⤷ hotel。

@✧ ⋮ gwynneth holmes The grandeur of the hotel stood majestically beneath the moon. Crystal chandeliers hung from tall ceilings as sophisticated men and women strolled through the grand hallways, their conversations echoing off the marble floors. The lobby was adorned with fresh flowers while a beautiful grand piano stood in the center of the room. It seemed to be the perfect place for a luxurious and romantic stay as hushed whispers and flitted eyes filled the lobby from guests who glanced at one another, some with admiration and others with envy.

Liam, dressed in his finest suit, would never be questioned of his place. He was a natural, commanding presence with a confident gait, a demeanor that was almost regal. As he moved through the lobby, all conversations stopped and heads turned to acknowledge the striking man with a smile. It was clear that he looked as if he belonged there. He stepped into the lift and with a quiet hum, the lift slowly rose to the top floor, the doors opening to reveal the luxury of the hotel's top suites. Liam stepped out, the gentle hum of the lift fading as he made his way down the hallway, eager to find a certain room.

No one would have known that beneath his façade, was a crook who had been scouring the easiest way to make money. Despite the years that had passed, Liam still felt the weight of his past actions. He had done what he had to, to survive, but the memory of the agonizing suffering he had inflicted still lingered in his mind. He had tried to fill this void with money and power, but it seemed as if nothing could compensate for the blood on his hands.

He was currently pursuing his latest mission. His target was a beautiful young woman, a journalist who had unknowingly caused some underground tension with the releases of her articles. He had been assigned and planning this mission for days. This was nothing new as he had done these types of violent assignments many times before, and he was confident he could do it this time too. It was clear, however, that something was different this time around.

No, something had changed.

From days of following her and closely monitoring her every move, he couldn't help but notice the gentle, yet commanding aura emitting from her. He realized that she was just like him, surviving and fighting against the odds in this ruined city. But unlike him, she was fighting for the good, trying to save a city that had been decimated by corruption and greed. Over so many years, he had been so caught up in pursuing money and power that he had forgotten what it was to be human.

In a fleeting moment, he paused and looked around him, his gaze landing on the hotel room number. His hand felt for the silencer hidden in his jacket, and his fingers curled around its trigger as he took a deep breath. He stood in front of the hotel room door, his heart pounding in his chest. On the other side of the door was the beautiful journalist, unaware of the danger coming her way. As he tracked her movements for the last few days, he realized that he no longer felt the same thrill that he had felt with his past missions. He felt a strange attachment to her that he had never experienced before.

Her pretty face came to mind and he realized that even though he had done terrible things in the past, he had the choice to do the right thing and put an end to the cycle of violence and hate. And at this very moment, he knew he wanted to protect her, not hurt her.