He was almost drooping with tiredness from the drive when he pulled up im front of the continental hotel and a leveried valet took over his car. Another came up to help him with his travel bag. 

The valet in charge of his car wanted to know if he would be going out soon. Sethos turned to give the guy a tired look.

"Maybe," he said, staring at the car. The chagrin that washed over him firmed his resolve to get a new car as soon as possible. "But don't take it up to park. The rental company should come for their shitty bucket of bolts anytime today."

The valet raised an eyebrow but nodded, sliding into the driver's seat. It was evident on his face he disliked the situation he was in. 

Seth scoffed. The looks the valet had given him hadn't escaped his notice. The pricks were used to valeting wealthy people that came in crazy-expensive cars and luxurious rentals. They probably thought he was way below their calibre. If only they knew.

That aside, he had better go car hunting as soon as possible, that old Subaru embarrassed even him. 

He turned away from the offending car and walked up the sweep of steps that led to the pillared porch. The hotel was large and grand and painted a milky cream colour. The main building was about twenty stories high and stretched on on either side, curving at the edges to the back. The porch sat high, right in the middle, held up by a square set of four pillars. A set of revolving doors opened into the elaborate lobby.

The air in the lobby was cool—a refreshing change to the baking desertque sun outside. The room was large and slightly round in shape with polished, dark wood panelings, bright overhead lights and soft velvet carpets. A concierge desk protruded adjacent to the right in a semicircle shape and far off, opposite the entrance, a set of elevators waited patiently to carry people up to the other floors. 

There were a few other doors that led out of the room, but one particular door off to the right corner seemed to be the dining room, judging from how the people came out of it. And a set of perspex doors far off to the elevators' right seemed to lead to a loungeroom of sorts.

Seth took in all the details of the room with an impressed eye as he followed the valet towards the desk. A short Chinese girl answered him with a smile and soon enough, handed him his keycard and lock code. He had booked a room since yesterday which made the process a whole lot faster. Thank God for small mercies.

He collected his bag from the valet, tipping the guy, and made for the elevators. He was in flat 950, on the 16th floor. He had only booked a week ahead but Seth hoped to spent less here before going back home. Although he didn't know Alice's exact whereabouts, he was pretty confident he'd find her soon. Once he got her information from a police officer, the rest would be a walk in the park.

All in good time. For now, his priorities were to have a long, cold shower, put something good in his stomach and have a long-held meeting with the bed.

Minutes later he came out of the bathroom feeling like a newborn. A call came through from the desk, asking if he would like room service. He refused, offering to come down himself to the dining room then went to get dressed.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Nachelle looked at Denise and a side of her lips raised in a smile. "You'll probably be needing a whole grand for these thoughts."

"Hmm." Denise glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, a smile was perched on his face. "A grand for your thoughts?"

She tsked in annoyance. "Keep your eyes on the road, will you?"

Denise chuckled but obeyed. "So, what you worrying your poor little head about? You looked pretty lost in the thoughts."

Nachelle blew out a sigh and sagged into the passenger seat. She rubbed at her forehead as if to ease the knot of ache in the middle of her brow.

"Nothing, really," she finally replied. "I just kinda spaced out."

"See? It was a good thing I didn't let you drive." He smirked. "Are you even supposed to driving? At this stage?"

Nash rolled her eyes. "Would you rather I took the commuter?"

"Of course not," Denise was quick to answer. "But, you're heavily pregnant, and I thought heavily pregnant women weren't safe to drive."

"I'm not heavily pregnant," Nash corrected. She placed a hand on her bulging bump. "You call this "heavily pregnant"? Wait till next month and I become a proper elephant. You'll run out of stuff to call me."

Denise hooted with laughter at this, earning a wack on the back of his head from her.

But she was grateful he had offered to drive her anyways. She had first proposed he give her the location of the place, but when he had wanted to go with her, she had suggested she tail him. Only he had refused and insisted on driving her there in his car and driving her back to her car.

Denise was such a sweetheart. Brielyn was so lucky to have him. 

She sighed and looked out her window, her hand still on her tummy. It was a miracle she had survived this long on her own. She had always thought she'd break down when Tucker left, but had stayed strong to her own surprise. Taking care of a two year old baby and a growing one inside her wasn't any easy, especially not when you were on the brink of insolvency and worked one job to keep food on the table.

But as the months had progressed, she had gotten over Tucker's betrayal and adjusted to living without him. She had searched for and found her strong, confident inner self, grasped it firmly and pulled it out to dominate. Even Tucker wouldn't believe his eyes if he were to see her now.

And for many reasons, she thought, staring at her baby bump.

"You're doing it again," Denise groaned. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what again?" She was genuinely confused this time.

"Zoning out with that cat-that's-forgotten-how-to-meow look in your eyes," Denise said. "Girl, I'm sure glad you aren't driving."

Nachelle smiled again. "Sorry."

"Don't tell me sorry," her partner mumbled. Then his face softened as he glanced at her again. "If something's bothering you, you know you can always talk to me, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, Denise. Thank you for that."

"Anytime, babe."

"How's Bikey?" Denise asked after a moment of silence.

Nash smiled again and her insides warmed as she thought about her energetic son. "He's busy counting his teeth."

"Really?" Denise chuckled. "Is that the latest thing for kids to do now?"

"I don't think so. He just got that in his busy little head, I think. Yesterday, he wanted me to buy him an electric toothbrush, can you believe that?"

"Strange as it it, I do. Nothing about Bikey surprises me anymore. That boy, he's got the brain and energy of a ten year old."

Nash smiled in silent agreement. That and the fact that he talked non-stop like he had swallowed a jukebox She had started to suspect he'd turn out like that when he started talking at six months and walking at seven.

Bikey was the joy of her life, the only thing Tucker had given her that she was grateful for. He and the coming baby were the ones she lived for.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Denise calling out to her as he pulled into a parking lot.

"We're here," he announced with a flourish of his hand at the building ahead of them.