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DAMIAN
“Yes,if we’re going to be profitable, we’ll need to demo the entire block–” Suddenly, I was distracted by a commotion at the front of the hotel. I turned my head towards the noise and my eyes caught sight of the chaos coming through the hotel's front doors. The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen materialized out of nowhere and rushed through the automatic doors of the hotel entrance.
“What are you looking at?!” She cried hysterically towards the row of flabbergasted eyes that followed her as she tore through the lobby.
I cocked my head in amusement as I took in the sight in front of me. I was immediately intrigued by this petite little thing, storming the hotel like a bear. Her face was covered in long dark smears of makeup that streaked down over her cheeks, and she was wearing a giant puffy white gown.
A wedding gown.
“Agh!” She grunted with frustrated effort as she struggled towards the check-in desk. A long, sheer veil flowed out of her half-disheveled honey-blonde hair, it fluttered behind her, dragging on the ground. She struggled with great effort to wrangle the two giant suitcases that tumbled wildly behind her as the wheels tangled with her veil. Each suitcase was over half her height, and clearly very heavy as she struggled with them.
“Mr. West? Are you still there?” A voice barely registered through the phone as I watched the scene unfold in front of me. I found myself gravitating toward her, and I stood up and closed the distance between us, grabbing one of the suitcase out of her hands.
“I don’t need your help.” She gritted out unevenly. She weakly fought me for the suitcase, and towering well over her in height, I easily pulled it out of her hand. Her wide green eyes finally flicked up at me and met my gaze as she sucked in a small, sharp breath.
Amused with her reaction, I gave her a wink as I continued on the phone, and rolled her bag towards the reception desk alongside her. I chuckled when her eyes quickly darted away, and I tried to ignore the jolt that shot through my body when our hands touched as I had grabbed the suitcase handle. I leaned on the reception desk and took a long look at her. There was something about her I was immediately drawn to. It was as if the atoms in the air propelled us together, as if we were magnetized like positive and negative electrons.
I finally responded to the phone, “Charlie, listen, we’ve done this a dozen times before. I don’t know why you’re making this so complicated. It’s nothing unusual, just have them get the permits pulled ASAP so we can get this thing done. I don’t want to fall behind schedule. The success of this deal hinges on the entire block being cleared.”
“As I’ve told you, this is a slightly different situation, Mr. West. You should expect some delays.”
As Charlie droned on, listing off reasons why there would be a delay, I found myself not really listening again, as the woman in the wedding dress and I stood in front of the check-in desk.
Her bottom lip trembled fiercely as she tried to hold back tears. Despite her effort, I watched as the water welled up in her eyes anyway, threatening to spill out onto her cheeks as she spoke to the receptionist.
“I’d like to check in early. Is that possible?” She said as she stared forward without blinking, the tears heavily pooling up in her eyes, threatening to cascade down at any moment.
“Yes, of course, dear.” Mary, the receptionist, nodded kindly. “What name is the reservation under?”
“Jack. Jack Curran. But he won’t be checking in. And actually, if he tries to check in, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him which room I’m in.”
One giant tear finally slipped out of those wide green eyes and rolled down her makeup smeared cheek. The tear dropped off her face softly and left a soft gray mark next to a few others on her perfectly white dress.
“What’s your name, honey?” Mary asked gently.
“Addison Easton.” She choked out as she tightened her death grip on the suitcase handle still in her right hand.
I was still leaning on the counter, with the phone to my ear, as my agent Charlie babbled on about the feasibility study; I continued to half listen, thoroughly entranced by the vision in front of me.
Up close, I let my eyes roll over Addison, taking in every breathtaking detail, from her soft green eyes to her smooth, full lips. And although she was tiny, I could just make out the voluptuous curves that were discreetly tucked underneath the heaps of white fabric she was drowning in. I shifted as I felt a tightening against my zipper. I cocked my head to the side, and couldn't help but continue to drink up the goddess before me. Addison Easton.
I felt a curious tinge spreading through me as this beautiful creature strained with all her might, trying not to crumple right here in front of me.
I could stop those tears right here, and right now, Addison Easton.
Keeping the phone on my ear, I lowered the mouthpiece away from me as I spoke to the receptionist. “Mary?”
“Yes, Mr. West?” Mary continued to steadily clack away at the computer keyboard without looking up.
“Upgrade Ms. Addison Easton to the penthouse suite tonight.” I looked at Addison as I spoke to Mary.
“Um, butyou’rein the suite tonight, Mr. West.” Mary stopped typing and looked up at me, responding with uncertainty.
“You can downgrade me.” I found myself rubbing the billowing veil that cascaded over Addison between my thumb and forefinger. Addison looked at me wide eyed.
“Yes, of course, Mr. West.” Mary nodded and began clacking away on the keyboard again.
