AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mark. Mark Patterson,” he said and stuck out his hand to shake my hand. I smiled back and tried not to look awkward. “I’ve seen some of the photos that were taken at the shoot this week,” he said, grinning. “A lot of people are asking a lot of questions about you.”
“Oh, is that right?” I asked.
“Yes. As a matter of fact, if you like, a few of us are going out to dinner tonight before the party. Would you like to join?”
“Oh, that’s really very kind, Mark, but I can’t. I’m meeting a friend.”
“All right,” then.
I walked away. I knew that name from somewhere … Mark Patterson. Of course! I’d had to send him a lot of emails while I was working as Alex’s PA. Wasn’t he one of the most influential people in the company? I was amazed he’d made time for me.
But at the same time, I wasn’t in the mood to show off or socialize. I was too worried about Alex, and what would happen when we ran into him again. We’d made a terrible mistake by hooking up again on the beach last night.
No, not a terrible mistake, said a seductive, soothing voice from inside my brain, taunting me with memories of the incredible pleasure I’d felt.A wonderful mistake.But I trod down the thoughts and stumbled out into the hotel gardens, not thinking about where I was going.
But as I crossed the terrace that afternoon, I saw a group of people gathered by the pool, being given a tour of the hotel’s extensive, manicured grounds by an employee. One of them turned.
“There she is!” he said. “The star of the show!”
Oh heck, I thought, but I didn’t want to be rude. I turned around and smiled. “Hi, guys!” I said, playing the part of the hotel’s representative.
“Why, it’s Lena Chambers!” said one of the men in the group. He stepped forward. “You know,” he said, “I’m a really big fan of your work … stick around, why don’t you?”
Oh yeah?Thought a sardonic voice in my head.Big fan of the swimsuit catalog?But I didn’t dare saythat.
“Thank you,” I said. “I really must be going, but I’ll catch you guys later!”
After I’d run up to my hotel room, I called Krista.
“Help,” I said. “Everyone here recognizes me and is trying to get me to hang out with them and I don’t know what to do.”
“Yikes,” said Krista. “Getting some fans are ya?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Some older,malefans?”
“Umm. You betcha.”
“Is Alex Alson one of those?”
I cringed, not knowing what to say to that. Of course, Alex was older than me. By almost a decade, I imagined, despite how good he looked for his age.
“Uh, no,” I said. “Of course not. Anyway, is there somewhere around here I can hide?”
“What about the roof?” said Krista.
“The roof? Seems kinda drastic, don’t you think?”
“No, silly. There’s a pool up there! Didn’t you read the brochure?”
“I haven’t had time! Thanks for the tip. Maybe I’ll see you up there?”
“No can do, kiddo. I’ve just run into this guy down in the lobby. Mark Peterson, or something? We’re going out for dinner. I’ll call you!”
Krista hung the phone up, and I sighed, rolling my eyes. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention, but she seemed to be handling it just fine. Still, maybe Krista was right. Perhaps the roofwasthe best place to go. After all, most of the guests for the grand opening that night probably wouldn’t know about it. I could go up there in my evening dress, relax with my book for a bit, and maybe take a swim. Then, I could go down and put in a token appearance at the party.
I changed into my dress for the party—one of the nicest things I owned, a little black dress from Coco Chanel with a ruffled neck—and took my beach bag and my book up with me. I rode the elevator to the very top of the hotel, but even I was astonished when we got there. Even though I was no stranger to the luxury with which Alex Alson surrounded himself.
