“Oh, alright then, it’s better than going around trying to find another hotel to stay at, I am already exhausted.” Monica set her purse down on the counter and pulled out her wallet.
“Wonderful! Well, you will get an incredible sleep in that King size bed, it’s extremely comfortable! That will be $229.00 including taxes, after the 10% discount, and I will need to see your driver license please.”
“Wow, $229.00 for one night!”
“Again, I apologize, but it’s the only room we have available right now, and regularly that room goes for $289.00.” The man smiled sadly at her.
“It will have to do.” She opened her wallet and pulled out her Visa and her driver’s license, handing them over to the desk clerk. “Here you are, you can charge it to my Visa please.”
“Certainly, thank you Miss… Cambridge.” The clerk started typing things into his computer and ran her Visa card through the machine.
Monica was looking around the hotel lobby and admiring the artwork that was on display, waiting for the man to charge her credit card for this overpriced room she was about to stay in for the night, and fantasising about the bed and curling up in a little ball and going to sleep for hours.
“Here you are Miss Cambridge,” he said as he handed her back her Visa and Driver’s License, “would you please sign here?” He indicated where she should sign to accept the charges to her Visa. “Wonderful, and here is your room key, you are in the West Tower, just turn right when you exit the lobby behind you and head into the first elevator past the lounge, and you are on the 9th floor, room 908.”
“Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure, and in case you would like a nightcap, our lounge is open until 2:00am.”
“Thank you.” Monica smiled at him and collected her key and her purse and bag, and headed over towards the elevator that he had mentioned.
There was nice, relaxing jazz tunes coming out of the lounge as she went past and she thought that maybe she would come back down and have a nightcap, that would really put her into a deep sleep. She would just head upstairs, drop of her stuff and freshen up, change out of this clothes she’d been stuck in the car for 15 hours wearing and then go down and unwind a bit.
Monica rode the elevator up to the 9th floor and headed down the hallway in the direction of her room, following the little signs posted on walls. She reached room 908 and slipped her key into the door handle, hearing the little ‘beep’ that told her the door was unlocked and then went into the room. It was an absolutely beautiful room. There was a lot of space and she notice that there was even a kitchen tucked in the corner of the room, with a full sized fridge and an oven, the works. Turning the corner, she saw a living room instead of the bed she had been expecting to see and she realized that this was a suite, not just a hotel room. Wow, this is luxurious, she thought to herself, traveling in style!
She walked into the living room and saw a door to the left, opening it wider she walked into a room with a King size bed and two pretty little nightstands on either side. The bed looked incredibly comfortable, so Monica put her bags down on it and kicked off her shoes, flopping herself face-first onto the fluffy soft white sheets. Monica had never been at such a fancy hotel, in fact, she’d never stayed at a hotel alone in her young life. Everything about this trip was exciting to her. Thinking that she should definitely go down and check out the lounge and have a nightcap, as the desk clerk had recommended, Monica pulled herself off the incredibly comfortable bed and opened her bag.
Riffling through it, she found a simple blouse and jeans to wear. Monica went into the bathroom and enjoyed a nice hot shower, keeping her hair up in a shower cap so she wouldn’t have to worry about going through all the hassle of blow drying it. Monica got dressed and put a bit of mascara on and a bit of lipstick, just for fun. She grabbed her purse and headed out of her hotel room, grabbing her room key off the counter on the way out. She got in the elevator and she was tucking her room key into her purse as the elevator door opened, thinking she was at the lobby, Monica walked out without looking up, bumping hard into someone.
“Oh no! Sorry!” Monica exclaimed, startled as she looked up to see who she had walked into.
“That’s quite alright my dear.” The man who she had walked into was incredibly handsome. He flashed an incredible smile of perfect white teeth and his green eyes lit up with the smile, making them twinkle in an intoxicating way. He was wearing a dark grey suit and a blue tie, he had the look of someone very important, someone with money. He had dark brown hair and a clean shaven face, with a lovely olive skin complexion. “It’s my fault, I didn’t expect a beautiful woman to come spilling out of the elevator. Next time I will have to pay more attention when elevator doors open so as not to startle you.”
