‘Well, he’s certainly a charmer,’ she muttered, tossing the phone aside and flopping back against her pillows.

  By the end of the day, she might finally have some answers about Fay’s disappearance.

  Rain dragged herself out of bed and into the shower, hoping the hot water would calm her racing thoughts. But as she stood under the spray, her mind kept drifting to Lauren. It was ridiculous – the owner of the hotel was unlikely to have much to do with the housekeeping staff. And yet, the idea of being in the same building, breathing the same air . . . it made Rain’s pulse quicken.

  ‘Get it together,’ she scolded herself, turning the water to cold in an attempt to shock some sense into her brain.

  At precisely one p.m., Rain walked into The Mayfair Heritage Hotel, trying to project a confidence she didn’t quite feel. Sarah was waiting for her at the reception desk, a welcoming smile on her face.

  ‘Rain, right? Welcome aboard! Follow me, I’ll give you the grand tour.’

  As they made their way to the lifts, Sarah kept up a steady stream of chatter about the hotel’s history and the various departments. Rain tried to listen, but her mind was whirring with possible ways to casually bring up Fay without raising suspicion. She couldn’t risk losing this job, not when she was so close to getting answers.

  ‘I have to say, I’m a little surprised I got hired so quickly,’ Rain said as they stepped into the lift. ‘I only had an interview yesterday. Did the last cleaner quit or something?’

  Sarah’s smile tightened almost imperceptibly.

  ‘I’m not really at liberty to discuss personnel matters,’ Sarah said, her tone pleasant but firm.

  Rain nodded, taking the hint. Sarah clearly wasn’t going to be a source of information.

  The first stop was the staff room. Mismatched tables and large comfy looking sofas gave the space a cosy, lived-in feel. A group of employees looked up from their conversation, greeting Rain and Sarah with friendly waves.

  ‘This is where everyone hangs out on their breaks,’ Sarah explained. ‘Go ahead and grab a coffee. I just need to get some paperwork from my office. Back in a jiffy!’

  Rain nodded, trying to look nonchalant as she made her way over to the coffee station. As she poured herself a cup, a woman in a sharp grey suit sidled up next to her.

  ‘Well, hello there,’ she said, giving Rain a once-over that made her cheeks flush. ‘Haven’t seen you around before. New girl?’

  Rain nodded, tongue-tied. The woman was stunning, with high cheekbones and eyes that sparkled with mischief.

  ‘I’m Alex,’ she said, extending a perfectly manicured hand. Rain shook it, trying not to notice how soft her skin was.

  ‘Rain. Nice to meet you.’

  Alex’s smile widened. ‘Oh, I have a feeling you and I are going to get along just fine, Rain.’

  Before Rain could respond, a familiar face appeared at her elbow. It was Denise, the receptionist.

  ‘I thought that was you!’ Denise said. ‘I’m so glad you got the job. I had a good feeling about you.’

  Rain grinned, warmed by her enthusiasm. ‘Thanks, Denise. That means a lot.’

  ‘Denise is right, you know,’ a new voice chimed in. Rain turned to see a lanky redhead with a boyish grin. ‘Mr Larkins doesn’t hire just anyone. I’m Jack, by the way. Resident jack-of-all-trades and unofficial welcoming committee.’

  Rain shook his offered hand, taking note of his bare ring finger. He seemed like the type to know everyone’s business – maybe he’d been friends with Fay. She made a mental note to seek him out later, when she could ask some discreet questions.

  Alex placed her hand on Rain’s shoulder, giving her a flirtatious smile. ‘Anyway, I should get back to the bar. Someone needs to pour the drinks. But I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for you, new girl.’

  With a wink, she walked off, leaving Rain slightly flustered.

  Sarah reappeared then, a stack of papers in hand. ‘Ready to head to the kitchen? There’s someone I want you to meet.’

  The kitchen was a hive of activity, the air thick with delicious aromas that made Rain’s stomach rumble. Sarah led her over to a tall, broad-shouldered man stirring an enormous pot of fragrant sauce.

  ‘Rain, this is Jimmy, our head chef. Jimmy, meet our newest team member.’

  Jimmy looked up, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. ‘Ah, fresh blood! Welcome to the madhouse.’

