The elevator ride down was quiet.
May stood near the back, hands clasped loosely in front of her, eyes fixed on the glowing numbers as they descended. The hum of the hotel wrapped around her, familiar enough now that it no longer felt intrusive. She breathed steadily, as if reminding herself that nothing was chasing her. Nothing was pulling at her sleeve.
The doors opened into the lobby.
William was already there.
He stood near the far column, jacket slung over one shoulder, phone in hand. When he spotted her, his posture shifted subtly, attention settling on her without urgency. No rush. No concern sharp enough to demand explanation.
Just presence.
"Morning," he said when she reached him, his voice easy.
"Morning."
They walked side by side toward the seating area near the windows. The lobby was calmer than it had been the day before. Conversations were quieter. Staff moved with measured purpose. Whatever tension had once lived here had smoothed itself out, tucked neatly away where guests could not trip over it.
They sat.
William leaned back slightly, arms resting along the chair, gaze flicking briefly across the room before returning to her.
"It's been handled," he said.
She looked at him. "What has?"
"The nonsense," he replied, tone mild but final. "The rumor."
Her shoulders eased without her permission.
"They found who started it," he continued. "Management dealt with it. Staff's been spoken to. Officially."
She nodded. The word officially mattered more than she expected.
"They didn't say who," she said.
William's mouth curved faintly. "They did. Just not to everyone."
He paused, then added, "You won't hear it. And you don't need to."
She accepted that. Some things were better unnamed.
They sat for a moment, watching the light shift across the marble floor. Outside, traffic moved steadily, indifferent to whatever small storms had passed through the building the night before.
"I was worried," William said, not looking at her directly. "Not because I thought you couldn't handle it. Just because… it shouldn't have happened at all."
"I'm okay," she said quietly. "I think."
He smiled at that. Not bright. Not relieved. Just something warm and restrained.
"Good."
They talked about nothing after that. Coffee she did not drink. A bakery nearby he recommended. The way London pretended to be gentle before reminding you it was not.
Eventually, he checked his watch.
"I've got to head out," he said. "But I'll be around later."
She nodded. "Thank you. For… everything."
He shook his head. "You're still thanking me."
She smiled despite herself.
He stood, hesitated, then added, "You don't owe anyone answers right now. Just so you know."
Then he was gone, swallowed by the revolving doors and the city beyond.
May remained seated.
The quiet pressed in again, softer this time. Less demanding.
She returned upstairs slowly.
The room greeted her like it always did. Neutral. Still. Safe in a way that felt temporary, but no longer fragile. She set her jacket aside, crossed to the window, and watched the clouds gather over the skyline.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked down, already knowing.
Unknown: [ Are you free later today? ]
She did not answer immediately.
She sat on the edge of the bed, phone resting in her palm, staring at the message until the screen dimmed slightly. She woke it again with a tap.
Unknown: [ I'd like to talk. In person. ]
Her thumb hovered.
This was different from the rumor. Different from the hotel. Different even from William.
This was not someone fixing something for her.
This was someone asking.
She leaned back into the chair and closed her eyes briefly.
The unease that had followed her since arriving in London had softened. Not disappeared, just shifted, no longer sharp enough to demand her attention. It lingered quietly, like a thought she had not finished yet.
When she opened her eyes again, she felt strangely calm.
The city outside continued its quiet movement. The hotel hummed around her, unaware of the small decisions forming in the spaces between moments.
Things had settled.
Not permanently.
Not completely.
But enough.
For now.
She picked up her phone.
May: [ We can talk. ]
There was a pause.
Then:
Unknown: [ Thank you. ]
[ I'll make it simple. ]
She stood and crossed the room, restless energy finally catching up with her. She did not ask where. She did not ask when.
Some questions did not need answers yet.
She glanced once more at the phone, then set it down carefully on the bedside table.
Outside, the sky darkened just a little.
And somewhere ahead, something waited.
******************
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