Chapter 3 - Meeting Mr. Elevator

"What are you talking about? Aren't you supposed to be taking care of her? How can she be missing under YOUR supervise? I'll call you back to check n you later." Erica's voice fills the air in the grand hall; making all eyes are on her right now.

"Miss… I'm sorry, but you're making the other guests uncomfortable. I'm afraid you have to leave; I'm really sorry Miss." The hotel staff approaches her.

"Excuse me?" Erica turns to face the young staff as an older staff approaches them in a hurry.

"I'm sorry about that, Madam Erica. He's a new employee; I hope madam would forgive him. If you would stay for supper, the staff will serve it in a minute."

"No need for that; and it was really my fault to begin with. You have a good staff here; give him a raised to 50% and as for you…" she turns to the new employee who looks bit guilt.

"Yes, mam…" He still keeps his head down.

"Keep up the good work; we'll need a lot of staffs like you in the future."

"Ah, yes maam…I'll keep that in mind; thank you, mam…" She starts to walk.

"Er… Madam Erica?" A slow voice suddenly stops her; the new employee finally has the guts to speak.

"Yes?" Erica turns to face the young man.

"I'm really sorry for my rudeness earlier…" He bows again apologetic as Erica approached him.

"It's okay, if you're really felling sorry about what happen earlier; promised me you would work harder and keep your integrity level as high as how it does today, okay?" she said it with a low voice so that only he can hear her. As he was about to rise his gaze; their eyes met and Erica give him a quick wink that makes him look down instantly.

"Where are you heading to, madam? I'll issue someone to escort you there safely."

"There's no need for that, I'm in a hurry; there's emergency at home. I'll drive there myself. You make sure everything going according to the original plan and make sure no one messes things up; I need a perfect banquet for Lord Francis this weekend and you know how important this is for the company."

"Yes, Madam… I'll make sure everything's going to be sort smoothly and according to plan. Madam Erica, please have a safe drive and take care of yourself."

"Thank you uncle Ji, I'll remember that and you too; take care and good night."

"Goodnight, madam…" They both bows with a smile as the elevator door closes in front between them. As the elevator's door shut; Erica quickly pulls out her phone and have a quick check on Lana's last message for some clues on her missing.

The elevator door suddenly opens up on the next floor and a tall guy walks in with a strong smell of alcohol and cigarettes; he looks quite troubled. Erica tries to restrain herself from saying anything coz she didn't want anything to do with a drunk man; but suddenly he approaches her with one hand tries to reaching her.

"Huh?" She tries her best to back away from him as he approaches her until his hands stops at the elevator button that was located behind her then, back to where he was standing again.

'Well… that was embarrassing…' She smiles at herself for being silly at that moment.

"You know, you look quite cute smiling like that…"

"Excuse me?" she looked up from her phone screen for a while and turn at his sudden deep voice; the man was actually quite handsome despites being in a really messy outfit.

"Ah, nothing… I just though you look cute with that smile." He scratches his head as smiles bashfully.

"Okay…" It turns awkward again as Erica was focusing on her phone screen; still searching for clues on Lana's being missing and the man keeps standing there silently; while glancing at the elevators screen number restlessly.

'How can this elevator seems to be moving so slow?' The man sighs as he feels his body has becomes weaker; seems the aftermaths of him being 'helpful' just takes its toll on his body.

Han's was just being in the hotel as a favor for his uncle; he was supposed to take his uncle home but somehow got into a fight with some of the guys who have gamble issues with his uncle. Unfortunate for him, his uncle has long been gone when he came into the picture; leaving him being after by the tugs until he eventually escapes them and got into the elevator.

"Thong!" the whole elevator suddenly shakes for a moment before completely stops moving.

"Wh… what just happen? Did the elevator suddenly stop?" Erica's voice fills the air; there was no responds from the man besides her; He was already feeling bad and turning pale.

