Page 25 of The Suite Life
I do as I’m told, my mind racing with visions of where this unexpected upgrade might lead me. I can’t shake the suspicion that, despite her reassuring tone, I might end up sleeping under the stars with nothing but a beach towel for comfort.
The woman at the front desk calls out to a staff member named Keanu. He joins her behind the desk, and they exchange hushed words, occasionally nodding in my direction. Alarm bells start ringing in my head – something isn’t quite right, I can just feel it.
After a brief exchange, the woman hands Keanu a key card, and he heads over to me with a warm smile.
‘If you would like to come this way, please, Ms Marsden,’ he says.
‘Okay,’ I say – because what else can I say?
I follow him, nervously trailing him through the hotel, my fake smile fading as the feeling of unease builds inside me.
Keanu swipes his key card, and we enter what I assume is my room – except it isn’t, it’s just a lounge – a really nice lounge, but a lounge nonetheless.
For a moment I just stand there, waiting for an explanation, hoping they’re not about to ask me to sleep on the sofa until they sort out a real room.
‘Nice, huh?’ Keanu says, breaking the awkward silence.
‘Yeah, it’s lovely,’ I agree, but not so lovely they can store me here indefinitely.
‘As you can see, this is the lounge,’ Keanu explains. ‘If you look round here you will see the kitchen area. Those windows, over there, are actually doors, which fully open out over the private pool area. And of course your bedroom and bathroom are upstairs.’
‘What?’ I blurt, confused.
‘Sorry, Ms Marsden, have I forgotten something?’ Keanu asks, sensing my unease.
‘No, no, sorry,’ I respond, unsure why either of us is apologising, or what on earth we’re talking about, to be honest. ‘Where is my room?’
‘This is your suite,’ Keanu clarifies with a smile. ‘Your bedroom is upstairs.’
What? No! I can’t believe it. An upgrade to a suite? And calling this a suite is an understatement. This is a house! A sprawling, luxurious open-plan living space, a bedroom upstairs, and did he just mention a private pool? My jaw is on the floor. Could I finally be getting a bit of good luck?
Hilariously, since my date with Doctor Mad, I find myself regularly questioning if everything is a prank now – jazzed to have that new dimension to my anxious thoughts – but I’m here, and they’re saying my name, and it’s really happening.
‘Okay,’ I eventually say, my tone surprisingly muted given the circumstances, my mind still trying to get things straight. ‘Cool.’
Keanu hands me the key to the suite along with something called a gold card.
‘This gold card gets you into the exclusive areas of the resort – only our very special guests have these,’ he explains. ‘It’s mostly celebrities and high-profile individuals.’
‘And me,’ I quip in disbelief.
Keanu laughs warmly.
‘Yes, of course. But we’re very exclusive; everyone is very private,’ he insists. ‘You won’t have any trouble here.’
‘I’m sure I won’t,’ I reply. ‘I’m in paradise.’
‘I will leave you to settle in. But if there is anything you need, that phone by the door can connect you to a twenty-four-hour concierge service – nothing is too much trouble,’ he tells me.
‘Okay,’ I reply, still slightly dazed. ‘Thanks.’
It’s not that I’m ungrateful, I just can’t believe I’m here.
Now that I know that this lounge ismylounge, I’m blown away by it. It has the same cream and brown tones as the lobby, giving it that same luxury hotel vibe, and yet I don’t feel like I’m in a hotel at all. This really does feel like a house.
Looking out of the bifold doors, I can see the private pool area Keanu was talking about. The pool glistens under the Hawaiian sun, surrounded by lush greenery and comfortable loungers. It’s huge, and there isn’t a person in sight.
I make my way upstairs with an excited spring in my step, keen to see my sleeping arrangements for the next week. The bedroom is even nicer than I expected – and after seeing downstairs, I was expecting big things – boasting huge floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the pool area below and extend the view to the sandy shores of the beach. I don’t know why but it always makes me happy to see the sea. The room is absolutelyflooded with natural light, casting a warm glow over the gigantic bed.
