Page 33 of The Suite Life
I need to find someone, but who will fit the bill? There are so many people here but it feels like searching for a needle in a haystack, trying to find a date for the wedding, with a personality and a success record like mine.
The barman places another cocktail in front of me, with a charming smile on the side. This time it’s a long blue drink with a white foamy top.
‘Another drink,’ he tells me. ‘Glasses don’t run empty on my watch.’
That’s good, because they always run empty on mine.
I return his smile and thank him for my drink. I should probably drink them a little slower, if he’s going to keep them coming at this rate.
‘Do you need my room number or for me to pay, or something?’ I ask.
‘No, no,’ he assures me. ‘No charge.’
I thank him again, but something is up, because I’ve definitely seen him taking payments from other people while I’ve been propping up the bar. I highly doubt it’s because he fancies me. Gosh, you don’t think he feels sorry for me, do you? I quickly push that thought from my head. Even considering it is knocking my confidence.
As I sip my drink, I overhear a man talking on the phone as he sits down next to me.
‘…I’ve been on the phone to Geneva, and they’re not having it,’ he says with a scoff.
He’s got a seriousness about him, and he lacks that chilled-out holiday vibe most people seem to be giving off, but his bright blue eyes seem to give off something soft and approachable, behind his strictly-business exterior. His accent is American, unmistakably, but I can’t tell you where he’s from exactly.
‘…I bet my Aston Martin he doesn’t,’ he laughs into his phone. ‘Anyway, we’ve got a meeting in two hours, so we’ll see. Talk soon.’
Hanging up, his gaze shifts towards me, and our eyes meet.
‘You’ll be amazed how many people come here for work,’ he says with a smile, nodding towards his phone. ‘Are you here for business or pleasure?’
‘My sister’s wedding,’ I reply.
‘So neither then,’ he jokes.
‘It is feeling that way, from time to time,’ I admit with a laugh.
‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asks.
‘You can try,’ I joke. ‘They just keep getting put in front of me.’
‘You’re a big shot then, huh?’ he replies. ‘Only the big shots get the special treatment.’
‘Oh, no, not at all,’ I insist.
‘Sure, I’ll believe you,’ he says with a wink. ‘Me neither.’
‘You’re important enough to be here for work,’ I point out.
‘Yeah, but I would rather be getting wasted and going to a wedding,’ he confesses. ‘I don’t get much time to hang out.’
‘We’re hanging out now – kind of,’ I say, daring to flex my flirting muscles.
‘We are,’ he agrees. ‘I suppose there’s no reason we couldn’t have some fun.’
‘Gigi, hello,’ a voice interrupts us.
I turn to see Donnie approaching the bar.
‘Hello,’ I reply.
‘Can I borrow you?’ he asks.
