Chapter 16: A Hiccup at the Hotel

If she had to summarize the experience in two words, she would say it was simply embarrassing.

Things were normal and fine until Mr. Moneybags suggested that she 'hold on tight to him' as the route to the hotel became bumpy. But the uneven road turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Rather than getting lost in thoughts about his perfume and the sensation of wrapping her arms around his fit figure from behind, her primary concern shifted to maintaining her balance in the vehicle and not making a fool out of herself by falling out.

"We're here," he finally said.

Alonso pulled into the hotel parking lot which she couldn't see well from behind the dark helmet. She began struggling to take it off and wondered why putting it on had been much easier. Her attempts stopped when he turned around and removed it for her with a wide smile.

"What?" she asked with a frown.

"It's the first time I've seen you beneath the sun."

"...So?"

"You look good under this light."

The smile that she struggled to suppress ended up turning her lips up on one side. She turned away from his grinning face then shot him an accusing look once more.

"It's amazing how effortlessly you can say those words to women you've just met. But I suppose when you repeat it often enough, it becomes second nature."

She observed the grin on his face fading.

"Aren't you too quick to judge a man you don't know either?"

The accusatory look on her face morphed into a guilty one.

"Well, we can always fix that. Come." He said.

It was ridiculously easy to take his hand the moment he extended it to unnecessarily help her down from the vehicle. Carrying both of their handbags on one shoulder over his expensive-smelling leather jacket, he kept his other hand in hers as they made their way to the hotel.

"Welcome, Madam, sir."

A smartly dressed man pushed the glass door open for them, his eyes seeming to recognize Alonso a moment too late and his whole expression changing into one of deep gratitude.

"Welcome back, Mr. Valois!"

"Thank you, Richard."

Ignoring the fact that Mr. Moneybags was on a first-name basis with the employees of this hotel, she made her way through the cozy lobby over the red carpet that complemented the parquet floor.

So fancy…

Once again, she felt like a fish out of the sea yet tried not to show it on her face as she looked at the receptionist, he was all smiles for Mr. Moneybags who was walking a few steps behind her.

Does he own this hotel too?

...No way.

"Welcome, Ma'am, how may I help you today?" the receptionist greeted Natalie.

"Yes, hello. My name is Natalie Harrison and I am here to perform for the wedding. There should be a reservation under my name."

The man pushed his glasses up and looked at the screen in front of him, his face frowned.

"I am sorry, Ma'am. Can I get your name again?"

"Natalie Harrison?"

It took the man a few seconds to type the name again and nod at Natalie.

"Ms. Harrison, we do have a suite under your name but I'm afraid the only event we have currently is the business conference and it is one that does not require a performance."

In her peripheral vision, she saw Alonso placing a hand on his mouth and looking away.

What's happening?

"Excuse me, has there been a mistake on the organizer's part? Or is it perhaps that you have been misinformed about the event."

The man's eyes drifted between Natalie and Alonso, the smile he gave to Natalie after that lacked authenticity.

"I am fully aware of every event in our hotel; I can assure you of that. While we have a reservation under your name, it is simply for a guest. You will not be performing this night, Ms. Harrison."

Anger ignited within Natalie.

"I mean no offense, but can I speak with someone in charge here? You see, I traveled for an event that you are suddenly denying altogether and I feel less than comfortable about it."

Alonso cleared his throat and finally removed his sunglasses; his brown eyes danced, and the tiny wrinkles around them showed how much he was enjoying all of this.

"You can talk to me about it if that's what you want."

"...You?"

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