"Mister? Are you alright? Why are turning pale?" instead of answering; he just keeps his silence and stand his ground with his hands on the elevator's wall for support.

"I think you probably need to sit down first, Mister." Without doubt, Erica knew something was wrong with the man and helped him to take a seat on the floor first.

"Thank you…"

"You're welcome…Sorry for the sudden question but, do you have Claustrophobia?"

"What?"

"A fear of being in constricted, confined spaces, do you have it?" A chuckle left him; he looks quite relax from before even thou; he's still sweating.

"No… I'm just having a low blood sugar."

"Low… blood… sugar… ah! Wait a second." She quickly opens up her handbag as being watch by Han and takes out some candies from it; the scene was quite amusing to Han.

"Take one of these; it'll help you with your problem. My sister always nags me about my fewer intakes on sugar; so she packs tones of candies for me without my consent." She automatically explains as he was looking quite puzzle by the scenery of a businesswoman having stocks of candies in her handbag.

"Okay… Thank you; that was a really considerate little sister, you have there." The man takes one of the candies and pops it inside his mouth while smiling as the sweet flavors spreading in his mouth.

"I know…" A heavy sighs left her as she leaned back at the elevator wall; sitting beside him. Han realize her reaction and his curiosity kicks in.

"Hey, did something happen? You can tell me if you like… you did help me."She was looking quite hesitate before started to speak;

"It was the little sister… she's gone missing since last night; I was out of town for the whole night and only knew about it just now. Since then; I've been trying to look out for any sign or trace on her possible whereabouts, but it looks useless." She sighs again with a dull look in her eyes.

"I thought something was wrong… don't worry too much or you'll get sick. You don't want your naggy sis to get mad at you for being sick; once she's back, right? I'm sure she'll be back soon. Besides, if she does nags at you like you said; she's probably really care about you to bothered like that."

"I guess that does sound right; but… you can tell?" She just stares blankly at the candy's container again in her palm as Han's eyes were still on her.

"You've been on the phone even thou we're in the elevator; that obviously didn't have any reception here so it's impossible that you're trying to contact someone; and you looked quite restless since the beginning as you keep on looking at the elevator screen besides, you've been lightly stamping your feet nervously since I've entered the elevator." Han smirk as his focus are still on her.

"I guess the candy does help you gain some energy back didn't it? But I must say, that's a quite good observation skill you've got there..., Mister…"

"Right… I forgot to introduce myself; I'm…" As he was offering his hand; the lights starts to flickers before it when completely black out.

"Ahh!!!" Erica's voice echoed in the dark elevator before Han took her in his embrace.

"Miss? Miss, calm down… everything's going to be fine, don't worry…" he tightens his grip on her as she starts to calm down; he felt a warm sensation on his chest where Erica's face was.

'Is she's crying?' he pats her heads gently as trying to calm her down before making some space between them; she still grips on his hand.

"I…I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…" she sound trembling.

"It's the least I can do… Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes… thank you for earlier…"

'Never thought; I'll saw a tough girl's fragile side like this.' Han holds her hand back as to make sure she'll calm down before starts to spoke again.

"You know; this is getting out of hand… let's call for help."

"What? Why don't you do it earlier?" somehow; her tremble voice vanishes and was replace with another tone; annoyed. She even tightens her grip on his hand.

"I didn't have the strength to do it, earlier; wasn't I? Besides, I was too distracted by you."

"Excuse me?"

"I was just kidding! I'll do something about this; but I need your help."

"What are you talking about?"

"Here; help me up…" instead of answering; he insists her to guide him to the elevator's button panel with the help of her phone's torch. She realizes he was acting kind of weird in the dark as if he was blind; but she didn't mention it until he finished calling for help from the elevator emergency phone.

"Erm… why does…"

"I'm acting weird in the dark?"

"Yeah.. Sorry for I'm asking."

"It's okay; understandable actually… I have night blindness; so, I can't really see in the dark; even the slightest dim room makes me walking like a blind man."