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Sashaying through the entrance of the hotel in a tight black dress, Emma cut a stunning figure. A scarf in red bold print tied around her waist and a pair of matching red stiletto shoes on her feet completed her look.
All heads turned her way as she strutted across the lobby to the reception area. A group of men engaged in a discussion at the far corner of the lobby did a double take as she passed by their lounging area.
If she wasn't on a mission right now, she would have felt like a million dollars from all the attention she's getting. But before she got too carried away by her foolish thoughts she mentally kicked herself. It put paid to her vain thoughts while reminding herself that this was indeed a serious mission. It's so serious that she could not afford even one tiny mistake. One minor slip-up and 'poof!' all her dreams would vanish into thin air.
Having collected her key card from the reception, she made her way to the elevator but as she rounded the corner, she made a mad dash for the opposite end of the staircase where a door leading to a secret room was located.
Stopping to catch her breath, she tried calming down her nerves. She waited a whole minute before reaching up into her hair to retrieve a bobby pin. Having mastered the art of breaking and entering, she picked the door lock without even breaking a sweat. Not five seconds later, the door unlocked with a click.
Prying the door open and hazarding a peek, she expected the room to be in total darkness but was surprised to see a stream of light had already lit up the room. It was bright enough that she was momentarily blinded.
Walking further into the room, her gaze accidentally fell on a package that looked like a present wrapped very poorly in an old newspaper. She picked it up and was about to stash it inside her bag when she suddenly heard the door creaked open.
She quickly turned around. Before she could even move further, a man she'd never seen before was standing a few steps away from her, blocking the doorway. His eyes were trained on her as he lifted a corner of his lips in a smirk. He gave her a once over and the gleam in his eyes and the smirk that had broadened into a smile told her that he liked what he saw.
She would have been vain enough to think that he was flirting with her if not for the look on his face. He seemed smug, too smug. Just like the cat that had just eaten the canary. And just from that look, her internal alarm went off. It occurred to her that he must have also known about the secret package. Suddenly, feeling drained and numbed, all fight left her body and she was glued to the spot.
As if under a spell, she remained paralyzed and rendered speechless. Even when the man was slowly closing the distance between them, all she could do was gape at him as her jaw dropped all the way to the floor, whether in awe, shock or terror, she had no idea.
Gazing into her eyes, he unfolded her fingers one by one as he plucked the poorly wrapped package out of her clutch. Only once the package was secured in his hands, did he turn away to make his exit.
Pulling the door open, he was about to dart out the door before he stopped short and turned around once more. As he looked at her for the last time, he threw her a disarming smile and blew her a kiss. And in the blink of an eye, he was out the door, blended into the darkness and disappeared.
Even in his wake, she almost melted into a puddle, no thanks to his disarming smile still lingering in her head. But the piercing sound of an alarm reverberating in the building jolted her into action. She abandoned her shoes and bolted out the door. Rushing out through the back exit, she broke into a sprint and was never to be seen again.
