Excuse me?

She hesitantly placed her hand in his. Daniel held her hand firmly and captured her gaze with his. “Same here, Mr. Smith,” it took everything in her to utter these words. There was something about him that didn't seem right. Even after exchanging the pleasantries, he didn’t let go of her hand. She tried to pull it back but he didn’t let up on his hold. She was confused. Before her mind could draw any conclusion, he let go of her hand. He freed her from his grip while fixing her with a mysterious smile.

She retracted immediately and lowered her gaze. “Hope you are enjoying your time here, Mr. Smith,” Michael said in his sweetest tone. “I am loving it,” Daniel replied while keeping his eyes on Ash. “I am glad. It took us more than a month to put it together. I am pretty sure you are going to enjoy your stay here” Michael said proudly. “I am glad. I came here,” he again gave a cryptic answer. Ash finally looked back at him only to find that his eyes were still fixated on her.

“Michael, I have to use the restroom,” Ash tried to excuse herself and Michael was more than happy to let her go. “Excuse me,” she said to the elderly man with a tight-lipped smile before striding off. She couldn’t dare to look at Daniel. She took a deep sigh after stepping into the bathroom.

After spending a few minutes in the restroom she came out. The soiree was in its full swing. Her eyes scanned for Michael. She found him chatting with a very attractive woman. There was a smile on his face while talking to her. The smile that she hadn’t seen in ages. His eyes were glinting. Her heart ached because she knew she wasn’t the reason behind his smile and she could never be. Shaking all the thoughts, she strolled towards him as he was the only person she knew.

As Michael saw her coming towards them, his smile faded away. A frown creased his forehead displaying his displeasure. He still kept himself busy in the conversation with the woman totally disregarding his wife. “You must be Mrs. Johnson. Hi, I am Gaby Fanning,” the gorgeous woman turned to Ash. She extended her hand and gave her a smile. Ash clasped her hand and returned her smile “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” “So, what do you do, Mrs. Johnson?” Her question took Ash off guard. She couldn’t figure what to say.

“Actually I am….” Ash tried to form a sentence but Michael cut her in, “She likes to bake. We are planning on opening a bakery shop for her.” “Wow,, that’s great,” the female said with excitement.

Ash drew in a deep sigh inwardly. She had admitted this place was not for her.

“Hey, I need a refill. Do you want it too?” Michael asked Gaby. She nodded. “Let’s have it,” Michael motioned her towards the bar again forgetting she was standing there too.

He drifted away with Gaby without looking her way. He didn’t ask her to accompany him nor did he assured them that he would be back in a heartbeat. Her anxiety started taking hold of her as she stood there all alone. People were milling about. Many fragmented groups were formed but she stood all alone. She waited for her husband to come back but he didn’t. Her heartbeat quickened as she started rubbing her forearm to ease the nervousness. She again scanned the entire hall but Michael was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes found Daniel though. He was engaged in a conversation with the old man and a few other people who looked very handsome and professional. He had a smile adorned on his face but his eyes told a different story. She unconsciously was checking him out. He looked like an enigma. She let her eyes wander on his pink lips, his carved nose, and then his green eyes that were already looking at her.

She had been caught. Daniel gave her a triumphant smile. She looked away as a blush crept up her cheek. And suddenly she realized that she is thirsty. She eagerly walked up to the bar to get a glass of water. The bartender eyed her with a surprised look when she asked for water. He handed her a bottle and got back to the business of pouring alcohol to the people.

She gulped the water in one go. She couldn’t wait to go back home and lay on her bed. Michael was still gone. His absence was only making things worse. How could he leave her alone to fend for herself? Her eyeballs kept swinging from left to right in search of him.

He was not in the hall, so she decided to go up and look for him on the first floor. On the contrary to the hall, the first floor was awfully quiet. Not a single soul was dwelling around. She realized the entire hotel was vacated for this party. Was Daniel this important? The man was being celebrated in the best hotel in the town and everyone was bowing before him like he is some sort of a god. Everyone he interacted with had a smile on their face and respect in their eyes.

Pushing all thoughts about him to the back of her head, she began searching for Michael. There were many rooms along the dark alley. She kept on walking and calling for Michael. The eerie quietness ruling over the place was gradually stripping her off her confidence. She tried to open a few rooms but all of them were locked.

After taking a few more steps, she walked past a room with its light on. Her steps came to a halt on noticing the room and she wondered if Michael was inside. Without caring to knock she prised open the brown door and found the room divested of any human’s presence. She had never seen such a big room in her entire life.

She looked around the room and then Penny dropped. It was not a room but a suit. A lavishing suit with a world-class interior. There was a mini bar in the corner adjacent to the vast living room. Her mouth hung open in awe.

She was tempted to explore the place but she knew better. So without wasting another minute, she decided to exit the suit. She turned on her heels but before she could take a step, a husky voice penetrated her ears. “Excuse me?” was all the owner of that voice said. She turned around and found him standing before her.

The one and only Daniel Smith with an unreadable expression on his face.

She forced a lump down her throat.