Episode 55

Ashley's POV.
"Hello,Mr Marcello, we're so honored to have you at our hotel this evening" The pretty black haired woman behind the receptionist desk said with the biggest flirtatious smile I've ever seen. I mentally looted her. Her breasts are round and firm in a perky way, in full display through her blue cotton gown. She was especially pretty and I suddenly got this feeling that she'd dressed so much because the almighty and hot Mr Riccardo Marcello had booked for a room in 'their' hotel. That's a one time something. It's not everyday you get someone like him crashing into your hotel. Pff! She pissed me off.
"Thank you,Stella" he replied with a grin.
Oh, he knew her name. Great.
I'd been so brainwashed by jealousy to even realize that her name was placed on her breast area and that anyone would notice that. But again, what if Ric actually knew her name before. Maybe over a certain meet up in the past? Maybe she slept with him before? Maybe they were exs? You're just being ridiculous, Ashley. I scolded myself.
I gave her a small smile as she beamed a nod at me with a big smile. Pretentious smile!
"I'll show you to your room" Stella said before quickly leaving her post and walking ahead of us. Isn't there someone else who does this job of showing VIPs to their suite? I wondered as I turned around to follow her.
We got into the elevator and ascended the room's until we came to a stop. The hotel was pretty beautiful, London would never seize to amaze me. The cosiness of the brightly lit hall was welcoming, made me feel at home. The walls were a work of art, looking like walls you'd find at a museum with beautiful paintings handing at each end.
Stella came to a stop at the middle room door, pressing something on the wall before the doors split open. The sight in front of me was breathtaking. The room was absolutely beautiful.
"Here we are" she announced in a sing-song voice. We follow her in. The warmness was on another level. The walls were painted in a shade of cream that was unexplainable. The floor was carpeted in fur,a brightly lit chandelier hanging off the high ceiling. A couple of paintings hung off the walls.
"The bedroom is right that way,"Stella said as she pointed towards our right. "Shall I show you in?"
"Thanks but I don't think she's gonna like that"Ric replied, making eye gestures at me.
Stella, seeming surprised about something made to reply but thought it wise to shut up instead and just smiled.
"Very well then" she said sheepishly.
I stood mute for a while, wondering what the hell was going on. That's when the question popped up in my head. Where is my room? But before I could ask, Stella was already on her way out, the sound of the door sliding close cutting through the silence.
I looked at Ric and found a settling smile on his lips.
"I. . . . . . . ." He put I finger close to my lips, stopping me from speaking and retrieved his phone from his pocket. He dialed a number and placed the phone on his ear, his eyes not leaving mine, a mischievous smile lingering on his lips.
"Are you here yet?" He said into the phone ". . . . Okay I'll be down now" he cut the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket.
Looking back to me he said "I need to meet my workers, Ashley. They're outside," he walked past me to the door and just when I was about to speak again he beat me to it "you can tell me whatever you wanna tell me later okay?" The doors started to slide open " make yourself comfortable" and then he was gone.
I frawned after him. How am I supposed to know where my room is now?! I stood in place for a couple of minutes before deciding to rest my tired limbs on the lounge couch. After another round of minutes, I decided to check the place out. The walk in closet was just as wide. Ric's suits and other belongings had already been arranged in place. Everything looked new like he'd just purchased them here first hand before we even arrived.
I thought of unpacking but I wasn't sure if this was my room too. I mean, share this room with Ric? Sleep on that bed with him? Flashes of sinful thoughts occured to me, causing me to slap myself. It was a good feeling, something a part of me wanted to experience, to explore but. . . . . I guess there's always a but right?
It was past 10 before Ric returned to the room. He gave me an apologetic smile as he walked in and said "sorry for keeping you waiting, was really busy outside" he pulls off his suit.
"Um. . . . . . . . . ."
"I asked the cook to bring us sushi. Hope you like it"
He started unbuttoning his white inner shirt while walking away towards the bedroom. I picked my pace up and followed him.
"Ric. . . . . . . . . " I called.
