Chapter 113 - The Big-ass Surprise on the Fifty-ninth Floor (2/2)
Claire waits with that ”make sure that's actually good” facial expression. She waits until the security officer, who is overweight by countless pounds and now looks miserable, catches his breath. He's red in the face so much that Claire regrets what she said. She didn't really mean it, threatening this poor guy, who probably receives bȧrėly enough pay to support his family and what-not. But in the heat of the moment, she said that out of frustration. Maybe even after she climbed the staircase all the way to the fifty-ninth floor, she won't even remember this officer, much less that she ever threatened him.
”The service elevator actually works. It always works, even in emergencies such as this.”
”Really?”
”Yes, Ma'am.”
”How does it work when everything else doesn't?”
”It runs on stored power, Ma'am. The outer walls of this building are covered with solar panels. The residents, especially Mr. Tan, don't want the inconvenience of losing the lights even for a few minutes.”
Jesus, thank goodness, she thinks, but she doesn't let him know how relieved she is. ”Then let's go!”
”This way, Ma'am,” he says, opening a side door that leads to a short walking space, wide enough to accommodate laundry trolleys. The service elevator is on the other side of the space. It's already open when they arrive. ”It seems to be expecting you, Ma'am,” he says, trying to get on her good side.
”Can you believe how wonderful this whole place is? Elevators that 'expect' passengers!” she says, but the guard seems to not realize the sarcasm.
It takes only a minute for the high-speed elevator to ascend all the way up to the top floor. When it opens to a dark hallway, the guard helpfully turns on his flashlight. ”Is Mr. Tan really expecting you, Ma'am?”
”He's...” she stops—how does she describe what happened to Gabriel? She only realizes now that she doesn't really know. ”I think he's in some kind of medical emergency. Can you open the door to his suite?”
The guard must have shaken his head in the dark, as the only thing Claire could see is the jerky circle of brightness on the floor, thanks to his flashlight. ”The building administrator's the only one who carries all the duplicate keys, Ma'am. Sorry. Shall we go back down and get him?”
She sighs. So much time has been wasted. They're standing now in front of Gabriel's door. ”Can we just kick this door open? I think you can do it.”
”Destroy building property, Ma'am?” the guard's voice quakes. ”I can't do it. I can't…”
He never finishes what he's saying because Claire tries to turn the doorknob, and miraculously, the door creaks open.
”Is he even here?” The guard whispers, tiptoeing beside Claire, pointing the flashlight as if it's a gun.
The suite is empty and dark. They check the bedroom, but no one's there. They check everywhere. Nothing. Finally, the security guard says, ”Isn't this the penthouse suite? Doesn't this have an open area, like a garden, right?”
”I don't know. You're the one who should know.”
”Yeah, sorry. Maybe he's there.”
Her heart pounds in her ċhėst. Maybe he's there. Maybe he was there when he called her up. That's where it must have happened. The image of Gabriel sprawled on the garden floor, amid whatever plants he has, flashes in her mind. Jesus, please, I hope I'm wrong. She tiptoes behind the guard, but before opening the door, he turns to her. ”Perhaps you should open it, Ma'am.”
”Why me?”
He shrugs. ”You're his fiancée.”
She wants to respond to that, but she keeps it inside. They're here. She's tired of arguing. She grabs the door, and slides it open.
She promptly gets the shock of her life, as a hundred lights turn on and a familiar voice, one that she's both relieved and hates to hear, says something that puts tears in her eyes. Claire stands there like a wilting flower, crying like a baby.