by Sera, Drew
“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting a shuttle bus. I’m glad you were here.”
“No problem. This opportunity is too important to the family. Martin and Mason will be helping too and are on standby with their cells. It’ll be a crazy few days.”
All of the passengers were now on the shuttle, and the driver was putting the luggage in the underbelly of the vehicle. Kyler pulled out from the curb and into traffic.
“Hey, shouldn’t we follow the shuttle?” I asked as I glanced at it in the side mirror as we passed it.
“She’s on the shuttle, and we know where it’s going. It’ll probably be better for you to already be at the hotel and hanging out in the lobby.”
I nodded at his idea. It made more sense.
“Are you and Dean flying out tonight for Boston?”
“Yeah. It’s almost a fucking nine-hour flight. I’m not looking forward to that especially since it’s just for a few days.”
“Someday I hope to visit the Unites States,” I mumbled as I glanced at my phone.
“When I drop you off, I’m going to go park across the street and I’ll text you when the shuttle arrives. Until then, walk around the lobby. Find the exits that would be used by the general public and locate the elevators for guest use. That way you’ll know where you can position yourself in the lobby and catch her when she leaves,” Kyler advised as we approached the covered valet area of the Okura.
When he came to a stop at the curb, I quickly hopped out and made my way into the lobby. I strolled around until I came upon a hotel directory. There was just the one entrance as Kyler suggested and one set of guest elevators. I found myself a seat on a sofa near the check-in desk and glanced at my phone when it vibrated.
Kyler: Shuttle is pulling up. I’m leaving now. Good luck and I’ll see you in a few days.
Wes: I see the shuttle. Good luck in Boston.
I pretended to play with my phone in my hands as Chloe walked through the lobby and headed to the check-in desk. It wasn’t long before she made her way from the check-in desk to the elevators. I watched her suitcase and dark hair disappear into the elevator alone, and as the door closed, I walked toward the one she got in. I stood back and watched the numbers change. Fifteenth floor.
And now I wait.
* * *
I sat in the hotel restaurant all night and sipped coffee and now was quickly eating breakfast. I messed with my phone that had been plugged into the convenient outlet at my table when Chloe appeared.
Shit!
She was walking toward the restaurant, so I remained still. Chloe had a killer body, and I quickly looked to see if she wore a ring. Somebody had got to be getting some of that…and I was envious.
She sat down at the table behind me, and our backs were to each other. While she was ordering her cell phone rang, and after the server left the table she answered it.
“Hi, Daddy,” Chloe said with her pretty British accent.
Damn, she was talking to her father, Gareth. I was in the right place at the right time. This couldn’t have worked out better this morning. She had the sweetest sounding voice, and that accent of hers was beautiful.
“Yes, Daddy…The room is so nice, thank you…Not yet, I’m having breakfast now. So, I have the meeting with Steph Baker at 2:00 today.”
As Chloe spoke to her dad, I quickly typed on my phone, “Baker at 2.”
“No, tonight I’m just going to have dinner at the hotel and then go to the bar across the street.” Chloe paused as she listened to her dad on the phone. “No, I won’t be out too late, don’t worry. Tomorrow I’m meeting with Smit at 2:00, then Heines the next day and then Van Doorn on the last day…Yes, Daddy, don’t worry. I will call you after I see Baker.”
Chloe ended her call, and I finished my coffee. Now I had her schedule and wouldn’t even have to follow her. I could relay all of that info to my dad and call it a day.
But I wanted to watch her.
She was so beautiful, and fuck, her body made me ache. Her hair caught my eye each time I saw her. Maybe it was the fact that is so different from the commonly seen blonde and light brown hair around here. In addition to Chloe’s hair, her tanned skin was also out of the norm here. Not unheard of, but a rarity. There was something about her that drove me crazy. Was it the accent, the silky brown hair, tanned skin or the killer body? I didn’t know exactly, but I knew I wanted her.