He stopped just before the bed and turned around to me, his short now fully unbuttoned, his well toned abb in full display. I stared hard, my hands suddenly itching to reach for him. I've never seen such a beautiful male body before and I wanted to slap myself for drooling. Realizing that I was being a complete idiot, I forced my gaze down before I could speak.
"Where am I staying?" My heart pounded uncomfortably, I wanted to disappear as I slowly met his eyes again. I felt my body shiver "I mean. . . My room?"
"What do you mean, Ashley? This is 'our bedroom'" he replied, mockery in his words. He had a smile on his lips that made me want to believe that he was just joking. Would he actually wanna sleep together with someone like me?
"I don't understand"
He sighed and reached a hand on the bridge of his nose tiredly before saying " I'm sorry Ashley, I booked late and when I did, there was only one room left so I thought we could share it. Is something wrong with that?"
Of course there is! I wanted to tell him that I couldn't share a room with him, that I couldn't bear being so close up to him but instead, I said something completely stupid.
"I can't share a bed with you!" The ground can open up and swallow me now.
"What's that supposed to mean? You can't. . .share a bed with. . . . . . . ME?"
i understood what he was saying, what he meant. He was Ric, every girl's dream man, my dream. . . . Scratch that,lord. I shut my eyes as embarrassment slowly started to eat at me.
"I mean. . .how are we supposed to share this room?" My eyes shamelessly fell on his bare chest again.
"You want me to sleep on the couch or on the floor?"
"No, no! I just. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This isn't right!"
"Why can't we share this room, Ashley? We're fucking adults, stop acting like a baby"
"Alright. Fine" I knew talking about this was pointless in every way.
The door bell rang. Ric walked back out to get it and I slowly followed behind. a young woman walked in with a food wheeler. She set the food on a center glass table before looking from Ric's exposed upper body to me. I knew exactly what she had on her mind and somehow, it didn't bother me. If anything, I liked the idea.
"I'm just. . . . . . . . Gonna take a shower" I announced.
"Want me to go with you?" Ric offered, a flirtatious smile on his lips.
I stared at him surprisingly. Where was all these attitudes coming from? Why was he suddenly being so sweet? I just gave him a disapproving nod before walking back into the bedroom where I found the bathroom. I hurriedly took a shower. When I walked out into the bedroom, Ric was seated across the room, his eyes catching mine as I stepped in. I'm clad in a mini white towel and his eyes glided all over it. For a moment I thought my heart was gonna fall out as it pounded harshly. His eyes lingered on my torso before peeling them away. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. What wasn't I moving or saying anything?
I reached over the towel's rim around my torso to hold it still, causing him to look away.
" I ah. . . .," I could see his Adam apple moving rapidly as he gulped ". . . . . . . . I thought we could eat here" he said, gesturing towards the food which were now placed over a holder before the bed. My eyes moved out behind him to the food before settling back on him again.
"Okay" I replied and dashed into the closet. Then I remembered my bags were still outside and with my clothes on it. I wanted to slap myself.
I walked back out through the bedroom, feeling Ric's eyes on me as I went until I reached the sitting room, away from his predating eyes and could finally breathe some air. I had to endure the same killing feeling of walking back all the way through the bedroom and back to the closet in my mini towel. Gosh, could this night get any worse?
I dressed up in a grey t-shirt and a black leggings. I didn't think it appropriate enough to be on my night wear while I ate with him. I walked back out and met him already seated before the food. I sat opposite him, picking up a spoon.
"It's a little bit late to be eating, don't you think?" I told him as I picked up a plate of noodles.
He smiles a little and replied " if you're scared of getting fat we could burn it up after eating"
I tried to smile but realized there was actually another meaning to his statement, causing me to blush a great deal. What was this man doing to me?
"We could do that right here if you want" he added. I choked on the food in my mouth, coughing afterwards.
"What are you saying?" I summed up a courage to finally speak.
"Um. . . We could do a few hugging or sit ups here after eating" he said matter of factly, like he didn't just say something entirely different.
We decided eating silently would be the best thing to do so I picked up my food again and continued eating.
"Ashley?"
I looked at him again. This time there was something serious about his gaze, about how they watched me.
"Do you regret kissing me that night in my car?"
I stared at him, dumbfounded.