Before midnight Page 3

  “Same here,” Balúa added.

  “See you in a few days, gentlemen.”

  Once they heard that, the executives left the room. Minutes after picking up his belongings, Caleb wrapped himself in his coat and left the ten-storey office. Renting multiple deluxe floors for international companies that were in the city for a short period of time was a very interesting idea, he thought while he opened up the trunk of his car. Maybe he could buy a property in New York and apply the same concept; after all, wouldn’t it be best to explore new markets and investments?

  He started the engine of the silver Maserati Indy made in the sixties and that her grandmother had lent him during his stay. He preferred renting a car but he didn’t want to hurt his grandmother’s feelings and then hear her whining constantly about it. On the other hand, he didn’t need to make his life harder because he would only be in Amsterdam for a short period of time.

  Tonight, although he was completely exhausted, he had an errand to do: Spyros had set him up on a date. Caleb didn’t question his cousin’s good taste; after all, they had been party animals for a long time and in spite of all the years and the distance, they continued to see each other at least three times a year. Those few occasions were definitely unforgettable; as unforgettable as the parties Spyros threw in Santorini or Mykonos, with the best wines, the sexiest women who were willing to do anything and a decadent mood full of luxury without ever falling into vulgarity.

  It was still hard for Caleb to understand how his cousin could throw such huge parties without making them sordid. No, they weren’t orgies; they were just parties that lasted until dawn and beyond. They were all adults and it was their business what they did or didn’t do. Every person who had the privilege of being part of the highly selected guest list knew the time when the party would start but they never knew the time it would end.

  The last party that his cousin hosted was two years ago. The new pace of each of their lives, their occupations and everything else, had forced them to change a little bit. Private concerts, loud music, yachts in the high seas, and exotic islands where dancing was just part of the fun, all seemed to have been left behind. Although that didn’t weaken his Greek cousin’s resolve in making him meet beautiful women to dance, to talk…

  In this particular case and according to Spyros, his date was an independent woman who worked for a Customs Corporation and, just like Caleb, she wasn’t looking for any strings attached, she just wanted to have a good time. Her name was Marie LeFamn, daughter of French diplomats currently living in Holland.

  Caleb felt very attracted to the idea of being with a beautiful woman but he was more interested in having some great sex to clear all the work stress he had accumulated so far, than having a conversation. Spyros told him not to worry because Marie would be expecting him in the Lobby at ten o’clock and that it would be impossible for him not to recognize her because her beauty stood out from the rest.

  Caleb turned right at the next intersection until he saw the hotel. The city was full of snow, the stores were all lit up and the nightlife was at its highest point even though only a few people ventured out in this temperature. The bars were packed and those who enjoyed cultural events would simply choose one of the usual concerts in the city.

  When he finally got to the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, he gave the keys of the Maserati Indy to the valet parking. He was never late but, apparently, that day was going to be an exception so he entered the hotel in a hurry.

  He just wanted to enjoy a hot shower and a glass of wine in private, but there was one part of his anatomy that needed to release his energy through a… more active way. If he continued his life at the current pace, stressed and permanently alert, he didn’t even want to imagine how he would get to his forties. He looked around the lobby and then went to the front desk and asked if someone was waiting for him. The receptionist nodded with a smile on her lips.

  “Just as Mr. Spyros Menoustho said, I gave her a copy of your key,” she said and then looked at the clock behind her black marble desk, “just in case you got here after nine.” She then gave him an apologetic look before nervously adding, “I hope not to have done anything wrong; you’re the guest but Mr. Menoustho showed me his ID and…”

  “I understand,” Caleb replied. In that moment he realized that the receptionist was new because another experienced professional would have never, under any circumstances, give a guest’s key to a stranger, whether it was for a family member or not. He knew he could issue a complaint but he was too tired for that and didn’t want to make Maria wait much longer. “This is the first and the last time that you give my key to a stranger without my permission. I don’t care if my own mother shows up or, in this case, Spyro Menoustho in the flesh, agreed?”

  “I… I… I’m sorry Mr. Bescott, as a courtesy I… I imagine that she was your fiancée because when…”

  He raised a hand to ask her to stop.

  “I’m going to let this go. I don’t want any other courtesy; I just don’t want anyone to disturb me. I want a new suite tomorrow and a new electronic key.”

  The girl nodded repeatedly

  “Yes, yes, of course sir, whatever you say. The girl…”

  “I know who’s waiting for me and that’s the only reason why your job is safe,” he leaned slightly towards her. She was a cute girl, but he didn’t like cute and dumb women anymore. “Are you new at this job?”

  “I’ve been here for five days…”

  “If you want to grow here, try not to make this type of mistake because a big corporation would not let this go,” he stepped away from the desk and left without giving her the chance to say ‘thank you’.

  Fiancée? What a trick Spyros pulled off this time! He thought while he walked through the lobby and listened to the Michael Bublé version of a Christmas song.

  Caleb pushed the elevator button, rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes until the doors opened again on the last floor. He opened the door to his suite and everything was completely silent. He expected a furious woman yelling at him for making her wait for so long, and instead, he found a girl soundly asleep.

