Waylen tossed his coat onto the bed and turned around. Observing that Rena hadn't followed him in, he asked with a faint smile “Are you afraid of me?"

"I'LL get you some towels," she replied, avoiding his question.

He stared at her without saying anything.

After she left, he sat at the edge of the bed and loosened his tie with a sense of frustration.

As he rummaged through his suit, he failed to find his cigarette case. Instead, his hand landed on a small box-the gift he had purchased for Rena in Hondrau.