One of the hotel's staff members unlocked the door to our room '1526' and I just stood outside, thinking what a bad idea this was.

What could go wrong? Well, firstly someone could see me in his room and label me as his trophy girlfriend number - I don't know what. This could also end up in a freaking magazine, jeopardise the partnership since every decision that Adrian took in my favour would be seen as bias and even if none of that happened, where was I going to sleep? On the sofa? I was so not going to accept sleeping on the bed and make him sleep on the sofa of the room he booked, even if he offered which I highly doubted, he would.

I walked inside the room, observing it. From its size I assumed that it was a luxury suite and since it belonged to Adrian, I had expected nothing less. The same colour scheme of daffodil yellow and white as in the lobby was present here too. There were the basic furniture sets present in every hotel room, except the fact that there was an entire wall made up of glass, overlooking the mesmerising city of Cairo and the bed was enormous, with an expensive duvet and a stack of fluffy pillows but that was certainly not in my fate.

For me, there was a three-seater seater sofa which I believed I could squeeze into without much difficultly and with a little bit of indifference towards the non-cushiony seats.

So, I flopped down on it in an unlady-like manner after I took my shoes off and borrowed a pillow from the bed. I took my phone out of my bag and began scrolling through the messages.

Once our bags had arrived, Adrian sat on the bed and began typing something on his laptop. No conversation followed for it was just too awkward. Constantly we ended up in situations where we had to spend time together. He had slowly grown on me and except for a few things I didn't mind him but his presence did bother me when we were in such close proximities.

While I was still on my phone, my eyelids became heavy and my synapses started to shutter. So, I let the jet lag kick in and slipping my phone onto the table, I fell into deep slumber.

■■■

The Christmas tree was huge and even though it was yet to be lit up, it looked beautiful. I stood in front of it like countless others though I was the only one alone, rest everyone was with their families. I choose to ignore it and looked back up at the tree but then something or rather someone caught my eye. I walked towards her, weaving my way through the crowd but the brunette saw me and broke into a run. She ran into a building and I followed her up the stairs. Suddenly we were face to face, on top of a tall building and I saw a pair of accusing hazel eyes, drilling holes into my soul. But then she did the unexpected. Saying, "I hate you", she ran to the edge of the roof and jumped, not looking back at me.

I reached my hand out for her, screaming,"JENNIFER!" and turned only to fall down on a cold, hard surface. I fluttered my eyes open, cursing and rubbing my lower back that I had landed flat on.

I blinked a few times to get accustomed to the dimly lit room. I breathed heavily as beads of sweat trickled down my face. Though the air conditioner was on, my clothes were soaked and was hot. Slowly the surroundings registered in my brain and I realised, I was still in the hotel room and it had just been a nightmare, a very vivid nightmare and I decided not to infer meanings and delve into my haunting past.

I stood up from the floor, the cold hard surface I had fallen onto and took a step forward but then a jolt of pain hit me, crawling up my legs and towards my arms. I might have fit in the sofa but it was not comfortable at all. Thank god it was just a one day stay. Tonight I would sleep in my own room, in a cozy bed and with amazing room service.

I took off my sweater and picked a loose t-shirt from my suitcase, with the intention of slipping it over my camisole but then I flung it onto the sofa. It was hot and it didn't look like Adrian was going to wake up anytime soon since he was so audibly snoring.

Hell! I needed to get my own room.

I picked up my laptop and switched it on. As it began to initialize, I looked up towards the bed and to a sleeping Adrian, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. He looked so innocent with his gaurds down. I wondered how he would have been if he was always like that- calm, relaxed and carefree.

I smiled, and then turned back to my laptop. It was six o'clock in the morning, the status bar stated. I clicked on Safari and then typed in my requirement, 5 star hotels in Cairo and looked up whatever came but anything within half an hour from Najmat was booked. It was as if the whole world had decided to vacation here.

I blew air through my parted lips and then scrunched up my nose, changing my requirement to just hotels in Cairo. Before I could scan through the new list of hotels before me, music began to play: repetitive and slightly irritating.

I put my t-shirt back on and went to investigate where it was coming from. After a few seconds of looking around, I realised that it was coming from the bedside. As I walked over to it, a hand flew from the bed slamming against the side table and I yelped at the sudden noise. Adrian instantly sat upright and looked at me and then sighed in disapproval at my reaction. He swung his legs out of the bed and then picked up his cell phone, switching off the horrid alarm clock which had been the cause of my trouble. I looked at my watch and it was just half past six. Why the hell was he even awake?

He switched on the lights and then picked out some clothes from his suitcase. It was now that I noticed, he was still in his office wear from last night. Without looking up at me he asked, "Did you sleep well?"

"Huh? Ya, I did.", I said, still ignoring the obvious soreness in my legs from sleeping in a confined space. He nodded and went to the bathroom with his clothes and I went back to my laptop.

Half an hour later, he emerged, wearing a sky blue shirt and a two piece ivory suit with a square fold handkerchief in the front pocket. He stood in front of the mirror, put on a striped navy blue tie and proceeded to comb his hair. I, meanwhile sat on the sofa with my laptop no longer being able to control myself. I was literally staring at his perfect self, drooling over that sexy as hell 5'o clock shadow beard. And I thought he couldn't look better than he already did. I bet he would dress like the mad hatter and still look just as good.

Adrian cleared his throat and said, "If you don't mind, I am leaving. Go get ready and meet me at the conference."

I nodded to the instruction but the first phrase got me wondering, why would I mind?

"Because you were so busy oogling me", He smirked, spraying on his deodrant which by now I had grown very accustomed to. I must have said that out loud.

"What? I...I was...I wasn't doing what you just accused me of.", I crossed my hands over my chest defensively.

"Really?", He raised an eyebrow at me challengingly and I turned red, having no fitting reply.

He chuckled and then said, "Get ready quickly." After confirming that he looked good, which was an understatement, he walked out of the room, closing the door and leaving me mortified at my lack of comebacks.

I went to the bathroom, washed me face and then completed my morning routines. I was still not over what just happened and how embarrassing it would be to speak to him again. I just hoped that he would act like it had never happened.

I picked out a burgundy suit, a black lace top and a statement golden plate necklace. I dried my hair and quickly curled them. I looked at my wristwatch and it was about nine and it struck me, why Adrian left so early. He wanted to give me sufficient time to get ready. What a gentleman!

I quickly put on eyeliner and mascara and a lipstick shade which matched my dress. Finally, putting on a pair of uncomfortable pair of black pumps, I locked the room and putting the keys in my small handbag along with my cell phone, I left for the elevator.

On my way to the conference, I stuffed a chocolate muffin in my face and gulped it down with a glass of banana milkshake since I knew lunch wouldn't be provided till late afternoon. Then I entered inside the hall, with a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. I told myself, "Nessa! This is where you belong. This is your destiny and your taking the first step towards it. Go get that CEO position and show them what you are worth!" I calmed my nerves and with a radiant smile, began greeting people and making small talk.

A while later, my eyes fell on a man in an ivory suit and remembering his instruction, I quickly walked up to him and I didn't know why he looked starstruck on seeing me, or maybe I did know why...

It was my turn to smirk as I said, "Who is oogling who now?" and he looked away, though I was sure I saw the corner of his lips lift into a smile.

Our little banter never saw it's end, for a bigger conflict stood in front of us. This problem wasn't a thing or an incidence but a man, the man I had met on the plane: Blake Walters!

Darren'sBlake

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