His cufflinks shimmered in the lobby lights as he pressed the elevator button to prevent it from closing. His black suit matched the dark blue tie, perfectly complementing his eye color.

I continued staring as he called me for the second time.

"Oh." I stepped out of the elevator, standing in front of him with a hint of awkwardness. He seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Hey." I forgot my formal demeanor instantly.

"Are you still here?" he asked, corners of his mouth turning downward.

"I already mentioned I have work to finish..." I mumbled, my eyes dropping from his face to the top button of his vest. His perfume, a subtle mix of mint and something expensive, lingered in the air. Not nauseating like Oliver's cologne, but a scent of luxury.

I bit the inside of my cheek before speaking again, "Did you just come from the charity event?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. He nodded slightly.

Suddenly, I could feel the pulse in my neck quicken, my right hand moving to touch my neck. A specific area felt warmer than usual—where the scar was.

"I have to get something from my office, so I came back. I thought you'd be working from your hotel," he said, glancing at his watch before looking back at me. "I'll escort—"

"Nick."

The pulse in my scarred neck quickened. My eyes reflexively shifted to his brother standing behind him. The resemblance was unmistakable, but this one seemed more laid-back with slightly disheveled hair and a matching eye color. Gregory Shaw.

"Who's she?" he asked, hands in his jeans' pockets, not waiting for an answer as he continued, "Have you got it? I need to leave tomorrow morning."

Wait a minute. Slowly, my brain started working, forcing me to remember where I heard this voice before.

Mr. Shaw took a key from his jacket pocket and tossed it to his brother, who caught it casually.

"Get it yourself, Greg. I'll escort Miss Heather back to her hotel." Mr. Shaw replied. He held onto the key and nodded but his smile widened upon hearing his brother's teasing words.

"Ohhhhh... Miss Heather, huh?" he teased, walking into the elevator. His dark blue eyes shifted from Mr. Shaw to me, this time really looking at me.

We were just three steps apart, and I could see him clearly. Suddenly, his wide smile faded, replaced by a strange expression for a split second. Then the elevator doors closed.

Do I know him? I blinked several times in front of the closed elevator doors. Then I realized, it wasn't just my neck's pulse racing; it was my heart too.

"Eleanor?" Mr. Shaw's voice forced me to redirect my attention to him. He stared into my eyes for a moment before lowering his gaze slightly. I followed his gaze and pulled my hand quickly; I hadn't realized I was gripping his jacket since earlier. "Oh. Sorry, Mr. Shaw—"

"Do you know him?" he asked with an expressionless face.

"What?"

"Do you know Greg?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to remember. "I think I've seen him somewhere." I replied half unsure. "Ah, I need to get back to my hotel—"

"I'll escort you." He said before I could finish my sentence.

"But—"

"It's already 10 PM, Miss Heather. I won't let you go back alone." He interrupted, looking at his Rolex.

"My hotel—"

"I know where your hotel is." His blue eyes looked at me again, challenging me to refuse.

"My hotel is only a five-minute walk, Mr. Shaw." I said, trying to hold back my frustration. Well, actually, I'd rather throw myself at him.

"In that case, we'll walk." He replied, taking a step and turning back when I didn't move from my spot. "Miss Heather?"

Ugh. I walked towards him, and he turned his body slightly. "You're quite persuasive, Mr. Shaw." I muttered with a hint of formality and sarcasm. We walked through the lobby towards the bustling Manhattan streets.

"Used to getting what I want, Miss Heather." He replied in a low voice, making my stomach flutter. I ignored his last words and shifted my gaze to the lanterns being set up in a corner. Oliver mentioned something about a festival in Manhattan.

"Is there an event happening here?" I asked, pointing to the lanterns.

He turned to look at me. "Halloween. Some blocks will be closed for half a day."

"Oh." I nodded slightly while still looking at the lanterns. Some were shaped like pumpkins and bats. I had never seen a festival before, except for school festivals.

"Do you want to see it?"

I shrugged, "I have to go back this weekend." I replied, meeting his gaze. His raised eyebrows indicated surprise.

"Are you sure you only need a week? I can ask Mrs. Lynch to extend your work period."

I slowed down, his attention now fully on me. "You don't like Manhattan?"

