James Patrick March x reader

CHAPTER 4: Meeting more and more residents

I liked that I already got to meet my neighbor and also befriend him. I kept playing our conversation over in my mind. I couldn't help but feel like something was off. But I just couldn't wrap my head around what it was. Perhaps it was just an excuse to have a reason to replay the scene over and over.

Soon enough I started to get hungry again, so I made my way out of my room. After I put away my new outfit of course, I wouldn't want it to wrinkle or tear on accident.

I stepped into the elevator and to my surprise someone was already in. A uniquely beautiful woman. She looked like she had been crying, her hair was frizzy and she didn't look healthy. But still, there was a kind of beauty that lay behind her eyes I would only fail to describe, so I won't even try. She glanced towards me but didn't say anything, I decided not to force a conversation. She ran out of the elevator doors the second they opened.

On my way out I looked after her but couldn't see her anymore. Honestly curious where she could have run off to, I slowly made my way into the direction she went in. 

I found a bar, with a very glamorous woman tending to it.

"Hello Darling." She said, her voice kind of smokey just like her pretty blue eye makeup.

"Hi." I said enthusiastically.

"What can I get you?" She asked sweetly.

"I'm afraid nothing. But maybe you could help me. I was wondering where I could find something good to eat around the area?" I said with a light chuckle.

"There's lots of good food out there. Just not very affordable." She said and gave a laugh.

"Spitting truth I see." I said and eternally cringed at my choice of words.

"We do have room service though." She said, with a knowing grin.

"Would you recommend it?" I asked, obviously poking fun at her.

"Have you bothered Iris before?" She asked and I asked if that was the name of the receptionist.

"Yes. So you have... I'll trhow in a good word for you. Maybe then she won't spit into your food." She said and I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

"Oh. Where are my manners today! I'm Y/N. A pleasure to meet you." I said with a smile and finally sat down.

"Wonderful name." She smiled, "I'm Liz." She said and streched out her hand in a graceful manner, so I took it. "Now. What can I get you?" She asked and turned around to the abundance of liquor.

"I'm really not an alcohol expert. Surprise me okay?" I said, hoping she would go easy on me.

"Alrighty." She said and started fixing something for me.

The presence of smoke made me cough and I turned to look where it was coming from. The area was dimly lit, but I could make out what seemed to be the woman from before.

"Not a smoker either huh?" Liz said and set down a glas with dark liquid in it, in front of me.

"Nope." I said and inspected my drink.

"Then maybe my hotel isn't the right place for you after all." I heard a familiar voice say behind me.

I turned around and was greeted with James PatrickMarch making his way over to the bar. He, too was holding a cigarette and sat down beside me. Trying not to hold the cigarette directly in my face.

Then I realized what he had said. "Wait. Your hotel!" I said surprised, now being even more fascinated by the man than I was before. "I gotta say. I really love the asthetic. It feels like I'm in an old movie or something. Not even the smoke could ruin it." I said and felt like I was trying to please him with my words of affirmation.

"Please, Y/N you flatter me too much." He said and puffed out a cloud of smoke to the side.

"Yeah. Get a room. Some people want to sulk in silence over here." The woman said loudly. Annoyance clear as glass.

"Oh zip it Sally." Liz shushed.

"You know, Mr. March. Y/N just asked Liz about where to get something good to eat." Sally grinned. It wasn't a nice one. And out of the corner of my eye I could see Liz shoot her a look that could've killed.

"I'm afraid, I wouldn't know much about restaurants from around town. It's been a while since I've really been out there." He said with a small sigh.

"Oh I bet you have a lot of work to do. Maintaining such a big hotel, I mean." I said and smiled awkwardly.

"Not nearly as much as you'd think." He said and smiled. "Though I must admit. Although I build this magnificant structure. My... ex-wife, is the one who runs it most of the time." He said bitterly.

I decided not to push the topic any further. I wanted to continue talking to him but my stomach rumbled as loud as a whale's mating call. I could feel my head turn red from embarrasment.

"Well, it seems I should not keep you any longer." He said and bid me farewell once more. Then he dissapeared into the shadows of his hotel.