What Dreams Are Made Of – Episode 10

#Episode_10

 

 

 

Chrissy walked with Nikloi to the elevator, he pressed his keys and then some floor, and from there they made their way to the end of the lobby. Only when he turned towards a door, she realized there was no restaurant in the sight. She had followed him thinking he, obviously, would know more about the hotel and the location of the restaurant he wanted to go. After all there were 5 eateries in the hotel each with a different cuisine and speciality. But now she cursed herself for not being more attentive. In her eagerness to stay as far away from him as possible and end being all alone with him, she had just not seen where he was leading to.

 

Now he had pushed the magnetic key in the slot and the light at the door purred green allowing them entry. She kept hovering at the door thinking what to do or say. She was not going to his room along with him, she thought. He had moved in

 

 

and turned to let her in but seeing she was still waiting at the threshold, he raised an eyebrow. Chrissy was still fidgeting at the door making no move to enter. As if reading her thoughts, he opened the door wider and said, “This is my office, Ms. Smith. I need a place to operate from when I am here”.

 

Chrissy could see through the fully opened door, that the room inside was indeed set as an office, with a high working table at one end and wide couch with a small centre table at the other end. Still she was not sure. She lingered at the door saying, “I thought we were going to the restaurant.”

 

“I don’t prefer to eat in the restaurant considering that people tend to go overboard knowing that I own the place. Also it attracts a lot of unwanted company”, he said coolly and walked in.

 

Chrissy guessed he was hinting at females wanting to spend with him. He was a rich man, no, scratch that, a very handsome rich man. He was bound to attract female company. She stood for another few seconds at the door, then finally decided to give in. The man owned the place. It was obvious for the businessman like him to set up his office in each of his establishment. She was aware a lot of his important client and partners stayed at this hotel.

 

The room had a rich designer carpet covering the entire floor and dark satin curtains was drawn at the windows. There were two doors at either end of the room which she considered must be the adjoining washroom and something else. This was similar to his office at Swaroski House, only much more lavish and exclusive. The décor was similar to the rest of the hotel but there was something different about this room which she was unable to identify.

 

She was still standing in the centre of the room, not sure if she should sit, fearing she may spoil some of the furniture. He was speaking softly in the phone at one end, ordering lunch for them. Done with the call, he turned towards her and watching her still standing, told her to sit down. Not knowing what else to do, she decided to sit on the chair at the work table. Sitting down made her knee length skirt hitch little above, slightly exposing her shapely legs. It was absolutely normal but in his company she left as if somehow she had committed a mistake. Normally she would have crossed her legs sitting but right now she sat like a rod, extremely conscious of legs being under his gaze. She could feel his eyes watching her from where he was standing few steps away and she had an unusual urge to cover up her legs.

 

 

It’s not a short skirt, for God’s sake, stop staring! There were girls all around wearing much shorter versions without any issue, she seethed inside.

 

She was struggling to not jump from her chair when the bell at the door rang. He asked the person to come in and a steward walking in with a tray served with food. Nikloi asked him to lay it on the table next to the window and guided her to take a seat there. This table was next to the window and gave a fine view of the gardens. Chrissy saw he had ordered too many things, far more than what was required for two people. There was a soup and two

 

salads along with few types of sandwiches.

 

The waiter asked her if he should serve her but Chrissy felt like a clueless child not knowing what to tell him. She had no experience of fine dining or anything of that sort. She preferred to have her lunch, a sandwich or a roll, in her shop or with Linda in the hotel kitchen. She avoided the main dining areas as she never felt comfortable with such extravagance.

 

Nikloi told the waiter they shall serve themselves and asked him to leave. He told her to eat whatever she wanted and took one sandwich himself. She was still thinking how she can avoid eating and get out of here as quickly as possible, when there was another bell. On Nikloi’s order, the steward walked again, this time with tea and small cupcakes and apple pies. He served them on another side table and left. Looking at the appealing apple pies Chrissy knew she won’t be able to resist any further.

 

She picked up her favourite apple pie and only after gulping down two of the really delicious pies she saw Nikloi staring at her. She realized this must have looked very much of the unladylike behaviour. Resisting an urge to eat a third one, she said hesitatingly, “uhuh.. these.. apple pie is my favourite”.

 

“Have more, if you like”, he said while looking at her differently and having his sandwich.

 

Instead she picked up a tuna fish sandwich to avoid eating another apple pie. “The apple pie is very appetising and so is the sandwich”, she said wondering when the last time she enjoyed apple pie or food in general was. Meals were more to keep

 

 

her going rather than a thing to relish. Even during dinner at home, most of time discussion was more around which bill to pay next or what needs to be dropped from their list of needs considering there always some or other urgent expense to be adjusted within the monthly budget. Her mother and sister tried to do their best but she was the only earning member and hence had to carry the primary responsibility of making their ends meet.

