by Sarah Tork
I looked up to see how big the building was; it looked to be about twenty floors.
Wow.
“I see,” I faced Daniels. “So what am I supposed to do?”
“Mr. Barns obtained a suite on the fifteenth floor; his room is 1501. You can just go straight in and head toward the elevators,” Daniels instructed.
“What if they stop me?” I asked.
“Not to worry, just tell them you’re here to see Mr. Barns and they’ll understand right away,” Daniels explained.
“Okay,” I replied. “Well, I guess this is it, Daniels. Thank you for the ride.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Gellys. I hope the rest of your evening is pleasant,” Daniels smiled.
“I hope so too,” I said, picking up my little present for Xander. “Are you finished?”
“Yes, I’m off after this,” Daniels replied.
“Well, thanks again,” I reached for the door handle. “Goodbye, Daniels.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Gellys.”
I stepped onto the sidewalk and waved at Daniels before he drove away. I headed toward the beautiful brass doors and a door attendant opened them for me.
“Thank you,” I told him as I set foot onto sleek marble floors. The lobby was the most extravagant that I’d ever seen. A giant chandelier was centered in the ceiling, with what looked like over a thousand crystals glistening on it. I trudged my way toward the elevator hallway, keeping my face straight as if I belonged here. I made my way successfully to the elevators and pressed the top button.
As I waited for an elevator to come down, another guest joined me.
Which wouldn’t be odd, except for one small detail; the person had stopped right beside me, even though there was enough room for about twenty people in the little hallway.
So why was this person standing right next to me?
I turned my head slightly and from the corner of my eye, I looked at the person.
The first thing I saw was a white fur coat that stopped at her waist. Curly hair spilled from underneath a blue beret and stopped after her shoulders.
She’s tall.
I glanced down at her six-inch high heels. As my eyes made their way up to see her face, I was startled. She was staring at me.
Creepily.
I turned back to face the button pad, feeling the side of my face heat from her creepy gaze.
Why the hell is she staring at me?
Thank God, the elevator arrived. The doors opened with a ‘ding’. I walked inside, and the tall, curly-haired girl followed right behind me. I pushed the fifteenth floor button as the girl came inside and slumped against the back mirror.
I cleared my throat. “Um…what floor?”
Silence.
“Sixteen, please,” she murmured softly beneath a bundle of curly hair that had escaped her beret and fallen in front of her face.
“No problem,” I murmured back, pressing her button. I stared at the elevator number pad as floors lit up, wishing it would go faster so I could get off one the creepiest elevator rides of my life.
What’s with the people I’m meeting today? Did Ottawa turn into a safe haven for the unusual while I’ve been gone?
Canada’s creepiest people, please head to Ottawa; you’re safe there.
Envisioning the new tourist ads by the Canadian government made me chuckle a little. I turned my face away so she wouldn’t think it was about her, when it kind of was. I didn’t want any more crazy vibes from her, so the less I offended, the better. As soon as I thought I had a handle on the chuckles, I looked back up, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed she was staring wide eyed at me.
The elevator rang, arriving at the fifteenth floor.
Thank God!
The doors opened, and I gave a small nod to the strange girl and walked out. As the doors closed, I took another glance, and she was still staring at me. I shivered a little at the look she was giving me.
What the hell is wrong with her?
Whatever.
Moving on.
I headed down a long hallway, following the numbers on the door. Down the hallway, I heard RnB music echoed into the hallway, getting louder as I approached room 1501. The sound of the elevator rang and I heard the doors open.
Shit!
It could be security or something!
I stopped in front of his door and knocked.
No one answered.
What the hell was he doing in there? And why was he playing music like that? I thought he was just seeing me tonight?
Oh God! I grimaced, realizing that this might not be a party of two, and might be a party of three in which Xander probably didn’t mind; just ask Bitch Blonde from last night.
Ugh, I didn’t want to think about her.
