Page 48 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

A doorman opened the back door. I slid out and extended my hand to her. A porter quickly got her bag and followed us inside.

She was trying not to react. I could see the effort of it. She was playing it cool like she regularly stayed in luxury hotels. Her eyes were scanning the area, taking it all in. The lobby opened into the back of the property that was absolutely stunning.

Quiet sitting areas were situated around ponds, and lush foliage gave the place a tropical feel. Another stone fountain stood in the center of it all. Climbing roses on a trellis that led to another outdoor dining area.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Acceptable,” she said in the tone of someone who found it considerably more than acceptable.

“I thought you’d manage.” I led her to the elevators. The porter hung back, trying to be invisible. I noticed him studying the many stickers on her suitcase. It was a lot. Wait until he saw her in full Cyclone Cleo mode.

The suite occupied the top floor. Three bedrooms, two living rooms, four bathrooms, a balcony that wrapped the entire eastern face of the building. We had our own private infinity pool that looked out over the city.

The porter left her bags and quickly departed. Cleo stood in the center of the main living room and did a slow turn.

“How many people are staying here?” she asked.

“Just us.”

“Right.” She walked to the balcony doors and looked out. The pool caught the afternoon light. “Just us. We’re sharing a hotel room.”

“It’s a suite, basically a house. We shared a house in the Hamptons. There are three bedrooms. Four bathrooms. Trust me, you’ll have plenty of privacy.”

She turned around and stared at me like I had lost my mind. “Four bathrooms. For two people.”

“Yes.”

“Do I have my own room?”

“Down the hall. The one on the left.”

“Good,” she said simply. “So, what is my specific capacity? Why am I here?”

I was not ready to drop that bombshell quite yet. “Before that, come with me. I have a surprise for you.”

“You’re full of surprises.”

I moved toward the closed door of the second bedroom. “There are some people I need you to meet.”

“What people?”

I opened the door. The wardrobe team had been setting up for the last two hours. The room was filled with racks of clothing and cases of accessories. It also had a full-length vanity mirror. The bed had been pushed against the wall to make room. A makeup chair was positioned in front of another mirror. They looked up when the door opened.

Cleo looked at the racks. At the team. At the racks again.

“Wardrobe people,” she said flatly.

“Yes.”

“You said everything would be here,” she murmured.

“Yes.”

She slowly nodded and looked around. “So, wardrobe. I see dresses. Designer dresses.”

“I wanted you to have a large selection to choose from. For the event.”

“Which is?”