"I think," Zach said carefully as the announcement finally, thank God finally, ended, "I maybe might have patched into the wrong system."
"You think?" Piper stared at him in horror. "What exactly did you connect us to?"
"If I had to guess..." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Guess away."
"The emergency broadcast system."
Piper groaned, dropping her head into her palms. "So now everyone in the entire building knows we're stuck in a closet together."
"You didn't mention me, so they only know about you." Zach shrugged. "Look at the bright side. Someone's bound to come get us now."
As if on cue, rapid footsteps approached, followed by the sound of rustling from the outside and the door opening.
The hotel manager stood there, his expression a mixture of concern and irritation as he took in the sight of them. His name tag read "Marcus," and his perfectly pressed suit somehow managed to look even more formal than Piper's. She could appreciate that in a fellow professional.
"Ms. Daws," he said stiffly, apparently recognizing her from the D.I.C.K. meeting. "Would you care to explain why you've activated our emergency announcement system to broadcast your predicament to our guests? All of our guests."
Before she could form a response, Zach spoke first, "Actually, that would be my fault. However, you might want to be more concerned about why your audiovisual room locks from the outside with no internal release. Had there been a fire, we would have been trapped with no way out."
"Yes," Piper said. "That's a serious safety violation."
"I'm sure the fire marshal would be very interested to hear about a hotel trapping guests in rooms they can't escape from." Zach's tone sharpened from casual to authoritative in an instant.
Marcus visibly paled. "I assure you; these doors do not lock this way."
"But they did," Zach said.
"Something must have been tampered with." Marcus toyed with the doorknob, pressing the lock and turning the lever to release it.
At Marcus's mention of tampering, a flicker of suspicion passed instantly between her and Zach.
"Tampered with?" she asked. Also, go her, because it sounded like the thought hadn't occurred to her until Marcus mentioned it right then.
"All the more concerning." Zach kept his stare on Marcus. His easygoing charm transformed into commanding and confident. A glimpse, perhaps, of the businessman beneath the casual exterior? "But, for now, I'm simply relieved that someone heard Piper's call for help," he finished.
"Of course, of course," Marcus stammered.
"Piper?" Tess called, hurrying behind Marcus. "Are you okay? I was on the phone with legal when the whole thing came over the intercom."
"That's basically what happened," Piper said. "Marcus came to let us out."
"Legal?" Marcus blanched. "Please accept our most sincere apologies. I'll have maintenance check every door immediately. And perhaps we could offer you both a complimentary dinner at our restaurant this evening? To make amends?"
Piper crossed her arms, glancing at the now-unlocked door, not entirely trusting it. "That won't be necessary."
"Thank goodness you're both okay," Tess said, side-eyeing Marcus. "Loop me in on the report and facilities audit. I'll walk with you now while you start the paperwork."
Piper felt a little bad for Marcus as Tess steered him toward the elevators.
They made their way back across the now-empty terrace. How she could be embarrassed and relieved and a little turned on? Well, that was anyone's guess.
"Oh, wait," Zach said, turning back toward the audiovisual room. He ducked inside and emerged with the small wicker basket of bread.
Piper raised an eyebrow.
"It's really good bread," he said with a grin as they reached the exit.
