“Did someone say my name?”

Catherine got down from her Uber. She parked a few blocks from the hotel. The original amount was outrageous, so she decided to walk the rest of the way. This hotel was situated in one of the most prestigious places in the city, Gravity Cove.

She watched as well-dressed men and women made their way in. All sorts of luxurious vehicles parked in front, handing their keys over to the valet.

Her self-esteem was gone, no doubt. She took hesitant steps with her head bowed slightly. If confidence was a requirement to enter into the hotel, Catherine would stand outside for weeks on end.

She mooched aimlessly, her thoughts in complete disarray, trying desperately to find a place to hid herself. She was overwhelmed at the level of luxury in the five start Hotel. She didn’t remember the last time she entered a place so classy.

“He didn’t even tell me where to go”, she sighed. After walking around the ground floor for a while, there was no sign of him. She went to the concierge desk.

“I’m looking for a Donovan Smith”, the man stared blankly for a while then began to laugh. “Garry, she said she’s looking for him”, the person he referred to also wore a uniform. He laughed as well sizing her up. She felt absolutely misplaced, did her strange aura betray her?

Catherine shook off the negative thoughts for a moment then headed towards the lobby to grab a seat in the lobby far away from the condescending stares and eyes of pity.

She walked to the sitting area in the lobby, contemplating. “He didn’t even give me his number, how do I call!” she cussed under her breath then heaved a frustrated sigh.

Staring at the innumerable paintings on the wall did her good. She attempted to count all of the but failed. Instead, she counted the ones within her eyes reach and began to guess the artists.

When she had exhausted the paintings within her touch, she stood up, suddenly getting a rush of courage. She stared at the frame that first got her attention.

“I see you’ve been staring at that one for a while,” a man spoke from the corner. Catherine had seen these scenes in the soap operas she watched one too many times.

This was how the meet cutes that made her kick her legs in the air usually happened, but she wasn’t one for fairy tales and happily ever after’s. Her parents never had one so, she assumed she never would.

She stared at him in the corner of her eye, clinging onto her purse gracefully with both hands. “Yes, I like the depth,” she spoke softly, playing along with his cheap tomfoolery.

“Yes, I also like depth,” he said not referring to the painting anymore, “How deep would you like me to go?” he asked.

Catherine grabbed the scarf stuffed into her clutch purse. She spread it across her shoulder to cover the skin that was showing, apparently it was enough to arouse this strange man. He was hard already and didn’t have enough shame to cover it.

He took a step towards her and she took three steps away. Catherine took the opposite direction practically running at full speed. She speed walked back to where she had started counting the paintings.

She heard his footsteps directly behind her, Catherine stooped abruptly when she heard a voice and her name. “I’m looking for a lady, Catherine Flora”, she heard a familiar voice say. It was him. For some strange reason, she was actually glad.

“Did someone say my name”, she felt mysterious appearing behind them.

***

“Wait, wait”, Kenny shouted. Cathy was long gone.

She strutted out, trying to keep the rest of her dignity. “A secretary’s position”, she pouted. Hot tears began to form in her eyes, making the city and lights appear blurry.

At this rate, taking an Uber wasn’t an option. She wondered into the street with her heels in her hand. The tears finally dropped down her cheek when reality had dawned on her.

Where was she going? She had no money and Ruby was not in town. Catherine paused as her legs began to hurt.

She was having an emotional breakdown on a Friday night in the city that never sleeps. A buzz from her phone got her expectant. It was an email from Beth, her former co-worker, asking back for the money she borrowed from her.

Tears flooded her eyes. It was a good that water-proof mascara existed.

She squinted her eyes as she watched cars approaching and departing. Her heart sunk into her stomach, she became drowsy.

The moment she tasted a familiar saltiness, she remembered green juice and avocado toast were the only form of food she had had since the morning.

Drowsiness began to kick in. All she could see were faded lights. “The blinding lights”, she whispered before everything went dark.

***

She finally saw light again, but this time, they came from giant windows—floor to ceiling. It seemed there was no curtain. Catherine turned left and right to observe the unfamiliar room.

Marble tiles, a bed that seemed to be three times the sizes of hers. And not to mention the size of the actual room, it could swallow her whole apartment three times and still have room for more.

Catherine got up, trying hard to control her bladder. She needed a bathroom, and fast.

A knock on the door had her startled.

“So, you finally woke up”, Donovan spoke from the door frame. His voice was hoarse and could force more than urine to pour from between her legs. She moved from side to side rhythmically, trying to hold it.

Donovan narrowed his eyes as he stared intensely. He quickly withdrew, walked out of the room, and slammed the door behind him. Catherine was confused and quite offended. How did she get here, anyway?

She stared into the tiles and was amazed at how clear her reflection was. The tiles were cold and didn’t help the situation in any way.

“Can you put some clothes on?”, Donovan shouted from outside the room. She was stunned. Did he mean?

Catherine stared once again into the tile and caught a glimpse of what he spoke of. She shuffled across the room to get a closer look in the huge oval mirror mounted on the wall. She had a small shirt and boxers on. It didn’t go past her waist, it basically looked like a crop top.

She sighed with relief when she realized the boxers were here. The feeling of embarrassment took over when she realized Donovan had just seen too much of her skin.

“How am I here”, she mumbled.

“I’m coming in”, Donovan announced. She scurried into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. The bathroom was huge. This was the biggest bathroom she had ever seen. When the motion sensitive lights came on, she finally remembered her pressing situation.

“Where’s the on button”, she fumbled with the faucet till it began to run. That was how she drained out the sound of her pee in her apartment. The door was thin.

“Shit”, she cussed under her breath after she recalled her current situation and all the troubles that awaited.