Chapter 4: Sleuthing with the enemy?

It's been hours since Noah's launch party and I've been walking around in circles but I can't find anything that would somehow give me a clue that might jog my memory. There's really nothing suspicious about the nanny cams because it’s a luxury loft.

It’s pretty much understandable to have one compared to the obvious cctv cameras that can be tampered by any professional hacker. While I was busy having a mental conversation with myself, I heard the door open. It's Bruno, Noah’s assistant.

“Mr Vlad, Mr Noah asked me to bring food to you. He’s very busy entertaining guests, we are fully booked!”

“I figured, thank you for the food! They look delicious!”

“I’ll go back up now, I still have to supervise the new staff”.

“Well, thank you again!”

After he placed all the food that he brought, he went back up. As usual, he brought a big tray full of different kinds of food, this will last until tomorrow! I can’t eat all of this!

After thirty minutes of tasting each kind of food that Bruno brought, I decided to sleuth around some more. I decided to go to the recreational area near the river exit. I was about to get in when I noticed another door opposite to the recreational room. I didn’t notice it at first because It was kind of camouflaged, the paint matched the cave-like waterway.

I was hesitating to check on it because it looks like it opens with biometrics like the entrance upstairs but what’s the worst that could happen? Noah seems fond of me anyway so he wouldn’t throw me off this island just for “accidentally” opening another door.

I approached the camouflage door slowly, I mean there must be another hidden camera here somewhere and he might pop-up anytime soon once he gets alerted about this somehow but I just had to do it. I mean why would one need this kind of room hidden? What is he hiding here? Well there’s only one way to find out.

I held the door knob. I slowly rotated it but before I even rotated it forty-five degrees, a loud sound went off! I immediately removed my hand off the door knob and then I realized that there’s a black square that can be a thumbprint lock! How could I have missed this!

Literally after a few seconds, the door opened and I saw Noah running down to where I was, in front of the camouflage door!

“Hey!”

“Oh Hi! Noah!”

“What happened here?”

“I don’t know, I just wanted to go into the rec room when the alarm went off!”

“Are you okay? Did it startle you?”

“I’m okay but Noah, I am sorry, I think I may have tried to enter a different room huh? Or if this is the rec room, why does it have a techy lock or something huh?”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on showing this room to you yet but since we’re here, why not?”

He seemed calm after I attempted to enter that room, I was anticipating he’ll be pissed at me! The suspense is killing me though! Just take me there already!

“Oh well. Come on. Let’s go inside.”

He opened the door with his thumbprint and at first it was a bit dark but to my surprise it led to another underground area!

“A bunker below a bunker? I’m confused Noah!”

“Just come on down with me, you’ll see in a few minutes.”

We were greeted with a spiral staircase when he turned the lights on, our footsteps echoing while we were stepping on each metal stair step. When we gotg to the bottom floor, there was another door.

“How many doors are here Noah?!”

“Ha! This is the last one, I promise.”

He opened the door but this didn’t have a techy lock but he had a key. When he turned the lights on, my jaw dropped!

“Oh Noah! This is amazing!!!”

“Wait until you see the amazing sea creatures that’ll swim by later!”

The hidden room behind the hidden door was like a big aquarium! It had a lounge area, a huge bed. There were no dividers but the bathroom area had gutters, it even had a bathtub and it also had a small kitchen.

“I’m still very amazed but why is this room hidden in the first place?”

“Well, first-off, if you noticed, the door is just in front of the dock, this is actually part of the resort. It’s like a honeymoon suite for our wealthy guests but I didn’t open this for public use yet since I wanted to show you this tonight as a surprise. You know, for us to use it first before strangers?”

“But why Noah? Isn’t that a bit weird? I mean, as you mentioned, we only met the other night? But how come, I always feel that we’ve known each other for a very long time already?”

“Well, to be fair, we did meet the other night. I just don’t want to force your mind to remember things that you clearly can’t”

“But why is that Noah? I feel that this seems sketchy, like why do you have a lot of hidden cameras? You even have a Nanny cam inside my room!”

“For now Vlad, All you need to know is I’m just looking out for you okay?”

“That doesn’t seem fair or enough. I think I have the right to my own memories Noah!”

“And I agree with you Vlad. It’s just very complicated and even If I start talking, we really don’t know if you can retain the tons of information I’ll be sharing with you. For now, can you please stop doubting me and start trusting me? I won’t do anything that will harm you okay?”

“Argh!”

“Listen Vlad, If I had bad intentions, don’t you think I should have done it already? Somehow, just please accept that I don’t have any bad intentions for you okay? I just want to take care of you and please feel my sincerity.”

As I was listening to Noah explaining his “good intentions” I did see and somehow felt the sincerity in his eyes but why can’t I immediately believe it? I feel like he's keeping more from me. He still kept on explaining and reassuring me that everything's fine. It went on for almost an hour when the radio on his belt buckle buzzed. Then I heard Bruno’s voice.

“Amm Mr Noah? Over!” This is Bruno, over! Our SVIP guest from the UK just docked. I think they will be asking for you any time soon, over! Are you there Mr Noah?Over!”

“Geeze Bruno! Can you please chill out? You don’t have to say over after each phrase or sentence you know!”

“Oh! You can hear me Mr Noah! I feel relieved! Over! Oh sorry! Over!”

“I’ll be right up okay? Just entertain them with their complimentary welcome drinks.”

“I think you should go back up now. Bruno seemed anxious.

“Tell me about it! He panics whenever he sees VIP guests like the normal guests aren’t people he should be anxious about! One time, he almost vomitted while speaking with our first VIP booking. Bruno is such a worry wart”

“We can continue our conversation later then Noah and from now on, consider my trust earned. I know there are still a few things that I want to gradually know and I know you stilln have a lot to share but today's you grand launch and I really don't want to spoil that for you. I'll just be down here or probably just finish the feast the Bruno brought down. Do you always go all out it having a meal here?”

“I am happy to hear that Vlad and yes, you are techincally our first SVIP on this island even before today. I will make time and answer your questions as soon as I can okay?”

We went out of the honeymoon suite and started climbing the spiral staircase. When we got out of the camouflaged room. A question just came to my mind.

“Hey Noah!”

“What’s up?”

“Since I gave you my trust that all is well. I just need you to answer one question before you go up. Is that okay?”

“Sure!”

“How long have you exactly known me?”

He hesitated at first and let out a small sigh.

“Okay, just to somehow make you feel better and trust me more.”

“I’m listening…”

“Four, five years. Give or take.”

“What?!”

I was about to ask a follow-up question when his phone rang.

“Oh, signal’s back up. I really have to take this, let’s continue this conversation later, okay?”

I just nodded and he hurriedly ran up while speaking with a client.