I waited for a few seconds before pushing against the doorknob; surprised when it opened.
Xander didn’t lock the door? Confused, I opened the door and went inside. A blast of sexy music hits me as I closed the door.
On another note, his room was amazing. My room back at Old Country Bed and Breakfast could fit inside his suite about four times. But then again, he probably paid more than twenty times what I was paying for mine.
Xander is rich…but what does he do?
Again, things I didn’t know about this man, who I actually went out with last night and let take me home drunk out of my mind. He could have been a psychopath that could have done anything to me, and nobody would have known.
I’m too trusting!
Someone giggled from the open door of the bedroom across the large living room.
Xander is probably having sex and doing dirty things, and I’m about to walk right into it. That pervert!
I looked around trying to think quickly about what I should do. Why did I come here? I came here to give Xander the thong he wants in exchange for the nice makeover he paid for this morning.
Okay, all right. All I had to do was give him the thong, and then I was free to go. I dropped my clutch and the paper-towel surprise on the side table next to the door. I bent over and yanked the thong off, cold air instantly hitting me down there. I noticed a pen on his coffee table and skip over trying to make the least noise possible. I grabbed the pen, but when I made my way back, I tripped.
“Ow!” I hissed, holding my knee.
“Oh my God, what was that?” I heard a girl screech from the room.
“Don’t move!” I heard Xander order. “Who’s out there?”
I lay on the ground practically paralyzed.
“It’s me.” I yelled, holding my knee in pain.
“Who’s me?” Xander asked, clearly amused.
“Marisa, you idiot!”
“Hold on a second, my dear,” Xander came out of the bedroom in a pair of tight black boxers.
My mouth dropped at the sight of him. Muscles sculpted every inch of his lightly tanned body. Xander’s eyes narrowed at my expression and I snapped out of it as the memories of the last twenty-four hours resurfaced.
“Well, what do we have here?” He grinned, stopping in front of me. “You’re early.”
“I said I would be here within the hour; it’s not my fault you decided to squeeze in a quickie with one of your hoochies!” I growled.
“Hoochie!” a girl yelled from the other room. I can hear stomping from the other room, coming toward us. “Who are you calling a hoochie, bitch?”
Out came a familiar face…. Blonde Bitch!
She stops in the doorway, glaring at me with fury. “You again?”
“Irina, I thought I told you to stay put,” Xander said.
“Xander, why is she here? Every time I’ve seen you, she’s been there,” Irina cried like the spoiled, bratty hooker that she was.
“Yeah, Xander, why am I here? Especially when you have a guest? Rude behavior much?” I growled, rubbing my knee and bending it a little. It hurts a bit, but I’m okay to get back up and get the fuck out of here.
Xander cringed as I got up.
“No, don�
�t help me up. I’m good, you piece of shit.” I grabbed the coffee table and pulled myself up. Xander started to come towards me, but I held out a hand to stop him.
“No – no, I’m just kidding. Don’t touch me. Especially since you’ve been touching that,” I pointed to Irina, whose mouth dropped.
“Are you saying that I’m dirty? You cockroach!” she yelled from across the room.
I rolled my eyes. “How about you go put your G-string back on, and then we can have a talk like serious, mature adults!”
“Now, now ladies, come on. There’s no need for this kind of attitude with one another; why can’t we all just be friends?” Xander interrupts, holding his hands in-between the two of us as if it’s enough to hold us back.
I’ve been holding a grudge against this girl since the first undeserving scowl she sent me at the club last night. Then there was the slight shove to the shoulder.
Nobody touches me, and the fact that I was drunk was the only reason she got away with it. Trust me; she would have been on the ground if I had been sober.
Like I was now.
“Oh, I remember you, hoochie! Shoving my shoulder last night just so you could go back to the private room first,” I reminded her.
Irina smiled, “Ladies first!”
