A woman's dilemma - Episode 48

 

Daniel:

"Are you guys set over there?" I say into the phone as I walk my way up the stairs to the seventh floor. I don't want to run into Claudia yet till I have everything prepared. Her plane should land anytime soon so I make quick work of letting myself into the room they have booked for her.
"The live band just got here. We have the banner up as well . It's just the lady and yourself that's missing from this set up." The hotel's worker helping me set up the romantic dinner informs me and I nod satisfactorily. I note to myself to tip him greatly when this is all done.
"Thank you. I'll text you when she's on her way." I tell him.
"Alright sir. Good luck with your proposal." He says and I end the call without correcting him. This is a proposal of sort. I can't believe I let such a flimsy thing as half a million Naira put a wedge between this woman and I. I'm not leaving without taking her with me.
I pocket my phone and push the card into the door. The door clicks open and I smile. Good thing the hotel room was booked in my name. I was able to get a keycard.
  I tiptoe my way into the room and look around for any sign of Claudia's presence. The room is empty and spotless

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. I forgo admiring the amazing space as I make my way to the bedroom. I retrieve the small card asking her to come to the dock behind the hotel and drop it on the bed.
"No. It might get blown away by the air coming in from the window." I pick the card up and move to the windows to shut them. Much better. Maybe I should just put it on the bedside table. Will she see it here? I bite down on my bottom lip in deep contemplation. Where is the best place to put this?
  The soft sound of the opening door sounds as loud as thunder to my startled heart. I jump back with wide eyes. Who's that? I spin on the ball of my feet as I survey the area for possible hiding spot.
"My God, I'm famished." I hear her familiar voice and even though the voice spikes my heart rate up, I know this is not the time to swoon over her voice. I can't have her find me here. Knowing Claudia, she won't listen to a word I say. I was hoping the set up I have prepared downstairs would soften her enough to explain but this? She'll go ballistic.
I see the handle of the bedroom's door turn. Sh*t I'm done for!

****

Claudia:

I leave a trail of my shoes, bag and glasses from the sitting area of the luxurious hotel suite to the bedroom's door. I'm more than tired and the thought of a warm shower sound like heaven right now. I pull the door open and gasp.
"So beautiful!" I twirl around on my feet and sigh at the perfect view of the water below. I waltz to the bathroom and it's more breathtaking. Oh this is what I call a vacation.
I walk back to the bedroom and start to quickly unbutton my shirt. It comes off in quick succession to my jeans. Oh I already feel like a weight as being taken off me. I set my hands to the waistband of my panties when I hear something like an inaudible gasp and I freeze. I grab the sheets off the bed and wrap it around me quickly as I make my way to the side of the bed. I grab the bed side lamp and tiptoe towards the sound I'm not so sure I heard.
"Hello? Is somebody in here?" I quietly move to the curtains and swipe them open with the lamp armed and ready to swing at whoever I find there. I release a relieved breath. There's no one behind the curtain. I sag in relief and walk back to drop the lamp but then my eyes click on blue material sticking out of the wardrobe's door. My eyes goes wide as I place my hand over my mouth not to alert the intruder.
He picked the wrong room. I make sure not to make any noise until I yank the door open.
"Bastard!" The man tries to run past me but I quick turn and swing the lamp against his head. He staggers and slips on my shirt on the floor. His head slams against the bed side table as I scream. His body goes limp on the floor where he's lying face down.
With my heart in my mouth I drop the lamp and pluck my phone from my jeans pocket. I dial the emergency number.
"911 what is your emergency?" The bored voice on the other side of the phone asks.
"There's an intruder in my hotel room and..." I look to the body on the floor and stop short.
"What....what...why are you in here? I....oh no no no. Blood!" The sight of blood creeping away from Daniel's head makes me dizzy. Daniel! What is he doing here? Did I kill him?! My brain kicks back to action and I rush to the body.
"Daniel! Open your eyes! Don't you die on me!" I shake him but he doesn't move.
"Hello? Are you still there? Where is your address and can you see the intruder? Is he armed?" I remember the call and put my phone back to my ear.
"Ambulance! Send an ambulance! Please! He's bleeding. Blood is everywhere. I hit him with a lamp and he fell against a table. I..."
"Ma'am we need you to calm down." He says the impossible. My heart beat only rise up further.
"Is he breathing? Check his pulse." Of course his pulse! Why didn't I think of that? Right, because I'm scared out of my mind. I place two fingers against his pulse point with bated breath. I feel a pulse.
"He's breathing!" I exclaim.
"Good. Call out your address. We'll be there soon. Just don't move him." I give them the hotel's address and end the call. Oh Daniel! What have I done?

****

"You're awake!" Daniel's groggy eyes blinks open and I jump up from the chair by his bed. I wipe the tears from my face as I settle my eyes on his face.
"Hey. Can you see me? Are you okay?" I ask and he nods. He looks disoriented and I worry that something isn't right with him.
"Where are we? Did you get my note? How about the surprise?" He asks all at once as he tries to sit up. I push him back down and frown at him.
"What surprise? Are you sure you're okay?" His hand goes up to the small plaster against his wound.
"The doctor said it's just a small cut. You scared the hell out of me! What were you even doing in my wardrobe. Another game of yours? You wanted to make a mockery of me again right?" I feel my worry turn to anger.
"Calm down. I just wanted to see you." His face looks a bit pale but I don't let that calm me down. He doesn't deserve my calm.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down. You said we should not cross paths again."
"Claudia you have to listen to me." His hand touches my arm lightly and I'm reminded of the sparks that doesn't seem to have stopped sparking between us. I gasp and jump back. What am I even doing?
"Forget it. I don't even know what am doing here. I can't really say that I'm happy that I didn't kill you." I say.
"You don't mean that." He looks offended and I laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. He doesn't get to play the hurt one in this.
"I'm out of here." I mutter and throw my hands up in the air in exasperation.
"Claudia wait!" I don't turn around to face him. I just walk on but that's until I realize I'm without my phone or money to get back to the hotel. I slump against the hospital's gate and take deep breaths. This just gets worse my the minute. I feel angry tears threaten to spill and I bite them back.
"I'm sorry I scared you." I stiffen at the soft voice behind me. I don't turn around.
"Go away." I say weakly. This isn't how I planned to start my vacation. I push off the gate and start to walk on but Daniel's hand catches my arm.
"Don't leave. Please." His hand slides down till it engulfs my smaller one. Tingling sensations spikes up my hand and spreads all over my body. My body isn't working with my brain here. I shouldn't be enjoying his touch. I pull my hand away from his and cross it across my chest. His face falls and he puts his hand into his pocket.
"I'll drive you. I called my manager to bring us a car." He says.
"I'm not getting into a car with you." I shake my head at the idea.
"It's getting late. The cloud is heavy. You came out without your purse too. Let me help you. Nothing attached. I just can't leave you out here." I can't refuse.

Read " Set me free " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I really don't want to be out here when the rain starts. My eyes already feel heavy from jet lag. I sigh in defeat.
"I don't want you talking to me till we get to the hotel room. And after that, I don't want us to meet again." I say seriously. He sighs as well but nods. We stand awkwardly for about twenty minutes before the car is brought to us. I climb into the passenger's seat before he can help me in and slam it shut. My eyes remain trained outside as he enter the car too. I hear him thank the man who brought the car and give him some money. I say nothing through all this and continue to stare outside. The sunny day is already turning gray with clouds.
I try to hold on to consciousness but within few minutes of the ride, I feel myself give in to sleep.