Chapter 58 CHAPTER 58
ALINA’S POV
“Good evening, sir. Ma’am.”
“Good evening,” I answered the man. Taking his hand as he helped me out the car, the prestigious looking building glowing in front of my face.
The Montclair.
Says the nameplate at the top. Shining. Glowing. Bold lights too.
“The Montclair Hotels.” I read out, feeling it out on my tongue. “Montclair…Nice.”
Very nice.
“Can I handle your luggage ma’am?” I turned to the man again. Taking in his appearance this time, the people standing behind him. White gloves on all their fingers, the most polite smiles on their faces and… an all black outfit to match. Like me.
It took a moment, but I understood they were probably the hosts around here. The man being their leader or some sort, but mostly, people turned to them for stuff around here.
“Ma’am? Your luggage?”
“Err…no.” I answered slowly, handling the strap of my hand bag even more. Straightening out. Laptop at my sides. “This is it actually. I have no luggage.”
“Oh.” they dressed back, “Our apologies Ma’am.”
“Yeah… no problem.” I muttered, turning away just then. Knowing they were leaving too but as I turned… I met another set of eyes instead. Green set of eyes.
“What,” I asked him. Looking at him. His stare.
“Family emergency? You had a ‘family emergency?’ You really thought that plan was a hit, huh? You didn’t even pack a bag.”
“Well I…it was… it didn’t…
His eyebrow squinted at me. Scowling. Unimpressed. Judging.
“Whatever.” I just rolled my eyes then, muttering as I did. His stupid bastard self smirking for sure. Taking pleasure in this. Much like he’d done the entire flight watching me stare out the windows.
But it didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter at all, I was here. I was okay. Not flagged, not arrested and most definitely not having all the mess in my life displayed for the world to see.
I could live with that.
It’s been hours already. Since we boarded the plane. Hours since our flight, minutes since we exited the flight, got our feet on a foreign land, and then embarked on a little journey to this hotel. Now even here.
So far, I could say everything was going well. Couldn’t lie that I wasn’t pleased by all I’d seen, the environment, the lights, different roads, streets and all. Now this hotel.
I literally went from one lavishly designed plane to another lavishly set up hotel. You’re living the dream Alina. Living THE dream.
Cleo will be freaked when I tell her.
“Let’s go in.” I let myself get led into the building, taking my time to admire all I could. Trying not make it too obvious of course. I mean, this wasn’t my normal set up. But there was also no rule that said not to blend in.
Around me were high ceilings, soft lighting, shiny cream marble floors, subtle scents in the air. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint the fragrance, but boy, it smelt rich. I was with the rich right now.
“Good evening and welcome to Montclair!” A cheerful, polite voice greeted at the counter. I smiled at the lady on there, mostly because she looked especially dashing in her white pearl uniform. “How may I help you, sir? Ma’am?”
“Reservation.” Roman said quickly, cutting right to the chase. “I have a reservation.”
“Okay sir, may I see your details please?” he pulled out some stuff on his phone, showing her the screen. The lady doing her thing on the system while I used that time to scan around a bit more. There was nothing particularly striking, but you sure could not ignore the people around. Their obvious class. Just strolling around, laughing, some leaving, coming in…
Just rich people everywhere.
You’ll ask how I knew but…have you ever seen money hide?
Like money. Wealth, richness. Have you ever seen it hide before?
It doesn’t.
Rather it loved to show itself. Flaunt itself right in your face and just make you question everything about your existence. Just as these ladies not too far from us right now.
Myself and the bastard, I mean.
They looked good. The ladies. They looked incredible. The kind of incredible that had you staring in admiration while also feeling strikingly self conscious of your own self. Secretly comparing and totally feeling out of place. Like I was right now.
If I ever needed to be reminded I didn’t belong here, this was the moment.
"Let's just go in already," I grumbled, mood ruined. Leaving a distasteful feeling on my tongue.
But thank goodness I did. Thank goodness I turned back around to face what concerned me cause,
"There's only one room, sir."
THAT.
That was what I heard. That was the words I heard the moment I chose to finally focus back on me.
"What?" The bastard said on my behalf, staring at the lady behind the counter. "What do you mean only one room, the reservation is clearly for two suites."
"Yes sir, but..." She paused, eyes furrowed in worry. "It looks like only one suite was actually booked. I don't know how it happened or...I apologize, sir. My deepest apologies!"
What?
What the hell did that mean?
“How can such a mistake happen here?”
“I’m so sorry, sir. So sorry!”
I looked to Roman, he looked to her. Unimpressed by her words of course, but still he put his phone away. Calm.
"It's alright, mistakes happen.” he said, “Just book another room. A suite." he started dialing on his phone then. But the lady stood unmoving. Not doing as told or using her system in any way.
“W-why aren’t you moving?” I asked slowly, watching her. Making Roman watch her.
"Sir," she started, swallowing. Straightening out. "I’m sorry to say sir, but there's been a problem. A problem with the rooms. Earlier today we suddenly had a mass in flow due to the recently canceled flights."
"And?" I looked at her, suspicious. Somehow knowing where this was going.
"Well ma'am... there's not enough room.” she said, “We're out of rooms. We’re fully booked and cannot cancel at all. There's no more room left."
“What?” I blinked. Unsure of what I just heard. “I don’t…I don’t really understand. What does that mean for us? For me.”
I had no room?
There was no room for me? Was this was a prank? Some cruel joke this bastard was pulling on me right now?
I turned to him right then, “Is this how I pay for the flight?” I asked. Slow. Not wanting to believe it myself. “You’re not trying to charge me right now, are you? Because I can pay. I can pay in some other means, with money. Money. But maybe when we get back?”
When I receive my pay for next month, maybe? Who knows what it cost to ride a private plane. Damn it, Alina.
I knew it was too good to be true. That smooth flight.
Damn it.
“I’m not going to attend to you right now, but as for you.” he turned to face the lady. “What sort of services do you people offer here? First you deny me of my reservation and now a room? You’ll have me sleep outside?”
“No, no, sir!” the lady said quickly, tensed. “We can…the room, the available suite in your name can be shared. It’s big enough sir.”
What???
“You want us to share a room??” I stared at her, appalled she would even make such a suggestion. “You cannot be serious. I’ll take any room you have, how much is it?”
“Okay hold on,” He turned to me instead, leaving the matter at hand. “You’d rather stay some place else than share a room with me? Huh?”
“What?” I stared at him, feeling displaced somehow. “What are you going on asking that for? You’re my boss. Do I want a share a room with my boss? NO.”
Besides.
Besides!
BESIDES people!! It was him we were talking about! Do I need to spend a night with this same man in the same space??
Hell no.
I turned to the lady right then, pulling out my card. Whatever was in it. “What other kind of rooms do you have, lady? I’ll take it. Just give it to me.”
“W-what? Ma’am.” she stared blinking at me. Looking from me, my outstretched arm with a measly credit card, and then to him on my side. Whose eyes were literally boring holes into me by now.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but we really have no more rooms. We’re fully booked.”
“But-
“We’ll take it!” his voice cut me off. Calm. Looking at the lady, whereas my eyes went to him. Wider than normal. “We’ll take the reserved suite, no need to worry.”
“Thank you very much, sir! We’ll bring to you the best of our services. The very best!”
“Have my things sent up, dinner and the rest of the essentials.”
“Will do right now, sir!”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight sir!”
"Okay hold on," i cried out, appalled. "Don't i get a say in any of these??"
“No.”
And he didn't even turn around to say it.