Page 50 of Alex

“Welcome back, Mr. Strickland.”

A second later, the elevator moves.

The numbers on the control panel get higher as we arrive at each floor. I should have looked up when we first got to the hotel because there’s no telling how many floors this building has.

Fourteen.

Fifteen.

Sixteen.

Seventeen.

The elevator stops and a bell chimes as the number changes to eighteen.

As soon as the elevator doors open, my mouth falls open. Alex chuckles from beside me and cups my chin with his hand before closing my mouth.

I don’t know what I was expecting the hotel room to look like, but it wasn’t a fucking house in a hotel.

“We’re staying here?” I ask Alex as we get out of the elevator.

Mr. Strickland heads down a hallway, like he knows exactly where he is going.

Alex gestures toward the expansive open room that functions as a living room, wet bar, and piano area. “Welcome to the Strickland penthouse suite.”

“Penthouse suite? So this is part hotel, part house?”

His chuckle is light and carefree. “Something like that.”

“How often do you come here?”

I can’t remember the last time Mr. Strickland missed work or was out of town, especially not with this merger quickly approaching, but I never paid attention to Alex’s schedule because he was never consistent with his work days.

“Not as much as I’d like.” At my frown, he adds, “Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach, but there’s something about the hustle and bustle of city life that I miss. The late night cravings that end with ordering too much Chinese food, or the twenty-four-hour diners.”

That does sound convenient and enjoyable. I can picture a pleasant life in the city, but as much as it pains me to say this, the beach will always be home.

“Come on.” Alex pulls on my hand. “Let me show you to your room. Dad’s room is down on that end of the house with an office and a conference room, and our rooms are down here.”

He opens a door and shows me his room first. It’s an enormous room that is elegantly furnished with a large king bed against one wall, a closet and bathroom on the other, and an entire wall of windows that overlook the city skyline.

“Wow, that view is incredible.”

“Wait until you see your view.” He leads me down the short hallway to the room right next door to his room.

I open the bedroom door and gasp. The room is set up almost identical to his, except this bedroom has a wall and a half of floor to ceiling windows.

“The entire corner is nothing but glass.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t shatter. Plus, look.” He points directly to the corner of the room, through the glass, to the river.

The rays of the sun are shining off the water as the sun begins to dip behind the buildings.

“Alright, let’s go.” Alex turns away from the windows and heads to the bedroom door.

I glance at my packed duffle bag. “What about my stuff?”

“You can unpack later. Let’s go shopping.”

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