Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“Hello?” My voice is sleep-raspy. I clear my throat and rub the heaviness from my eyes, hoping it will clear my brain fog too. I pull my phone from my ear to see who is calling. “Bob?”
“We need you to come in. Joe’s sick and had to leave early,” my boss insists with urgency.
I tossed and turned all night, and exhaustion from my fitful sleep has me edgy. I’m in no mood to go in early, but it’s my job. My chest is empty—like someone’s yanked out my heart, but I have to ignore it and focus on work. It will probably be good to keep busy, anyway.
All night, my mind ran through the wonderful time I’d spent with Simon.
They were easily the best two hours of my life.
Not once did I get the feeling that he wasn’t into me.
I know he was. Just that kiss alone was perfect.
We were perfect. I don’t know how I know this, but deep in my gut, I believe it.
Then why can’t he be with me?
“Melissa, are you listening to me?” Bob’s even tone draws my attention. “We really need your help. I promise to give you some extra time off.”
“What time do I need to be there?” I ask through my yawn.
“Today is the last day for the Cheng Foundation event and their banquet’s at seven. So I need you here as soon as possible.”
“All right,” I say with another soft yawn, barely listening to him. I managed to catch need you here as soon as possible, and that was all I needed to know.
“Thank you.” He then hangs up.
“Another day,” I mutter to myself.
I glance down at my phone screen and see that it’s almost four in the afternoon, then groan and drop the thing on my bed. I drag myself into the shower and then dress. Since it’s going to be a long night, I pack a few extra snacks with my dinner.
Dread swirls in my gut the entire drive to the hotel. The idea of never seeing Simon again cuts a deep wound in my chest, and I imagine myself bleeding out from the loss. So strange to feel this way for a man I barely know.
I take a few minutes in my truck and breathe through the ache. It won’t do me any good to stay angry over the situation, or at Simon. Whatever reason he has must be a really good one, because I can’t fathom what else would keep him from me.
“Hey, Melissa,” Sandra greets me as I walk past her to the employee area in the back.
I wave before closing the door and stowing my coat and bag in my locker.
Get him out of your head, I chide myself, trying to overcome this melancholy mood. The last thing a guest wants to see is a frowning security guard.
I give myself a cursory glance in the mirror and then clock in.
In the corridor, people are milling about. Men in black tie and women dressed in long, sparkling gowns. With the large ballroom still being set up for dancing, the guests crowd around the bar adjacent to the ballroom.
As I glance around the crowd, my eyes fix on an elegant banner that wasn’t there last night.
It must have been hung this morning. The first thing I notice is a picture of a man who looks an awful lot like Simon.
My eyes move to large letters at the top of the banner, and I read The Cheng Foundation—and Bob’s earlier comment finally registers.
The Cheng Foundation. Simon Cheng. My Simon!
I quickly side-step a group of people to get a better look at the banner. Standing in front of it, I study the look-alike Simon’s face. A sting pricks my eyes as I read the words beside the picture.
My heart—whatever is left of the organ—leaps up into my throat, while my stomach plummets as I understand what the words convey.
The Cheng Foundation was formed to honor Simon Cheng, who lost his battle with leukemia at the tender age of twenty-one. His love of ballroom dancing never wavered throughout his treatments—he gave a hundred percent whenever he was on the dance floor, and he never lost his positive outlook on life.
On this tenth anniversary of the foundation, we’re gathered to celebrate Simon’s life and his love for ballroom dancing. Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Simon Cheng Scholarships.
At the bottom is the name of the presenter. Samuel Cheng.
Tears slide down my cheeks as I reread the banner. This can’t be true. Simon can’t be dead. I held him. I danced with him. I kissed his lips.
Stepping away from the banner in a daze, I’m not sure where my feet are taking me.
I end up in front of the elevator—our elevator.
The door slides open and I step inside it, alone.
The door slams shut, which makes me give a watery chuckle—at least something is normal right now.
Then the number seventeen lights up without me touching the button, and the car ascends.
I don’t question it… I guess I shouldn’t expect anything else from this demented elevator.
Never in my life have I encountered a ghost—but that must be what Simon is. It would completely explain why he can’t be with me, why he said to never forget him. But that can’t be the truth… because there are no such things as ghosts. Right? Surely someone must be playing an elaborate trick on me.
The elevator slows to a stop and the door slides open. I lift my chin and am about to step out of the car when standing right in front of me is… Simon?
There he is… but dressed more elegantly than before.
He’s in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His hair is a little longer and more carefully styled than before—smoothed back, but loose around his shoulders.
His face appears far more chiseled with his hair this way.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he looks even more stunning.
“Simon?” I ask in disbelief.
A wayward smile curves his handsome face. “Melissa. I was hoping to see you tonight, but when I asked at the desk they said you were off today.”
“You look great…” I say, and smile carefully back at him, “but I’m confused…
I saw your picture on the banner…” My voice goes up at the end, because I can’t reconcile what I know: that last night Simon said he couldn’t be with me, that the banner says he passed away, and yet—here he is, standing before me.
“Thanks,” he says. “The picture is of my cousin, who passed away ten years ago.”
“You could’ve been twins,” I admit. “I almost…” I can’t finish my words, afraid he’ll think I’m an idiot.
“You thought I was a ghost.”
I slowly nod, because that’s actually what I was thinking. “You kept disappearing, so I thought you were.”
“My mother and the other Simon’s mother were best friends, and they did everything together.
They married the Cheng brothers in a double wedding ceremony, and delivered their first sons on the same day.
So of course they gave us the same name.
” He chuckles. “Trust me, it made for a lot of confusion. But we were also very close.”
“That’s endearingly… odd. I have to ask, though… what was with the cloak and dagger bit? Why were you hiding?”
“Because I wanted to surprise my aunt and uncle, who are hosting this event in my cousin’s honor. They didn’t know I was coming.”
“Well, you did a great job. You fooled me,” I say with a chuckle, then quickly sober. “So, what now?”
He steps closer to me and takes my hand. “Now I convince you that I’m not a ghost. Can you feel me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m real, Melissa.”
“Yes, you are, Simon.” Then I have to ask… “Why did you say goodbye last night as if I’d never see you again?”
“That trauma was due to a tragic clerical error. Because of my cousin’s history, everyone in my family undergoes regular blood tests at the same center where my cousin was treated.
My results from last week’s testing somehow got confused with my cousin’s file, and when they told me yesterday, I was in shock.
I had just met you, and I was not going to put you through the rigors of treatment. I thought I had to let you go.”
“And something changed?”
“Everything was sorted this morning and the lab director called and apologized profusely. I think he was like your boss and afraid I might sue, but I am so happy to be cleared that I will just let it go.”
“I’m pleased for you. What does this mean for us?”
“Since you are here, join me for dinner to honor my cousin and then we can talk about us.”
“I don’t—”
“You’re not working right now, and I won’t take no for an answer. Besides, I don’t want you to disappear on me. Are you alright with that?”
The smile I give to Simon is huge. Who would have guessed I’d find the man of my dreams in a crazy elevator. “But I am working. My boss called me in early.”
“Hmm. You leave that to me.”
“Then I’d love to join you for dinner, if you don’t mind being seen with me in my security guard uniform.”
“You’re beautiful no matter what you are wearing.”
I squeeze his hand and let him lead me to dinner.
I can’t even imagine what my abuela would say if she finds out that all it took was a crazy elevator and working midnights in this hotel for me to find love.
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