Chapter Three

Ariana

I stretch and turn lazily as sun rays penetrate through the window heating my face. The sun doesn't shine through my window in the morning. It does only in the evening when it is setting. It's weird how some mornings like this make an exception. Or maybe it is already evening! I immediately shut my eyes open and look around my surroundings. This is not my room! Where am I?

I try to sit up but the bed is awfully cozy. I would grab a few more minutes of sleep if I knew where I was. My head is still spinning only that the sleep has done some magic on the headache. I feel like a total mess. 

I got drunk last night and the liquor... the handsome face with dazzling eyes... the getting lost in the hotel corridors... ending up here?

All the events of last night begin to add up in my mind and now everything is clear. He let me stay in for the night. The girl's abandoned me for the part night even after knowing the fact that I didn't have a way of getting back to my apartment. 

I get up from the bed but my head is heavy due to the hangover. How did I manage to drink that much? I close my eyes and try to recollect myself. I am in somebody else's house- no, a hotel room and I don't even know who is. Luckily, he didn't do anything to me. He just let me have his spare room and didn't ask for anything in return. Maybe he just hasn't asked for his reward. I need to stay positive. He looks to be a nice guy and here I am being an ungrateful brat and thinking the worst out of him.

Luckily, I am not on duty today. I don't even know what time it is but it seems to be a lot later than morning. Since when do I sleep peacefully in strangers' places?

I get onto my feet and luckily, I manage to remain steady. I am still in my redress and I can't see my shoes anywhere in the room. 

I am thinking about sneaking quietly out of here without being noticed by him but that wouldn't be a good idea. I would look ungrateful yet I am so thankful for the help he offered me last night. Only God knows where I would have woken up this morning. Probably in a trench if not another man's hotel room beside him in the bed. That would be very terrifying. I would wake up screaming my lungs out.

I hear a door open and close. There is a muffled conversation that follows and then the door opens and closes. I am curious to know what was going on out there but a sudden feeling of embarrassment washes over me. I am suddenly afraid of meeting the man who helped me out last night. Who knows how on earth I acted in front of him last night? I was so drunk that I don't even remember exactly what happened after he offered me to sleep in his suite. Crap! I could have said or done a hell lot of stupid things, but he still let me stay. Who on earth harbors a drunken fool in their hotel rooms for God's sake? Do people like that still exist? Is he even human?

I dash to the nearest small door hoping that it is a bathroom. Luckily, it is a bathroom. I reach for the sink faucet and splash some water on my face to wake me out of this state of Limbo. My hair is a tangled mess and my makeup is like that of a ghost! How am I supposed to fix this look? I could use a shower but I don't have any other clothes to change into. This is so messed up. I can't go out there like this! I look like a zombie.

I hear the door to the bedroom open and I increase the pressure of the water so that it can make a distracting noise. I don't even want to talk yet. It could be him, coming to check on me and I don't want to appear in front of him like this. I have already embarrassed myself enough times in front of him.

I listen closely and footsteps approach the bathroom. I freeze in my skin and await the bomb to explode when he comes in. He wouldn't come in, would he? What if I am naked in here? My red dress is all creased and the length has been reduced by some good inches. The footsteps stop just before the bathroom door and then there is silence. My heart is pounding loudly in my ears. Why am I so tensed up?

Then the footsteps seem to be walking away. I let out a heavy breath that I didn't even know I was holding. That was so damn tense!

l lean forward into the mirror and look at my reflection staring at me. Even my own reflection is haunting. I spot a new toothbrush beside the sink. I guess my host wouldn't mind if I used it. I feel a bit relieved after brushing my teeth and washing my face. I walk back into the bedroom curious to know what he was doing in there.  

There is a white dress with black poker dots all over. There is a hairdryer and a brush. There is also a white set of panties beside the dress. My jaw literally drops to the floor. Are these for me? That's so thoughtful of him but it's too much. Okay, I wouldn't want to go around in a dress without panties but neither would I ever repeat panties. Should I wear them? 

I pick them up from the bed to have a good look at them. The size is the one and it is no doubt that it will fit. How did he know? The dress is really beautiful but it looks too expensive for my taste. It is a simple free dress and I love it but I am already feeling indebted. He has done so much already.

Now that I have all I need, I can go and have a shower and freshen up. I walk into the bathroom and strip out of my clothes. I step under the shower and put the water to fool speed. I wish the water can wash away all the confusion from my head. I want to think clearly because I certainly haven't fully comprehended what happened last night. I wonder where Julie and Heather are. Are they looking for me? Does Julie even have my purse? Maybe I just lost it in the bar while I was drunk like it was the last day of my life.

After the shower, I dey and comb my hair. I put on the dress and panties, trying hard not to think so much about who they are from. Surprisingly, they all feel very comfortable and they fit very well. I fold my dress and put it in the bag where the new dress come in. After making sure that I look presentable enough, I take in a deep calming breath and walk out of the room. 

I try to keep my composure while I walk into what seems to be the living room of the suite. It looks so nice and fancy of course. There is a small kitchen island with a few shelves. In front of the kitchen island is a table surrounded by four chairs. There are also covered dishes and a teapot filled with black tea. There is also juice and a few fruits.

The sight of food makes my stomach grumble in response. It must have been the hotel room service that had arrived when I had the mumbling from the bathroom. 

"So you finally decided to come out," a firm voice startles me before a tall broad-shouldered man walking towards me with a devil-may-care outlook and a stellar smile. His angular cheekbones flex and his crystal-white teeth appear, giving me a panty-melting smile. 

"You thought I wouldn't figure out that you didn't want to come out of that room you slept in?" he inquires me, his eyebrows raised at me in questioning.

"At least you finally gathered the courage to come out and you look gorgeous in that dress," he says and my cheeks flush, warmth spreading up my face. 

"Thank you. For the dress, for the room, and did everything. I appreciate your kindness," I tell him and his eyes scan my appearance. He slowly folds his crisp white shirt up, revealing his muscular toned hands beneath it. I gulp hard and try hard not to stare. I am not drunk anymore! I should be able to keep my composure.

"Don't mention it," he responds, and the waves to the table with food. "Would you care to join me for breakfast?" he asks me.

"I really would love to but you have already done so much for me. I don't want to cause you any more trouble. I think it would be better if I go now," I blubber out but his expression remains neutral, his gaze unrevealing. 

"I insist that you stay over for breakfast. Besides, we didn't get a chance to know each other. Perhaps we could take advantage of this time to do that. I am very much interested in knowing more about you," he says. 

"I don't think there is a lot to know about me. Judging by my appearance yesterday, you have probably already come to conclusions," I tell him and a sexy smirk spreads over his face. He leans closer just before my ear.

"I am not the type to judge by a mere incident, Ariana. Trust me, I could have a lot of fun getting to know all about you," he whispers into my ear and a rush spreads over my entire skin. He is so close that I can smell his expensive intoxicated collagen. I swallow hard and try to stay still. He then stands upright and puts his hands in his pockets. 

"Shall we?" he asks me.

"Sure," I respond without thinking.