The CEO's Painted Skin

Catherine was inside the Presidential suite #1 for her regular cleaning routine. The rest of the presidential suite was already booked one at a time but this one that she regularly cleaned twice a week was still vacant.

What is the purpose of cleaning this place when no one is using it? she asked herself.

Anyways, it's good that no one uses it 'coz she can rest in its comfy bed even for a few minutes while inside the suite cleaning it.

Cleaning and then resting for a few minutes...good combo! she laughed a little.

Done with the dusting and all, she turns off the airconditioning system, got out of the room and locked the door behind her.

It so happened that the handsome guy#1 who was occupying the suite#3 was also getting out of the door, their eyes meet for a few seconds then Catherine resumed her walking in the hallway.

She noticed that heavy steps fall behind her, when she looked past her shoulder she saw the handsome guy following her, she slowed down her steps until he catches up with her.

"Hello...," the guy greeted her.

She stopped walking and turned to face him. "Hello...Sir. How may I help you?"

"I just want to know what's your name? Catherine isn't it?" he smiled at her.

"Yes Sir, how did you know my name?" she was puzzled.

"I have my ways. Can I have your cell number please?" he asked.

Catherine stared at him. Why would he asked for my cell number?

"Don't worry I am harmless, I just want to get to know you better," he said.

She was still hesitating to give him her number.

"I could get your cell number from anyone, I have my ways. But I still prefer that you will be the one who will give me your number."

Catherine sighed.

"Sir, I don't think it's a good idea that I will give you my number. Hotel's employees were prohibited to exchange numbers with our clients," she explained.

His eyes narrowed to a slit. "Nonsense! Is it a crime to ask for someone's number?"

"No Sir. But---"

"As long it's not a crime then screw the hotels regulation! I'm just asking for your number, not really a big deal, isn't it?" he winks at her.

"Yes, Sir....but..."

The guy thrust his cell phone into her hand. "Type your number please..."

She released a deep sigh and typed her number on his cell phone just to shut him up.

"Thanks, beauty! By the way, my name is Xander Mike Santos, some of my friends call me Mr. X or Mr. M as a shortcut," he winked at her and offered his hand to her for a handshake.

She stared at him mouth agape. Mr. X! Grace's mysterious client? Probably not. Just a coincidence maybe, she told herself.

"Yes, you can call me Mike or Xander, whichever you prefer," he grinned at her showing even white teeth.

He looks even more handsome when he smiled. He has the same body built and height as John.

"Nice meeting you---Sir Mike." She accepted his handshake, but she was surprised when he brought her hands to his lips and kissed it. She immediately withdrew her hands from his grasp.

"Finally I meet you at last Catherine! You will be mine one day. Remember that!" he suddenly turned around and retraces his steps back towards his suite.

"Huh?" she followed him with her eyes, her eyebrows knitted together. "He's weird!"

She resumed walking towards the stairways leading down to the fourth floor. Still bewildered by the handsome guy's weird action and attitude towards her.

...

Later at noon...

Catherine and Sherry were having their lunch in the small cafeteria of the hotel which is exclusive for the employees.

"Sherry, the client in the presidential suite #3, is he a regular patron here?"

"Yes. He will check in for several days and will check out any time of the day," replied Sherry.

"Ah okay. The other guy he was with? Is he a relative or a friend?"

"I think he was a cousin or something, I overheard them the other day talking in the lobby. But am not really sure...," Sherry was staring at Catherine's face. "Why are you asking lots of question about him? Are you interested? Are you having a crush on him?" she asked playfully at the same time giggling.

Catherine smiled broadly. "No. Am not having a crush on him. Although he was handsome and good looking and all that...but hell no...am not interested."

"Yeah...Yeah...Yeah...as you say so. The one I'm having a crush on is that of his companion. He looks just like my 'ex' who got married to another girl one year ago. My God, I still can't get over with my broken heart." Sherry's face was suddenly enveloped with sadness and sorrow. She looks like she is about to cry.

Catherine rubbed her back. "Shhh, don't cry. Let's not talk about them anymore. I don't want you to remember your painful past." She continues rubbing her friend's back. She can't understand why people get emotional when remembering their 'ex'? She has not experienced any heartbreak yet, so she had a hard time understanding and sympathizing with love sick people. But Sherry is a friend, she will just stay by her side for a while and comfort her.

"Lol, why I get so emotional all of a sudden?" Sherry wiped the single tear that dropped from her right eye. "Are we done eating, yet?"

"Yes, we're done. Let's go!" answered Catherine.

They rose to their feet and sauntered towards the cafeteria's door.

On the fourth floor, Catherine retrieves the three-tier utility trolley cart from the storage room that was loaded with essentials such as tissues, shampoos, conditioner, toothpaste and among others. She will start her round of distributing those essentials to the vacant room and to the clients' room's who got a shortage and requested to get their essentials replenished.

Done with the fourth floor and together with her trolley cart she entered the elevator and pressed the 5th-floor button.

She exited the elevator and pushed the trolly cart towards presidential suite # 2...4 and 5. After delivering the requested essentials, she pushed the trolly cart back to the direction of the elevator. She was already halfway between the elevator when she heard somebody calling her name. Not only one, but twice. She turned around to identify who is the person that calls her name.

"Catherine, come here please." It was Mike from presidential suite #3, beckoning her.

She pushed the trolly cart towards the direction of the suite#3.

"Sir Mike...what can I do for you?" she asked in a pleasant manner.

"I run out of tissue in my toilet, can you please give me one?" he said, his eyes not leaving her face.

Catherine took one tissue roll and gave it to Mike.

Mike didn't accept it. "Can you please put it in my toilet?"

Catherine wants to roll her eyes but she prevented herself from doing so. She entered the suite and walked towards the toilet and replaced the ones that have already been depleted. She looked around the toilet, it's surprisingly clean.

She was about to get out of the toilet when she saw Mike leaning outside the door of the toilet. His eyes were intently looking at her face.

"You're very pretty Catherine," he runs his eyes up and down on her body.

She felt sudden uneasiness running down through her spine. It's the way how he looks at her body that gives her the chill.

"Sir Mike, I'm done. Can I go now, please?" she slowly walked towards the toilet's door with all intention to flee from the room.

Mike got out of her way and strolled towards the main door of the suite. Instead of opening it, he locked it from the inside.

Trapping him both himself and Catherine inside the room.

Oh no! Her eyes widened with fright.

This is not good! A tiny voice began screaming inside her head.

RUN Catherine RUN! her eyes darted towards the door but she can't reach it without passing him first.

Their eyes were locked to each other...hers is full of fright...his was dark...and there's something else.

He advances towards her...

She steps back...

Body shaking...she steps back again until she was standing right beside the bed no more space to step back away from him...