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367words
Of course, the hotel had given us a room on the top floor, the 18th.
Obviously on purpose.
The hotel manager pointed at our key card.
"Everyone, your room is on the 18th floor. Please return to your own room."
I saw it now.
The manager just wanted to smooth things over.
He was protecting that pair.
Through the earbud, I could hear the jerk still comforting the other woman, saying he'd get her out once I left the 5th floor.
Damn it. Still playing the white knight?
For a piece of trash!
The manager kept urging.
"We've had a guest complaint about noise in the 5th-floor hallway disrupting their rest."
The jerk had indeed called the hotel, saying strangers outside his door were threatening his safety.
I knew if I left, that pair would escape. I'd have to swallow this injustice.
"We won't make a sound. We'll just stand here. Your security can watch us. If we disturb anyone, then you can kick us out."
We were paying guests too. The manager couldn't use force. He tried the sympathy angle.
"Miss, why put yourself through this? Do you really need a public scene where everyone loses face?"
They cheated on me, and you're worried about me losing face? Losing what face? My last shred of dignity?
"Manager, stay out of this. I promise I won't damage anything. But you can't stop me from being here. I'm a hotel guest, and this is a public area. As long as I'm quiet, I'm not disturbing anyone, right?"
The manager didn't have a better option. He waved a hand dismissively.
"Fine. Stay if you want. But absolutely no disturbances."
He said to the two guards, "You two patrol this floor tonight. Make sure no one causes trouble. If they do, escort them out."
Then he left.
Inside the room, the other woman kept asking, "Are they gone? Are they gone? What if she doesn't leave?"
I definitely wasn't sleeping tonight. And neither were they!
Suddenly, I had an idea. A way to force them to open the door.
A way that could also ruin them.
Your fun is almost over!
