I study Raymond as he types something in front of a screen, as the tag name on his black uniform reads. His suit has the same details from the reception itself, but its intense black colour absorbs my being into its spell.
Two delicious chocolate eyes get me with my feet on the ground, smiling politely while talking to me.
“Welcome, Miss Brown!”
Before I can speak up that I haven’t told him my name, the Asian receptionist with an interesting accent takes up a card and tells me how to get to the room that is meant for me, but I stop him in the middle of his sentence, surprised by what’s going on.
“How do you know my name?”
“Oh yes, you told me on the phone that this would be the exact reaction you would have,” he says in a very calm and patient way. “My name is Raymond, and you’ll stay at this hotel for however long you want, because half of the superior floor is yours. In addition, you will have Blake, who will be at your disposal anytime you want and will help you with anything you may need. Just keep in mind that he won’t help you with information regarding how you arrived, because that is how I was instructed on the phone and…”
“Ok, too many details and nothing I’m interested in. I just wanna get up to my room. CanBlakehelp me with this matter?”
“Of course,” he says. He doesn’t even seem bothered by my angry presence and immediately presses a button.
Just a few seconds later, a beautiful blonde man appears, greets me respectfully, and helps me with my luggage.
Even with all the dizziness that captured my mind, I can see how good Blake looks. Especially in the dark green uniform he’s wearing, similar to the one Raymond has. I admire his arse as I walk behind him to my personal room.
Then it hits me that I own half of the superior floor.
Am I rich? Is this the hotel of a relative or something? Oh my God, is it mine?
Raymond didn’t recognise me from my appearance, but after my voice and envelope, so I haven’t been here before. Or, at least, not whilst he was present.
I try to focus on the paintings and decor in the hallway until we arrive at an elevator more elegant than everything else. Blake turns to me to say something, but I feel how my headache has other plans.
Two strong arms manage to catch me before I hit the ground. I hear Blake’s voice shouting my name before it all goes dark, and I’m swallowed by all the questions I have, with two scared and beautiful blue eyes in my mind.
Chapter 2
Flowers, wine, crime
I wake up shaken once again, but this time calmer, while someone calls my name. My eyes open slowly and meet two sublime blue sapphires.
“Miss Anmara, are you ok?” Blake asks me in a truly concerned voice.
I move my gaze from the two worried eyes. I look around and realise that I’m in a quite dark, unfamiliar apartment. I put the puzzle pieces together in my mind and manage to recall the past events.
I was in Tamwine, but…
“How long have I been here?” I ask in a voice that isn’t mine.
I start coughing instantly. Blake hands me a bottle of water, which I open and drink breathlessly.
“You’ve been in Tamwine Ville for a day and a half. We started to get really worried about you.”
I am about to spit the water I had in my mouth directly on his uniform, but I refrain. I can only make my eyes as big as saucers, while hardly swallowing the water.
“We tried to let you rest, and you’ve only woken up once from your sleep, screaming. Moreover, we’ve put up a cold compress, and your eye is already looking better.”
One and a half days fully unconscious. Great. It can’t be better than that. Alongside this, I move the blanket off me and see that I’m dressed up in a pair of black pyjamas. My glare moves angrily to Blake’s.
“I haven’t changed you! Miss Tamara, the housemaid, did. Calm down,” he rapidly says with a smile that makes my heart pound without realising. “Are you hungry, miss?”
“Please, call me by my name. I don’t think there is a big difference between us to make me feel old,” I say in a more normal voice. “And yes, I would love to eat something, but in here, if it’s possible.”
“Sure, Anmara. I will immediately bring you this evening’s chef’s specialty. You can get comfortable here or in the living room, wherever you prefer, miss… I mean, where you prefer, Anmara,” Blake says, with his words a bit stammered in his mouth, but with the same sweet smile on those soft and superb lips that I really wanna bite and…