And I knew that I couldn’t have her.
Chloe was very much off limits for me. Though, off limits, I felt protective of her. As if I were her protection. Would she be safe meeting with the others? The other three families were also trying to lock up a deal with the Olsen family. Chances like this don’t come around often, and any family would be digging their own grave if they messed with Gareth’s daughter.
I decided to see if she would pick up private transportation or use public transportation. If she took public, I’d follow her as long as I could. If she elected for private car, then I’d wait here in the lobby.
Much to my disappointment, Chloe took a ride from a private car that said Okura Hotel on the rear window. I sighed and sent a text to my dad.
Wes: She’s meeting with Steph Baker today.
Thom: Good, Wes. Thank you for the info. You’re doing fine, son.
Wes: I’m going to head home and get a nap and shower in. Then I’ll pick up the schedule tomorrow morning.
Thom: Thank you, son.
Son. I smiled when I saw the word “son” that he texted and then I slipped my phone in my pocket while I waited for the metro to take me home. I stared at her picture on the way home, and by the time I got there, all I wanted to do was hurry up and get back to the hotel so I could see her again.
“Hey, mate,” Martin said when I walked into our apartment.
“Hey, Martin.”
“How’s it going?” he asked and motioned for me to sit down. “I’ll fix you something to eat. You look dead tired.”
“I am. I sent dad the info via text. Chloe is meeting with the Bakers this afternoon. I came home to shower and take a little nap, but now that I’m here, I’m eager to get back at it.”
Martin fussed around in the kitchen, and then he handed me a plate with a sandwich. I could feel his eyes on me as I ate.
“Have you taken any?” he asked.
“What? Tablets? No, are you kidding me? I’m not doing this with that in my system. Dad would kill me and then Mason would bury my body. He’s waiting for me to fuck up.”
“Mason’s not waiting for you to fuck up, mate.” Martin gave the side of my head a pat. “Get that out of your head, bro. No one is waiting for you to fail. No one makes a cent off of you failing. This isn’t the docks, Wes,” Martin reminded me quietly.
I flinched and looked away in embarrassment. I tried hard not to let my head go backward to the docks and the fights in the pen, but Martin kept talking.
“Wes.” I wouldn’t look at him and prayed he’d just stop talking. “Wes…look at me.” Martin jostled me until I looked at him. “You can’t move through life afraid or embarrassed of your past. It wasn’t your fault, mate. You were a boy forced into a sick, adult world. Let go of that shame, or else it’s going to eat you alive.”
I swallowed hard and nodded at him. He was right. Dad was right. They were all right. I had heard it before…I just needed to believe it. I knew that Mason didn’t think I was worth the dirt on his shoes. Maybe someday he’d think differently of me. But it wasn’t worth arguing with Martin over right now.
“Thanks, Martin.”
“So, what are you doing tonight?”
“I’m going to take a shower, walk around the Red Light District for a while, and then go back to the hotel.”
“Good plan. Fuck some girl with your eyes for a while. I will catch you later, mate.”
Oh, I’ve been fucking Chloe Olsen with my eyes for most of the day.
Martin slugged me in the arm playfully and then headed to his room. I finished my food and headed to my b
athroom to freshen up and change. After I put on some fresh clothes, I stood by my dresser and gazed at a few condom packets that sat among spare change and junk. I grabbed two, put them in my wallet, and then took the lid off my small tablet container. I slipped two into a tiny parchment envelope and put them in my pocket.
I headed out and grabbed the metro back to the Okura Hotel instead of the Red Light District. From what Chloe had told her father on the phone this morning, she was going to go to the bar across the street from the hotel. And I’d honestly rather sit in the corner of a bar and fuck her with my eyes than actually fuck some stranger in the Red Light District.