  He left his belongings on the mustard yellow sofa without any particular order before reaching to where the bed was. The female figure was on her back, she was wearing a green dress and she still had her black leggings on. Caleb got close and looked at the high heel, pointy boots that were on the carpet. The only light on was the one on the hall which connected the room’s lobby to its bedroom, where he currently was. The woman’s hands were resting under her cheek and she looked so peaceful that he felt the uncontrollable desire to lie down beside her and hug her.

  Lie down beside her and hug her? The fatigue was making him dumb, he thought.

  She was beautiful, in an unconventional way. Exotic, that was the exact word to describe her. Her lips were slightly opened and she seemed to be very comfortable. He started wondering what color her eyes were and if by any chance they matched her alabaster skin. For the first time he had arrived an hour late to a date, and that wasn’t the only new thing; the fact that a woman had fallen asleep in the middle of a ‘date’ (if you could actually call it that) was also a novelty.

  He hadn’t considered the possibility that the board meeting could take so long. He was really busy talking to his employees so it was practically impossible for him to call Spyros and ask him to let Marie know that he wouldn’t be able to get there on time. His cousin didn’t give him Marie’s personal number, stating that he didn’t want him to cancel the date and miss the chance to know Marie.

  Caleb shook his head and stepped away from the bed. It was such a ridiculous situation that he almost wanted to laugh. He went to the bathroom and took off his clothes. Then he started the shower and let the hot water run over his athletic body.

  Waking up Marie wasn’t an option; it would be tremendously rude because, after all, he fully accepted that he was the one to blame for putting them in this absurd situation. Seeing her lying th
ere soundly asleep made him think about kissing her until she woke up.

  This is what a tired and horny mind does in the middle of a very peculiar night, he thought while rubbing his body with liquid soap and enjoying the manly smell of sandalwood. He knew he could take out his sexual frustration by taking matters into his own hands, but instead, he chose to rest his hands against the wall and let the water clear his head.

  Maybe the next morning he could apologize and they could go back to the idea of going to bed together. If she still wanted to, of course… and if she didn’t disappear before he had the chance to open his eyes.

  CHAPTER 3

  “Marie, wake up,” someone whispered very close to her ear.

  Lauren hated when someone woke her up, especially if they were calling her by some other name. She made a gesture with her hand to ask for some peace and quiet. She was dreaming about her next summer vacations in Marbella; that was much better than waking up.

  I’m so comfortable here! She thought with a light smile while she stretched her arms.

  “It’s almost ten in the morning…” the voice repeated.

  Now I’m hearing voices? She asked herself and rubbed her eyes. She stretched one more time trying to step away from the voice in her head.

  “Ouch!”

  Lauren immediately opened her eyes and gasped. She looked at the man next to her who was wearing nothing but a pair of dark blue boxers, he was looking back at her with a grimace and rubbing the eye that she clearly had just punched.

  “Who are you and w… what are you doing in my…?” Laurent didn’t finish her phrase. She took a look around her and realized it wasn’t her room; no, it wasn’t. She hated mornings because she usually woke up disorientated but she’d never gotten to the point of sleeping with a stranger and forgetting it. She looked at herself and noticed she was fully dressed, she’d just taken off her boots… and then she remembered: Caleb, his grandma, her work permit…

  “Oh! See…” she mumbled as she sat up on the bed. I must look like a witch with my hair all messy, she thought. “I’m sorry about your eye,” she said, looking embarrassed.

  Caleb had never seen such a beautiful woman as Marie. By morning light, she looked like an angel with a seductive body. Even though she was fully dressed, her clothes had bunched up a bit while she slept and was now showing every single one of her curves.

  “I think my eye will survive,” he declared with a grimace. “Good morning.”

  Lauren’s heart started beating faster and a she felt a chill down her spine. Up close, Caleb was even more impressive; the pictures Sylvinna had shown her weren’t even close to doing this man justice, God! How would she ever convince him, a man who oozed confidence from every pore in his body, to do something he didn’t want: go to Sylvinna’s party?

  “Er…”

  “Sorry for being late,” he said honestly. “The meeting took longer than expected Marie, although I would’ve been glad to finish it earlier if Spyros had told me that a beautiful woman like you was waiting for me.”

  Who the hell is Spyros? Lauren wonder, trying to clear her thoughts on that very confusing morning. She has just wanted to lie down and see the snowflakes falling from such great heights like little cotton balls. She must have fallen asleep at some point…

  “I’d like to say that…”

  “It’s me who needs to apologize,” he interrupted softly, resting his hand on the bed, settling down in the corner to look at her. “I was supposed to meet you at nine to go and have dinner. Spyros told me that you were an ingenious and beautiful woman,” he smiles charmingly. He felt really attracted to the woman he had in front of him, “although the truth is that my imagination didn’t do you any justice.”

  What had he called her? Marie? Lauren thought, with her mind a little less groggy. He’s not only handsome, he’s so charming too!

  “You should have woken me up…” she whispered contemplating the couch where Caleb had clearly slept. “I was invading your space because I was trying to surprise you,” she commented, remembering that she only had a few days to fulfill her part of the deal she had signed with this man’s grandmother.

