The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 72

The waiter switched the room keycard, informed Caleb of the new room number, and headed up the elevator. Sebastian pulled a waiter aside. "Deliver a fruit platter to room 6088. Once you're done, come to the room on the right and report back to me." The staff here were used to this environment. The waiter asked no questions and went straight to fetch the platter. Sebastian hurried upstairs and used the master keycard to unlock the room adjacent to 6088. As he walked, his mind raced with ways to handle the situation. In business, harmony was key. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to antagonize a man like Caleb.

The waiter soon returned, reporting that a woman was lying on the bed and Caleb was taking some pills. It went without saying what kind of pills he was swallowing at a time like this. Stalling wouldn't save her. Sebastian quickly devised a rescue plan. "Listen to me. In ten minutes—no, five minutes—go deliver some wine. Tell him it's on the house, courtesy of management." Sebastian paused, then added, "Don't send whole bottles. Grab a few selections from my private stash and take two extra guys with you."

Zane had set a strict rule: no female staff were allowed on the floors catering exclusively to male clients. Selling your body was a personal choice, but he refused to let innocent employees fall prey to predatory guests. Therefore, all room service deliveries were handled by men. The waiter nodded and went down to prepare. Sebastian then made a quick phone call, requesting a girl with a similar build to Elara.

Inside the suite, Caleb poured a powdered drug into a glass of water, swirled it, and forcefully poured it down Elara's throat. He patted her cheek with a sinister grin. "Don't rush it. Once that drug kicks in, you'll be begging for it. I don't sleep with dead fish. This stuff is potent. Once it hits, there's no stopping it." The previous drug she had been slipped was starting to wear off slightly, giving Elara just enough strength to swing her arm. A loud slap echoed through the room as her hand struck Caleb's cheek.

Caleb rolled his jaw to soothe the sting, his eyes brimming with perverse excitement. He loved taming high-and-mighty society wives. "I guarantee you'll be on your knees begging me in a minute." Elara struggled to her feet, but her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the plush carpet. She tried to scream at him, but her voice was barely a whisper. "You asshole... let me go..."

Caleb bent down, scooped her up from the floor, and carried her toward the bathroom. "Patience. By the time we're done showering, the timing will be perfect." The doorbell chimed. Caleb tossed her back onto the bed and casually walked over to open the door, entirely unbothered. A line of waiters stood outside holding trays. It was a spacious suite, so Caleb didn't even bother closing the door behind them. Faint cries for help echoed from the bedroom, but the waiters pretended they couldn't hear a thing.

The head waiter smiled professionally. "Mr. Mercer, these are compliments of our boss—" Before he could finish his sentence, the entire floor plunged into total darkness. Down the hallway, staff members began reassuring the guests. "Please do not panic. We are experiencing a minor electrical fault. Please remain in your rooms until the power is restored. The central air conditioning runs on a separate generator and will not be affected." The staff broadcasted the apology and instructions on a loop.

Inside the pitch-black suite, the waiter spoke politely. "Careful not to trip, Mr. Mercer. Please, take a seat. We sincerely apologize. The power grid has been overloaded this summer." The three waiters subtly formed a barricade around Caleb, keeping him occupied with endless apologies.

Under the cover of darkness, a man and a woman slipped silently into the room. The man swiftly moved to the bed, clamping a firm hand over Elara's mouth. He leaned in close to her ear. "It's me." He scooped her up in his arms and silently slipped back out the door. The woman who had entered with him seamlessly took Elara's place on the bed. The door to the adjacent room stood open. Sebastian waited just inside. Once Zane and Elara were safely across the threshold, Sebastian quietly shut the door and made his way downstairs in the dark. The ground floor was brightly lit and operating normally. The blackout had been isolated to that single floor.