No pressure: A Rihanna/ Justin Bieber fanfic

Chapter 8: Doubt

The Carlyle hotel, New York, 2014

                                      
                                          *****
Justin popped another breath mint into his mouth. The peppermint stung against his wet tongue. He swirled around his mouth to ease the pain.

                                          *****
Leandra zipped up Rihanna's Dior dress and handed her Dior clutch. Melissa opened the door.
Rihanna stepped out of the hotel room.
*****
As he leaned easily upon the counter, his ears perked. He could hear the sounds of heels clicking.

*****
She walked to the elevator and pressed the down button. The elevator's gold embossed doors opened. A smiling Elevator operator , in a neat green uniform greeted her.

"Good morning M'am." He said politely.
She looked at his name tag.

"Morning Allen," she said without missing beat. "Could you take me to the lobby?" She asked.

"Of course." he said, pressing the button.
"Here for anything special?" He inquired.

"You could say that." She said.

*****

The sound of heels clicking continued. He turned around. A woman approached him in a business suit with red hair.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but my niece is an incredible fan of your work, and I could never forgive myself if I saw you and didn't get an autograph." She said.

His heart sunk a little. It wasn't who thought it was. He batted his eyes and smiled.
"Of course," he said.
She dug into her purse and grabbed a pen and notepad.
"What's her name?" He asked as he was handed the pen and paper.

"Sandra" , she said.

"Sandra, that's a really pretty name." He said.

"She's a pretty girl!" The woman said.

He began to write his name.

*****
"36 years is a long time." Rihanna said as they eased past the 11th floor.

"It is" the operator said. "But I've enjoyed every minute of it."

"What's your secret to a successful marriage?" She asked.
He paused his face furrowed.

*****

"Thank you so much, again, you're not as bad as people say!" The woman said as he handed her back the pen and notepad.
He winced through a smile.
"Thanks."
She walked away. He looked at his watch.

*****
"Sacrifice." The operator said after a pause.

Rihanna nodded her head in agreement.
"Sacrifice, I'm going to have to remember that."

The elevator doors opened.
*****
It was 6:57am. Maybe he shouldn't have come. Maybe it was all in his head. He dreamed about nights such as last night many times before. Perhaps had let his imagination runaway with his heart under the blue lights and the music. But something was different in her eyes. It didn't look like pity. Not that night.
*****
Rihanna walked out onto the landing of the second floor. Below she could see all the guests in the lobby, running about, grabbing bags, having cellphone calls, but where was Justin?
*****
He drifted away from the concierge desk, his large eye lashes glazing over his bright brown eyes. His chest heaved. He felt lost in the crowd. He eyed the door and the masses of people passing in and out. What if he just left. Just disappeared into the crowd. He looked at his watch. It was 6:58 am. Justin walked out the door.

~END OF CHAPTER~