Runaway

Chapter 3

Nikki was walking slowly down the street, which was supposed to bring her to Brian's Beach Shop. The woman was looking forward to meeting new people. The sun had already begun to set. But, no matter what, it was still to warm for Nikki's metabolism, adjusted to the coldness of the north. As she approached her destination, Nikki thought about the past two days in Florida. She felt much happier. The negative environment from Seattle was nowhere to be seen.

She could already see Brian's shop from the distance.

The door was closed but she could hear voices from the inside. Nikki opened the door and walked in. She immediately looked around, trying to find Brian, but instead, there was a dark-skinned man at the counter.

„I'm sorry, but we're closed," he said monotonously, not looking up from the papers.

She squirmed nervously.

„Umm...I'm looking for Brian. He asked me to come."

That seemed to capture the man's attention. He got up, walked around the counter and stood in front of her.

„You're the girl he helped yesterday, didn't you?" he asked, stretching out his hand. „Nice to meet you. I'm Diego."

Nikki nodded, shaking his hand in greeting.

„Nikki!"

Diego turned around and started shouting.

„Hey, Brian, your girl is here!"

Nikki rose both eyebrows in question as Diego smiled innocently.

Several people came out of the stockroom, stood in front of the counter and kept their eyes on Nikki. Brian was trying to push himself through the group.

„I'm glad you came," he said in greeting, smiling softly. „By the way, I'm sorry for Diego. His jokes are always tasteless."

Nikki smiled back, then well-studied the other people in the room. One of the girls was very familiar, but she couldn't put her anywhere until she didn't remember the hotel.

„I know you," she said, pointing at the girl. „You're a receptionist at my hotel."

Aline took a few seconds to remember, but then her facial expression changed in surprise.

„Yeah, I'm Aline," she replied. „Yesterday, when you came back to the hotel with Brian, my shift was already over. It's a really small world."

Nikki had to agree with Aline. The brown-haired girl has been nice to her from the very beginning. She didn't know they would meet again, and certainly not under these circumstances.

„Brian, how come you didn't brag about going at lunch with The Silhouette's author?" Aline asked her friend, who was nervously scratching the back of his head.

„You know who I am?" Nikki asked, surprised.

Aline merely nodded.

„Our boss let us know that you're coming. Well...he also gave us a certain...let's say codes of conduct that must be followed while you're near."

Nikki's eyes were wide open. She had no idea about all this.

„I didn't give any instructions or requests to anyone."

Aline just laughed.

„Relax," she replied. „It's the policy of the hotel."

Brian cleared his throat. He had enough of chatting.

„Nikki, let me introduce you to others," he said, facing his friends. „Guys, meet Nikki Hamilton, very cool person. Nikki, they're my gang...sort of. You already met Diego and Aline, so there're only David and Marina left."