"Oh no, Manhattan has the best bagel restaurants. I... just want to go home." I shifted my gaze from his eyes that seemed to penetrate into me. I wasn't surprised if he could make prosecutors in court surrender with just his gaze.

"Do you have someone waiting for you at home?" His tone was slightly strange this time.

I smiled again, "No. No one. I just... feel safer at home." I blurted out without thinking. "I mean... I don't really like being alone in a foreign place." I quickly added.

I didn't want to be alone after that night; his voice haunted every nightmare. I reflexively touched my neck, the place of the scar, with my fingertips. The skin around it felt a bit warmer. Odd, usually, this scar was fine.

"You're not alone, Eleanor." He murmured in a low voice. I just laughed nervously. We walked in silence for the rest of the way to my hotel, not the awkward silence like at lunch earlier, but a comfortable one. When we arrived at the lobby of my hotel, it started raining again. Mr. Shaw escorted me to the hotel lift, and after wishing me goodnight, he walked away.

"Wait—"

He turned back.

"I have some umbrellas in my room." I mumbled awkwardly, "It's still raining outside, and... and you don't have an umbrella. So..." Before I started rambling nonsensically, I shut my mouth.

Mr. Shaw smiled slightly and walked into the lift with me. The scent of his expensive cologne mixed with mint was clearly noticeable from such a close distance. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I could hear it in my ears.

Ugh. Ella, what did you just do?

The lift doors opened on the hotel floor, and I walked ahead into the hotel corridor, then stopped in front of my room. I rummaged through my bag for my key and opened my hotel room door. I stood there hesitatingly, wondering if I should invite him in.

"Um, just wait a moment." I muttered, inviting him inside. As soon as we entered, the last ringtone echoed from my hotel phone. A second later, a voicemail played. I let it play while searching for the umbrella I bought yesterday. Mr. Shaw leaned against the wardrobe in my hotel room, hands folded across his chest, observing me.

"... Ella? I've been trying to reach your cellphone all day. Are you working late again? Don't go home alone, okay? I don't want you to be attacked again. Call me as soon as possible. By the way, how was lunch with Mr. I-don't-know-his-name-because-he's-too-handsome? Do you know his name now? Call me—"

I dropped the umbrella I was holding and jumped to grab the hotel phone handle before Lana's sentence ended. I pressed it to my ear.

"Ella?" Lana's voice sounded puzzled from the other end. "Are you there?"

"Yes!" I felt my face reddening; I couldn't look at Mr. Shaw now, so I stood with my back to him. "Yeah, I just got back."

"Are you working late again? I've been trying to reach your new number all day. By the way, Oliver asked for your cellphone number for your manager. Should I give it to him?"

"I haven't charged my cellphone... Oliver? I already gave my number to Mr. Newman. Why does he need it again?" I mumbled, furrowing my brow.

"I don't know... Well, what about your lunch?"

I glanced briefly at Mr. Shaw, "I'll call you later, Lana. Okay?"

"What? I'm dying to know about your savior all day."

"I can't talk right now." I whispered urgently.

"Why—" Lana paused for a moment as if thinking, and two seconds later, she screamed so loud over the phone that I had to close my eyes, "Is he there? Is he in your hotel room?" she asked, half screaming.

"Goodbye, Lana. I'll call you later." I replied without answering her question, then hung up. I took a deep breath and turned back to Mr. Shaw, his expression unchanged since earlier, his blue eyes still watching me. I tried to force a smile, then grabbed the dropped umbrella.

"My friend is a bit... overly dramatic." I raised my hand to point to the phone before dropping it by my side again, "She's a bit... much."

"Thank you for escorting me, Mr. Shaw." I murmured quickly, handing him my umbrella. He nodded slightly, and I escorted him to the front of my hotel room, then he turned suddenly, almost making me collide with him. My heart raced again due to the close proximity; he suddenly bent down until his face was just inches from mine. I could see the dark blue color of his intimidating eyes clearly.

"Tell your friend... The name of the man is Nicholas Shaw." He whispered; his breath, carrying the scent of mint and champagne, brushed against my cheek. I could feel my face redden again. Then he pulled away.

"Goodnight, Miss Heather." He murmured, smiling, and walked away, leaving me standing frozen in front of my hotel room.

The night was filled with the sound of raindrops tapping on the window, and my heart echoed the rhythm of the rain, pounding in my chest.