red velvet room (m.j.)

Chapter XVII

A/N: I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Merry Christmas and enjoy this long update! - Alex xoxo (I feel like I've used this gif before...)

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"Love is the greatest fear of all."

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As Sascha came over to Samantha at the ominous hallway, with his large hands tucked inside the pockets of his dark dress pants, the house keeping girl suddenly shied away from his regarding stare. Her cheeks flared from the embarrassment of her previous conversation with Jenine earlier, how she shouldn't have taken a closer look at that damn picture.

Samantha rubbed her arms at the sides as she avoided Sascha's gaze as much as she could. She bit her lip to keep her from saying something she would regret or make her seem any more stupid. Sascha sighed. "Did Jenine made you uncomfortable again?"

"Again?" she repeated, finally meeting his dark eyes. Darker than midnight. Sascha wasn't oblivious with the negative tension between Samantha and Jenine. He knew that they won't co-operate with each other the moment they crossed paths. "I've noticed, seen, and expected this for a long time. That's why I'm asking if you need any reassurance."

"Um, no need," she stammered, "I can handle Miss Carmichael on my own, but thank you." Sascha was secretly saddened that Samantha declined his help once again out of the million offers he had given to her ever since she moved in the hotel with him. In separate rooms, of course, with her outgoing best friend. Little did Sascha knew, Samantha used to cope living with her bratty step-sister who acted exactly like Jenine. For Samantha, this was just another pointless quarrel to get over with. No big deal.

Sascha hummed and nodded his head once, but quite unsure about leaving it behind just yet. He sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Okay, but don't hesitate to call me for help."

Innocent Samantha nodded her head and embraced herself once more, chewing on her pink lips. For a moment longer than intended, Sascha retracted his hand and placed them back in the warm pockets of his pants. He lets her go so she can finish her shift for the day. Speechless still, Samantha pushed her trolley to another room that was next on her list. She waved her personal key card that unlocks all rooms at the sensor until she heard the click. She made one last look at the hallway where Sascha stood, only to see the back of his heel sticking out slightly before disappearing into a doorway. The door made a shutting sound and the hallway was silence once again.

Jenine's room was far from silent.

Sascha kicked back the door as he came in. A frustrated secretary turned around to face her boss with a cigarette freshly lit from a lighter from the looks of it. With her two fingers, she took the cancer stick out from her mouth and blew a stream of smoke towards Sascha's direction. The smoke sadly didn't go far enough to hit him. Sascha was half glad.

"You and I both know that you were given the balcony for a reason," said Sascha. Jenine glared at Sascha as she took another drag of the cigarette. She clearly didn't care. "A smoke alarm going off will just bring relief to your workers Mr Curtis."

"Don't sass me Jenine," he raised his voice at her, "your attitude is already pissing me off." Jenine rolled her intense blue eyes and exhaled intoxicated carbon dioxide. To oblige her boss, she opened the doors to her balcony and smoked there. Sascha brought his hand over his face to massage his forehead and brow bone. He stepped up closer enough to Jenine for them to have a proper talk, not slightly realizing the picture of herself and Michael on the exact same spot Samantha found it in when she was in the room a few moments earlier.