A scavenger hunt

CHAPTER 33: A SCAVENGER HUNT (1)

RACHEL'S POV

When I wake up the next morning, the room feels eerily quiet. For a moment, I forget where I am, but then the events of last night come rushing back. The awkward agreement, the unexpected roommate situation, and the fact that Noah had insisted on taking the couch even after I offered that I could take the couch instead, or we could share the bed. But he had brutally refused. 

I sit up, my fingers brushing against the empty space beside me. The bed is massive—easily big enough for two—but that would have been way too weird. We’ve never shared a bed before, and honestly, I can’t even imagine what that would have been like.

I would probably spend the whole night not sleeping.

With a small shake of my head, I push off the covers and stretch. Noah is nowhere to be seen, and there’s no sign that he was ever here, apart from the slightly rumpled couch. Figures. He probably woke up at the crack of dawn and went off to do whatever rich, brooding bosses do. Not that I care.

I grab some fresh clothes and head into the bathroom, letting the warm water chase away the remnants of sleep. Once I’m dressed, I pull my hair into a neat ponytail and step out of the room, ready to face Day 2 of this event.

The kitchen is already bustling when I arrive. The clatter of pots and pans fills the air, along with the mouthwatering scent of something sweet baking in the ovens. Beatrice is at her usual station, barking quiet orders to a junior chef while keeping an eye on the simmering pot in front of her.

   “Morning,” I greet, grabbing an apron from the rack.

Beatrice turns to me with a small smile. “Morning, Rachel. How was your night?"

   "Not bad."

  "Good. You were trying to reach me yesterday?”

Oh. Right.

I hesitate for a second, then force a smile. “Yeah, but it’s nothing important. I got it sorted out.”

No way am I telling her that I’m now sharing a room with our boss—who also happens to be my secret husband. That would open up a whole new world of questions I am not ready to answer. I also don't think I want to leave that room yet.

Beatrice arches a brow but doesn’t press. “Glad to hear it. Things were so hectic yesterday after sharing the rooms, so I barely had time to breathe, let alone answer my phone.”

I nod, grateful that she’s letting it go. “I figured.”

She hands me a piece of paper, and I glance down to see today’s event schedule. My eyes immediately lock onto the bolded title at the top: BUSINESS WORKSHOPS WITH PAIRED TEAMS.

“Business workshops?” I ask, scanning the details.

Beatrice leans against the counter, arms crossed. “Yep."

   "Who are we pairing with? I mean who is pairing who? Because I don't think it was like this when I attended last two years. Did they switch things up?"

Beatrice nods, "Kind of. This year’s event is a little different. Everyone participates—staff, managers, and even the hotel owners. The idea is to promote teamwork, break down hierarchy, and create a better working environment.”

I blink at her. “So, even the kitchen staff is involved?”

  “Why not?” She shrugs. “If we’re part of the hotel, we should be included, right?”

I can’t argue with that. Honestly, I kind of like the idea. It’s nice seeing a company take steps to actually bridge the gap between employees and their bosses rather than just pretending to care.

   “This is actually really smart,” I admit. “The organizers did a great job with this.”

Beatrice chuckles. “Let’s hope it goes as smoothly as they planned.”

I nod, tying my apron securely around my waist before diving into work.

Business workshops with paired teams.

This should be interesting.

.

.

.

The sun sits high in the sky, casting golden rays over the open courtyard where everyone has gathered in the warm afternoon. The murmurs of conversation buzz around me, a mix of excitement and curiosity filling the air as we wait for today’s event to be officially announced.

A well-dressed man, most likely one of the organizers, steps onto the small stage at the front. He adjusts the microphone, offering a charismatic smile before speaking. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to day two of our retreat. We hope you’ve settled in well and enjoyed yesterday’s welcome dinner.” He pauses as the crowd hums in response. “Now, for today’s activity, we have something fun, something interactive—something that will test both your wit and teamwork. A scavenger hunt!”

The murmurs turn into full-blown chatter as people exchange glances. A scavenger hunt? I expected some networking activities or lectures, but this? Well, this could be interesting.

  “The rules are simple,” the host continues. “Each participant will be randomly assigned a partner. Together, you’ll decipher clues that will lead you to hidden objects scattered around the premises. Some of these objects are placed in tricky spots, so observation and problem-solving skills are key.” His grin widens. “And, of course, the team that finds all their items first wins a special prize and if you are lucky enough, you might end up getting paired with your boss. If you have never had the chance to make an impression, this is your chance..”

I exhale softly, already dreading the idea of being paired with a complete stranger. My eyes dart to my fellow juniors, who are standing a few feet away, but they are already whispering something to each other,  excitement clear on their faces.

The host claps his hands together to grab our attention and lessen the noise, “Now, before we begin, let’s talk about the theme of today’s hunt. Every object you’ll be searching for is tied to a piece of history related to this very venue. Some items might have connections to past events that took place here, while others may hold symbolic meanings. Each clue will give you hints about where to look, but you’ll need to think outside the box to figure it out.”

A ripple of intrigue spreads through the group.

A young woman steps up beside the host, holding a tablet in her hands. “To keep things fair, we’ll be using a randomized system to assign partners. Please check your phones in a moment for your designated teammate.”

A quiet ping sounds from my pocket, and I pull out my phone. My heart nearly stops when I see the name displayed on the screen.

Noah SINCLAIR.

I blink. No, no, no—this must be a mistake. Of all the people present, why him?

I steal a glance in his direction. He’s already looking at his phone, his expression unreadable. Then, as if sensing my gaze, his eyes flick to mine. For a second, we just stare at each other. Then, without a hint of a reaction, he pockets his phone and steps forward, walking toward me with that usually composed stride.

Of course, he doesn’t look the least bit surprised. Annoyed, maybe, but not surprised.

   “Looks like we’re partners,” I say, forcing lightness into my voice.

His gaze sweeps over me briefly before settling on my face. “Seems that way.”

I shift on my feet, resisting the urge to fidget under his scrutiny. “Just so we’re clear—I don’t plan on losing.”

Noah scoffs lightly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Good. Neither do I.”

“Perfect.”

The host’s voice breaks the tension between us. “Alright, everyone! You’ll receive your first clue shortly. Remember—work together, use your logic, and most importantly, have fun.”

The word ‘fun’ sounds like a cruel joke considering who my partner is. Still, as the first clue pings onto my phone, I take a deep breath. This day just got a whole lot more complicated.