Valentino's Angel

05. Tipton

Alexis' POV

I wake up groaning in frustration. The sun is glaring in my eyes. Shit. I forgot to close the curtains. Well there goes my beauty sleep. I roll over on my king size bed and pull the sheets over my head. I'm about to fall asleep when I hear a loud thud.

Who could be knocking on my door this early in the morning? It must be like 6 AM.
I hear faint foot steps that become louder the closer they get to my bed.

"Good afternoon Miss Alex, I brought you your morning coffee." I immediately recognize the owner of the voice.

"Nina, don't you usually bring me my coffee at like 12? I wiggle out from under the covers and reach for my phone.

"Its actually past 12 Miss Alex. I came in earlier but you were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to disturb you."

I reach out and take the coffee. I take a sip and smile. "You're the best Nina. What did I do to deserve you?"

Nina blushes and starts walking towards the kitchen. Nina is a decent height. I am 5'8 and she is slightly shorter than me. She has dark chocolate brown hair that falls just below her shoulders. Her hair is usually tied up but when she occasionally opens it before going home, it falls in the most beautiful bouncy curls. She has a beautiful, defined facial structure with striking green eyes that sit under thick dark lashes. She has a defined nose and plump lips that are usually curved up into a smile.

She is petite but due to her Spanish heritage, she has beautiful curves for a woman her age. Nina takes very good care of herself. She is 45 years old but doesn't look a day over 35. It's a mystery to me how she's still single - especially since her husband passed away over a decade ago.

I wrap the sheet around myself and make my way to the kitchen. I prop up onto the kitchen counter and watch as Nina starts preparing breakfast - or should I say brunch.

Nina has been working here for as long as I can remember. The one thing I admire about her is the love she has for her family. She's originally from Puerto Rico. She comes from a very poor family but she does everything she can to make sure her only son has a better life than she ever did. She came to America 10 years ago and started working three jobs just to make ends meet. She worked as a housekeeper in the Tipton hotel during the week and as a waitress every night. On weekends she would babysit me because my parents were never at home.

Nina always treated me so well, so when I found out she had to work 3 jobs just to send her son to school, it broke my heart that such a sweet lady had to go through so much pain and heartache. I can't imagine how she must feel being away from her family. I talked to my father about what Nina had to go through and he approached the manager of the hotel and they both agreed that she should work at the Tipton Hotel for double what she used to earn from all 3 jobs.

I wonder how my father managed to do that.

"What are you making Nina?" The smell coming from the stove is so good it's making my stomach growl.

She looks up and says, "Your favorite, panqueques". Panqueques are pancakes in Spanish. Nina has been teaching me Spanish for the past few years. I'm not very good at speaking it but I understand it very well.

"No peu-do es-perar, esperi? Esperar?"

Nina laughs and says, "esperar". I told you I wasn't that good at speaking it.
Nina adds, "You're getting much better!"

I smile from ear to ear. I know she's probably lying but it still feels good to hear it.

"Oh by the way Miss Alex, did you hear that Mr. Robinson from across the hall moved out? Someone else has already moved in. I saw him walking out earlier and he is Muy guapo (very handsome). He looks about your age. He looks very strong – he will take good care of you mija"

I roll my eyes at her assumption that I need someone to take care of me.

Speaking of someone taking care of me, I can't seem to get that strange guy from last night out of my head. He just comes out of nowhere, beats all those guys up and leaves with merely a wink and a "you're welcome' – how infuriating!

But here I am... thinking about him. I mean, what's wrong with me? I don't even know his name.

"Earth to Alex", Nina says as she places the pancakes in front of me. I grab the plate and head outside to sit on the balcony. I LOVE looking at the beautiful view. I've sat here so many times before but I still get so mesmerized by it. The skyscrapers look like they're reaching for the heavens and the city seems to extend so far beyond my line of vision. 

I lift my hand up and immediately clutch it. That bat-shit crazy guy last night really tried to break my wrist. I've been wrecking my brain all night trying to figure out who those guys were? Were they just random creeps who hang around the club or was that an intentional set-up? Clearly I watch too many movies.

I suddenly remember that I still have Stephanie's scarf. I pick up my phone to ask her if I can drop it off today. She messages back a few minutes later to tell me that she left this morning to go an trip to Bali and she'll only be back in a few weeks.

I wanted to ask her if she knew who that guy from last night was because she's always at that club

After a few hours of lounging around my penthouse I decide that I should go out and get some tacos from my favorite food truck around the corner. Food will definitely help in my top-secret investigation of figuring out who that guy from last night is.

But also, food is life.

I hop off my seat and head into the shower. I take a long shower and let all the mistakes of last night wash away. I put on a pair of boyfriend jeans, a sweatshirt and my favorite pair of converse shoes. I quickly put my hair into a messy bun and head out the door. I probably look like a potato but I don't care. My tacos are waiting for me.

I walk aimlessly towards the elevator. I step inside and see a figure in the corner of the elevator. I'm so busy searching through my Instagram feed that I don't even look up to see who it is. As we reach the lobby, the mysterious figure and I both bolt for the elevator doors at the same time and end up colliding with each other. I look up and immediately recognize those beautiful golden hazel eyes. I was so stunned that I just stared at him with my jaw probably on the floor.

It's him.

Before I can even form a sentence, he starts to walk away.

What. Is. With. This. Guy?!

*~~~~~*
Author's Note

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