If I Let You Know... [N.H.]

1. Victoria

I open the door rubbing my eyes. It's the man from reception.

"Did I wake you, Miss?" he asks with a concerned look.

"I must have fallen asleep without noticing" I answer, not wanting him to worry about it.

"I am so very sorry, but you weren't answering the phone and they said it was an important message, so..."

"They?"

"Yes, Miss; they said you knew who they were. They called five minutes ago and told me that your meeting with some Sam will be held at five o'clock at the Shelbourne Hotel" he waits for me to answer, but since I remain silent, he continues; "They said I should make sure you received the message and that they would call again in ten minutes to see if you had"

By the way he talks I bet he thinks I'm some kind of agent on a special mission or something.

"Okay, thank you very much" I say, "What time is it?"

"Half past two, Miss"

"At what time does the hotel restaurant close?"

"It just did, Miss; but you can call room service and I am sure they will be delighted to serve you"

"Thank you. When they call again, please tell them I have received their message and I will be meeting him where accorded"

"Very well, then"

The man smiles again and leaves.

I go to the room phone and hesitate until I decide to not ask for any food. I am not that hungry and I've got a spare sandwich from the ones I prepared at home for the flight. I eat it trying not to think about anything else, but inevitably thinking about the meeting that will take place in a couple of hours. Looks like I haven't lied to my mum after all.

Once I finish the sandwich, I go to the suitcase and open it. I take out a pair of black trousers, a white short-sleeve blouse, a pink blazer and a pair of black ballerinas.

I take a long hot bath, get dressed and try to comb my long curly brown hair so it won't look like I've just come out of The Lion King show.

I check my watch: quarter to five. I grab my handbag, put the room key in my wallet and head to the elevator.

There's a different man in the reception desk now, but as kind as the other one. He shows me where the Shelbourne hotel is, and gives me a map.

"Will you be needing an umbrella, Miss?"

"Huh?"

The man looks to the window as an answer. I see raindrops through the glass. Of course, it's raining.

"Yes, please" I say.

He leaves and comes back a few seconds later with a black umbrella that has the logo of the hotel on it.

"There you go, have a lovely afternoon"

I thank him again and smile at a different bellboy who opens the door for me.

The Shelbourne hotel is not far from mine, but it takes me about five minutes to get there.

It's five o'clock sharp.

A lovely waitress gets my umbrella and accompanies me to the great lounge where he awaits me.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Gomez" he says standing up and giving me one kiss on each cheek.