  Caleb clicked his tongue, “I had a good rest and I’m happy to be surprised by such a beautiful woman,” he replied and sat up. Lauren couldn’t help but notice the morning wood Caleb was sporting; she immediately tried to look the other way but it wasn’t fast enough for Caleb not to notice. “I can finally put a face to the name,” he smiled watching her intensely, “and I have to say, Spyro’s taste is impeccable. You’re even more beautiful with your hair all messed up.

  Lauren let out a laugh that broke the ice, but her heart was still beating fast due to the uncertainty of what would happen next.

  If he thinks I’m Marie, I’m not going to prove him wrong. I just have to get him to go to a party, she thought, deciding to take advantage of the misunderstanding.

  “Thank you, I guess,” she replied with a smile.

  “I’m Caleb Bescott and I live in New York, although I’ll be here for the next few days. I’m guessing Spyros already told you.

  She had no choice but to nod.

  “Nice to meet you,” she pushed off the sheets and put some distance between her and Caleb when she realized that the heat between the two of them had nothing to do with the suite’s temperature. “I better go home and change,” she stood up picked up her boots and started putting them on.

  “Wait, let me take a shower and I’ll be right back. Unless you want to…” he paused, his gaze swept hungrily over Lauren’s body, “unless you want to join me.”

  She couldn’t help but meet his gaze and blush. She tried not to look at Caleb’s abs and failed. If he was such a busy business man, when did he ever have time to build that body?

  “Err… I…” she began stuttering. What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn’t going to get a second date if she kept stuttering like flirting was something completely new. “I’ve just woke up and I need a coffee,” she finally responded something that wasn’t very far from the truth.

  Caleb moved closer to her, took her hand in his, caressed her wrist with his thumb and smiled. She met his gaze and, captivated by that man’s elegance, she bit her lower lip. One moment later, Caleb raised his free hand and touched her lips, watching her like only a predator could watch its prey. In this case, she just so happened to be that prey.

  “I’m going to take a shower, and then I want to make it up to you by giving you the breakfast you deserve.”

  It looked like Lauren had been dazzled quite a bit by Caleb’s blond hair and blue eyes, combined with his bone structure chiseled by the Greeks and those lips that guaranteed extraordinary pleasure. There were many beautiful men in Europe, that wasn’t even a question. She had slept with one during her first week in Amsterdam. When she was in the US, she had two boyfriends and was engaged to one of them. However, all those men combined couldn’t be compared to this man’s confidence and masculine quality. Caleb Bescott was simply a whole new level.

  “In that case, thank you,” she mumbled.

  What would happen if Caleb realized she wasn’t the woman he was expecting, and that she’d been hired by his grandma to take him to a party he didn’t want to attend. You have a work permit right in front of you, just think about that, an inner voice whispered in a belligerent tone. “Where do you want us to meet?”

  “You think I could harm you in any way?” he asked with a scowl and feeling offended. “If you felt threatened, you would have followed your woman’s intuition and run away the minute you woke up.”

  Lauren cleared her throat. She was behaving like a fool when all she needed was to gain Caleb’s trust. She had to remember she wasn’t there as a guest but as an employee with a mission.

  “No, of course not,” she said, “that would be pretty absurd, after all, we slept in the same room and you didn’t try to…” she did a nervous gesture with her hand, “err…”

  “I didn’t try to seduce you?�
� he asked with a husky voice and she nodded. “Oh, Marie, don’t get me wrong. Just because I didn’t try anything last night doesn’t mean I don’t plan to experiment with the obvious chemistry between us.”

  Lauren leaned down to continue what she was doing: putting her shoes on. She did it pretty quickly and then got up to talk to Caleb again.

  “I… do you want us to meet at a coffee shop?”

  Suddenly, she felt like her cheeks were burning so she cleared her throat, trying to clear her head in the meantime.

  “I’d like us to go together.”

  “I’d like to take a bath… alone,” she looked at herself and Caleb smiled, “and also change my clothes.”

  He gave her a wink and mentioned the name of a very well-known coffee shop.

  “See you in a while then,” Caleb said, looking at her over his shoulder before closing the bathroom’s door behind him.

  Lauren gulped and went out of the suite. What had she done?

  Caleb’s confusion had given her the perfect exit. Apparently, he had been waiting for someone else’s visit.

  “You’re Miss LeFamn, right?” the lady at the front desk asked Lauren when she said she was looking for Caleb. “Someone told me that I could give you the key to his room in case Mr. Bescott was late. You must be his fiancée,” the receptionist added before giving Lauren the key to Caleb’s suite.

  “I… yes” she answered after a moment of doubt and that’s how she saved herself a long list of unnecessary lies.

  “Congratulations” the receptionist exclaimed and then went back to her job answering the phone.

  Lauren finally knew the name of the woman he’d been expecting: Marie, Marie LeFamn. She was very grateful because the ‘real’ Marie never showed up because otherwise she would have had to say goodbye to her only job opportunity.

  With a sigh of relief, she left the hotel and took a cab home.

  ***

  “Would you like some more coffee?” The waiter asked Lauren.