 

“Tea?” his voice pulled her out of her reverie and she saw Nikloi was standing on her side holding a cup of tea to her. When did he get up and get the tea, she thought. The look on his face told he knew she had zoned out and was growing impatient with her odd behaviour.

 

She let out her hand hurriedly to take the cup he had been holding but in doing so, her hand got brushed against his hand. Her eyes shot up immediately to his and she felt as if he intentionally didn’t let go the cup, prolonging the contact for few more seconds.

 

The touch was enough to send a fizzy in her body. The brief extra seconds turned her hand into jelly and the cup slipped from her trembling fingers. Its content landed on her thighs leaving a dark smudge on her skirt and almost scalded her soft skin, fortunately the tea wasn’t too hot. But still the sudden slipping made her heart jump to her throat and a squealing sound came out before she could control it. She saw in horror the tea being soaked up greedily by the expensive carpet and she cursed herself inwardly for behaving so clumsily.

 

Nikloi was not so silent in his curse. He muttered something unpleasant and Chrissy shrunk herself guiltily. He must be might angry because of the carpet but he had scooped low at her level to check her. “Are you ok? Did you burn yourself” he asked looking straight into her eyes. Completely lost for words, she just nodded.

 

“Where?” His hands moved to her thighs and she jumped when they touched her. “I meant I am ok”, she said moving far away from him. She didn’t want him checking out her legs, especially her thighs.

 

“I just want to make sure you are ok, now let me check”, he said stubbornly.

 

 

“No!” she almost screamed. Nikloi stood straight, away from her and pressed his lips tightly together. After few seconds, as if controlling his temper, he guided her towards the door at the end of the room saying, “Atleast freshen up yourself and your dress. I will ask one of the lady employees to come up and help you”.

 

But Chrissy had stopped listening to him. While speaking to her, he had opened the end d

 

oor and beyond it Chrissy could see a lounge area leading into a bedroom. An enormous bed stood at the farther end of the large room. Her eyes enlarged as the reality seeped in. It was not an office. It was in fact a large suit with proper drawing area, lounge area, bedroom, etc. He had fooled her by saying it was his office.

 

She fumed at his deception but more at her own gullibility. The place was a seven star hotel and he was the owner of it. Obviously he would have a large suit to himself. He could not just afford it but demand it being the rich insolent creature he was. But she would not stay with him in his room for another second.

 

“This.. this is as good as your own house! I must leave now”, she exclaimed. With that she turned and moved towards the door but he was faster than her and got hold of her hand. Jerking her hand towards him, he pulled her closer and said, “And what, may I ask, is so disgusting about my house?” through gritted teeth.

 

Chrissy could see his eyes having a burning light. He looked angry but she had to be out of here as soon as possible. She tried pulling her hand free and said “Let me go”.

 

“You haven’t yet answered my question”. He said flatly, straining her to answer him.

 

“I don’t have to”, she snapped.

 

“You have to, because I am asking”, he said strongly emphasizing on the I and pulling her closer in his arms.

 

Chrissy was now locked in his embrace with his right hand holding her left hand and his left hand around her slim waist. The closeness was making her panic. Her

 

 

breathing had become rough and she was struggling to keep her heart jumping out of her mouth any minute.

 

She wanted to break the hold and run as far away as possible but she doubted her legs would serve her even if she somehow got herself released. Seeing that he had no intention of letting her go till she answered him, stammering in his arms. “I.. it.. it is not appropriate” somehow she got the words out.

 

If she had thought, this would make him release her, she was wrong. He did not slacken his hold and she could feel the soft pressure of his body pressed against hers. She had lowered her eyes while answering him, but sensing no change in him, she forced herself to look up in to face. He was looking at her strangely and his eyes had a different expression which she couldn’t read properly.

 

“What is not appropriate?” he asked but his voice was not as hard as it was earlier.

 

Chrissy groaned inwardly, does this man need everything to be spelt out?

 

She forced herself to say it aloud, “Me.. you..alone.. I mean together.. in your.. room..” she skipped the word bed. Still she could feel colour rising profusely all the way up from her neck.

 

He still did not release her but his grip loosened. The touch on her left hand became almost feathery, like a caress. For a split second she saw his eyes turn extremely dark and she felt he would do something that she had been always afraid of since the time he pulled her in his arms. But the expression was gone even before it had fully registered on Chrissy.

 

He released her suddenly and moved a step away. The gush of air that touched her due to the sudden movement was quite cold after his warm embrace. She didn’t know if she was happy to be finally free or sad that he was not holding her anymore.

