Defy Desire

Chapter 36 - Maia

Why was she here? What were the chances that she would book in at the same spa hotel as me on the same weekend? It was a popular place to be fair but it seemed far too strange. I figured my drunken mind was making the situation feel worse and making me convince myself of something that wasn't true but still, I had to know...why was Rachel here?'

I watched Rachel as she grabbed a case from the car and headed towards the hotel. I glanced around quickly for somewhere to hide and moved along the path and behind a pillar holding up the grand entrance of the hotel. I watched as she moved across the road and through the doors, into the lobby. What the hell was she doing here?

I pulled out my phone and texted Tom to call me. I had to tell him she was here; I had to hear his thoughts on it. I returned my phone to my bag after sending the message and slowly moved towards the doors of the hotel entrance. I peeked in and watched Rachel talking to the receptionist at the desk. I heard my phone ringing in my bag but couldn't take my eyes off Rachel, ignoring its sound. I watched her laughing with the young girl and eventually wave and walk through the lobby and into the lift. I squinted my eyes at her as the doors closed, cursing myself for being so drunk at a time like this.

I entered the lobby and headed over to the desk. I tried to walk the best I could but the look from the receptionist made it clear she knew I was highly intoxicated; I was wobbling side to side gently but forced myself to approach her.

'Hi,' I said, with a smile, trying to keep my voice clear and not slur. 'My friend just came in here, we're having drinks here tonight, could you tell me which room she went to?'

'Sorry ma'am, we can't give out that information unless you're a guest in the room,' she said, flatly.

'Please?' I pleaded with her. 'She really needs my help getting into her dress.'

Her eyes scanned me and she could clearly tell I was lying.

'The answer is no, ma'am,' she said.

I rolled my eyes and stepped away from the desk, pulling out my phone to see a missed call from Tom. I had texted him to call me so he was probably worrying. I clicked his name to call him back and waited for his perfect voice to sound through the speaker.

'Tom?' I spoke when his voice came through to me.

His voice was so full of concern. I began to tell him the situation, trying to stay hushed so the receptionist didn't hear me.

'Tom, it's fucking Rachel!' I whispered, loudly.

There was silence on the other end.

'Tom?' I called. I glanced at my phone and my screen was black. Dead. 'Shit.'

I had no idea whether he had heard me or not.

I turned back to the girl. Her face was now two faces moving in and out of each other and I tried to focus on her, squinting my eyes to get rid of my double vision and act as sober as I could.

'Look, I really need to find my friend,' I said.

'Then I suggest you call her and ask her for her room number yourself, ma'am as it's against policy to give out such information,' she repeated.

'My phone is dead, I can't call her,' I whined, my tone full of attitude.

'Sorry, ma'am,' she sighed. 'Are you a guest here?'

'Of course I am,' I scoffed, and turned to walk away from the desk.

I perched myself down on a large chesterfield armchair and put my head in my hands. It was spinning. I felt woozy and sick and I was trying to think clearly about what to do about Rachel. I couldn't confront her about what she was doing here if I didn't have her room number and I couldn't sit around here all night hoping she would show. I was starting to feel like I needed to retire to my room myself and tried to stand up to go and find Lexie. I had to tell her about Rachel being here and see if she had any ideas what I could do to confront her.

As I got to my feet, the room was completely spinning and my vision was a complete blur.

'Ma'am, are you okay?' The receptionist's figure came close to me and I reached out to her for support.

'Oh god, Maia! I've got her.' I heard Lexie's voice appear beside me.

'Lex,' I mumbled.

'Are you sure?' the receptionist questioned.

'She's my friend, we've both had way too much to drink,' Lexie laughed. 'I take her right to bed.'

I felt a hand grip my arm and guide me away.

'Lexie...we need to...I need to...' I felt out of breath and completely drowsy.

'It's okay, honey.' Lexie's voice sounded so loud in my ears. 'I'll get you to bed, I should never have given you all those shots.'

'Lexie, wait...I think I'm...'

Before I could finish my sentence the world suddenly went dark and silent. I had blacked out.