  Rain grinned, shaking his hand. She felt the cool press of a wedding band against her palm and couldn’t help but notice how attractive he was, with salt-and-pepper hair and a roguish charm. Just the type Fay always went for.

  ‘Whatever you’re making smells incredible,’ Rain said, inhaling deeply.

  Jimmy’s chest puffed up with pride. ‘My secret recipe. Here, have a taste.’

  He dipped a spoon into the pot and held it out to her. Rain hesitated for a moment, worried that her refined palate might give away her true identity as a chef. She took a careful sip, trying to mask her reaction as an explosion of flavour burst across her tongue.

  ‘Mmm, that’s delicious,’ Rain said, attempting to sound like an average person enjoying something tasty.

  Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Glad you like it! I’ve been perfecting this recipe for years.’

  Rain resisted the urge to comment on the subtle blend of spices she detected. ‘Well, you’ve certainly got a talent for cooking.’

  ‘Thanks! You know, if you ever want to learn a few tricks, just let me know. I’m always happy to share my knowledge,’ Jimmy said with a wink.

  Rain forced a laugh, trying to sound casual. ‘Oh, I’m not much of a cook myself. I can barely boil water without burning it.’

  ‘You’ll have to let her try your pasta dish some time, Jimmy,’ Sarah said before gesturing to Rain to follow her. ‘Right, let’s go and get you fitted for your uniform.’

  Jimmy waved them off with a mock salute. ‘Don’t be a stranger, now,’ he called after her.

  The uniform room was a cornucopia of crisply pressed outfits in varying styles and colours. Rain stood patiently as a no-nonsense seamstress took her measurements, Sarah’s soothing chatter filling the air.

  With her brand-new uniform and schedule in hand, Rain felt a buzz of excitement as she said her goodbyes. She was in, and now it was only a matter of time before she started to uncover the truth about Fay’s disappearance. As she made her way down the corridor, she spotted Jack lounging against the exterior wall, cigarette in hand.

  ‘Hey, Jack!’ She greeted him with a friendly smile as she approached. ‘How’s it going?’

  Jack stubbed out his cigarette and straightened up, offering a casual smile in return. ‘Oh, you know, same old. Are you looking forward to starting work?’

  ‘Yeah, this place is amazing,’ Rain said, glancing around the hotel grounds. ‘So, what do you do here?’

  He shrugged. ‘Anything and everything.’

  Rain arched an inquisitive brow. ‘Oh, really? Does that include cleaning?’

  Jack laughed. ‘You’ve got to be kidding. That’s women’s work.’

  ‘Oi!’ Rain exclaimed, feigning offence.

  ‘Only kidding,’ he said. ‘To be honest, I wouldn’t have the energy. It’s non-stop, and don’t even get me started on the mess guests leave behind.’

  ‘Oh god, don’t put me off before I’ve even started,’ Rain groaned.

  ‘You’ll be fine. You look like you can handle anything,’ he said, eyeing her from head to toe and back again.

  ‘Thanks, I think,’ Rain replied. ‘So, does that mean there are a high turnover of cleaners?’

  She tried to sound nonchalant, not wanting to seem too eager. Jack’s expression clouded over briefly before he could mask it.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said, scratching the back of his neck.

  ‘Mr Larkins said something about the cleaner I’m replacing being unreliable.’

  ‘Oh, did he now?’ Jack asked, his tone slightly sceptical.

  ‘Yeah, was that not the case then?’

  He studied her for a moment, seemingly weighing up how much to divulge. ‘Look, Fay … the last cleaner … she had some personal stuff going on. It was a bit of a mess, really.’

  ‘A mess? What kind of mess? That sounds ominous,’ Rain said, trying her best to sound light-hearted.

  Before she could press him further, the distant sound of approaching footsteps put an end to their conversation.

  ‘Listen, I gotta get back to work. See you around,’ Jack said, quickly excusing himself. With that, Jack hastily retreated back into the hotel, leaving Rain alone, her thoughts swirling with even more unanswered questions.

  Rain continued her journey towards the front entrance. She was so lost in thought, trying to process what Jack had said, that she almost walked straight into the person coming in the door.

  Rain stumbled back, an apology on her lips, but the words died in her throat as she looked up into an achingly familiar pair of eyes.