“Oh… umm... Thank you.” Monica blushed a shade of scarlet as she looked around the floor, not recognizing the floor as the lobby. “Where are we? I was trying to get to the lounge for a nightcap, I’ve had a very long drive.”
“This is the penthouse.” The elevator doors started closing behind her and the man held his arm out to stop the doors from shutting. “The lounge is down on the first floor, but if you’d like, I have a full service bar here. If you’d like company with your nightcap.”
Monica looked at this mysterious man and wondered what she had to lose accepting his offer. She was already here, and she’d never been in a penthouse before. He was also very attractive, and she could use a bit of conversation to help wind her mind down. “Umm, OK. Sure, why not?”
“Wonderful.” The man removed his arm from the elevator door, allowing them to close shut behind her. “Right this way Miss.” The man offered her his elbow in a very distinguished manner of a gentleman. Monica looked at it for a second and then thought it would be rude not to accept it, so she lightly put her hands on his elbow and let him lead her into the penthouse.
They turned out of the hallway and into an expansive room that had a full bar, a beautiful view with big windows, a piano, and a lounge area with big, comfortable looking leather chairs and couches, with marble coffee tables and side tables.
“Oh, wow!” Monica said as she looked around the room.
“It’s nice but it’s nothing special, what are you drinking?” The man asked as he lead her over to the bar, dropping his elbow so she let go of it and he walked around the bar to service the drinks.
“Well, I have never been in a penthouse before, this looks pretty impressive to me!” Monica laughed and leaned against the bar. “I don’t know, I don’t drink much, what are you having?”
“How about a nice glass of Champagne?” The man smiled at her.
“Sure, that would be lovely!”
The man popped open a bottle of champagne and poured two flutes of the sparkling golden liquid. Monica watched as the bubbles slowly dissipated from the top of the glass. He walked around the side of the bar and handed one to her.
“So, may I have the pleasure of knowing the name of the beautiful young woman who spilled out of the elevator and right into my penthouse?”
“Monica, my name is Monica. And you?”
“Christopher Hardy. A toast to fate.” Christopher raised his flute of champagne up to Monica’s and they clinked their glasses together.
Monica took a sip of her champagne and wondered why that name sounded so familiar. Christopher started walking over to the lounge chairs and settled himself into one of the supple leather seat, crossing his legs and enjoying a sip from his champagne flute.
“What are you doing here in Texas Monica?” He smiled at her as she settled herself into a chair opposite him.
“I’m just passing through actually, I’m on my way to LA.” Monica felt the buttery smoothness of the champagne and realized that she loved champagne, this one tasted absolutely delicious, the soft bubbles melting her taste buds as she enjoyed another sip. She had had sparkling wine before with her friends, but it had never tasted anything like this. It was always bitter, acidic and dry. This must be a very expensive champagne.
“LA? From where did you come from then?” He was watching her intently.
“I just left my parents house in Georgia, I’m making the drive to go stay with my friend for awhile in LA. She’s an actress.” Monica felt a little shy with the way he was watching her.
“Any big plans for when you get to LA? Aside from visiting your friend?” Christopher took another sip of his champagne, his eyes not leaving Monica’s.
“Well… actually… I want to be a writer. My friend convinced me to drive out there and I brought my scripts with me, she thinks maybe I have a chance of selling one to a production company of something.” Monica suddenly felt very shy, she never really talked to people about her dreams or desires, and this man was a complete stranger.
“A writer? Well, you are talking to the right person Monica! I’m a writer myself in fact.” Christopher raised his glass to her. “To you and your future as a writer.”
Monica raised her glass and smiled the Christopher as she blushed.
“Oh wait… Christopher Hardy? Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Your name, it’s on the display downstairs in the lobby. I can’t believe I didn’t realize…” Monica was a deep shade of scarlet now, embarrassed that she was in the penthouse of a world famous author and business man and had no idea who he was, the man was worth billions of dollars and here she was, just sitting and having a chat with him in his penthouse. Unbelievable… she thought in awe of her dumb luck.