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I laughed, snuggling against his warm body. “That’s ok. Something hot and hearty from the lounge sounds like just the thing.”
“Alright. If I must, I will face the world for you.” He kissed my forehead and pushed up.
I pulled myself up as well and collected my clothes. I spared myself a glance in the mirror and noted the smudged makeup and rat’s nest of a hairstyle. I made a poor attempt to smooth it all out before laughing at myself.
“I’m going to just sneak back to my room and do something with—” I waved my hand over my face. “This. I don’t want it to be too obvious what we’ve been up to.”
He smirked but nodded. “I’ll meet you down there.”
* * *
The hotel bar was lively. People were gathered around the cups and each other, escaping the icy chill outside and finding warmth and revelry in the crackling fire. The pianist played a lovely jazz tune in the corner at just the right volume to set the perfect ambiance. Because it was perfect. Everything about this was perfect except for the fact that I was falling for someone I could never have.
Everything except the giant mess I had made of both my career and my personal life. Was there something about me that attracted chaos and disaster like a moth to a flame? I wrapped my hand around my hot drink and contemplated all of my life choices. I shook my head and sipped the wine, letting it warm my icy fingers, my throat, my belly, my soul.
The sounds of some commotion caught my attention. At first, I ignored it, but then it grew louder, and my ears perked up. I lifted my head and scanned the room. Most people seemed unaffected, but there was a small cluster of hotel staff by the door, looking paranoid and frantic. My body stiffened as I came to attention. My eyes followed them as I watched. Calm and collected, but with a certain level of haste, they started to make their way to various tables. It didn’t take long before the word trickled out to me.
Fire.
Oh my God. I jumped up from my barstool and ran toward the staff member who looked like they were in charge.
“What can I do?” I asked.
She looked me over curiously but with panic rising. “I’m Sienna Frost. I’m with the Wilshire group. I guess it doesn’t really matter. But basically, I’m here to help. What can I do?”
She looked like she had a thousand questions for me, but she didn’t argue, given the moment. “OK. We need to get everyone outside, quickly but calmly. Please, do not let anyone panic. That would be worse.”
I nodded and jumped to attention. I have always been good in moments of chaos. Somehow, when the world was falling apart, that was when I was at my best. Maybe I would’ve made a really good soldier.
I went to work, following her lead, getting around to every group of people, every table, everyone standing at the bar.
“Please, I don’t know if you speak English, but we have a situation, and we need everyone to go outside.” I gestured toward the door where the staff was leading people out.
I received a few unsure stares as people probably didn’t understand me. But more than that, people seemed to understand. And even though they were wary, they complied by slowly finishing their drinks, setting them down, and following me out. I was rather impressed with the way everyone seemed to queue and follow orders with little question. That was something Americans surely wouldn’t do. I imagine we would’ve had to drag a few people out by their ears if we were at a bar in LA.
We had just about cleared out the bar when the siren sounded. Panic started to well up inside me. And that’s when chaos broke out.
People sprang up from their seats, a flurry of movement and rising voices filling the space. The flickering of emergency lights cast a surreal glow; painting faces with shades of fear and uncertainty. My heart raced as the smell of smoke infiltrated the air, a sinister undercurrent to the growing disorder.
The clatter of shoes against the floor, the muffled sound of instructions over the intercom, and the urgent voices of the staff created a cacophony.
Despite our best efforts, people started to panic at the sound of the fire siren. They maintained relative order at first, but the line started to rush toward the front door. Staff members were lined up on either side, trying to corral everyone like cattle. People pushed their way out to the front door and into the open-air courtyard. My mind was frantic as I looked around for the source of the fire.
And then I smelled smoke. I followed my senses and saw that it was coming from the kitchen area. I ran back toward it, but then somebody grabbed my arm. They pulled me back. I turned around and saw Ondrej. There was panic in his eyes, an absolute facial fear.
“What are you doing?” he said.
“Nothing, I was just going to see if anyone needed help.”
“No. Don’t go in there. It’s a kitchen fire. The fire brigade is on the way. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
I didn’t argue and followed Ondrej as we rushed the rest of the crowd outside into the open air. It wasn’t until I was outside in the fresh air that I realized I had inhaled smoke. I started coughing, expelling black phlegm.
“Are you OK?”
I nodded, spitting out black phlegm. “Yes. Sorry, that was disgusting.”
He smiled lightly. “It’s OK. Your table manners are the least of my concern right now.”