  Lauren.

  She was a vision of beauty in a long black coat and oversized sunglasses, looking every inch the glamorous jetsetter. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air between them electric with tension.

  Rain’s mind raced with memories – the silken slide of Lauren’s hair between her fingers, the taste of her lips, the breathy little sighs she made when their tongues had entwined.

  Lauren’s lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but then she shook her head and brushed past Rain without a word, disappearing into the lobby.

  Rain stood frozen. Seeing Lauren again, being so close to her . . . it was almost too much to bear.

  I can’t do this. I’m not strong enough.

  But even as she thought the words, Rain knew she didn’t have a choice. She had to find out what happened to Fay. And if that meant weathering the emotional rollercoaster of being around Lauren . . . well, she’d just have to find a way to survive it. No matter how much it hurt.

  Rain squared her shoulders and walked out into the bright London morning.

  One way or another, she would get to the bottom of her sister’s disappearance. And then, maybe, she could finally put Lauren behind her for good.

  Chapter Eleven

  He climbed into his car, slamming the door shut with a force that shook the vehicle.

  He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for. He hit the call button, his foot tapping impatiently as he waited for an answer.

  ‘Yeah, it’s me,’ he barked as soon as the call connected. ‘Listen, I need you to do something for me.’

  He paused, listening to the response on the other end. ‘I don’t care what you’re doing right now. This is important. It’s about Fay.’

  Another pause. ‘No, I still don’t know where she is. That’s the problem, but I’ve got an idea.’ A smile spread across his face. ‘I want you to pay a visit to her building manager. See if he knows anything.’

  The man laughed menacingly at the response. ‘No, I don’t want you to ask him nicely. I want you to make him talk. Whatever it takes.’

  He listened for a moment, then nodded. ‘Yeah, you got it. And listen, if he gives you any trouble, you have my permission to get rough. Just don’t leave any permanent damage, okay?’

  With that, he ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. If Fay’s building manager knew something, he’d find out.

  And if he didn’t, well, at least he’d sent a message.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lauren’s mind raced with a flurry of thoughts as the lift ascended to the top floor. Why hadn’t she said something to Rain, anything? Even a simple hello would have been better than the frozen, awkward silence that had stretched between them.

  It’s too late now to do anything, so just forget about it.

  A few moments later, she was standing outside her grandmother’s door. She knocked softly before using her key card to let herself in.

  Ivy looked up from her armchair, her face lighting up with a warm smile. ‘Well, aren’t I popular today? Sydney just left a little while ago.’

  Lauren settled into the chair beside her. ‘Oh, she’s back. I haven’t seen her since yesterday.’

  ‘I know. She’s been avoiding you,’ Ivy replied matter-of-factly.

  Lauren sighed, realising as much. Sydney’s abrupt departure after the board meeting, coupled with her subsequent radio silence, spoke volumes.

  ‘Did she say that?’ Lauren said.

  ‘She didn’t have to. It was written all over her face.’

  ‘Does she think I had something to do with Mum’s decision?’

  Ivy patted Lauren’s hand. ‘Even if she does, she’ll come around when she realises her mistake.’

  ‘I can’t believe Mum did that. I mean, what was she thinking?’

  ‘You know your mother loves you dearly—’

  ‘It doesn’t feel like it when she pulls stunts like that. It feels quite the opposite.’

  ‘Just trust her, Lauren. She knows what she’s doing.’

  ‘Is there something wrong, Gran? What aren’t you telling me?’ Lauren asked, sensing there was more beneath the surface.

  ‘Let’s just say, sometimes we think we see the whole picture, when all we’re really seeing is a tiny piece of the puzzle.’

  ‘So, you’re saying there is something to know?’

  Ivy waved a hand, dismissing the topic. ‘Let’s not waste what little time I have left talking about things that won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.’

  Lauren’s heart clenched at the mention of Ivy’s mortality. ‘Gran! Don’t say that. You’re the sprightliest eighty-year-old I know.’

  Ivy gave a slight shake of her head, amused. ‘And how many eighty-year-olds do you know?’

  Lauren couldn’t help but laugh. ‘All right, you got me there.’

