章 10: How can I be this Stupid?

Corey was in a dilemma. He didn't know how to respond to it. More than that, he didn't know how to fulfil her demands. He continued to drag his feet towards one of the elevators which he had taken up, even when his mind was completely elsewhere.

He was regretting ever coming up here even if it was to apologize to the lady. If he had any idea about the reaction of the lady, he wouldn't have even gone through the trouble of finding her room, let alone coming upstairs.

For him, bearing the burden of the guilt was a better option than finding a way to get her forgiveness now. But what had been done, was done now. He could only suck it up, and make sure that he did exactly what he was asked of. For it might end the same way as he had dreaded it before, with him washing his hands off his job.

Though there would be one difference. Instead of it being one of the evil sisters, the kind one would be the reason. He chuckled to himself as he thought about how a simple red sandal was the reason for his current dilemma.

Scratch that!

It was no simple sandal. It was one hell of an expensive sandal which had turned his life upside down. His only mistake was bumping into the lady which was clearly not on purpose. Who knew that a small innocent bump would land him in such a huge turmoil, one where he had no control over his own actions.

With such thoughts running through his mind, Corey continued to head downstairs to the manager's office. He would need to ask for his permission for a day's off if he was to accompany the lady on her small tour. Though he still couldn't figure out what kind of tour he should arrange for her, or where he should take her to?

It was making him go more than crazy.

Why was she staying in a hotel when she herself was from London? It bugged his mind. It wasn't weird for rich people to spend their weekend at a five star hotel, but never in his life had he come across such a case. It was neither a weekend, nor the lady had booked anything for her entertainment.

His thoughts could make one ponder over certain things. For instance, how did he know that the young lady, Noelle, had no bookings of such sort. He knew that because he had done some digging before he found his way up to her room. How else was he supposed to find the room number?

"I am so doomed." His steps came to a stop after slowing down, and he found himself standing right before the manager's office.

He wasn't sure how or when his feet brought him out here, but now that he was already there, he knew he had to go through with this. The sooner he got this done, the earlier he could earn the lady's forgiveness, and then get on with his own life. He wouldn't have to focus much on what had happened today.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"May I come in, Sir?" He turned the knob of the door and peeked inside as he asked for the man's permission.

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"Was it too much? Did I overdo it?" Noelle mumbled to herself as she stared at the file in her hands.

Since the man had left after giving her his words that he would try his best to get her condition fulfilled, her mind had been occupied by him. No matter how hard she tried to focus on her work, she couldn't at all.

Her eyes were getting strained from all the staring, yet it was of no use to her. All she saw was the face of the young man instead of the typed letters, spanned all over the pages.

It wasn't because she was in love with the man, she wasn't that naive. It was because of the regret which was clouding her mind. The guilt of treating the man, who had been nothing but nice to her, was gnawing at her mind, eating her brain away.

"Noelle! You messed up big time." She scolded herself under her breath as she shut the file. "How will you get this finished before their return!" It wasn't a question, but rather it was a rant. She was complaining to her own self since she had no other person to do this with.

She knew that with her snail-like speed, there was no way that she was going to get her work finished before her step sisters would return from their party. Noelle didn't even have much information on what exactly it was. She was just asked by the two sisters to help them with a couple of files since they would be too busy during the day.

And, like the good little sister which she was, she agreed to provide her help. Like always. The staff back at the main hotel under the Sundseths and Co. wondered at times how she was able to take care of so many things at once even though she didn't even hold an official post.

What they didn't know was how Noelle had always been like this since she was a child. Even after being tutored at home for her masters, she was much smarter than most of the kids of her age. She was even smarter than her two step sisters who finished her studies from the top universities of the city.

"What should I do now?" She mumbled to herself as she sprinted down the bed. She wished to be back at home. At least she could ask the old nanny about some advice then instead just worrying herself to death.

She continued to walk back and forth next to her queen sized, four poster bed. One of her hands was folded across her chest. While the other one was busy tugging at her lower lip as she tried her best to think of a solution to salvage her sinking ship.

"How can I be this stupid? I have just the right person to ask this from." She mumbled to herself as she smacked herself lightly on the side of her head. Without wasting another second, she jumped on her bed again and began to search on her own through the bunch of files which were sprawled over the silk duvets.