As Daniels drove out into the main street, I leaned over and placed the paper towel-wrapped treasure down between my feet.
En route to Xander's.
Here we go.
CHAPTER 17.
*Demetria*
I don't care if I have to stay here all night; I'm not leaving till I see Xander.
Tonight was the night, no matter what.
The waiting around was officially over. It's time to take life and love into my own hands, and make what I wanted to happen, happen. That's the way things worked in life. If you wanted something bad enough, you had to do whatever it took, letting no man or woman distract you from your goal.
I pitied any man or woman who dared stand in my way, especially in my current mood. I'd been waiting for over an hour for Xander to come home. How long was his charity work going to take him?
Tragically, I was stuck inside a coffee shop that had a view of the Ogall Hotel. I looked down for the first time since arriving; my hot chocolate was finished, and the cup was sitting there empty. That reminded me of my heart. The only way I could fill the void was if I asked for a refill; the same as my heart, I needed a refill of Xander.
Desperately.
And as if the love gods were listening to my despair, a familiar car pulled up to the curb in front of the hotel.
I knew that car. I'd ridden in that car.
That's Xander's car!
Oh my God!
Baby!
My fingers trembled as they gripped the empty cup. I slowly slid off the stool, shoving the empty cup into the trashcan that's nestled beside my table. It's as if my blood was frozen, and after so long, I was about to come face-to-face with the love of my life, and only he could make my blood flow again. I would do anything to be with Xander; even sit in a pedestrian-ridden coffee shop for over an hour, drinking commoner drinks.
Goodbye commoner mother-ship. I hope I never have to step foot into one of you again. Even though your hot chocolate was not that bad. A lady of my stature did not buy hot drinks from places like this. She had them made fresh during brunch at a high-class hotel after a night of making love with her one and only love.
A cool breeze hits me, refreshing my senses from the stale odour that consumed the airflow back inside.
Ugh! Disgusting! The things I do for love. My eyes were transfixed on the car as it sat idle by the curb. I zipped my waistlength, creamy-white mink jacket while I waited for the crosswalk to turn green.
I followed the rules sometimes.
But, not all the time.
CHAPTER 18.
"Ms. Gellys?"
The clouds parted.
"Ms. Gellys?" Daniels said again, a little louder.
"Yes," I turned from the fog that's consumed me for the last forty minutes and faced Daniels. "Sorry, I was out."
Daniels chuckled quietly, "That's alright. We've arrived."
I glanced out the window and stared at the hotel Daniels had brought me to. "So this is where that bastard is staying?"
"Mr. Barns frequents the Ogall Hotel often during his visits to Ottawa," Daniels explained.
I looked up to see how big the building was; it looked to be about twenty floors.
Wow.
"I see," I faced Daniels. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Mr. Barns obtained a suite on the fifteenth floor; his room is 1501. You can just go straight in and head toward the elevators," Daniels instructed.
"What if they stop me?" I asked.
"Not to worry, just tell them you're here to see Mr. Barns and they'll understand right away," Daniels explained.
"Okay," I replied. "Well, I guess this is it, Daniels. Thank you for the ride."
"You're welcome, Ms. Gellys. I hope the rest of your evening is pleasant," Daniels smiled.
"I hope so too," I said, picking up my little present for Xander. "Are you finished?"
"Yes, I'm off after this," Daniels replied.
"Well, thanks again," I reached for the door handle. "Goodbye, Daniels."
"Goodbye, Ms. Gellys."
I stepped onto the sidewalk and waved at Daniels before he drove away. I headed toward the beautiful brass doors and a door attendant opened them for me.
"Thank you," I told him as I set foot onto sleek marble floors. The lobby was the most extravagant that I'd ever seen. A giant chandelier was centered in the ceiling, with what looked like over a thousand crystals glistening on it. I trudged my way toward the elevator hallway, keeping my face straight as if I belonged here. I made my way successfully to the elevators and pressed the top button.
As I waited for an elevator to come down, another guest joined me.
