"Why are you sleeping in...." He glanced at me directly.
"My bed?" I stutteringly mumbled.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him - a complete stranger, nestled comfortably amidst his sheets. The air was still. Yet I found myself caught in the clutches of an unfortunate storm.
My words stumbled and faltered upon my tongue. I mumbled incoherently, desperately trying to hide the overwhelming shame that was quickly consuming me whole.
In a moment of extreme embarrassment, I looked away, desperately trying to downplay my mortification. With trembling hands, I timidly lifted the delicate fabric of my off-the-shoulder dress, desperately attempting to conceal the exposed vulnerability of my cleavage. My palms were sweaty, and my heart was racing frantically as I attempted to brush my untamed dark thick hair to shield my bare shoulders from the unfamiliar man.
With grace and impeccable style, he walked away from me. His posture was straight, and his gait purposeful. He then leaned back on the plush sofa and adjusted his posture, angling his face towards me. His eyes fixed on me; he exhibited patience, waiting for my answer.
The heaviness of his anticipation hung in the air, urging me to break the silence and offer a response.
And I sat there, my mind blank and void of any cohesive thoughts, I was incapable of coming up with a single response. My heart was racing with confusion. Exactly why was I lying on his bed? Why was I dressing so ridiculously?
The scent of his cologne lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of his presence. I can't lie, and I definitely can't tell the truth.
He then grasped the phone with his impeccably manicured hands. Raising it to his ear, he said, "It is logical to seek clarification from the front desk. I find myself unable to recollect any instance of ordering a Mail Bride to be delivered to my suite."
I needed to interject.
In a desperate confusion of drunkenness, I gathered all the last bits of my sanity and managed to form a plea and slurred, "Please don't notify reception; give me a minute and I'll clean everything and leave."
The unknown man seemed like a successful businessman who might shred me to pieces in seconds, so I mustered all my strength to sober up before negotiating with him. Nonetheless, I had no choice but to give it a shot in order to keep both myself and Mrs Cha out of trouble.
"Are you a guest?" he inquired.
I attempted to evade direct eye contact by avoiding looking in his direction while still engaging in conversation by nodding affirmatively.
"Are you employed here?"
"No"
He remarked, "Seems like you're trespassing; I suppose I should contact the authorities."
'I am sorry; kindly let this slip, don't phone reception, and please, please don't call the police. I'm not trespassing; I was an employee until yesterday; it was a mistake on my part and a chain of tragic events that led to my current situation. I can't end up in jail; I can't even afford to post bail.' In one hasty breath, I uttered everything.
"What's your name?" he asked in utter amazement. He couldn't even tear his eyes away from me.
Indeed, he did not expect the unexpected invasion of a mysterious damsel, especially one dressed in a bridal gown. What are the odds of encountering something as peculiar as this on an average day?
'You aren't going to complain to the front desk, are you?' I looked at him with skepticism, as if trying to understand his thoughts from his expression, expecting to predict his next move.
Securing eye contact with me, he uttered, "Ah, that's a conundrum that calls for contemplation. Now enlighten me with your name?"
He said in a hushed tone that carried an air of authority, his eyebrows raised like an Indian temple arch.
His magnetic solid pull and authoritative aura made it impossible for me to resist answering him. 'Zara Tahel,' I said, biting my tongue. I didn't mean to tell him the truth, but my drunken babbling made me.
'What's your name?' I inquired on impulse.
I refrained from asking him anything after he stated, It's not appropriate for me to ask. I offered an apology for my inappropriateness.
I quietly descended from the bed, meticulously grasping every inch of my gown's fabric which stretched nearly five yards in length, within both my hands.
I jumped on my feet and began on a whirlwind of action, darting from room to room with a sense of urgency. Swiftly, I carefully concealed linens beneath the beds and diligently gathered discarded bottles and crumpled tissues, ensuring every corner was restored to its pristine state. Throughout that duration, he maintained a poised posture, with his legs elegantly crossed, his forearms resting on the armrests, and his fingers seamlessly intertwined. All while his eyes remained fixed upon me.
He radiated an air of sophistication, carrying a carefully tailored charcoal grey suit that hugged his frame flawlessly. The crispness of his white shirt highlighted his impeccable style, leaving no doubt that he was a man of refined taste.
Clearly, the fabric had an exquisite quality, expertly designed by a renowned designer solely for him.
For the next few minutes, neither of us spoke a word, and we purposefully avoided establishing eye contact with the other. As I reached the end of my task at hand, I slowly collected my footwear and proceeded to move towards the door, hoping he would say something. My dread so shook me that I couldn't bear to look at him again or say a word.
Perhaps he was watching me leave; perhaps he wasn't.
This was the end of an adventure with an attractive stranger. Perhaps our paths will never cross again. Perhaps tomorrow, he will even forget my name and my existence.
On the other hand, the memory of this fateful night at Sterling Suite will always remain in my memory—a night filled with intriguing confusion, a rendezvous with a stranger whose name still remained a mystery.
Nervously, I shuffled through the living room and narrowly avoided a vase disaster as I dramatically slammed my hand on the table. I leaped and grabbed onto the wobbling vase making sure it wouldn't tip over.
He cast a peek in my direction. I gave a polite nod and shuffled hastily towards the door. I had to bolt before he had a change of heart and dialed up the front desk.
I cautiously swung the door open, ensuring it didn't make a sound, and gently shut it behind me.
I turned around, pressing my hands against my rapidly beating heart, and closed my eyes, letting out a sigh of relief.
In what felt like an instant, a swarm of individuals with cameras and spotlights swarmed around me like a swarm of bees.