Did I really lie all over him and tell him he’s hot? I walk to the bed and sit on the edge. I shake my head. No, surely I wouldn’t do that. He was teasing me. Playing with my mind. My punishment for taking his bed. The man is evil with a cold heart. Except for when he helped me at my most vulnerable state; even if it was his date’s idea, he could have said no. That was far from cold. Then he let me sleep in his bed. If he really wanted me out, I’m sure he could have woken me up. The alcohol had knocked me unconscious, but I wasn’t dead.
Whatever his reasons, I don’t have time to worry about that now. I need to catch a plane, and I have to get ready fast to make it to the airport on time. And I need to figure out how I’m going to get out of the hotel without the paparazzi noticing. If I could wait a little longer, maybe they’d get bored of spying on me and leave. However, my flight leaves for Bora Bora in three hours, and I need to get to the airport right away.
Picking up my phone from the nightstand, I check my text messages. There are five from Darren, which I delete without reading. There’s nothing more he can say to me that I want to hear. Seven from my mother. I don’t have the energy to talk to her just yet. I’ll call her before I board the plane. And there are two from Claudia. I open those.
The first one says:The statement is out. Fingers crossed it takes the spotlight off you. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Hope you get some sleep xx
The second one, which was sent ten minutes ago, reads:If you don’t reply to my message in twenty minutes, I’ll assume you’re still sleeping or dead and will call to wake you up.
I text back:Hey, I’m alive! Terrible hangover but ready to sit on a beach and do nothing. Are you picking me up or am I meeting you at the airport?
Claudia:Glad to hear you’re alive. I’m running late, so I’ll meet you at the airport. I’ve arranged for the hotel to have a security guard meet you at your room in half an hour and take you to the garage where a driver will be waiting for you.
What would I do without her?
I reply:You’re the best! See you soon xx
After a quick shower, I swallow down two Tylenol to help with the jackhammering in my brain and dress for the airport. I wish I had time for coffee, but the security guard will be here soon. It will have to wait until I get to the airport. Once I’m there, I plan to forget about the past two horrible days and switch onto vacation mode. Seven days on a tropical island with my best friend sounds like heaven. There’s nothing on my itinerary except soaking up the sun and trying every cocktail on the menu.
Right on time, there’s a knock on my door. I collect my things and look through the peephole to see the security guard.
“Good morning, Ms. Aldin,” he says when I open the door. “I have a private elevator ready. It will take you straight to the basement parking deck where a car will be waiting.”
“Great, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Here, let me take your bags.” He takes my luggage and rolls it down the hallway.
I hold my breath, waiting for the paparazzi to spring from a room and shout at me. When I step into the elevator without incident, I breathe a sigh of relief. Then I pause. Lucas is leaning casually against the mirrored panel wall. He’s dressed in faded jeans and a light sage colored t-shirt that draws out the green in his eyes. His dark brown hair looks finger-combed off his face. With a disgruntled expression, he appears just as annoyed at seeing me as I am at seeing him.
“I hope you don’t mind Mr. Alessi sharing the elevator. I thought the quicker I can get you both out of the hotel, the better,” the security guard explains.
“It’s not a problem,” I say through a fake smile.
I step further inside and turn my back toward Lucas. When the doors close, his image is reflected on the elevator doors. I focus my attention on the illuminated descending numbers. Why is Lucas sneaking out? It’s not like he has the paparazzi hounding him.
“She loves my company. Don’t you, Penelope?” I hear the sarcasm in his tone.
I throw him a dirty look over my shoulder. I want to wipe the smug grin off his face. “Oh yes. You are such a delight.” I don’t hide my distaste.
“After the amazing night we spent together, I thought you’d be a little more friendly toward me.”
I gasp, take a quick look at the security guard, who is inspecting the cuff of his sleeve like he’s taking no notice of our conversation, then swing toward Lucas. “All we did wassleep.” All I need is for the security guard to think there’s something going on between us. Who knows what rumors he might start?
“What about your wandering hands?” Lucas winks.
I turn my back on him again. “In your dreams.”
He chuckles, which makes my blood boil, because I really don’t know what I did in my sleep. Surely, even in my alcohol-induced coma, I would never go that far. Not with Lucas Alessi.
Thankfully, the elevator arrives at basement level, and we step out into the garage.
“See you later, sunshine. Actually, hopefully see you never,” Lucas says before he walks away, disappearing among the rows of cars.
Jerk! I want to scream at him. Instead, I take a deep breath and keep my composure.
After a moment, I notice there’s no car waiting. I turn to the security guard. “How long will my ride be?”
He flicks out his wrist and checks the time on his watch. “Should have been here by now. Let me check and see what’s happening.”
