The Element of Surprise

The Irony of It All

3rd POV

"You've got to be kidding me," Estella gawks at the receptionist as if what she just said went over her head, "This must be a mistake."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, it's not," the young girl drawls.

"How could there only be one vacant room in a hotel of, what, a hundred rooms?"

"There's a wedding this weekend, Ma'am. The guests already arrived -"

"You know what?" Stella cuts her off and inhale slowly to calm her nerves, "It's fine. It's late, I'm tired, we'll take it."

The receptionist smiles, "Wonderful. That'll be $122.94."

"That much?"

"It's a honeymoon suite, Ma'am."

She sigh, "Of course, it is. Do you take credit cards?" Sliding her card towards the girl, Stella watches her swipe it through the machine before gesturing for her to insert her pin. After paying for the room and receiving the key card for the door, Stella drags herself towards Rossi in the lobby. This won't be good... "Surprise, they only have one vacant room - the honeymoon suite."

"Oh, really now?"

"Apparently, the wedding taking place this weekend will have a full house," taking her bag from his hand, she leads the way to the elevator without getting a proper look at his expression.

It's a well known fact; elevator rides are awkward. Especially when there is no background music and when the person you're sharing with happens to be someone you're crushing on. More so, if that crush drives you to wonder what it will be like to kiss him in the said elevator with the thrill knowing at any moment, the doors will open and someone might see. That lead to several sideways glances stolen at the senior agents as Estella allows herself to appreciate him in that suit. He's wearing the full attire for a change, instead of the usual jeans and blazer. Not that it didn't look good on him, but still, he's looks dashingly handsome tonight.

The moment the doors ding and slide open, Estella is marching ahead towards their room. Swiping the key card through the lock, the door unlocks and they enter what must be the most lavish hotel room they've ever seen - well, what she's ever seen. Being a famous writer and all, she assumes Rossi must be used to this.

But then the moment of horror...

The one bed.

The two of them place their bags on the separate sofas in the small sitting area and stand at the doot of the king-size bed, silently wondering what to do about this dilemma.

"You take the bed," Estella is the first to offer.

"How about I take the couch?" He counters that offer and gesture at the sofa with his bag, "I'm not about to let a woman sleep on that."

"Hey, let's leave the sexism out of this or else..."

"Or else what?"

"Or else I'll be forced to remind you that with age comes back problems, and that couch is a red flag when it comes to joints."

Rossi's brows knit together, "Only last week you told me age is but a concept."

"Have I called you old?"

"You were implying it."

Here we go again...

Not in the slightest mood to resume their back and forth arguing for the past week or so, Estella gives in and comes up with another plan, "Well, if both of us insists on sleeping on the couch, then the couch is out - it's off the table. We'll share the bed."