Chapter 1
EPISODE ONE
Setting: London, a luxury hotel after a major football match.
I am Maya, a 22-year-old. I have just recently moved to the UK for work and am still trying to build my life.
Raymond has just finished a match. The hotel is surrounded by fans and photographers.
She wasn’t there to meet him. She was working at the hotel that evening.
As she carries a tray through the lobby, she notices a crowd gathering outside.
She glances through the glass doors.
It’s Raymond.
He looks exhausted. Photographers are shouting his name. Security is trying to move him through the entrance.
Then, unexpectedly, his eyes meet hers through the glass.
He stops.
For a few seconds, everything around him seems to disappear.
One of the photographers notices where he’s looking.
PHOTOGRAPHER:“Raymond! Who’s that?”
Raymond doesn’t answer.
Instead, he walks toward the glass.
She doesn’t move.
He reaces close to her
RAYMOND:“Have we met before?”
MAYA:“I don’t think so.”
RAYMOND:“Can I get to know your name?”
MAYA:“My name is Ma…”
I was cut off by my co-worker, urging me to go serve people.
Raymond looks at my back as I leave and gives a faint smile.
It’s 11 p.m. I am scrolling on TikTok when, all of a sudden, I see that familiar face.
Wait!!!! Isn’t this the guy that asked my name? 😭😭 omg,hes a celebrity? i spent some hours going through his phone and then slept off without knowing it.
It’s another day in the UK. I am working at the hotel, and all of a sudden, I can hear people screaming and murmuring at the same time.
I turn to see what’s happening, then guess what?
It’s Raymond Samuel Patrick.
Our eyes meet. I quickly look away awkwardly and go back to the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later, close to my closing time, I am being wanted by the manager.
MANAGER:“You will be working overtime tonight.”
ME:“……”
MANAGER:“You’re needed to serve a VIP upstairs.”
ME:“Okay, sir.”
I leave the office as I keep wondering who I am supposed to serve in the VIP lounge.
Suddenly, it’s 12:00 a.m.—time for my impromptu shift.
I make my way to the VIP lounge upstairs, still wondering who the mysterious prince is.
I stand in front of the VIP lounge and tap on the door.
A deep, unfamiliar voice says:
RAYMOND:“Come in.”
I enter.
The room is pitch black.
Then, suddenly, the room light comes on.
Sitting on the chair is no other than Raymond.
MAYA:“Good evening, sir.”
RAYMOND:“Call me Raymond. No need for the formality.”
MAYA:“Okay, sir. Sorry, R-a-y-m-o-n-d,” I say, facing the floor.
Raymond looks at me with a smile.
RAYMOND:“I didn’t get to know your name yesterday.”
MAYA:“My name is Maya.”
RAYMOND:“Mmm, Maya. What a nice name,” he says, smiling.
MAYA:“Thank you, sir,” I say awkwardly, wondering why he is smiling and facing the floor.
Then he gestures for me to sit on the couch beside him.
RAYMOND:“Where are you from?” he asks while scrolling through his phone.
MAYA:“Nigeria.”
RAYMOND:“How old are you?”
MAYA:“I will be 22 on the 12th of October.”
RAYMOND:“How long have you been living in the UK?”
MAYA:“I relocated from Nigeria two weeks ago.”
RAYMOND:“Do you stay alone?”
MAYA:“No.”
He looks at me.
RAYMOND:“Huh?”
I don’t reply.
All of a sudden, he hears a faint snoring.
He looks up.
I was already sleeping.
He comes closer and looks at my face, then smiles and covers me with his jacket.
After what feels like forever, I wake up to the sound of a wine bottle popping.
MAYA:“I’m sorry I slept off. Please don’t report me to the manager.”
RAYMOND:“It’s fine. I wasn’t going to.”
She looks at him.
He continues.
RAYMOND:“It’s my fault for keeping you here against your wish, so you needed the sleep.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
