Page 54 of Fake It For Glory

I nodded. “Okay. If you need anything, the attendant will take care of you. Blanket, pillow, wine, whatever you want.”

“Thank you,” she said and kept typing.

I looked out the window. It was just after dawn. When we arrived in Paris, it would be early evening. I had some grand plans for her. I’d been to Paris a few times before, but this was going to be different. I was getting to see it with Merida.

I opened my own laptop to work on a few things. Merida’s fingers flew over her keyboard, the clacking a soothing sound amidst the dull roar of the plane’s engines. The flight was uneventful. It was like we traveled the world together all the time. It was a comfortable silence. We ate a late lunch together before we both went back to work.

When we arrived in Paris, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. I loved the city. It wasn’t just the romance. It was the history I loved. I was determined to share its magic with Merida.

I loved that I could do this for her. My wealth wasn’t something I liked to flaunt, but if I could use it to impress a woman like Merida, I was going to do it. I planned on giving her the five-star experience. She was going to be left in awe.

We walked toward the waiting car. Hattie and Susan had their heads together. I could only imagine what they were discussing, but I suspected it was my schedule. We climbed into the limousine. Merida’s face was practically glued to the window. The driver made his way through the busy Paris streets. It was dark, making the city lights appear even brighter.

We made our way to the Peninsula Paris, a lavish and opulent hotel that was sure to leave an impression on Merida. The grandeur of the place was something to behold, and I could only imagine the wonder she must have been feeling.

As we entered the lobby, I could see Merida’s eyes widen with amazement. The decor was a mix of classic and modern, with marble floors and chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings.

“I’ll get us checked in,” Hattie said.

“This is incredible,” Merida gasped. “I would take pictures but I would feel like a total tourist.”

“You are a tourist,” I said, smiling. “Take a picture. Take twenty.”

“I am in absolute awe,” she said, laughing. “It’s stunning. Just absolutely gorgeous.”

Hattie returned a few minutes later with our room keys. “I am going to my room and soaking in the tub. Goodnight.”

Susan waved and walked away.

“I’ll show you to your room,” I said to Merida. “Rather, I will follow you. My room is a few doors down from you.”

As we reached the top floor, I walked her to her suite, a luxurious space that exuded elegance and sophistication. I turned to her and watched as she drank in the sight of the room. I had made sure she had a suite. I wanted her to be in the lap of luxury. Maybe it was stupid to try to impress a woman who I was paying to be my date, but maybe I wanted to increase my odds of getting her to stick around after the contract. “There should be a change of clothes waiting for you in there,” I said.

“What?” She looked confused.

I smiled. “Hattie picked it out. She said she knew what you would like.”

She laughed. “I brought a suitcase filled with clothes.”

“Yes, but tonight is special,” I said, smiling. “Freshen up, and I’d like to invite you to meet me in the L’Oiseau Blanc restaurant for dinner in two hours.”

“What is that?” she asked.

“It’s a rooftop restaurant with a beautiful view of Paris,” I replied. “It’s one of my favorite places in the city. The food is amazing, but the view? The view is going to blow your mind.”

Merida’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I can’t wait. Thank you so much.”

I nodded and turned to leave. “I’ll see you in two hours, then.”

As I walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Merida was impressed with the hotel, and I knew she would be even more impressed with the restaurant. I was going out of my way, with Hattie’s help, to give Merida a night she would never forget.

I walked to my suite down the hall. My bags were waiting for me. I took a moment to appreciate the opulence of my suite.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Merida. There was something about her that intrigued me. Maybe it was her fiery spirit or the way her laughter sounded like music to my ears. Whatever it was, I found myself wanting more of her. It was more than sex that I wanted, but if she wanted to climb into bed with me, I wasn’t going to turn her down. Hopefully, this time, she wouldn’t kick me out of bed while I was still basking in postcoital haze.

As I started to get ready for dinner, I couldn’t help but fantasize about what the night might lead to. Maybe after dinner, we could take a walk along the Seine, or perhaps I could show her my favorite spots in the city that only locals knew about. The possibilities were endless, and I intended to make the most of them.