Since this bar was in the business district, I’d never been into it before. I scoped out my surroundings once I walked in and slowly made my way to the bar. The music was loud, and I could feel the thump of bass in my body. The electronic dance and trance music was a common theme in many of the bars and clubs in Amsterdam. I didn’t know why I expected anything else.
I ordered a beer and leaned back against the bar as I gazed around the dance floor. The dark brown hair of Chloe didn’t stick out anywhere. At least not yet. As time passed, I wondered about her meeting with the Bakers. I knew the Bakers wouldn’t have been dumb enough to do anything sinister with Chloe. Their business, and probably their lives, depended upon it.
I watched two girls and a guy get frisky on the dance floor when I could feel someone take up the seat next to me at the bar.
“Could I get a rum and Coke, please?”
The beautiful British accent drowned out all other sounds to me. Chloe had just sat down next to me. That’s twice now in one day that this beauty had found her way to me.
She had changed into a maroon dress with black flowers sparsely spread throughout the fabric. Nonchalantly, my eyes roamed her body. The dress stopped just above her knees, and strappy black heels adorned her feet.
The sight of her made me ache, and that accent just about did me in. I listened to her talk to another couple at the bar for a few minutes. I realized that I could listen to her talk about anything with that accent and it’d be the most interesting conversation I’d ever have. Listening to her was a treat.
“Well, if you’re feeling up to it, my wife and I will be on the dance floor,” the man said to her.
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank you,” Chloe politely said.
What had they offered her?
Drugs? Dancing? Sex? It could be anything, and they could be anyone. Without thinking, I did something that I wasn’t supposed to do…I spoke to her.
“That’s a beautiful accent.”
Chloe looked at me as my stomach dropped when I realized what I had done.
“Don’t talk to her. Don’t engage her. Just follow her, Wes.”
My father’s words rang out in my head. What had I done? Talking couldn’t really be that bad, could it? Had I jeopardized everything?
“Thank you,” she replied. “You know, it’s funny because I’ve been getting compliments on my accent since arriving yesterday. In all honesty, though, I love the Dutch accent.”
I nodded and tipped my beer back. I needed to say something so I didn’t appear rude now. I paused for a moment and asked her things that I shouldn’t already know the answer to.
“British?”
“Yes, I’m from London.”
“I’ve never been to London. I grew up here in Amsterdam,” I volunteered.
“It’s gorgeous here. The Venice of the north, they call it. I love the canals and nightlife.”
“Yeah, the nightlife is great. I enjoy it a lot.”
She turned her body to face me now. Chloe playfully slapped my forearm and smiled deviously.
“Do locals frequent the Red Light District?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah, of course. I know guys who are there every week.”
Martin came to mind instantly.
“I’ve heard all sorts of exciting things about Amsterdam, and when I had the opportunity to come, I jumped at it.”
She was very trusting, I thought. Some asshole could easily take advantage of her here if she’s not careful. But then again, she was very young.
“So, you’re visiting Amsterdam for pleasure?” I asked even though I knew exactly why she was here.
“Business, unfortunately.” She eyed me over her glass as she sipped her rum and Coke. “But I’m hoping to experience some pleasure, too.” Chloe’s voice dropped to a seductive tone in that sexy British accent.
I raised my eyebrows at her and finished my beer.
“Well, there’s lots of pleasure to be had here. Just about anything that your mind can conjure up, you can find here.”
“Is that a fact?” Chloe grinned.
I nodded as she downed the rest of her drink then gazed out over the dance floor.
“See that couple dancing over there?” she slyly pointed at the couple that I had seen her talking with earlier.
“Yes, the tall guy and the woman in the blue dress?”
“That’s them. They offered to hook up if I was interested,” she admitted.
“Ah, yeah, well you’ll find a lot of that in the bars and clubs here.”
“It’s no different back in London.”
We watched the couple dancing and chatting with other couples on the dance floor as they were trying to set up some action for their evening. We even joked about what they could be saying to the prospective couples.
“So, that’s not what you’re here for, I take it?” she asked me.
