Chapter 6: Chapter 6
8:09 PM Cardeal Hotel 40th floor
Paul Alejandro is touring Mair along and across the labyrinth of the 40th floor of Cardeal Hotel where she's assigned.
"Your uniform is already prepared at your room," Paul informed as his footsteps echo along the quiet foyers molded by the towering walls. "Each room is soundproof, by the way. There will be expected guests too, which must be handled by me, personally. You will start your duty tomorrow."
Paul Alejandro continued passing on instructions from manuals and protocols to the quiet but attentive Mair.
She still couldn't discern everything at once. All of these are yet swirling scenarios waiting to be sorted out at silence.
After all his statements, they ended up in the room that Paul gave to her as she stays in the hotel.
"Do you have any questions, Miss Mair Costa?" He questioned before he decides to leave.
"None so far, sir," She shook her head slowly. "I'll let you know if I come up to something. But for now… would you accept this?" Mair lifted her hand holding the chocolate which was from Sopheirin, given directly by Lyka.
"And that is…?"
"My friend think chocolates solve depression," Mair's sincere words melt about his heart. "I don't have such trouble, but you might. I'm not too sure about antidepressant drugs, though. And let me know too if I could be of some help. It may not seem so, but I have a friend who's suffering depression as well. I know how hard it is just from looking. Oh, and I also attended a seminar about it."
Paul scoffed with a succeeding chuckle. "If seminars could solve depression, the world would've had less problems. The world would've exalted more."
Mair kept quiet. After a few stints of silence, Paul accepted the chocolate and finally left her room.
August 19, 2018 (Sunday) 6:00 PM Cardeal Hotel, 40th floor
Mair stood elegantly, wearing her newly washed uniform.
Her heart pounded wildly as she brim with professionalism, imbuing on her mind that first impressions mark the greatest.
Later on, a familiar fine-looking man strode across the golden onyx tiles glimmering like a lighted stage.
This young man was one of Mr. Paul Alejandro's expected guests as she saw in the heap of profiles.
The young man's eyes drilled through her, an evanescing lust elapsed as he cleared his throat. "Is Mr. Paul Alejandro here?"
A genuinely humble smile sneaked across her lips. "Good evening! Welcome to Cardeal Hotel. You are… Mr. Angelo, I believe?"
The young man nodded. "Yep, that's me."
"Please wait over the queue area for a while, sir," Her tongue spun words of politeness. "I'll be calling for Mr. Paul Alejandro, the hotel proprietor."
His eyebrows knitted out of bewilderment. "He's the owner of this Cardeal Hotel?"
A rising doubt came across her. "You're not informed, sir?"
"Uh… I-I am, but…" He muttered nervously.
Relieving him of uneasiness, Mair swerved from behind the counter to Paul's room.
"Mr. Paul? I believe that one of your expected guests is currently at the queue area. Shall I assist him to his room?"
"No, Mair. I'll handle the boy myself."
After Paul Alejandro met Angelo, Mair returned to her station at the contemporary reception area.
August 19, 2018 (Sunday) 6:21 PM Cardeal Hotel, 40th floor
"Starting now, six of my expected guests will start coming at this point," Paul Alejandro told Mair. "I'll be handling them all by myself. Your work shift will resume at seven o'clock. In the meantime, do whatever you want. I suggest you eat and fill your stomach while I work."
"Alright, sir," She politely said. "Thank you."
Paul pulled out his small bottle once more to obtain another capsule. The drug's color was very conversant with her senses.
Mair wondered how these drugs paint the lofty and distorted walls of pain with glossy lies and temporaries.
"Antidepressants again, sir?" Mair softly whispered with a tinge of curiosity.
"Sorry," He apologized half-heartedly, a mock over the depth of his discernment against her superficial concern. "Chocolates aren't enough. I appreciate the thought, though."
Paul left her disarrayed. The beat of her heart felt wrong.
Staying at her room, she let the extending time pass by. Her only companion in relinquishing productivity was her cellphone.
7:00 PM Cardeal Hotel, 40th floor
When 7 pm came, she returned to the reception hall and began her work.
The first expected guest, the young man named Angelo was also the first one to leave the hotel for the night.
Paul Alejandro instructed Mair to allow only two guests each night to leave the edifice.
It felt like a cage, but she granted herself with strings to become a marionette of this system she doesn't even know much of.
7:30 PM Cardeal Hotel, 40th floor
A matured woman on her revealing clothes went to the reception counter. Her eyes beneath her long eyelashes bore a beguiling beauty.
"Hey, lady," She nodded at Mair. "You've got a beer? Y'know, I just want my world to spin! Spin, I say!"
Mair cleared her throat. "I'll… relay your request to Mr. Paul Alejandro, ma'am."
"Ooh, such polite girl you are. Thanks. Just bring it at my room, a'right? My name's Scarlet."
The drunk woman left Mair quite disoriented.
Minutes later, a female guest named Faura also went out.
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