Page 87 of Tasty Cherry

Me: Meet me in the princess tower.

29

MILA

Istop by the sandwich cart for two ham and cheese on my way to the tower. I don’t know if Sebastian likes them, but I want to do something for him. I’m guessing he got an earful from Raya about Maverick.

I met the HR director, Jessie, but only for a minute before she hurried out. She was gone for almost an hour, and when she returned, she closed herself up in her office.

I bet that was about Maverick, too.

He’s making a real mess of things.

Sebastian has to be feeling pressure for bringing him on. I’m powerfully curious, but I don’t want to ask inappropriate questions. I’m guessing part of the fraternization clause that isn’t explicitly stated is that underlings can get access to information they shouldn’t have.

When I reach the base of the tower, Sebastian isn’t there. Just in case, I scan my ID card and press the up arrow on the elevator. Nothing happens. Right. Sebastian told us on our princess tour last week that our IDs weren’t coded to work here.

I can access the stairs, and they have cute windows to look out, but all the doors that lead into the circular lobbies of each floor are secure from curious guests or random visitors. I’d get nowhere.

My phone buzzes.

Sebastian: I recoded your ID for the elevator. Go to 11.

Really? I scan my badge. This time when I press the up arrow, it glows yellow.

I hear the carriage coming down with a gentle rumble. After a bright ding, the doors slide open.

It’s empty.

I step inside, remembering the bright mirrored interior, and press the button for 11.

Nothing happens.

The happy voice reminds me, “Please scan your room card.”

Right. I forgot.

I scan my ID. The voice says, “Welcome, staff member. Please choose a floor.”

I press 11.

The elevator glides upward with no dance party, since I’m staff. “You have arrived on eleven,” the voice says.

I step out. There are three doors. One is marked as the “Cinderella Suite.” One is the stairwell. And the third, a janitorial closet.

A well fortified one. Unlike the doors I’ve seen in other parts of the hotel, this one is solid metal, not painted white with a metal kickboard on the bottom. And the locking mechanism looks incredibly sturdy, not a simple deadbolt.

I hold my key card up to it, but nothing happens. That’s odd. I thought I had access to broom closets.

I wander the small space, waiting. The stairwell door opens, and Sebastian pops through. My heart leaps, like it does every time I see him.

This one is somehow mine.

I simply take in the dark waves of his hair, the suit jacket on broad shoulders. And those hands.

Oh, those hands.

“Hey,” he says. “You ready for an adventure?”

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