"Surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone."

— Charles Dickens

The room buzzed with hushed shuffling seconds after Byun Baekhyun rose to his feet. It was the much awaited signal that ended the four-hour long mandatory meeting, which was set in preparation for the fast paced, no-room-for-error "Convention Week" commencing on Monday.

The moment their demanding GM finally exited the room, the horde of managers, directors, and senior directors from each department all fell back on their chairs with exhausted sighs. Hell Week hadn't even started, yet they were already overwhelmed by Baekhyun's mountainous request—more so, warning—for their respective departments to be on their toes 24/7 for the next fourteen days. In his words, he would "prefer to receive no guest complaints" for the entire two-week long event, but his intimidating aura translated it as "better not receive any at all".

With the exception of the newest catering director, each work clique purposely moved at a snail's pace to gather their belongings while others intently watched the clock's hands and counted down the time to leave safely.

Too preoccupied with rearranging her schedule for today—to accommodate tonight's sudden party she didn't account for—Ara hurriedly swept her things in one arm and left the conference room with hurried steps, her eyes darting from the calendar on her phone to the list of things she needed to complete before next week. She hastily made her way down the hall to the row of elevators where three other individuals were already waiting.

With her eyes glued to the task at hand, Ara boarded the elevator the moment the doors opened and did so without acknowledging the two stunned, and one amused, coworkers who got there before her.

Both women cradling a set of folders in their arms watched the mid-level employee's brazen act in horror. While one stared in disbelief with a parted mouth, the more senior of the two furrowed her brows and glared. She had cautioned Director Seo about her work etiquette, but clearly, her warning didn't translate well. But as she prepared herself to reprimand the ignorant employee, a hand stopped her.

"Take the next one," her superior ordered quietly before getting in. Without another word, he stood next to the inattentive Ara and waited for the doors to close, leaving his two dumbstruck assistants behind.

"Aside for my secretaries, I've never shared the elevator with any of my employees. You're the first in five years," he began, finally getting his companion's attention.

Ara smiled at the familiar voice that interrupted her thoughts. "Sorry to have broken your streak," she replied without looking at him.

So she did notice. Baekhyun commented mentally as he took a quick glimpse at her.

"Of course I did. How could I not? You're the head honcho of this turf after all," his wife stated lightly, her attention never straying away from organizing and moving tasks around.

Baekhyun scoffed at the sight. "Is Chanyeol really that lenient with his employees' professional conduct?" he asked, referring to Hotel Azure's GM.

"General Manager Park? No, not at all. You're just a little more uptight," she replied teasingly. She briefly glanced at him and flashed a mocking grin before lowering her eyes back to her tentative schedule—an act that made air escape her husband's lungs for the second time.

When the elevators dinged and the doors finally opened, Ara instinctively made her way out, but a light grab on her arm stopped her. With a slightly raised brow, she looked back at her lone companion in question.

"This isn't your floor," Baekhyun explained in a hushed voice as he directed his eyes away from a group of stunned Lux employees waiting on the other side. After acknowledging their sudden bows and awkward greetings, he calmly pushed the button to close the steel doors and released Ara from his grasp.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she lowered the materials in her arm and finally focused her attention on the LED panel, commencing silence.

"Before I forget," her husband began seconds later, "I have somewhere to be tonight and won't be coming home till late tomorrow morning."

Ara nodded in acknowledgment. She was a bit surprised that he decided to share his Friday night plans with her, but as she mentioned before, she really wasn't interested in what he did—so long as it didn't result in unnecessary drama. "Business or pleasure?" she inquired for the sole purpose of continuing their small talk.

"Pleasu