I shook my head, purposely not making eye contact. When her hand grazed my chest, my eyes automatically pulled to look in her direction. Our eyes were like magnets and gravitated to look at each other. I stared into her eyes and was caught off guard by the color. They looked like a chestnut brown hue and had a hint of amber to them. I was so used to blue eyes around here that something other than blue stuck out to me.
“What are you here for?” she paused as she lightly drew an imaginary line on my chest with her fingertips. “Handsome guy like you must be here looking for something.”
“Not really. I just came in for a drink. I was supposed to meet a buddy of mine tonight, but he canceled last minute. I got a text from him after I ordered my beer, so I thought I might as well finish it,” I lied.
“I’m Chloe.”
“Wesley.” I shook her offered hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Chloe.”
She smiled broadly at me and winked.
“There’s that popular word; pleasure,” she said.
“Can I buy you another drink, Chloe?” I offered.
“No, I think I’d like to experience some of this Amsterdam pleasure that everyone raves about.”
“Oh?” I sat up straighter and tried not to come across too excited or as if I had anything in mind.
The look in her eyes told me that she was expecting me to know what she was silently referring to.
“What kind of pleasure are you looking for exactly?” I asked her quietly.
She glanced in the direction of the couple before speaking.
“I want to walk through the Red Light District.” She traced her fingers over my chest again. “Then see where the night takes me.”
I nodded, and told her that I could take her to the Red Light District to walk around. Once we were out on the main street I asked her if she wanted to walk or catch the metro.
“Mmm, let’s walk. You can tell me all about Amsterdam.”
I nodded and we set out for the Red Light District and talked the entire way. I learned a lot about Chloe and her family, though she never let on what her parents did. She’s the youngest of her siblings, and her older brothers were twins. Chloe clearly looked up to her older brothers. After she went on about her family, she hooked her arm around my forearm and nudged me.
“So, tell me about your family. Sorry I went on and on about mine.”
My family. This would be hard. Even though I knew I’d have to be vague, I found it hard to not tell her a bit of the
truth.
“I spent a lot of my childhood in a group home for boys until I was adopted. I have three brothers that are my best friends.”
I didn’t want to tell her about my time on the streets, so I left that part out. And really, Martin was my best friend. Kyler and I were pretty tight, but Mason and I just didn’t click.
We walked up and down the sidewalk that glowed red from the lights being cast from the windows. Chloe was mesmerized and had lots of questions.
“Have you ever had one—I mean, have you ever hired one?”
I laughed and nodded.
“Yep, I was sixteen. My older brother brought me down here.”
“No kidding? Wow, sixteen! That seems so young,” she said.
“Different countries and cultures have different ages for things. It’s just how it is. Like alcohol consumption. It’s eighteen here but the States it’s twenty-one. And the window dancers used to just have to be eighteen, but now it’s twenty-one.”
We walked and talked some more and when I asked her if she wanted to walk down the other side of the street, she looked around and asked me about drugs.
“So, is it legal to get drugs?”
“It’s actually not legal. But people can have small amounts on them for personal use without the police freaking out over it. You won’t be arrested if they find a little on you.”
She suddenly grew quiet and shy. I imagined that she’s had her fair share of drugs since her father was a huge distributor of them in London. But if she wanted to play coy, I was down with that.
“Where do people find it here?”
“Well, many coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants have small amounts. They’ll typically sell customers a little if they ask about it. You usually won’t see it on a menu board, but if you ask, you can buy.”
“So, it’s easy to obtain here,” she said.
Then I realized what she was doing. Smart girl. She was inquiring about how easy it was for residents to acquire it in Amsterdam.
“It’s relatively easy.”
“Is it all good stuff, or does it depend on potency from where you get it?”
She was clever. I knew she was feeling me out to see where I recommended getting the drugs. I knew this info would get back to her father. She would have a local’s perspective of where they recommend the best drugs.
