The Beginning

Tess

I stood before a long white counter. Deep shelves held a variety and abundance of white towels. One after the other, I finished folding and tucking them into their place. The dryer came to a standstill. I turned around to face the industrial machine. High pitched and echoing in the silence that surrounded me, the bell at the front desk called my attention.

"Welcome to—" I started my spiel only to find the lobby empty. My eyes scanned until they stopped on a crumpled piece of paper. Any other day I would've discarded it without a second thought. With Nicky De La Cruz in town, turning my life upside down, I questioned everything. Peeling it back, the angry red pen revealed itself.

"I told you once and I won't say it again." I read aloud. "I told you once?" I thought back to the phone call I received. Was this about Nicky again? My chest squeezed. I felt as though I couldn't catch my breath. Mechanical whirring sounded at the front door. I ran for the back, tucking myself against a wall.

Another chime from that damn bell. Low mumbling was followed by a very clear, "Dial zero on the phone." I knew that voice.

"Nicky?" I popped out from around the corner.

That slow, sexy smile tugged at his lips. "Tess Bowen."

"What are you doing here? You have a place."

He rested his forearms on the counter. It stood chest high, though to him, it seemed dwarfish. He leaned in and, even though a good foot separated us, I felt the heat radiating off him. "Hi Nicky, we didn't get to spend time together last night because I ran off to one of my fourteen jobs. I'd love it if I could come over at take a nap in peace after I get off work." He replied sarcastically.

"I can't. I work late tonight." The note still clutched in my hand was shoved forcefully in my apron pocket.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I lied.

"Look me in the eye and say that."

How did he always know?

My gaze locked with his. I didn't realize I was watching the floor until he'd said something. "Did you come here to stalk me some more?" I decided on a change of subject.

As if on cue, "Nicky!" Veronica shuffled through the front door. Her glossy black hair disheveled and her usual business chic style had been dressed down to a pair of pajamas and a fluffy robe. "You're making me take all of this?" She struggled with three large suitcases and two smaller bags.

"I told you I'd help you get into Santi's. I'm not the one who pissed him off and got kicked out." Nicky barked back in a way I'd never heard before.

"Nicky." She whined like a petulant child.

"Carry your own shit, Roni."

In response, Veronica dropped her things and folded her arms. Nicky threw a hand up in defeat. "You got a room for this brat?"

"There's an Imperial up the street. They have king sized beds and full suites." Veronica continued to metaphorically stomp her foot.

"You told the woman she looked too feral to work at the Imperial." Nicky reminded her.

Veronica's eyes shot to mine.

My gaze shifted to my computer screen and started the reservation. "I was concerned that Imperial was becoming run down. Sue me."

"Don't have to, you just can't stay at the Imperial until they forget what a colossal bitch you can be."

Veronica marched over to Nicky. One short arm reared back, winding up for a hard slap.