 

What was wrong with her? Where were such thoughts coming from? She didn’t want him to hold her, she didn’t even like him! The man was as cold as ice. She didn’t want anything to do with him.

 

But in spite of these scolding thoughts, a part of her wanted to be back in his arms. She could still remember the way his body pressed was against her. She couldn’t

 

 

understand why she was experience such contrasting emotions whenever around him.

 

He moved further away but was still watching her. She hoped he could not read her revealing thoughts. The awkward silence in the room stretched for another few minutes before he said,

 

“You need not to be concerned. This place is indeed my office and I asked you to join only for the lunch. I do not need to use deception to get a woman in my room.”

 

Ouch!

 

If she wa

 

s embarrassed earlier, she almost wanted to die now. Her face had coloured red till her hair roots. The meaning of his comment was not lost on her but she had no interest in knowing his relationships details with women. A part of her had also turned jealous of the way he spoke about another woman in his room but she killed that thought even before it could be fully experienced. She had enough complications in her life than this added snag.

 

“In that case, I must leave now. Thank you for the lunch” she said with as much dignity as she could gather and turned towards the main door.

 

“There is one more thing though”, he stopped her. “There is a business party being organized at the hotel this Saturday for all the special guests at the hotel and many of our business partners are attending. You should join the party”. What party? She thought.

 

“Why me?, she said

 

“Because as my business associate at this hotel, your presence is required and also the fact that you have charmed quite a few of my special guests. They would want to associate with you”.

 

“But I have never attended such a party. I wouldn’t know what to do there”, she objected.

 

“Ms. Smith, this is not a pleasure party. It is a business party which is needed to associate and network with existing and future clients. A lot of important guests

 

 

would be there and I want you to be there to talk about your business and make prospective buyers”.

 

“But I already have considerable number of clients, including those at this hotel.

 

Surely there are enough”.

 

“Nothing is enough in business. You need to keep expanding and growing to ensure you never hit the low. I would have thought your business experience would have taught to you that by now”. He said with a blank face but she could feel the dig at her in his words.

 

Oh the man and his love for more money! Chrissy was shocked but she had no intentions of letting him no that.

 

“Ok, I shall be there”, she said finally.

 

The man just nodded in response as if she was already decided.

 

With that she finally moved out of his room and breathed normally first time since the time she had stepped in his room. She had agreed to come for the party but she was extremely worried what will she do there, how she will be able to engage with others at a more informal set up.

 

She went to her shop and was quickly met by Linda. “Where were you? I had come back earlier but you weren’t around”, Linda said.

 

“Oh thank God, you are here, Linda. I really need your help”, Chrissy said without answering her question. But Linda didn’t notice. She quickly asked her, “What happened? Tell me”.

 

Chrissy told her about the party on the Saturday. It was two days away and she needed a dress to wear to this party which she obviously didn’t have. She requested Linda to help her choose an appropriate dress as she would have attended similar parties in the past as well.

 

Linda was exhausted with her day long meetings and she said she needed just this thing to charge herself again. After Chrissy was through with wrapping up things for the day, they went together to the same boutique shop Linda had taken her last time.

 

 

Linda got really excited to choose the evening gown for Chrissy. She pulled out a number of dresses and made Chrissy try them one by one. Chrissy found most of them having deep necklines or bold cuts which she was not at all comfortable with but Linda kept telling her these were in fashion. Chrissy knew she would not be able to walk out in such an exposing outfit.

 

Linda was trying to convince her that she should try something daring when Chrissy found a black gown hanging quite at the back on the display. The dress was full length, without sleeves but a decent neckline, not at all like the other pieces. She picked it up and went to try it on. Luckily, the gown fitted her perfectly well. The top section was body hugging and flared out from waist down till her ankles. It gave a subdued simple look but complimented her curves very nicely and contrasted against her clear white skin.

 

She was slightly concerned about the back which had folds around the neckl

 

ine in a V-cut, showing off her beautiful skin but it was not too deep. When she walked out of the changing room Linda agreed that the dress suited her personality, simple yet elegant. With Linda’s encouragement she finally bought the dress and also bought matching black shoes which completed the look.

 

She was not too happy about the idea of attending the party but she had enjoyed the dress rehearsal. And also saw how she had transformed in front of the mirror while trying those dresses. Finally happy with her purchase, she had thanked Linda and returned home. Next two days went in a fizzy amidst her regular work. Most of the time she was occupied with thoughts about the impending party but there was no word from Nikloi Swaroski. Neither had he sought her again nor did she see him.

 

She was not at all a party person and but she knew she had to keep her word. She just hoped she would be able to complete her obligation to attend the party and leave as quickly as possible.

 

 

 

Story_Continues