Chapter 4: Let's Get a Room

Serene got conscious because of how the man reacted to her. She thought that she irritated him, but she had no other choice but to continue her agenda despite of.

“Do you know when will the door open?” she asked while pointing to the closed door.

Darrem slightly laughed at the question of the woman. She was cute, he thought. “The door will open tomorrow.”

Serene's lips parted. The man just told her it will open tomorrow. She wouldn't waste a night on that hotel. “Why? But I have to go now.”

Darrem slid his hand on his pocket, and faced the attractive lady in front of him. He doesn't know why the girl was acting like she doesn't know about how Casa Roma works.

“You can't go. There's no way you can go at this moment. You can only leave this place tomorrow at 6 AM, but you have to use your ticket card first on one of the hotel room.” Darrem doesn't like explaining things to others but he wants to continue his conversation with the woman.

Serene touched her forehead, stressed. She cannot believe what she just actually hearing by now. She has to stay until tomorrow and get a room first before she can leave.

Darrem silently watched Serene. “Didn't you read the details on the red envelope? It was with the golden ticket.”

Serene quickly turned to him after she heard that. There was a red envelope accompanied by the golden ticket, and she didn't received the red envelope, just the ticket. How can she supposed to know the details of the party or the condition of the hotel? She thought that maybe Sydney forgot about the red envelope. ”Ah, I actually didn't opened it. I think I misplaced it somewhere. That's why I have no clue about this event.”

Serene just lied because she cannot fail her mission. Darrem find her more amusing. He thought that the woman is just pretending to be innocent and cute to get his attention, but it turns out that she really is clueless about the party.

“Do you want me to explain it to you?” Darrem asked the obvious question.

Serene nodded. “Yes, please.”

Darrem smiled a bit, his dimples showing, but the light was a bit dim now so it was hard to see. He really liked the way she say please to him. “The whole Casa Roma used a card door lock system. That ticket that cost 2000 bucks has two access, one on the party, and another to the hotel room. You need to swipe the ticket on the card reader to register your ticket and to open doors. Casa Roma is not really a hotel but a semi-motel, because the main specialty of this hotel was one night stand, so the launching is a kind of dry run. You have to use your ticket again to get a room, but you can only open a door if you have a male ticket with you, meaning you need a partner to get a room.”

Serene cannot process everything she heard. “That's a stupid condition. But what if I just decide to stay here on the lobby until sunrise. I don't need a room. I'm okay here.”

Darrem chuckled. He cannot help it. “You can't do that. In order to leave this hotel, you have to register your ticket on a hotel room. They have a censor in each door, so they know how many people passed the door. Let's say someone opened the door, and you planned to take advantage on the open door. No you can't pass through it, because the door has censor. If you do that, the security alarm will ring.”

Serene's legs weakened. She cannot believe that there were rules like that. It was a like a game, and she will lose it. “This is stupidity at its finest. I can only leave this hotel if I sleep with someone?”

Darrem nodded trying hard not to smile. “Yep. You need to sleep with someone in order to leave this hotel. This is how a thrilling one night stand works.”

Serene held her pouch in a tight grip. The lady was caught in a really big problem.

“If you will excuse me. I have to talk to someone else.” Darrem recognize a familiar guest on the floor so even he still wants to talk to the girl, he had no choice but to leave her.

Serene beckoned him to go. She walked like a zombie back to the seat she vacated earlier.

Serene couldn't believe the rules of the hotel. She thought it was a normal launching of a hotel. She picked up her phone to call Sydney. She had a lot of question to ask, but she held back after noticing that there is no signal.

“Oh shit!” she gasped. She raised her phone hoping that the signal bar will blink white, but it didn't. There is no wifi, no internet connection nor signal. There is no way Serene can leave the place. She didn't doubt what the man said, because there is no reason for him to lie. She still can't believe that there is a hotel who traps human inside its huge walls for a lecherous night. She knows the culture of teens in America, they sleep with anyone, party and sometimes do drugs, especially those who had tons of money on their purse. Now that they are adults it seems to get worst. She understand that one night stand is a sort of break free for some, and the rules really promises that no one will disturb or interrupt the night of their life.

Serene can't leave Casa Roma Hotel without sleeping with a male guest. She blame the card system technology of the hotel. There were no hotel staff roaming around now, and she doubt that anyone will help her escape. She has to follow the rules and leave Vianca Island for good. As soon as she gets out this hotel, she will contact Sydney and ask for explanation. She trusted Sydney but now she isn't sure anymore. Sydney's effort to make her beautiful tonight is already suspicious, and the way she requested her to enjoy was a hint that this is all her plan for Serene.

