Two

Chapter Two

As I walked into the posh hotel, I couldn’t help but admire the beautiful crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was sparkling  and shooting small rainbows of color all around. I admired the gold and white upholstery, for it was elegant in every way. I could smell the sweet incense of cinnamon spice floating through the air and a mixture of cologne and perfume from the people that were milling around in the reception area.

I could also hear the whispers and feel the stares burning into me. ‘Who is she?’ and ‘Why does she look like that?’ and the subtle, ‘Well, she is just scum anyways…’

It angered me to no end. I mean, who were they to judge me? They probably had it easy all their lives. Never wondering where they were going to get their next meal or whether they were going to live through the night. Always having things handed to them without a second glance at the people who had less than them. Hell, they probably even bit the hand that gave it to them once or twice without any punishment.

As I looked around, I saw the reception desk and slowly made my way over cautiously, as to not trip over my own feet.

“Hello ma’am, may I help you?” the receptionist said with fear in his eyes, but a slight smile on his face.

He was good at not showing too much emotion, but after giving me a once over I could see the pity for me surface to the top showing through his calm façade.

“Yes, actually I would like to book the biggest suite you have available for…” I thought to myself how long it would take for the owner of the credit card to notice the spending, “five days,” I said firmly.

There, that would give me enough time to ‘come into’ some more money and hopefully catch a ride to Detroit and get taken in by a gang. Not that there weren’t any gangs in New York.

“Hmm,” reception guy said with a smile, “we can get you the master suite complete with a fully stocked fridge and kitchen. It also comes with a master bathroom and hot tub all in one.”

“Perfect,” I said with a smile of glee.

“Now, what will you be paying with?”

I slowly slid the credit card across the counter with a smile. He then wrote down the numbers without even giving me a second glance because of the name.

“Can I see some I.D.?”

Crap. What do I do now? I searched around in my bag to buy me time to think of a plan. It took me about two minutes to figure out what I was going to say.

“Uh, you see… I am one of Mr. Crystalson’s mistresses and he gave me his credit card to book the suite so we could… you know,” I said with one eyebrow raised.

“I wasn’t aware that he had anyone to cheat on, Miss,” he said skeptically.

“Oh, he does. He just likes to keep his affairs…secret,” I said harshly.

“Alright, I will put it on the card, but if they come asking…I am leading them right to you Missy.”

“Thanks,” I said with a sly grin on my face as I slowly slid the card back toward me and stuffed it into my jean pocket.

“Your room is at the top floor. Room 1178. Here are your cards…and enjoy,” he said with a wink.

As I sauntered to the elevator, I couldn’t help but let out a relived breathe. That was a close one.

I got into the elevator and a tall man stepped in just as the gray steel doors were closing. He gave me one look and went to the far side of the elevator, obviously not impressed by my appearance. We rode up the elevator in silence and it went all the way to the top with no stops at all. Obviously he had a suite too. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was tapping quickly on his sleek, black phone. I gave him a once over and saw that his wallet was sticking out of his pocket about halfway. 

The cold, shiny doors opened with a ding and I walked out quickly making sure to fall into him while sneakily grabbing his wallet out of his pocket so that he wouldn’t notice.

“I am so sorry sir, I just really have to go to the bathroom!” I said to him with as much sweetness as I could put into my voice.

“Watch where you’re going next time,” he said crankily and then as he was walking away under his breath, “w***e.”

What an a*****e! That guy deserved to be robbed. UGH!

I walked briskly to my room and slid my room key into the slot. I was completely ecstatic that the indicator button had turned to green and quickly slipped into my room.

It was amazing. Truly breathtaking. No words could describe how amazing it looked. It had beautiful oak floors, a small quaint dining room with stainless steel appliances, and a breathtaking living room. There was a huge flat screen TV in the living room with a brown and dark red theme. The view was simply amazing. It was overlooking a small park that had a nice little pond in the middle. The trees were just turning for the fall and the pond was glistening in the moonlight. Simply amazing.

I then walked to the bathroom and saw the sight. Luxurious as they come, it was just like the picture on the brochure I had glanced at walking to the elevator. I didn’t even think before stripping down, turning on the shower and stepping into the warm cascading water. It felt amazing. I couldn’t recall the last time I was even remotely clean or warm. I scrubbed and scrubbed until my skin was stinging from my effort to get the filth off of me.

I stepped out of the shower feeling the best I had in what seemed like forever. I grabbed the fluffy white robe that was hanging from the hook on the door and relished in the coziness of it. Why couldn’t every day be like this? 

I walked to the floor length mirror by the door and stared at the girl staring back at me. I wasn’t the most beautiful woman, but I didn’t consider myself ugly either. With my unusual violet eyes, pin-straight golden-blonde hair, and pale complexion I was…unique as some called it. I never understood why I was so hated. I never understood why no one wanted me. I was in top physical shape with a body most ladies would kill for. Of course, I had to be in my…profession.

I wasn’t always like this. I had an amazing childhood up until I was fifteen. My family was poor, but they cared for me the best they could. The only thing was that they didn’t care for me because they wanted to, it was because they had to. My father was an alcoholic and my mother was a depressed wreck. I never really knew them. When I was fifteen, our house went up in flames. My father and mother were in it and didn’t make it out alive. They thought I died that night too. They were wrong, but I didn’t mind not telling them I was still breathing. That night, I realized that I was no longer the innocent girl who had the troubled life…I was the girl who was hardened by her life. I wanted no more pity from the likes of the caring people who would turn their backs on you the moment something better came into their sights.

I was scarred. Not just mentally, but physically. Scars were all across my body from the fights and near death experiences on the streets that I had encountered. I learned to cope with the pain and I learned to fight on my own. I was lethal. If I wanted someone dead, chances were they would be dead before they could cry for help.

I looked into my eyes and saw my hopeless eyes staring back, because I knew this would only last for so long before I was back on the streets begging for scraps. For once, I was at peace with myself though. I knew that I would have these days to find my strength.

I walked away from the mirror and into the kitchen to find something to eat. I ate a small dinner and found the bedroom. There was another TV mounted on the wall and I turned it on to the news as I snuggled under the maroon covers.

I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard a familiar name come across the TV. ‘Ash Crystalson is onto his next fling…but has she avoided him? The billionaire has issued a watch for a woman and anyone to find her for him will be rewarded with a substantial amount of money.’

I found myself laughing because I knew that he would never find me. I was just about to click the power button on the remote when I saw a drawing of a very familiar looking face flash into view. The face looking back at me was none other than my own.

S**t.