  Ivy leaned in and said in a conspiratorial tone, ‘Don’t worry, I don’t even know any eighty-year-olds either, so we’re in the same boat.’

  With a wink, she pushed herself up from her chair and made her way to the kitchenette. When she returned, she was carrying two glasses of wine.

  Lauren laughed as she took a glass. ‘Gran! You promised Mum you’d given up drinking.’

  Ivy took a defiant sip, her eyes sparkling. ‘And as far as she knows, I have. I won’t tell if you won’t.’ Her smile faded a bit. ‘Besides, what else do I have to look forward to these days? Time just seems to blur together since your grandfather passed.’

  Guilt twisted like a knife in Lauren’s gut. ‘We should go out more, do things together.’

  Ivy waved off her concern. ‘I’m not trying to make you feel bad, sweetheart. I’ve had a wonderful life, lived every day to the fullest. Being alone with my memories now . . . it’s not so terrible.’

  ‘You’re not alone,’ Lauren insisted, reaching for her hand.

  Ivy squeezed her fingers. ‘I know. I have all of you. But losing your grandfather, after sixty beautiful years . . . it leaves a hole nothing else can quite fill.’ She took a deep breath, visibly shaking off the melancholy. ‘But enough about me and my maudlin musings. Drink up and tell me the latest gossip.’

  Lauren sipped her wine. ‘There isn’t any.’

  Ivy’s eyes narrowed. ‘I may be old, but I’m no fool. There’s something different about you.’

  ‘Did Syd say something?’ Lauren asked.

  ‘No, why?’

  ‘Oh, nothing.’

  Ivy leaned forward, a gleam of interest in her eye. ‘So, there is something. Come on, indulge an old woman. Heard any juicy titbits about the staff?’

  Lauren hesitated. ‘No . . . but . . .’

  ‘Yes?’ Ivy pressed.

  ‘I sort of . . . met someone,’ Lauren said, her cheeks heating. ‘It was totally unexpected. Out of the blue.’

  Ivy set her glass down, her expression unreadable. Lauren’s stomach churned with sudden anxiety.

  ‘Are you disappointed in me?’

  Ivy’s eyes were filled with sadness when they met hers. ‘No, Lauren. I could never be disappointed in you. I’m disappointed in myself. I should’ve stood up to your mother when she pressured you to marry Jake. I knew you didn’t love him.’

  Lauren shook her head vehemently. ‘Don’t be silly, Gran. It’s not your fault. I could’ve said no, but I didn’t. And in a way, I’m glad. I have Ben, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.’

  Ivy smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  ‘I’m glad to hear that.’ She leaned in, a mischievous twinkle replacing the sadness. ‘So, tell me about this young man who’s caught your eye.’

  ‘That’s the thing . . . it’s not a man.’ Lauren paused, but only for a moment. She knew Ivy would never judge her. ‘It’s a woman, Gran.’

  Ivy blinked, then a slow grin spread across her face. ‘Is that so? Well, don’t leave me in suspense. Tell me everything.’

  Relief and affection rushed through Lauren in a heady wave. ‘There’s not much to tell, really. We met in a coffee shop, and it was like . . . like lightning. We just connected.’

  ‘And then?’ Ivy prompted, nearly vibrating with excitement.

  ‘And then she had to rush off, but she gave me her number—’

  ‘Did you call her?’ Ivy interrupted.

  Lauren nodded, smiling at the memory. ‘I invited her to my place.’

  Ivy clutched at her chest dramatically. ‘Goodness, I may need the doctor to check my heart rate after all this excitement.’

  Lauren giggled. ‘Nothing really happened . . . well, not much . . .’

  Ivy waggled her eyebrows. ‘Don’t hold out on me now, dear. Give an old lady her thrills where she can get them.’

  ‘Okay . . . we talked for a bit,’ Lauren said, heat rising in her cheeks. ‘And then somehow . . . we ended up . . .’

  ‘Ended up what?’ Ivy nearly shouted.

  ‘Kissing,’ Lauren blurted out, hiding her face in her hands.

  Ivy clapped with glee. ‘Oh, how marvellous! Is this the beginning of a grand romance?’

  Lauren’s smile faded. ‘I’m afraid not. I told her I was married—’