Episode 6

The shiny elevator doors opened up to a horizontal stripe of waiting space, revealing the imposing wooden double doors and luxurious lifestyle one could only dream of.

Vinnie’s heart did a somersault as her eyes landed on the posh surroundings—pale walls, sleek lights, and a ceiling that seemed to touch the heavens with its ornate wooden designs. The sight did little to ease her nerves; if anything, it amplified her anxiety to a whole new level.

After receiving the call, quickly followed by a text from Alex, Vinnie was bursting at the seams. How she managed to look like nothing absolutely mind-blowing was happening in her life in front of Maya was a mystery even she couldn’t figure out. There was so much happening inside her—so many thoughts and sensations pouring and crashing against each other, like a circus of happiness and uncharted territories, leaving her mentally drained by the time Maya dropped her off at her apartment.

Sleep was a distant dream that night as Vinnie tossed and turned in bed. Not even a blink of sleep teased her eyes. Her brain was yawning due to the exhaustion and heat of the day, but her heart kept her awake. As if it couldn’t care less about her need to catch at least a few hours of sleep before she showed up at the address Alex had texted.

Vinnie had lost count of how many times she had read and reread the text. Because every time she shut the phone and put it aside, the irresistible urge to check it again would pull her back in, if only to make sure that the text was real and not some trick of her mind.

After all, she couldn’t deny the possibility that her brain had a knack for overthinking, spinning elaborate scenarios where the boundaries between what was real and what was a spin-off of her imagination became hazy. It was like getting lost in a maze of thoughts, leaving her with more confusion than clarity.

“This way!”

The woman dressed in a hotel staff uniform led Vinnie out of the elevator and headed towards a set of giant double doors made of dark brown wood.

When Vinnie had arrived at the given address, she quickly realized that instead of meeting Mr. Doyle at his office like last time, she was instructed to meet him at a hotel.

The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind throughout the night as she mindlessly stared at the address, feeling a bit foolish. She could have at least checked the address on G****e Maps to get a sense of the place she was going to. But no, her mind seemed to have shut down, and all rational thinking had abandoned her, leaving her standing in front of the grand hotel foyer with a stunned expression on her face.

Vinnie had never been to this part of Brooklyn, the part where the rich and powerful flourished. Naturally, she had no idea what to expect when the valet opened the cab door and greeted her with a polite smile. Vinnie returned the smile, feeling it would be impolite not to, and made her way towards the glass doors that automatically opened and closed as people entered or exited the building.

When she had given her name and purpose for meeting Mr Doyle, the young and beautiful woman’s eyes had sparkled, and she had whispered something to another young woman standing next to her. Vinnie couldn’t make out what was said, but the constant staring and whispering made her feel uneasy.

It wasn’t until another woman, appearing to be in her early thirties, arrived that Vinnie’s tension began to ease. This woman, who seemed older than the others, greeted her with a warm smile and effortlessly silenced the whispering staff. Vinnie’s eyes caught sight of the nameplate pinned to her blazer, boldly displaying “MANAGER.”

With a welcoming gesture, the manager signaled for Vinnie to follow her to a private elevator. Vinnie knew it was private as the word “PRIVATE” was prominently displayed on the top of the gates, and also because not even a soul seemed to be wandering around in its close proximity, not even by mistake.

The journey from the reception to the top floor was spent in pure silence. The manager didn’t seem to react the way those girls behind the desk had, and she seemed to be minding her own business. When the doors finally opened, she led Vinnie towards the set of double doors.

She pressed the buzzer and waited for someone to open the door.

Not even a minute passed when the doors opened and Alex’s young face came into view.

For some reason, his face seemed to bring a lot more ease to Vinnie’s poor heart than she could have expected. It was as if, after wading through the sea of strangers, his familiarity—no matter how small—brought her a sense of comfort and relief, and Vinnie was more than glad to hold on to it.

Alex glanced at his watch and flashed her a nice smile.

“Impressive, Ms. Hart. You’re right on schedule. Come with me, please.”

The manager left, and Vinnie followed Alex down the long foyer.

The sight of the hotel was enough to make Vinnie question everything she thought she knew, but when she stepped into what the receptionist had referred to as the penthouse suite, her mind was blown. The ceiling lights and the artwork adorning the walls were just the tip of the luxurious iceberg surrounding her. In reality, it was difficult for her to put into words the sheer opulence that lay before her.

As they entered the small atrium surrounded by wide wooden doors, Vinnie couldn’t resist stealing a glance at her reflection in the tall mirror hanging on the wall.

This time, she had opted for a cute pink dress borrowed from Maya’s collection, one that she had recently designed herself. The dress featured a checkered pattern and had thick straps that crisscrossed behind her back, adding a touch of flair. To keep things practical, Vinnie had paired the dress with her trusty white sneakers, hoping to give off an air of practicality rather than admitting her lack of experience in wearing high heels.

Focused on her reflection, Vinnie failed to notice that Alex had paused and bumped right into his back.

“Easy, Ms Hart,” she heard him chuckle, and that was her cue to take a step back and nervously tuck a few dark strands of hair behind her ear—a habit she carried when feeling anxious, as if she needed to occupy her hands or else go crazy. He turned to face her and gestured to the only open door. “I’ll be right here when you’re finished.”

Vinnie flashed him a clumsy smile before nodding. She knew what this meant. She was on her own now. It was time for her to face Mr Doyle alone. The thought sent shivers down her spine and turned her bare arms and legs into a field of goosebumps.

It didn’t have to be so hard, right? She had done this before, and she could do it again. Letting her nerves get the best of her at this stage would only lead to trouble. If she appeared suddenly jittery about the whole arrangement, she was bound to rub someone the wrong way. Especially the man waiting in that room, who would probably accuse her of wasting his precious time. And honestly? She couldn’t even blame him.

Meeting Ethan Doyle at his office had been intimidating enough, but meeting him here, in the swankiest hotel in town, brought the stark reality of his opulent world crashing down on her. It made Vinnie question if this was truly what she wanted.

Did she?

“Are we waiting for something?” Alex’s voice broke through Vinnie’s thoughts, snapping her back to the present. He stood beside her, his gaze filled with curiosity, undoubtedly wondering why she hadn’t made a move yet.

Vinnie took a deep breath, hoping it would help steady her frayed nerves, but the fluttering butterflies in her stomach continued their topsy-turvy dance.

“Mr Doyle is not as scary as he appears, Ms Hart,” Alex reassured her, offering a friendly piece of advice. Vinnie couldn’t help but appreciate his attempt to ease her nerves, even if she doubted he fully understood her inner unrest. “Just be yourself and speak your mind. Honesty goes a long way with him. Remember, he’s not all bark and no bite.”

Vinnie nodded, mustering a small smile to show her appreciation for Alex’s advice, though her nerves remained tightly wound. She absentmindedly smoothed an imaginary wrinkle on her dress, a nervous habit that clung to her, and rolled her shoulder in an attempt to release some tension.

With a silent word of thanks and a brief nod to Alex, she turned towards the door that beckoned her forward. Taking a deep breath, she took measured steps and entered the room, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Here goes nothing!