The Penthouse Clue

“Are you sure you don’t want anything for your birthday, Mochi? How about a date at that new escape room near Downtown? The one themed around your favorite Nancy Drew mysteries?”

“It sounds fun, but it’s a bit pricey, Lai. Birthdays come every year. Let’s just stay in, order something nice, and spend quality time together.” Mochi glanced at the clock and sighed. “We’ll talk more it later. I need to get going.”

As she walked briskly through the staff hallway, she could already hear Mr. Fido’s voice echoing from the meeting room, signaling the morning briefing had begun.

“We’ll talk in the evening. Have a great day. Love you.”
“Love you too. Don’t work too hard.”

Mochi entered the modest staff lounge, joining the other housekeepers already gathered. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint aroma of cleaning supplies.

“Good morning, everyone,” Mr. Fido greeted them. “I hope you all got a good night’s sleep, because today’s a bit busier than usual. We’ve got a heavy load of checkouts, so I’ll need to assign three floors to each of you instead of the usual two.”

A wave of groans and sighs swept the room.

Mr. Fido smiled sympathetically and paused before continuing. “I know it’s a lot, but to make up for the extra workload, I’ll be paying you based on weekend wages today.”

That lifted the mood instantly. Applause broke out, and a few even laughed softly in excitement.

“I knew I could cheer you up,” he chuckled. “We run a luxury hotel here, and I want our workplace to reflect the same excellence we expect from our guests’ experience. A happy staff means happy customers.”

Mochi couldn’t help but smile. Mr. Fido wasn’t just talk. He treated his employees with respect and fairness. It was one of the reasons the hotel maintained its top-tier ratings. People worked hard here because they felt valued.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard her name.

“Mochi, you’ve been working overtime for the past few weeks. So today, I’m assigning you the penthouse floor. There are only two rooms up there. Once you are done, it’s up to you. You can either lend a hand to someone else or head home. You haven’t taken a vacation in three months, and I think you’ve earned the break.”

Warmth rose in her chest at the gesture, but she hesitated. She and Lai were scrimping every penny to save for their first home. They had been together for five years now and promised themselves they’d buy a house before planning the next chapter of their lives. Every hour counted.

“Thank you, Mr. Fido. I’ll head over to the 18^th floor if I finish early and check in with Ava if she needs help.”

Ava was the new girl in the team and was still learning. She smiled gratefully at Mochi.

“It’s your call,” Mr. Fido said. “But if you change your mind, the option’s there.”

Mochi nodded as he wrapped up the meeting.

“It’s a beautiful day outside,” he added. “If you can, have lunch in the garden today. The weather’s perfect for it.”

The team exchanged good mornings and well wishes before dispersing to their assigned floors, The bustle of another busy day beginning in earnest.

Mochi didn’t mind working with others. But she preferred working alone.

“Let’s see which fictional world Vicki Delaney’s taking us to today,” she muttered, slipping in her earbuds, turning on her audiobook as she entered the staff elevator bound for the penthouse.

She leaned against the handrail, stretching her shoulders. The low hum of the elevator blended with the opening lines of her audiobook.

The penthouse floor was different from the rest of the hotel. Where the lower levels crammed in twenty rooms each, the top floor featured only four expansive apartments. Luxurious and rarely booked, they demanded meticulous attention. Four bedrooms, a full kitchen, a grand living room, and even a private office in each unit. Cleaning one could take as long as an entire floor below.

Stepping out of the elevator, she walked toward the first assigned suite and unlocked the door.