Four

“I want your best room,” Ann told the receptionist. She was staggering a lot and her appearance was now a mess. The fact that she kept giggling every five seconds was enough to conclude that Ann Sinclair Montgomery was drunk and alone in an empty hotel lobby. 

The receptionist took in Ann's appearance, “Are you certain you don't want help getting to your room?”

Ann shook her head and released a loud belch, “No, I'm fine. On my own. I don't need any man. You know why?” She waited for the receptionist to shake her head before she spoke up again, “Because I'm an independent woman. I do my shit all on my own.”

The receptionist shook her head, looking around briskly and then back at Ann. “I would appreciate it if you keep your voice down.”

Ann gasped, grasping the table for support as she stumbled forward. “Is your boyfriend here? Does he get jealous easily? Is that why?” She whispered, regarding the receptionist with curiosity.

The receptionist let out an exasperated sigh, “I’m sure you are tired,” she handed a key to Ann. “Here's the key to your room, what name should I register your room under, miss?”

Ann beamed, “You called me miss. Because I'm a miss and clearly not married,” she made a show of showing the receptionist her hands, “See no ring.”

The receptionist rolled her eyes, “What name?”

Ann pouted but responded anyway, “Miss Sinclair because I am not married,” she belched once again and picked up the room key. “Can I go now?”

The receptionist nodded, “Yes. And your room number is 1001,” she informed Ann.

“1010,” Ann repeated, grabbing her purse.

“No, Miss. Sinclair. It's 1001.”

Ann nodded absentmindedly, “1001.”

The receptionist gave a satisfied nod, “Good. The elevator is down the hallway, be careful please and have a nice stay.”

Ann yawned, not bothering to give a reply and headed down the hallway like the receptionist said. 

When Ann finally made it upstairs, her eyes were half closed and she was leaning lazily against the door of room 1010, knocking slowly as she had lost all her strength. 

“Why won't the door open for me?” Ann moaned, tapping on the door more loudly. “I ask that you open right now. Knock knock!”

As if in queue, the door opened to reveal a man. Ann looked up, barely able to make out the figure in front of her. “Selene? Is that you?”

The man let out a chuckle, “That's a girl's name. And I'm a man.”

Ann tilted her head in confusion, scratching her head. “But this is my room.”

“And this is also my room,” the man said but held open the door so Ann could come in. “Want to come in? We could share.”

Ann pretended to think about it for some seconds then she giggled and threw her arms around the man. “Yes, I can share.”

The man smiled down at her and responded by lifting her as he pressed her body against his. 

Ann wrapped her legs around him, “I am an independent woman and I'm going to ride you tonight.”

The man shut the door and moved them towards the bed, “I always like independent women.”

Ann smiled, “Then I like you too.”

They weren't certain who made the first move but their lips touched and the kiss was fierce and hard. They stumbled into the bed and hastily began to get rid of their clothes, whispering sweet nothings to themselves.

…

When Ann Sinclair woke up the first thing she noticed was that her whole body was sore. Then the second thing she noticed was that she was naked on a bed in an unfamiliar-looking place and she wasn't alone in bed. 

With wide eyes, she shot up from the bed, causing a load of pain to go up to her throbbing head. She looked beside her and gave a quick prayer of thanks that the man sleeping beside her was covered waist down because she wasn't sure she could handle seeing a naked man in her current hungover state. Her eyes raked over the man's body with little interest and she raised to peep at his face, the sound of her phone pulled her attention away. 

Ann got off the phone and picked up her phone where it lay on the bed stand. Her eyes widened with shock, she heard five missed calls from her parents and ten from Selene. Her inside recoiled as she immediately began dressing, she felt like she was in trouble. Without any glance at the man she slept with, she picked up her purse from where it lay on the ground and rushed out of the room, putting whatever happened yesterday night behind her where it belonged. 

…

“You are late.”

Ann shuddered as she stepped into her family's house and immediately heard her father's voice. “Too loud,” she grumbled.

“And hungover,” Mrs. Sinclair stated the obvious as she took in her daughter's appearance. “Where are you coming from?”

“Why didn't you pick up my calls?” Her father asked immediately after her mother. 

Ann looked down at her wrist, finally realizing she had forgotten her new bracelet, “Shit.”

“Ann,” Mr. Sinclair snapped.

“Language,” Mrs. Sinclair scolded simultaneously.

Ann growled, certainly not in the mood for her parents’ scolding, “Can we leave the scolding for later? I really need a bath.”

Mrs Sinclair frowned, “You can do that later, our visitor should be arriving any minute, that was why we've been calling.”

“Visitor? Why do you need me?” 

“It's your husband_,” Mr. Sinclair began.

“If it's to discuss business you can do it without me,” Ann interrupted with an annoyed frown. 

“It's a family dinner, you will be present,” Mr. Sinclair said authoritatively. 

Mrs. Sinclair's smile widened, her gaze lingering behind Ann. “Oh Lucas, we were just speaking about you.”

Ann's jaw clenched and her face hardened. She was not ready to face her douchebag husband, especially not when she was sure to be reeking of sex.