Annabelle POV
Right from the beginning of time, men have always had this notion that women were weak creatures that needed to be protected, loved, used or taken for granted. And deep down, even without them knowing, they had treated us as such. When in truth, there was more to us than meets the eye. More than the male species could ever imagine.
I couldn't help but reminisce on a particular memory from the early stage of my childhood. My dad had set me on his lap and said, "Baby girl, men will always feel everything is right for them. It is your solemn duty to always put them straight."
And I had gladly done it. One two many times.
I remember listening to him as if my life had depended on it. Probably because it had. Even before I could walk, my dad had discovered the kin fascination I had for the human mind. And just like any other loving father, he had taken his time to groom me, teaching me its weaknesses and its strength. Which eventually turned out to be my favourite playing tool.
I pushed open the lobby doors and stepped into the morning sun, grinning to myself as I felt it shine on me like a blessing in disguise.
Gripping tightly onto the Historical Romance novels in my hands, I stood in front of the hotel and held up my face to the sun. Soaking in all the sunlight my tanned skin could sustain.
"Excuses me, Miss?"
When I heard the call, I cursed inwardly. I wasn't ready to give up this feeling yet. I contemplated ignoring the voice, but just as expected it came again. And this time more insistent than the last. I slowly peeled my eyes open to look at the figure that just ruined my morning. As my eyes adjusted to the light, the figure I saw was a woman in a maid uniform. But that wasn't what made me frown. Wasn't this the receptionist I had seen behind the counter a few minutes ago?
"How can I help you?" I replied ever so lightly, setting my piercing hazel eyes on her.
The maid smiled. "I was asking if you needed a towel, bikini and sunscreen for when the sun comes up fully. A relaxing experience is what we strive for." Gesturing to the shaded area behind her, she added, "I could direct you to the bikini section if you'd like."
Interesting. It seemed right now, that she was a maid. How many job descriptions did she have?
"By all means, please do," I replied.
With a smile, she moved towards the shaded area of the pool, and I slowly followed from behind.
"What's your name?" I asked as I corked my neck to the side, studying her features.
She turned towards me with a look on her face before muttering, "Amy."
"What exactly do you do here, Amy?" I asked, placing my books under my armpit to free up my fingers.
"Are you saying you haven't figured it out yet?" She teased.
My eyes raised in surprise. I hadn't expected that reply. Who was this lady exactly?
"At first I thought you were the receptionist. Now I'm seeing you in a maid uniform. That's kinda hard to keep track of. Moreover, I prefer first-hand information." I added with a smile.
She chuckled at my words. Picking up a towel from the towelling basket, she balanced it on my left arm. "Do you really want to know?" She asked slowly.
"What do you think?" I replied with a full smirk on my lips. I had a sneaky suspicion that she was about to shock me. She stepped closer and whispered into my ears.
What the heck?
I did a double-take, my eyebrows knotted in surprise as I began checking her out in a different light.
"Really?" I inquired, disbelief lacing my voice.
"Yep." She replied. It was her turn to smirk. "You are probably surprised right?"
When I didn't reply immediately, her lips further widened, displaying a satisfactory smile.
"Well, It just so happens that I like getting mistaken for a maid or a receptionist." Picking up a pair of bikinis that was joined from top to bottom, she handed it over to me. "This should fit you perfectly." She muttered lowly, almost to herself. If I wasn't a good listener, I would have probably missed it.
It was exactly my size. Genius.
"Thanks," I chuckled, sizing up the bikini for good measure.
"You are welcome. Do you need some sunscreen too?" she asked, moving the sunscreen basket towards me.
I pushed the basket aside. "I already have enough Melanie pigment in my body to protect me from the dangers of sun rays."
"Duly noted," she retorted and adjusted the basket to its original position. "So, what's your name?" She asked.
"Annabelle," I answered briskly. "And because you have just given me the shock of my life, you can call me Belle."
She started moving towards the changing room where I was to dress and gestured for me to follow.
"What do your parents call you?"
I smiled, not missing the irony of the statement.
"My full name is Annabelle Williams. Happy now?" She gestured for me to enter the changing room and when I did, she closed the thin curtain behind me. When she didn't respond to my earlier question, I went ahead to ask, "Why exactly are you putting up this facade?"
I couldn't lie. I was curious to know what her intentions were.
"I like to be in the know. I get the information I need while in this uniform." She said from behind the curtain.
Amy was officially a woman after my own heart. I could smell an alliance brewing. I poked my head out the curtain and gave her a once-over. "Smart Amy, real smart."
Smiling, she gently guided my head back, carefully pushing it behind the curtain. "Thanks. Now finish dressing so we can head to your original destination."
I froze.
"And how do you know my original destination?" I asked.
"Just a lucky guess." She declared.
"Yeah right." I snorted, suspicion still etched in my features.
Walking out of the changing closet, I stood in front of the side mirror and stared at my reflection.
"Relax B, I don't bite." She rasped, sending me a knowing smile. "Moreover, you look too good in that to be carrying a suspicious scowl on your pretty face." I sent her a look and she rolled her eyes at me like she was reprimanding a kid.
"I'd like to call you B instead of Belle. I think it suits you."
I scoffed "I'm sure you would." She rolled her eyes at me the second time and I couldn't help but smile. Okay, maybe I was taking her too seriously. "Only if you promise to never flatter me again," I added and this time, she laughed.
"There's gonna be an influx of hello's and mouth whistling if you go for breakfast looking like that." She said, gesturing at my bikini-cladded form.
"So you say," I said, as we began heading for the pool.
"Why don't you go change into something better?" I asked, plucking a glass of matinee off the tray of a passing waitress.
"I am not a guest like you, so I-"
"So you intend to sit here and look like you just finished mopping the floors, then accidentally landed on this bench, hun?" I finished for her.
Amy gasped and placed her hand on her chest, making a mock expression of hurt. "Do you really think I look that bad? Vivian told me I looked nice in this!"
"Calm down tiger," I said with a chuckle, "She definitely lied to you."
"I am going to kill her," Amy said jokingly after another rich laugh. "Well, Damn! I think we are going to be great friends! You aren't half bad. " She said, smirking at how shocked I looked at her sudden outburst. When I saw her smirking, I immediately understood what she meant.
"I feel you too, sister," I fired back with a wink. We were still both laughing at our antics when she suddenly asked, "What exactly do you do?"
I was taken aback for a minute. Why the sudden curiosity about what I did? I looked at her, my suspicion suddenly returning, my mind contemplating whether it was safe to answer her questions with an elaborate lie or give an answer at all.
"Well..." zing zing zing, the sound of my alarm filled the atmosphere. Looking down at my phone, I checked the time.
10 am. Great. It was time.
I turned to Amy. "This signals it's breakfast time for me. Would you care to join me?"
"Yeah of course. But, I'd rather we have it in your room because dressed like that, eating would be difficult for our poor clients." Amy replied and began to rise.
Shit. She was supposed to say no. Well, time to plan an alternative.
Picking up my books and glass of wine, I turned to Amy and grunted, "Please dear, help me with my purse right there..."
Amy turned to me confused, "What purse?"
Making sure my pupils were properly elevated, I exclaimed, "Fuck! My purse."