Chapter 31 - Alexander

**ALEXANDER**

Alexander awoke in his luxurious suite as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy, floor-length curtains. The night had been short and restless, but the thought of the day ahead kept him awake. Whatever had happened the day before, his company was not interested.
He reached for his smartphone and checked the time: seven in the morning. It was still early enough to prepare for the day ahead. He put the phone down and picked up the remote control. Pressing a button, the curtains slid silently aside to reveal the monumental skyline. The view was breathtaking, but Alexander barely noticed. At the moment, he had other interests than admiring chrome and stone.
He sat up and pressed another button to order his breakfast. The digital menu flashed and he selected the usual: fresh orange juice, a cappuccino with extra foam, poached eggs with salmon and a basket of warm croissants. The selection was simple, but he loved it when the quality was right - and it always was here. Maybe he should stay at the Excelsior more often. There were advantages to owning a hotel penthouse. Especially if the hotel kitchen had an excellent staff.
As breakfast was being prepared, Alexander swung out of bed, stepped barefoot onto the soft, deep carpet, and walked into the adjoining bathroom, which reminded him more of a spa than an ordinary bathroom. Glossy marble tiles, a free-standing bathtub that invited him to linger, and a rain shower almost the size of a small room provided an oasis of calm. Alexander turned on the water and let it flow hot over his skin. The steam quickly filled the room and he could feel the tension of the previous night slowly dissipating. The shampoo smelled subtly of bergamot, fresh and elegant - just how he liked it.
A shiver ran down his spine as he thought about yesterday evening, when he had masturbated right here, tense and angry because Emily had disappeared. No sooner had his mind wandered in that direction than his cock straightened. He looked down in disbelief, saw his penis twitching and refused to believe it. But in fact, lust was awakening in him as soon as he thought of the full-bosomed beauty whose curves had turned him on powerfully.
Groaning, he reached down and wrapped his fist around the hard shaft, working it with practiced movements. He moved quickly up and down, rubbing the exposed head and squeezing his testicles with the other hand. His breathing quickened, his pulse racing. He thought of the hot kisses, the soft, cuddly body and Emily’s beautiful gray-blue eyes. “Oh fuck, yes,” he gasped. He squeezed hard again and his load shot out against the shower stall. He squeezed out what was left and imagined her delicate hands touching him, her lips sucking on his cock.
“Damn,” he cursed, “how can a woman throw me off my game like that?” Almost disgusted by his greed for the woman he had never met before, he took an extra-large amount of shower gel and lathered himself up. He had to cover everything he thought he could still smell of Emily. It was nonsense. He had washed away every scent of her yesterday. Nevertheless, he clung to the thought that he was only so hot and longing for her because her light citrus scent was still lingering somewhere.
After a while, he stepped out of the shower and found a large, fluffy towel warmer with a soft towel ready. He dried himself, looked at his reflection in the slightly fogged glass, and ran his hands through his damp, dark hair. With a few deft movements, he applied a light moisturizer and shaved before walking over to the walk-in closet. Here, too, everything was as it should be - neat, well-organized, and geared toward perfection. For today, he chose a dark blue suit, sporty yet elegant, with a light gray shirt and a narrow silver tie. The cufflinks - discreet but elegant - were a gift from one of his business associates. They complemented the overall look perfectly.
After he had dressed and straightened his tie with a last critical look in the mirror, he heard a soft humming sound. The remote told him that someone was in the back at the service entrance. His breakfast. Alexander went to the door and let the butler in. He followed him into the spacious dining room and placed the tray on the suite’s large dining table.
“Thank you,” Alexander said curtly as the butler took his leave with a discreet bow. Alexander sat down and inhaled deeply. The smell of fresh coffee reached his nostrils and he reached for the cappuccino first. The foam was perfectly formed, as he had expected, and the first sip woke him up for good.
Just as he reached for the croissant, his cell phone vibrated. A quick glance at the display showed the name *Susanne Enders*. The head of the DarEnd-Agency. A knowing smile crept across his lips before he answered the call. Surely she wanted to know how the meeting with the replacement for the booked Amelie had gone. Maybe he should act a little distant and irritated? After all, Emily had simply disappeared instead of spending the night in the suite.
“Susanne,” he greeted her with a cool voice.
“Good morning, Alexander,” she replied in a businesslike tone. Did she sound a bit tense? “I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“Not at all,” he said, leaning back in his chair and taking a relaxed sip of coffee. “What is it?”
“It’s about Emily,” she began, and he had to suppress a satisfied grin. So he had been right in his assessment. “We want to make sure that the new hostess has been to your satisfaction. As I’m sure you know, she is relatively new to us and... well, there have been some misunderstandings regarding her role with you.”
Alexander remained silent, letting her continue. He was curious where this conversation would lead. Maybe he wouldn’t have anything to complain about if the agency offered him compensation on its own initiative.
“I wanted to make sure that everything went according to your wishes,” she added. “The articles this morning may have been a bit over the top, and you didn’t perceive Emily’s... advances as such?”
Alexander frowned, and now he was getting a little annoyed - not with the DarEnd-Agency, but with himself. How could he have forgotten to have the newspaper delivered to his breakfast table? What had the journalists written that made Susanne Enders feel compelled to call him?
He put down his cup and looked at the croissants, which smelled tempting. He had no interest in having a long discussion with the woman right now. “There were some problems with Emily, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a little training.”
“A little training?” came the croaking voice from the microphone. Alexander was irritated. Had Oliver Daron not told his business partner about the unprofessional start to the meeting? He had never met a girlfriend in jogging clothes before. And he wasn’t the only one who had noticed that she had been a little overwhelmed by the cutlery at dinner. Had the press even commented on her somewhat clumsy behavior?
“Yes, Susanne, a little training. Emily seems like a diamond in the rough.” He paused, but there was no response from the agency director - except for a gasp. “Besides, it surprises me that Emily emphasized that this would be a one-time meeting. I’m not in the habit of changing my girlfriends on a daily or weekly basis. I expect you to make it clear to her that I want to meet her on Friday night.”
He heard a soft click, followed by an extraordinary silence. Had she muted him? Maybe he should have both the agency and Emily investigated. Something was wrong.
After several seconds, an almost breathless Susanne reached him again. “But of course, Alexander, that’s not a problem for us. Perhaps Oliver did something wrong during the interview, but of course we will correct it immediately. Of course, Emily is available for you on Friday evening.”
“Wonderful, then I’ll finish breakfast in peace. I expect Emily at the Excelsior Hotel at seven in the evening.”
“With pleasure, Alexander. Enjoy your meal and have a nice day.”
“Thank you, Susanne. Have a nice day yourself.” He hung up and looked at his coffee, which was no longer pleasantly hot. But he wasn’t going to let that bother him now. The thought of seeing Emily again in two days made him almost happy. He picked up a croissant and took a bite.
“Well, dear Emily, *sweetheart*, soon you will feel my dominance.”