The clerk starts to type and then offers me a smile as she slides the key towards me. “You’re all set.”
I glance down at the key. “You should have two reservations, for two separate rooms.”
She frowns as she checks the system again. “I’m sorry. I only see a reservation for one.”
I turn to face Ariel. “You reserved one room?” I ask.
“Oops,” she replies with a smirk.
I take a deep breath as I turn back to face the clerk. “I’m sorry, but we’ll need an additional room, please.”
She nods as she starts to type again. She stares at the screen for a minute and then looks up at me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Baker, but that was the last room. We’re completely booked due to the Cowboys game tonight.”
“Then cancel our reservation. We’ll find another hotel,” I say.
“Sure. But I’m sure they’ll all be booked. The Cowboys are playing their rival, and it’s a pretty big game. People are here from all over.”
I don’t give a shit about who the Cowboys are playing. I almost start to tell her this, but I can’t take my anger out on her. It isn’t her fault. She’s just doing her job. This was Ariel’s fault, and I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. “Thank you,” I reply unhappily.
I walk away, leaving Ariel walking fast behind me trying to keep up. We enter the elevator, and I press the button as the door closes. I’m quiet the entire ride to the eighth floor. I can see her watching me cautiously through the elevator mirror. The elevator finally dings, and I exit, walking in long strides. I open the door to the suite, but I don’t make the effort to hold the door open for her. She rushes in behind me, and as soon as the door slams shut, I let loose. “What the hell was that?”
“What?” she asks as if she has no clue what I’m talking about.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about, Ariel. That fucking stunt you pulled by booking one room.”
“They were almost at capacity, and I knew this was an important client. What was I supposed to do?”
“You were supposed to check with me first. You were supposed to let me make the decision. And I guarantee you that decision wouldn’t have been the two of us sharing one room. Goddamnit, Ariel! I’m married.”
She flops down on the bed. “So, what now? You gonna send me home?” she asks as she crosses her legs slowly.
“No. It’s too late for that now. You’re already here. I’ll need you to take notes during the meeting tomorrow morning and prepare the contract.”
She smiles at my statement. “Uh-huh. Jasen, just admit that you’re attracted to me.”
“You’re a beautiful woman—any man would be attracted to you—but as I’ve reminded you on numerous occasions, I’m married. And even if I decided to screw around on my wife, it damn sure wouldn’t be with my assistant. You crossed the line.”
She stands to her feet and cocks her head to the side. I shouldn’t notice, but her nipples peak through the black sundress she’s wearing. She watches me with a devious smirk as my eyes roam her body. It’s taking everything in me not to turn her around, bend her over the bed, and slide her dress up. I’m sexually frustrated, and being alone in a hotel room with Ariel is not helping my situation at all. Her fingers touch each shoulder, and she slowly slides off each strap of her dress. She allows the top of the dress to fall, revealing her round breasts. I breathe harder as I watch the striptease she’s performing. She smiles as she notices the effect she has on me.
“Ariel, I think you need to stop while you’re ahead.” My tone is far from convincing.
She ignores me and instead, she allows the dress to slide down her body. She steps out of the dress and stands in front of me wearing nothing but red pumps… she hadn’t been wearing one single item under that dress.
“Don’t worry, Jasen. I’m in a relationship too. This will be our secret, and I promise not to act weird afterwards. Now, are you going to stand there, or are you going to fuck me?”
Morgan
I fold the piece of lingerie inside of my suitcase as I watch Monroe become agitated with Jasen for not answering his phone.
“He’s probably still in the air,” I assure her.
“He landed hours ago, and he should have called by now,” she says angrily.
“I’m sure he’ll call.”
“It’s not like him to not answer my calls.”
I close the suitcase and walk towards her. “Why are you so worried? I’m sure he’s okay.”
“It seems odd, Mo, and he was pissed with me for not coming with him.”
“Why didn’t you go? Coming here could have waited.”
“No, it couldn’t have. We were going to have a romantic getaway to try and rekindle the spark we once had, but I would have been pretending. Coming here was way more important.”
“More important than saving your marriage?” I ask.
“Did you hear anything I just said? I don’t want to save it. I just want to be with Cooper.”
“You won’t know unless you try,” I respond. “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, Monroe. You owe it to yourself to at least make an effort.”
She smirks at me. “Listen to my sister being all philosophical.”
I start to laugh. “I’ve always been philosophical.”
“Can’t argue with you there,” she agrees.
We’re interrupted by the sound of a cell phone, and Monroe immediately answers it. I step out of the room to allow her some privacy. I’m having second thoughts about agreeing to switch places with her. Our different personalities concern me. Monroe is fearless, sexy, and confident. I, on the other hand, am shy, distant, and plain. The only thing we have in common is that we look alike. If Jasen were to find out, any hope of reconciliation would be lost, and I want no part in my sister’s marriage ending.
Monroe stomps inside of the room, and I immediately know something is wrong.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“He’s lying. I can tell,” she answers.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. I asked why it had taken him so long to respond to my calls and texts, and he gave me some bullshit excuse about his phone dying.”
“Cell phones die all the time, Monroe.”
“Not his. He has, like, three chargers, and one is a wireless one that he can carry around. Work is way too important to him, so his phone is always charged.”
“So, why would he lie?”
“I don’t know, but it better not have anything to do with that bitch Ariel.”
“Who’s Ariel?” I ask.
“She’s his assistant. I noticed her standing a little too close to him when I dropped by the office one evening. Clearly, she was flirting with him, but he denied it.”
“So, you think he’s having an affair?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure he would if given the opportunity. She’s gorgeous.”
I bite my bottom lip as my thoughts start to wander.
“What?” she asks.