Which wouldn't be odd, except for one small detail; the person had stopped right beside me, even though there was enough room for about twenty people in the little hallway.
So why was this person standing right next to me?
I turned my head slightly and from the corner of my eye, I looked at the person.
The first thing I saw was a white fur coat that stopped at her waist. Curly hair spilled from underneath a blue beret and stopped after her shoulders.
She's tall.
I glanced down at her six-inch high heels. As my eyes made their way up to see her face, I was startled. She was staring at me.
Creepily.
I turned back to face the button pad, feeling the side of my face heat from her creepy gaze.
Why the hell is she staring at me?
Thank God, the elevator arrived. The doors opened with a 'ding'. I walked inside, and the tall, curly-haired girl followed right behind me. I pushed the fifteenth floor button as the girl came inside and slumped against the back mirror.
I cleared my throat. "Um...what floor?"
Silence.
"Sixteen, please," she murmured softly beneath a bundle of curly hair that had escaped her beret and fallen in front of her face.
"No problem," I murmured back, pressing her button. I stared at the elevator number pad as floors lit up, wishing it would go faster so I could get off one the creepiest elevator rides of my life.
What's with the people I'm meeting today? Did Ottawa turn into a safe haven for the unusual while I've been gone?
Canada's creepiest people, please head to Ottawa; you're safe there.
Envisioning the new tourist ads by the Canadian government made me chuckle a little. I turned my face away so she wouldn't think it was about her, when it kind of was. I didn't want any more crazy vibes from her, so the less I offended, the better. As soon as I thought I had a handle on the chuckles, I looked back up, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed she was staring wide eyed at me.
The elevator rang, arriving at the fifteenth floor.
Thank God!
The doors opened, and I gave a small nod to the strange girl and walked out. As the doors closed, I took another glance, and she was still staring at me. I shivered a little at the look she was giving me.
What the hell is wrong with her?
Whatever.
Moving on.
I headed down a long hallway, following the numbers on the door. Down the hallway, I heard RnB music echoed into the hallway, getting louder as I approached room 1501. The sound of the elevator rang and I heard the doors open.
Shit!
It could be security or something!
I stopped in front of his door and knocked.
No one answered.
What the hell was he doing in there? And why was he playing music like that? I thought he was just seeing me tonight?
Oh God! I grimaced, realizing that this might not be a party of two, and might be a party of three in which Xander probably didn't mind; just ask Bitch Blonde from last night.
Ugh, I didn't want to think about her.
I waited for a few seconds before pushing against the doorknob; surprised when it opened.
Xander didn't lock the door? Confused, I opened the door and went inside. A blast of sexy music hits me as I closed the door.
On another note, his room was amazing. My room back at Old Country Bed and Breakfast could fit inside his suite about four times. But then again, he probably paid more than twenty times what I was paying for mine.
Xander is rich...but what does he do?
Again, things I didn't know about this man, who I actually went out with last night and let take me home drunk out of my mind. He could have been a psychopath that could have done anything to me, and nobody would have known.
I'm too trusting!
Someone giggled from the open door of the bedroom across the large living room.
Xander is probably having sex and doing dirty things, and I'm about to walk right into it. That pervert!
I looked around trying to think quickly about what I should do. Why did I come here? I came here to give Xander the thong he wants in exchange for the nice makeover he paid for this morning.
Okay, all right. All I had to do was give him the thong, and then I was free to go. I dropped my clutch and the paper-towel surprise on the side table next to the door. I bent over and yanked the thong off, cold air instantly hitting me down there. I noticed a pen on his coffee table and skip over trying to make the least noise possible. I grabbed the pen, but when I made my way back, I tripped.
"Ow!" I hissed, holding my knee.
"Oh my God, what was that?" I heard a girl screech from the room.
"Don't move!" I heard Xander order. "Who's out there?"
I lay on the ground practically paralyzed.
"It's me." I yelled, holding my knee in pain.
"Who's me?" Xander asked, clearly amused.
"Marisa, you idiot!"
"Hold on a second, my dear," Xander came out of the bedroom in a pair of tight black boxers.