Chapter 40 You’re Handsome, And I Like You
“Mr. Mitchell, are you searching for someone in particular?” the manager inquired, a note of concern lacing his words. “Shall I fetch the guest list for you?”
William’s demeanor was assertive but not entirely unreasonable as he nodded slightly
without a word.
The manager, feeling the pressure, dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief before hastily sending the guest list to William’s smartphone. Scanning the list, William’s expression darkened. “The person I’m looking for isn’t here,” he declared crisply.
The manager exhaled a shaky breath of relief, his smile broadening. “Well, it appears they might not be on the premises after all. So…”
“So that brings us back to these doors,” William cut in, his voice cool and steady. “Are you going to unlock them, or shall I have my team handle it?”
The manager’s smile faltered, freezing on his face. “But Mr. Mitchell, you just said—”
“She’s here,” William interjected, his tone unyielding.
He then turned to his team, his voice ringing out with authority. “Listen up! Each of you,
take two rooms-start on either side. Knock first. No answer? You know what to do..
You have one minute. Go!”
The command was met with a chorus of affirmatives from his team.
As the manager stood rooted in fear, the sound of forceful knocking echoed through the corridor, shattering the previous silence.
Any guest who peeked through their door was briefly detained, awaiting William’s inspection. Yet, none matched the woman William was so determined to find.
Moving toward the unchecked rooms, William selected one door and knocked firmly. Silence greeted him.
He knocked again, more forcefully this time, his patience wearing thin. Meeting only
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silence, he signaled to the increasingly nervous manager.
The manager’s face creased with concern as he addressed William, saying, “Mr. Mitchell, this room is currently occupied by a mother and her child. I doubt they are the ones you’re looking for.”
Just as William pivoted to leave, the door creaked open.
A little boy with cheeks as round and rosy as autumn apples stood precariously atop a stool, his tiny hand still on the doorknob. It had to be quite the spectacle watching him drag the stool across the floor, given his pint-sized stature barely clearing the handle.
“Who are you?” the boy inquired, his voice tender and tinged with the innocence of youth.
The manager’s expression softened as he tousled the boy’s hair with a gentle hand. “That’s a bit too high for you, don’t you think? Here, let me get you down safely,” he
offered, extending his hands.
“No, no! I don’t want you to hold me!” the boy protested, swatting the air with his
small hands.
Sighing, the manager retracted his hands and coaxed, “It’s dangerous up there, little one. Come on down before you hurt yourself, okay? I’ll get you some candy.”
Ignoring the bribe, the boy pointed directly at William, his tone surprisingly
authoritative. “I want him!”
William’s heart skipped a beat.
Something about the boy’s fearless demeanor reminded him of Renee’s bold confession
-both adorable and resolute in their assertions.
Curious, William stepped closer and affectionately pinched the boy’s plump cheek.
“And why me?” he asked, amused.
“Because you’re handsome, and I like you,” the boy declared straightforwardly.
Chuckling, William agreed, lifting the boy gently from his precarious perch. “Alright, but no more climbing like that, okay?”
The boy nodded, his face breaking into a broad, trusting smile. “Okay.”
As William’s team systematically opened each door, a sense of urgency hung in the air, palpable yet fruitless; every room they checked, every hopeful glance, ended in
disappon
William’s features clouded over with frustration, a shadow passing over his face. At that moment, he felt a small, insistent pull at the hem of his trousers. Glancing downward, William was greeted once more by the wide-eyed innocence of the boy he had encountered earlier.
The boy looked up at him, curiosity painting his cherubic features as he asked in his sweet, lisping voice, “Sir, why are you upset?”
With a soft sigh, William knelt down to the boy’s level, ruffling his hair gently. “Hey buddy, go find your parents, okay? And remember, no opening doors for strangers,” he
advised with a warm but firm tone.
The boy’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Not even for a cool guy like you?” he inquired, tilting his head.
William cracked a small smile despite himself but maintained his stern demeanor. “Not even for a cool guy like me. Now, scoot back inside.”
He watched as the boy toddled back to his room, struggling comically to drag a stool across the floor. William’s gaze lingered for a moment before he turned to leave, his mind racing with the next steps of his search. Just then, a voice sliced through the quiet hallway, sharp and clear. “Felix!”
The voice echoed, pulling at something deep within William. He froze, and then whirled around, only to see the door swing shut with a soft click.
Beside him, the manager observed his sudden tension and asked with a touch of
concern, “Mr. Mitchell, is everything alright?”
Lost in his thoughts, William stared at the now closed door, a mix of hope and frustration flickering in his eyes.
The manager, interpreting his silence, began to fill in the gaps. “The little boy has been staying here with his mother for some time. She’s quite occupied most days, hardly ever takes him outside.”
“Is there anyone else with them?” William’s voice was tense, his question sharp with the urgency of his search.
Shaking his head, the manager replied, “No, it’s just the two of them.”
