Exposing him

"Hey, I know this feels crazy, but we’re doing the right thing. You deserve answers," Sophie said, trying to sound reassuring.

Emma nodded, but the knot in her stomach only tightened. She took deep breaths, muttering and convincing herself that she indeed was doing the right thing and deserved answers.

Sophie parked outside the hotel, her unease growing as she glanced at Emma, who was pale and silent. Inside the lobby, the buzz of activity only made Emma feel more overwhelmed.

“Now what?” Emma murmured, her voice barely audible. “We don’t even know his room number.”

Sophie shot her a reassuring look. “Leave it to me.”

Marching up to the lobby manager, Sophie greeted him with her usual charm.

“Hi! It’s Emma’s anniversary today, and she’s here to surprise her husband, David. Could you help us find his room?”

“Ms. Evans! Mrs. Lawson! It’s an honor to see you both again," the manager greeted them with a warm smile. When he heard Sophie's request, he hesitated, his polite smile faltering. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t disclose that information.”

Sophie’s expression didn’t waver. Leaning in slightly, she lowered her voice. “Look, this is a special occasion, and we’d hate to make a fuss. But you know David Lawson is one of your key investors. Surely, helping his wife wouldn’t break protocol… right? If I were to mention how unhelpful the staff was to us, it wouldn’t look great, would it?" She leaned even closer. "And I’m sure you wouldn’t want a little incident like this to reflect badly on you. Or the hotel’s reputation.”

The manager shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between them. After a tense pause, he sighed. “Room 204. Please, keep this discreet.”

“Of course,” Sophie replied smoothly, flashing a triumphant smile. “Discretion is my middle name.”

As they headed toward the elevators, Emma stared at her friend in awe. "Sophie, that was... I don’t even know what to say."

"Say I’m brilliant and buy me dinner later," Sophie quipped, flashing a mischievous grin. "Now, let’s go find your husband,” and grabbed Emma’s hand, pulling her toward the elevators.

When they reached the door of Room 204, they both stopped, suddenly feeling unsure. Emma was frozen, her heart pounding. What if she was wrong? What if-

Before either could knock, the door swung open, revealing David in a perfectly ironed suit that looked impeccable as ever. His sharp gaze landed on them, surprise flickering in his eyes.

“Emma? Sophie? What are you doing here?” he asked, sounding confused.

Emma froze, her breath hitching. She didn’t know how to explain, her silence stretching uncomfortably.

David’s expression shifted, his confusion hardening into suspicion. “Were you following me?” he demanded, his voice colder now, anger simmering beneath the surface.

Emma tried to speak but couldn’t form the words. Her silence seemed to confirm his assumption.

Sophie quickly stepped in, flashing a bright smile. “Oh, don’t get worked up, David. I’ve never been inside a fancy suite like this before, and Emma was kind enough to bring me along.” Without waiting for his response, she brushed past him, pulling Emma into the room.

The suite was indeed beautiful. The bed was neatly made, the pillows perfectly arranged, and everything looked in order. A light smell of fresh flowers filled the air, and the big windows showed a clear view of the city. Even with all the space, there was no sign of anyone else, just David standing by the door, his face cold, his eyes narrowing as he watched them.

His sharp gaze darted between them, clearly unconvinced by the flimsy excuse Sophie had given earlier. Emma, still too flustered to speak, shifted uneasily on her feet, unable to meet his eyes.

"You actually followed me here, didn’t you?" he asked, his tone now harsh. “You don't trust me enough and had the audacity to follow me here?!”

Emma flinched, surprised by David's outbursts. It was clear that he was here alone! Why did she foolishly agree with Sophie's plan to come here and confront David?

Gosh! She felt so stupid and embarrassed!

Sophie spoke up again, clearly uncomfortable with the growing tension. "Okay, okay, we get it, you’re busy. We’ll leave you to whatever important things you’re doing," she said quickly, backing toward the door. "Come on, Em."

Emma, mortified and ashamed, quickly nodded. “I'm sorry,” she mumbled an apology to David and turned to leave. As she turned toward the door, already wishing for the ground to open up and swallow her due to the embarrassing moment, she suddenly heard a noise from the bathroom.

The sound of water running stopped, and the bathroom door creaked open. Emma froze, her heart leaping in her chest. She caught the faint scent of roses in the air, the same scent that had been on David's shirt earlier. And then she heard the soft voice, too familiar and too warm for comfort.

"Oh Emma, long time no see." The voice was smooth, almost teasing.

Emma’s mind went blank. She turned to look at Sophie, but the look on her best friend’s face mirrored the confusion and shock on her face.