Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 372

“Thanks a ton!” Hazel felt relieved. But the shadow of doubt was lingering as she made her way back
to the hotel. Would he talk tomorrow? If not, she was in real trouble.
As she took her key from the desk, the manager came to her. “Is everything alright, Miss?” he said.
“Yes, except the room is too cold.” She replied bluntly.
“No, Miss; I don’t mean that. I want to check with you if anything is amiss with your work. ” He
placed special emphasis on the word ‘work’.
“Why are you asking me such strange questions?” Hazel asked.
“Just that some men came enquiring after you left…” The man stopped in mid sentence. The clerk at
the desk was shaking his head.
“Who? I don’t know any one here… what do you mean? What did they want?” Hazel asked.
“Oh, nothing, nothing, its not you, sorry my mistake.”
Puzzled, she made her way to her room. It took her a while to realize something was different. When
she left her room in the morning, it was a mess. Most of her papers were scattered around the table, as
she had tried to search for her charging cord.
She was in a hurry but she remembered well that the first few chapters were still in a folder on the table.
But now, the first chapter was lying on the floor along with other papers. Hazel was furious. She had
left specific instructions at the front desk that her room was not to be cleaned. She was scared that
someone had misplaced her papers.
She dialed the front desk. “Yes, Miss?”
“Did you send a cleaner to my room?”
“No, Miss, you said not to, no one went into your room.”
Hazel was puzzled. She remembered well that the first chapter was still in the folder on the table – …
or did she forget? She had not slept for few days. Maybe her mind was playing tricks with her…
She woke up with a start. She must have nodded off in the chair while thinking … It was past
midnight. Was that the door? She walked to the door, opened it and looked out. No one was there. I
am working too hard, she thought. Better catch a few hours of sleep. Then she went to bed.