As the heavy polished teak wood door of the luxurious Suite swung closed behind me, I couldn't help but let out a long, satisfying breath. The heaviness of Sterling Suite lifted from my shoulders, and a sense of serene peace washed over me. As I stepped into the hallway threshold, a palpable shift in the atmosphere enveloped me.
The air inside the suite seemed to hold a certain weight, as if it held mysteries within its very particles. However, the hallway had a familiar sensation. The air felt lighter in stark contrast. It seemed to swirl around me, carrying with it a sense of freedom.
I stood there, my hand pressed against my chest, feeling my heart racing within in a rhythm, quick and erratic. Each beat was a reminder of the adrenaline rushing through my veins.
I slowly opened my eyes, and the world around me came into focus. I saw a flurry of movement, a group of men converging upon me with a sense of urgency. Their cameras clicked and flashed, capturing every moment, every movement, every detail. It was as if I had become the center of their attention.
An overwhelming sense of anxiousness rinsed over me, causing my hands to rise in a feeble attempt to conceal my face instinctively. A torrent of questions came hurtling towards me, each one aimed with precision like darts hitting the red mark on the board.
I stood there covering my face, and my mind was a blank canvas, utterly clueless to whatever was unfolding before me, desperately trying to grasp the meaning behind the chaos.
The door was firmly shut behind me, and before me stood a swarm of reporters, their keen footsteps closing in from every direction. Their camera flashed like lightning in a storm, capturing this chaotic scene. The air vibrated as they closed in, their questions floating in the air like a thick fog.
The very room that had seemed suffocating moments ago, now I desperately wanted to be back inside its wall. The deafening ring echoed in my ears, and the world around me started to fade into insignificance concealing my perception.
A question emerged, whispering in the depths of my mind, "Will I now wake up from my sleep? Is it all a dream?"
I was between the realms of reality and illusion, yearning for clarity. What was happening in my life?
With a sudden jolt, a forceful arm wrapped tightly around my waist, pulling me back with a gentle yet commanding strength. My body was propelled through the air, and before I could understand what was happening, I found myself landing with a thud. My face pressed against the broad expanse of an unknown gentleman's chest, instantly silencing all external noise that surrounded me.
As the enticing fragrance of his alluring cologne diffused from his shirt, it enveloped me in a blissful euphoria. His protective embrace moved me to a world where anxiety ceased to exist. He gently moved his hands to conceal my face from the paparazzi.
I wrapped my arms tightly around his body, burying my face under the blazer of his suit.
His hand gently grasped the doorknob, and the door to the opulent Sterling Suite swung open. With hearts racing, we stepped into the room. My body instinctively drew closer to his, seeking solace in his embrace.
He pushed the door shut, leaving the crowd outside.
I found refuge in his arms; my body was trembling with a mixture of fear and vulnerability. With a gentle touch, he caressed my back. As I looked up at him, our eyes met, and instantly, a magnetic connection formed between us.
A sense of protectiveness radiated from his grey eyes like a shield. As I gazed into his eyes, I sensed a glimmer of warmth beneath his seemingly icy exterior. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a hidden depth of his soul. In the sterling suite, our paths crossed once again. He was the very same gentleman I had met only moments earlier.
With a swift motion, he withdrew his hands from my side and gently nudged me aside. Without a moment's delay, he accelerated his steps toward the living room.
I trailed behind him, my steps cautious and deliberate. The desire to unravel the puzzling mystery that had unfolded before my eyes pushed me forward, urging me to seek answers. Yet, a veil of reservations shrouded my thoughts, preventing me from gathering the courage to ask him directly.
He grabbed his mobile from the coffee table and headed out to the balcony, presumably to engage in a crucial discussion.
While I found myself in a silly confusing predicament, I couldn't help but think of the pressing question of whether to take a seat and surrender to the cozy chair, risking the possibility of appearing too relaxed. Or should I remain firm on my feet, maintaining an air of alertness at the expense of my leg fatigue?
The weight of this choice burdened my mind as I stood there, caught in the comical crossroads of comfort and endurance.
What's with all the commotion happening outside? In my four years at Elite Oaks, I had never seen so many media people assemble in the hotel. What was going on?
I tilted my head to the side, stealing a brief glance at him, and instantly, his eyes shifted to meet mine. Caught completely off guard, I immediately turned around and accidentally stepped on the delicate fabric of my gown, causing me to stumble clumsily over the hard marble floor. The evening was a string of complete embarrassment.
Still on the phone, he came back in and asked me to take a seat; I tucked my silhouette in my arms and took the chair in the farthest corner to avoid being in his line of sight. I was staggering in and out of awareness as the booze continued to flow into my veins. A few hours ago, I envisioned walking down the aisle to marry Arlo in this dress; now, I'm wearing the same dress, but in a completely unexpected scenario.
I had a million burning questions, why was the press lurking in the hallway? Why did he appear so distressed? Was I to blame? What thoughts were occupying his mind? Should I approach him? Who exactly was this man?
But I was so exhausted that I couldn't even build my curiosity to dig into things. Getting a decent night's sleep was all I wanted to do.