Page 43 of Strictly Business

“No, it’s beautiful,” I say. “Even if we’re at the back there’s a lovely little square there, just no fountain.”

I spotted it on the way in and noted that it looked like a fun place to visit. Not that I’m here to visit anywhere but Bellisario’s, but I can dream.

Ruth appears back at our sides holding three key cards.

“All done,” she says, sitting down on one of the empty seats. “Two of us are on eight and the other one is on seven, but we all have views of the fountain. The two on eight are adjoining rooms, which I didn’t know when I booked. I explained we’re work colleagues not a family and the response from the receptionist was to tell me to lock the connecting door. So should you and I take those rooms Wyatt as we know each other the best?”

I really want to have an adjoining room with Wyatt. It’ll be perfect for us to sneak in and out of each other’s rooms without risking Ruth catching us, but I can’t think of any argument to Ruth’s point. Luckily for me, Wyatt can and does come up with something.

“No, actually, I think it makes more sense for Serena and me to take the adjoining rooms. It’ll save us trekking from floor to floor to go over the pitch and make any changes,” Wyatt says.

Ruth does not look happy about that, and she is shaking her head.

“Daniel, it might make Serena uncomfortable,” she says. “It will be like you are practically sharing a room.”

“Serena, do you trust me to not attack you in the night?” Wyatt asks.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak in case I laugh. Ruth rolls her eyes.

“Well, she’s not going to admit it if she doesn’t, is she?” she says.

“Look Ruth, the discussion is over. I’ve made the decision. Serena and I will take the rooms on the eighth floor, and you will take the room on the seventh floor. Hand over the keys please,” Wyatt says firmly, and I feel my clit pulse. I love it when he gets all alpha like that.

His cell phone buzzes, and he takes it out of his pocket with one hand. His other hand is stretched out to Ruth to get the room keys. I’m looking anywhere but at Ruth and trying my best not to smirk as Ruth finally gives up the key cards. Wyatt looks down at his cell phone once he has them and Ruth turns to me, and I can’t look away quickly enough to not catch her eye. The icy cold stare she gives me makes me feel as though I should literally just shrivel up and die.

I don’t bite. I don’t roll my eyes, although I want to. I don’t ask her what’s wrong. I just continue as though she isn’t there. The truth is, I know she’s only jealous and honestly, who can blame her? I’d be jealous if someone else had Wyatt and I would probably be throwing eye daggers at them too.

Wyatt finishes whatever he was doing on his cell phone and puts it away. He looks up at us and Ruth instantly puts her face straight. Wyatt checks the time.

“OK, it’s almost six o’clock. What do you both say we go to our rooms and unpack and freshen up and meet back down here at seven thirty to go and have dinner?” he says.

I nod. That works for me. I’m looking forward to a nice shower more than anything.

“Yes, that’s fine,” Ruth says with a smile that actually doesn’t look fake. I resist the urge to roll my eyes again – something that is becoming quite common for me when I’m around Ruth - as we stand up and gather our things and head for the elevator.

We get in with a few other people. Some get out as the elevator climbs, but even once Ruth gets out on the seventh floor reminding us of the meeting time, there are still other people in it besides us. A glance at the control panel tells me there are at least two more floors above us. I say at least because sometimes the really good suites aren’t on the panel as they have their own elevator.

The elevator pings again and the doors open, and it is mine and Wyatt’s turn to leave the elevator. We step out onto a tiled floor that matches the one in the lobby and we follow the arrows until we come to our rooms. Wyatt gives me one of the key cards and keeps the other one for himself.

I smile at us standing side by side at our doors ready to go in. I don’t know why the image strikes me as funny, but it does. Wyatt looks at me questioningly and I just shake my head. He wouldn’t get it. No normal person would.

“See you at seven thirty,” I say, and he nods his agreement and I open my door and go into my room.

CHAPTER32

Serena

It’s a lot hotter in the room than it is in the public areas of the hotel, but I soon see why. It’s one of those systems where you have to put a key card in the slot to work the lights and the air conditioner unit. I put my key card into the waiting slot and smile as the little light goes green and then I hear the air conditioner unit rattle into life, and I instantly feel cool air coming in towards me.

I look around the room. It’s a nice size, easily big enough for the two people it’s aimed at judging by the double bed. The bedding is white with a red runner, all of which looks clean. The theme of gold and red has continued up to the room and again, it isn’t too much, it’s perfect.

Other than the double bed, there is a dressing table with a stool which can easily double up as my work desk. There is a wardrobe, with a set of drawers in the bottom and a bedside cabinet on either side of the bed. A glass sliding door opens out onto a large balcony and beside the balcony doors is a red plush chair. There is also a fridge and a tea and coffee making area on a tiny table next to the dressing table.

I slide the door open and slip out onto the balcony. There are two sun loungers and a small table between them. I walk past the loungers to the balcony wall, and I look out over the square. We got the fountain view alright – thank you Ruth - and it’s every bit as magnificent as I thought it would be. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from making a squeal sound with excitement.

I go back into my room, and I decide to go and check out the bathroom. There are two doors, one slightly ajar, which is the bathroom door. The other one is closed, and it has a bolt pulled across it and I feel butterflies in my tummy when I realize that’s the adjoining room door. Wyatt is just on the other side of it. I debate opening it and slipping into his room, but I really do need to shower and change and if Wyatt and I get together, it likely won’t happen.

I go into the bathroom instead, as I originally had planned to do. Again, it’s a good size and it has a bath with an over bath shower, a sink and a toilet and a bidet. There are a few small toiletries laid around, but I’ve brought my own shampoo and what not, so I don’t really take a lot of notice of those.

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