“Keep talking and I’m going to skull-fuck your ass out of this room. Trust that those wild screams I heard earlier will be traveling into the hallway; and everyone will hear and come out to investigate, seeing your naked, jiggly ass like the cheap whore you are!” I yelled.
“What did you say to me?” Irina screeched, coming towards me with her arms flailing.
Oh yeah, I’m ready, especially with the night I just had. I could use a punching bag.
I wiggled my fingers to her. “Come and get it, bitch. I’ve been waiting to do this all night, maybe for my entire life. That’s right, I time-traveled from the future. I’ve just come back from visiting you at the hospital where I put your nasty ass!”
Okay, what the hell? Even I know that doesn’t make any sense.
Xander ran in-between us. “Stop it, the both of you. There’s plenty of me to go around for the both of you.”
Behind us, the door shuts loudly, makes us all jump. I looked up and in front of the door was the creepy, curly-haired girl from the elevator.
“Well, what about me, Xander?”
CHAPTER 19
Creepy Curls! Fuck!
She followed me here!
But wait a minute, she just called Xander out. Of course Xander would know who she was; creepy, meet creepier! I faced boy-wonder standing virtually naked in just tight black boxers, examining his face for any signs of guilt.
Blank.
That sneaky little prick!
I turned back to Creepy Curls, who still hadn’t shed the shocked look off her face. I opened my mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a loud cry with mascara tears streaming down her face.
“Xander, what’s going on? Why are there girls in your room?” she cried louder, lips trembling.
Oh God, please don’t pass out. I don’t want to be questioned by the police; I don’t have time for this shit.
I opened my mouth to say something, but Xander beats me to it.
“Demetria!” Xander exclaimed, the surprise evident in his tone.
Demetria? Creepy Curls has a name!
“Demetria,” Xander repeated, as if he’s reminding himself who she was again, mentally flipping through the rolodex of lucky females he’s had in his life these past few months. “I thought we talked about this before we started. It wasn’t supposed to be anything serious, just some fun.”
Fuck! Clearly someone didn’t get the friends-with-benefits or booty-call memo; this girl does not look like one of those types.
“Why are you practically naked?” Demetria screeched in disbelief. I glanced at Irina, who was busy putting on a tiny silk robe to hide her practically-naked body. I crossed over to Xander, who wasn’t moving to cover himself.
I shook my head, looking back at the hysterical Demetria. Did she think his hard, chiselled abs were for her eyes only? Clearly someone didn’t get that memo either; Xander Barns obviously wasn’t a one-woman man.
I turned back to Xander again, scowling at him in disgust. “Well, obviously that talk you had with her went to the shits! She didn’t understand anything, which means you were wishy-washy with the terms of your disgusting arrangement! Fucking hell, she thinks she’s your girlfriend!”
I faced Demetria, staring off into space.
Oh God, she’s one of those easily-traumatized types.
Irina huffed and puffed behind us. “How is that possible? That thing looks like it needs a leash!”
Wait, who was she talking about? It better not be me; I was this close to punching her. But then again, I kind of hoped she was; any excuse to set her straight sounded great to me.
I faced Demetria again, who abruptly snapped out of her trance and screamed bloody murder. “I’m his everything!” As her scream died down, her face turned crimson.
“Now, now, Demetria, there’s no need to raise your voice. Remember we talked about that, too,” Xander reminded, making Demetria cry again.
She is mentally imbalanced! I’m talking psych ward, the red zone, padded rooms, strait jackets, and tired orderlies carrying little cups filled with pills.
Demetria was not all there. It’s so obvious, but if that’s the case, then what the hell was Xander thinking hooking up with someone like that?
I turned to him, shaking my head in disgust, yet again. “It’s bad enough you hooked up with that thing over there!” I jerked my chin to Irina. “But, oh my God! You were hooking up with a mentally imbalanced girl? Have you no shame? What is wrong with you?”
Irina growled. “Fuck you!” She turned to Demetria. “He was fucking me before you ugly dogs barged in interrupting! ME! Not you…you freak!” Irina shouts hysterically. “Go home to Mommy!”
