Sweet Subterfuge

“Don’t panic.” She calmed herself down and comforted the assistant instead. “This isn’t your fault. I don’t blame you. Go around and ask if anyone has seen Aster. I will call the security department. Bye.”

She walked toward the main entrance even as she called security.

There were only two places where one could enter and exit the hotel-a main entrance, and an emergency back exit. Under normal circumstances, the back exit was not open.

If Aster had really been kidnapped, the kidnapper had to go through either one of those doors with Aster. She got security to retrieve the

surveillance footage from the floor that the restaurant was on before getting them to send people to guard both exits.

“The moment you have anything, call me immediately.” she said.

Larissa kept her eyes fixed on the main entrance. There were a lot of people moving in and out. She stared at every child that passed her by-but none of them were her Aster. Nothing came from security either.

The feeling of unease Larissa felt grew stronger and stronger, and her heart began to sink bit by bit.

“Ms. Seymour, we’ve found your son! He’s been taken by a very strangely dressed person

Do you need us to go

ran towards the front desk, ignoring the

over right

to check in as she ordered the front desk, “Give me a room card for 1503” with a loud voice, scaring the young girl

Ms. Seymour!” She immediately had the card

as squeezing her way into the elevator car. She ignored the crowd’s complaints as well as their ridicule, her eyes remained fixed

shoved at the people in front of her and stumbled out of

out of her f

does she

sent her way. Room 1503 was close to

wait: she opened the door with the room

heard Aster’s cries. Unable to think of anything else, fear and worry urged her to open the

people in the