Eli's POV
"Okay," I whispered to myself while walking down the hallway. "Don't panic, Eli."
Panicking never helped anyone.
That pocket watch wasn't just some random accessory.
On one side was a tiny photo of my mom smiling, and on the other, was my grandmother.
If it was gone… a part of them would be gone too.
I reached the door to Mr Attitude's room and froze.
"Please be empty," I whispered.
I slowly turned the handle.
The door slowly creaked open.
That was either very good news or extremely bad news.
I peeked inside.
The lights were dim.
The bed was still perfectly made.
No tall, rude, unfairly attractive guy in sight.
I slipped inside quickly and shut the door behind me.
"Okay," I muttered, scanning the room.
"Pocket watch. Pocket watch."
I went straight to the bed.
If the chain slipped while I was sleeping, it had to be somewhere here.
I checked the pillow, lifted the blanket, beside the nightstand.
Nothing.
I crouched down to peek under the bed. I still couldn't find it.
"Come on, Eli. Think like a lost pocket watch."
Maybe it slipped while I was cleaning?
My chest tightened.
"Where did you go?"
I moved around the bed again, searching the floor.
I glanced toward the trash bag.
"Please don't tell me I accidentally threw it away with the… otherthing."
My stomach tightened.
I walked toward the trash can nervously.
"Okay Eli, worst case scenario, you dig through billionaire trash."
Just as I bent down….
The bathroom door creaked open.
Holy shit. He was still inside.
I panicked, dove behind a long platform near the wall that had a giant vase sitting on top of it.
I crouched behind it, holding my breath.
The man stepped out of the bathroom. Humming softly to himself.
I carefully peeked over the platform.
He was slightly damp from the shower, hair still messy and curling at the ends. Water trailed down his neck to his chest.
He grabbed a shirt from the chair and pulled it over his head.
Then….
He untied the towel around his waist. And dropped it.
I gasped.
A tiny sound.
But apparently loud enough. Because the giant vase above my head wobbled
His eyes snapped toward me.
My heart stopped.
The vase tipped forward.
"Oh no…."
We both lunged, and grabbed it at the same time right before it smashed into the floor.
For a moment, we were frozen. Both holding the vase.
Then he slowly lowered his gaze.
I slowly stood up.
"…Hi."
His expression darkened instantly.
"You!"
I slowly stood up, still holding the vase like it might defend me.
"I can explain."
"What," he said very slowly, "are you doing in my room?"
"I'm so sorry!" I blurted immediately.
"I swear this looks worse than it is!"
He stared at me in disbelief.
"I…"
I opened my mouth
Then accidentally looked down.
I snapped my eyes back up so fast my neck cracked. He was still naked.
Damn…It's huge…
He noticed.
And quickly grabbed the fallen towel from the floor and wrapped it around his waist again.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he snapped.
"Me?!"
"Yes, you!"
"You're the one walking around naked!"
"This is my room!"
His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You broke into my room… for what?"
"I didn't break in!"
"The door was unlocked!"
"That doesn't mean you get to walk in!"
"I just needed two minutes to look for…"
He suddenly cut me off, squinting at me.
"Wait. Don't tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"You're one of those freaky stalkers, aren't you?"
"…What?!"
"You snuck in here to secretly take pictures of me and sell them to perverts."
I stared at him.
"What?!"
He folded his arms.
"It wouldn't be the first time someone sneaked into my room to do that."
"Oh my God..Ew!"
I blinked.
"…What kind of life do you live?"
He ignored the question, and folded his arms.
"I would never do that!"
"Then what were you doing hiding behind my furniture?"
"I was panicking!"
"That's not an answer."
"I misplaced something!"
He didn't look convinced.
"Or," he continued slowly, "you're trying to seduce me."
I choked.
"Excuse me?!"
"Or steal from me."
"No!"
I pointed at my chest.
"I lost my pocket watch," I said quickly.
He gave me a look that clearly said he didn't believe a word I was saying.
"It's a pocket watch with pictures on both end. I must've dropped it while cleaning."
His expression remained unimpressed.
"I've met people like you before."
My shoulders dropped.
"…You think I'm lying."
"Yes."
"Great."
I gestured helplessly.
"Look, I'm not trying to steal from you, seduce you, or sell pictures of your…"
I gestured to his torso and his lower body.
"…your everything."
He walked toward the door and opened it.
"Get out."
My heart sank.
"Please. I just need two minut…"
"If I see you in my room again," he said coldly, "I promise I'll have security arrest you this time."
I clenched my fists.
My watch was probably somewhere in this stupid room. But arguing with him clearly wasn't working.
"…I'm really sorry," I said quietly.
I bowed quickly.
Then turned and rushed out of the room before he could say anything else.
The door closed behind me.
My hands were shaking. And my chest felt heavy.
"…Great," I muttered.
I had lost the only thing my mom left me.
And the only person who might know where it was…
…currently thought I was a creepy stalker trying to steal his naked pictures.