Chapter 49 Rachel Was
Locked Inside
Brian managed to keep his cool.
He firmly grasped Rachel’s wrists, lowering them as he met her gaze. “Rachel, do you even recognize me?”
Her glassy eyes struggled to focus. Clearly intoxiented, she gave a slow, sluggish shake
of her head.
He exhaled a long sigh before carefully helping her onto the bed.
This time, she didn’t resist. Instead, she settled in with surprising obedience, shutting her eyes and slipping into sleep almost instantly.
Only then did he step out of the room.
With an important contract waiting to be signed the next day, he had no choice but to
return overnight.
The following morning, Rachel stirred awake, a dull ache still pulsing through her
temples.
Her eyes widened as they swept across the unexpectedly pristine room, confusion creeping into her alcohol–hazed memories.
The previous night’s chaos had somehow transformed into perfect order.
More perplexing still was her attire. She now wore fresh pajamas with no recollection of changing.
Seeking answers, she contacted the front desk.
The receptionist’s voice flowed with practiced courtesy as she explained, “Ms. Marsh, please allow me to clarify. Given your inebriated state last night, our staff took the liberty of tidying your accommodations.”
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Chapter 49 Rachel Was Locked Inside
“Including bathing me?” Rachel’s words carried a sharp edge.
“Our staff assisted only with changing your sleepwear. We sincerely apologize for not obtaining your permission beforehand—this was clearly an oversight.”
Despite the hotel’s professional handling of the situation, Rachel couldn’t shake the feeling of violated privacy.
“Ensure this doesn’t happen again,” she instructed firmly.
“Certainly. I promise.”
Miles away, Brian nodded with satisfaction upon receiving the hotel manager’s detailed
report.
Beside him, Ronald’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Since you personally handled this situation, wouldn’t informing her earn her gratitude?”
Brian leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. “Not necessarily.”
He had spent enough time with Rachel to understand her temperament.
For the most part, she was easygoing. But when she decided to be stubborn, she was like a locked vault–completely impenetrable.
If she found out about last night, there was a good chance she’d be more annoyed than
grateful.
As the car cruised past a jewelry store, a thought suddenly struck Brian. “Ronald, isn’t there a charity auction this weekend?”
“Yes. You received an invitation last month.”
“Good.”
After a brief pause, Brian pulled out his phone and dialed Rachel’s number.
“Hello?” Her voice was soft but carried an unmistakable note of distance.
Brian felt an odd discomfort settle in his chest. She used to be so warm and lively with him. Now, it was as if there was an invisible wall between them.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked.
“Yeah, I just finished.”
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Chapter 49 Rachel Was Locked Inside
Silence stretched between them, thin and fragile.
Brian clenched his fist, as if bracing himself. “You know, my grandma’s birthday is coming up. Have you picked out a gift yet?”
Rachel’s brows knitted slightly. “I’ve been a bit busy, but I’ll set aside time soon. Don’t worry, I’ll find something thoughtful.”
Brian loosened his tie, his voice carrying a slight edge. “That’s not what I meant. There’s a charity auction this Sunday. There’s an item up for bid that she has wanted for years but never managed to get. I thought we could go take a look together.”
Sunday? Rachel hesitated.
She was free that weekend. But it had been a while since they had spent time together.
The idea of meeting him again stirred something uneasy inside her.
“I might not be available on Sunday,” she replied, her tone uncertain.
“It won’t take long. Three hours at most.”
“Alright then.”
Brian didn’t even notice the small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
On Saturday afternoon, Rachel finished wrapping up work and handed things over to Samira before heading home.
Due to an unexpected delay, she didn’t arrive until nine o’clock.
She called Brian, but no one answered.
As luck would have it, her car was passing the White Group building. After a moment’s thought, she decided to stop by.
Being the weekend, the building stood largely empty of its usual workers.
Rachel made her way directly to the top floor in search of Brian, but instead encountered Tracy.
Surprise registered on both their faces at the unexpected meeting.
“Rachel, what a delightful coincidence!” Tracy’s warm greeting carried an easy smile as she approached.
Rachel responded with nothing more than an icy glance, her silence speaking volumes.
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Chapter 49 Rachel Was Locked Inside
“Looking for Brian? Such unfortunate timing–he’s away on business.”
On business?
Tracy’s words caused Rachel’s heart to plummet.
The planned auction visit suddenly seemed like a distant dream, leaving her wrestling with confusion. Why would Brian arrange their meeting only to depart on a business trip?
Tracy observed Rachel’s bewilderment with calculating eyes, her mind working quickly. “He should return shortly though. Before leaving, he mentioned you might stop by and asked me to show you to his office to wait.”
The naturalness of her delivery left Rachel with no reason to doubt, and she followed Tracy’s lead.
Standing alone in Brian’s office for the first time, Rachel found herself surrounded by the grandeur of floor–to–ceiling windows that offered a sweeping view of the city’s nocturnal beauty.
The urban landscape sparkled with neon dreams, stirring memories of her first visit to
this space.
Back then, before Tracy’s return, Brian would embrace her from behind, his arms gentle
around her waist as he asked, “Do you love it?”
“I love it,” she responded with a radiant smile. “It would be even more magical to watch
fireworks from here.”
Years had passed since that wishful moment, the dream remaining unfulfilled.
As if answering an ancient prayer, the night sky suddenly erupted in a symphony of color, fireworks painting the darkness with daylight brilliance.
Rachel captured the moment with her phone, sharing it on social media with the simple caption. “Stunning fireworks!”
She lingered by the window for a while, watching until exhaustion crept in. With a quiet sigh, she turned and stretched out on the office sofa.
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It had been a long day of travel, and the moment she lay down, sleep claimed her.
When she awoke, the office was shrouded in pitch–black darkness. Not a single light
was on.
She immediately reached for her phone to use as a flashlight, but no matter how many times she pressed the power button, the screen remained lifeless.
Her battery had died. A cold sense of unease gripped her.
The darkness was thick, suffocating. Every corner of the office felt vast and empty, swallowed in shadows that seemed to press closer with each passing second.
She had always hated the dark. Especially in a place like this–a towering high–rise, silent and deserted.
Most of the surrounding buildings were dark as well, save for a few scattered office lights far below.
She hurried to the office door and banged on it, calling out, “Hello? Is anyone there? Open the door!”
Only silence answered her pleas, leading to the chilling realization that the building had been locked up for the night.
She was locked inside.
The only person who knew she was here was Tracy. And Tracy hadn’t said a word before leaving.
Rachel’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t an accident.
The darkness seemed to stretch endlessly, swallowing everything in its path.
She curled up on the sofa, hugging her arms around herself, willing her breathing to
steady.
She told herself to stay calm. To think rationally. But deep down, she was terrified.