Go home to Mommy? I turned back to a shaky, ghost faced Demetria. A smart person could see she was about to blow.
“What did you just say?” Demetria asked Irina slowly.
Shit!
“Fuck off,” Irina snapped back, oblivious to the quick change in tone.
Demetria roared and my jaw dropped. Holy fuck! The roar died down to silence as Demetria breathed heavily in and out.
There was silence for a few more seconds before…
“I’m a grown woman! I don’t have to listen to my mother anymore!” Demetria screamed, making me jump.
Xander took a step towards Demetria. “Demetria…alright, now calm down; there’s no need to get all worked up.”
“Yeah, let’s just calm down.” I added.
“Xander what about me? We were having such an amazing time!” Irina didn’t share our strategy and instead, decided to turn things up a notch, ruining all our hard work.
Demetria’s eyes bulge out of their sockets. “What?”
The smart way of handling things is clearly out the window.
I was about to blow.
“Bitch, this isn’t about you anymore!” I yelled at Irina. “We have to calm the princess down before she does something whacked!”
Irina jerked her chin up at me.
Uh, excuse me?
“I don’t care about that bitch, or you!” Irina screamed at me.. “Fuck her, and fuck you!” She then turned to Xander, pouting in despair. “Xander… Xander!”
Xander stood frozen; he was clearly overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do. It looked like I’d have to be the one to take care of things.
With pleasure.
“Shut the fuck up! We’ve got a crisis on our hands and your loose libido is not helping. In fact, if I recall, it isn’t required anymore,” I snapped at her. “Xander, contain your plaything before I call security and have her removed for solicitation.”
“Plaything?” Irina screeched.
A loud whimper broke through the verbal cat fighting. Simultaneous
ly, we turned to Demetria. “But Xander, what plaything? I’m supposed to be with you, and you’re supposed to be with me. I love you.”
Oh shit!
“Oh shit!” I faced Xander. “What have you done?”
Xander’s eyes widened. “I haven’t done anything; Demetria and I had an agreement!”
I snorted. “Well, obviously you didn’t explain it well enough, considering you’ve got a stage one-thousand stalker on your hands.”
“What about me, Xander?” Irina cried from behind.
“Oh my God! Xander, are you done fucking this bitch?” I snapped at Xander, pointing to Irina.
He nodded.
“I’ll take that little nod as a yes,” I faced Irina again. “You hear that? He’s done with you. Finite. So go away. Don’t talk. You don’t matter anymore.”
Irina turned bright red. “Fuck you! I matter; I matter to him!”
It’s Demetria’s turn to scream. “You liar! How dare you! The only person who matters to Xander is me. Me!”
“Seriously?” I muttered to myself. Had she not been listening for the past five minutes? Xander didn’t want her. This wasn’t good, we had one of those dangerous, delusional-types here. God, he sure knew how to pick them.
“He loves me; I love him!” Demetria added dramatically in the midst of choking on a sob. “Don’t any of you say anything differently. I swear, I won’t stop myself.”
Stop yourself from doing what?
“I’m not scared of you!” Irina belted out and stomped towards Demetria. Xander jumped in front of Irina, holding her back as I jumped in front of Demetria, who was a good few inches taller than me. Demetria backed away and grabbed a small figurine off the side table next to the door. She hurled it across the room at Irina, who screamed bloody murder while holding onto Xander for dear life.
“She’s trying to kill me, Xander! Save me!” Irina screamed.
My eyes rolled. Bitch, save yourself!
Demetria eyed another figurine and grabbed it. I jumped right in front of her. “Demetria is it? Girl, you’ve got to calm down. Xander won’t like it if you act like that!”
“I’m a lady!” she snapped. “I’m a proper lady!”
Okay?
“That’s right, you’re a lady, a proper classy lady,” I told her calmly. “Now put the figurine down. Ladies don’t throw shit.”