Serene checked the time on her wrist watch that looks like a bracelet. Sydney insist that she wore that. One and a half hour just passed and she was still alone on the party devastated from what she discovered. The crowd are thinner now unlike earlier. Some of the guests had secured a room, and those who are still on the floor is still choosing a partner. Serene searched for the man she met earlier. She was uncertain about the plans on her mind but this is the easiest way for her to escape the hotel. Darrem was busy flirting with another guest. He knows the guest personally. It was Dana Sewd, the most popular pop star in this generation. Her song tops the Billboard chart, and has a million of follower on its I*. Dana was wearing a seductive red dress, and stand out. Every man on the party wanted to approach her because of her drop dead outfit. She is unrecognisable in her red feathery mask.

”Do you want to sleep with me tonight?” Dana asked to Darrem touching his chest seductively. They are too close to each other, and Dana just wanted to pulled him closer to her and kiss him aggressively, but she was embarrassed to do the first move. She wants to be wanted not the other way around.

Darrem smiled at her, and put his arms on Dana's waist. “I wanted it badly, but I'm too busy, you know what I mean.”

Dana grinned. “This is your night Darrem, and I can make it special.” She throw her arms on Darrem's neck and stared at his eyes with lust.

Darrem smirked. He took a step closer to Danna and closed the gap between his mouth to her ears. Darrem was about to whisper on her ears, but he paused when he saw the lady on black standing a few inch from them. She was looking at him directly. Darrem released Danna and took a step back. Danna was confused about Darrem's gesture. “What?” she irritatedly asked.

“I need to talk to someone. I told you I'm busy.” Darrem doesn't want to offend Dana because he knows how powerful she was, but he couldn't ignore Serene. “I have to prioritize business first," he lied.

Serene was waiting for the two to part ways, and she thought it'll happen if she stand closest to them. She found him on the crowd earlier. The man was tall and attractive as hell, so it wasn't hard to search for him. After the guy let go off its date, Serene thought that he'll approach her, but the two just talk. Serene sighed, a bit pained for the way she was ignored. She gave up the idea, and just walked away.

“I can buy your time.” Dana held Darrem's wrist and she has no plans on letting him go. Dana attended the party to sleep with him.

Darrem pulled his wrist back, and looked for Serene in the crowd, but he can't find the woman. As much as possible he wants to please the popular pop star, but he can't lose the first girl who caught his attention in the party— not just in the party, but maybe in his whole life.

“Sorry,” he said to Dana and walked away, leaving the girl feeling rejected. Darrem looked around, searching for the lady in black gown, and he saw her sitting on the chair. She was the only guest who didn't interact to anyone. Darrem wears his cool aura once again, and pretended like he wasn't really interested on her. He walked towards her and took the sit next to her.

Serene was aware of the man's presence but she ignored it. It's not like she was being immature but she was ignored earlier, and that hurts her ego.

“Do you have something to ask again?” Darrem initiated the conversation, because Serene was too quiet.

“It doesn't matter now. I'll just asked for someone else help,” Serene replied. The truth is she has no idea who she will ask to sleep with her. She see all the men here as maniac, and she aren't really sure if the man beside her was different, but Serene see Darrem as her last card. She saw how Darrem become flirty with the other girl, and he might sleep with that girl.

Darrem's jaw clenched a bit. He can't imagine her talking to any other guy beside him. “You can't trust anyone here, but I'm not saying that you can trust me either.. Just tell me what it is, and I'll try my best to help you out.”

Serene glanced at him and search for any sincerity on his face, but the mask was a hindrance. She got easily convince by his tone. “Aren't you going to sleep with the girl on the red gown?”

Darrem chuckled. He really find Serene cute, especially when it talks in a super innocent manner. “I will not sleep with her, nor anyone else in this hotel.” That was his original plan.

Serene was puzzled at his answer. “You can't leave this hotel without sleeping with someone.” She repeated the rules, the man just told her a while ago. That's the rule, so the man have to sleep with someone in order to leave the hotel, unless the guy wants to live there forever.

Darrem forgot that the lady wasn't aware of his role in this business. He has no plan on telling her anyway. If he would reveal to her that he was the CEO and founder of Casa Roma, he will lose the thrill of their meeting. He was Darrem Roma, the CEO and founder of Casa Roma. He was the youngest child of Chasy and Roy Roma, one of the richest businessman in America. Their family own Vianca Island, and many properties and land around the world. They also own T-RACE, a known shoe brand and Aromani Wine. His mother gave him the permission to manage the resort business in Vianca Island, and he thought of building a hotel where anyone can spend their night in anyway they want.

“I can get any girl I want here. That's not a problem for me,” he said bragging his charms to cover the truth about his position on the hotel.

Serene find his answer a cue to drop her request. ”If that so, can you sleep with me?” She felt her cheek heating up, but she ignored it.

Darrem stared at Serene for seconds. He can't believe what the girl just said. Many woman had asked him the same question before, but she was the least expected.

“What?” He was too surprised to think of a better reaction or response.

Serene was too embarrassed that she just looked away. She just asked a stranger to sleep with her.