Page 59 of Mr. Aster
Darcy
Iwasn’t going to press Sebastian to join me on my arrival to the hotel, mainly because I needed a break from the man’s presence. The only reason I thought it was best he just forgot about grabbing a damn engagement ring was because he’d seemed lost in Mexico since we got off the plane.
All of it was obnoxious. I watched him act like he knew exactly what he was doing, but I could tell he wasn’t used to being an average human when it came to international travel. He was typically babied by butlers, assistants, and his flight crew, but not this time.
I tried not to notice how lost he appeared, but it was hard. Don’t even get me started on baggage claim. The guy had ordered the baggage to be picked up by another driver and brought to our hotel room so he wouldn’t have to stand around that stupid conveyor belt with two hundred other impatient travelers, waiting thirty minutes for luggage to start whizzing bywhile people crowded around to grab their bags laboriously off the belt, creating a chaotic pile-up.
Thatwas commercial travel at its finest. I guess I shouldn’t complain about it, though, because I was delighted not to have to stand amid that humid cluster fuck for once.
All that aside, I had to admit that I was concerned that major headline news would be made today when Sebastian Aster went missing in Mexico. I had no idea why this ring was such a big idea. He said it was because Natalia Monroe would be able to read right through us without a ring to seal the deal, but that had to be a line of bullshit.
My mind stayed on this merry-go-round of thoughts until the room’s personal butler welcomed me after the van pulled in front of the hotel. I walked through the entrance of the St. Regis resort, noticing how everything was focused on the luxuries that only a hotel like the St. Regis could and would offer.
I was offered a margarita and asked for a timeframe for when I should expect my fiancé, Mr. Aster, to arrive before being whisked off to a beautiful and luxurious suite.
It was breathtaking, and when I entered the massive suite, I should’ve noticed the sprawling views of the ocean that spanned the entire horizon beyond the infinity pool. I also should’ve been extremely impressed that this room sat on beachfront property, complete with a private outdoor shower terrace. However, all that slipped my mind as the most prominent amenity couldn’t be found anywhere.
“¿Dónde está el otro dormitorio?” I asked the butler, Ricardo, where the second bedroom was because it certainly wasn’t in my line of sight.
“Perdóneme, pero el Señor Aster solicitó la villa de un dormitorio.”
“He requested a one-bedroom villa?” I repeated his sentence to myself in English out of shock. I was speechless, trying to findthe right words in Spanish to convey my concern and struggling because the only words coming to mind were curse words.
Pinche cabrón!
“I can speak English if you prefer, Senorita,” Ricardo said considerately.
“Fantastic, thank you,” I said, flustered, knowing Antonio would be laughing his ass off if he could see this. He always told me I liked the Spanish curse words too much, and it turned out he was right. “Since you’re our butler, do you knowwhyhe requested a one-bedroom suite?”
Why would I fucking ask this man that question?
Ricardo was the perfect gentleman, trying to remain that way with no help from my questions about why a billionaire would book a one-bedroom suite with a young blonde in a cute little summer dress. I’m pretty sure Ricardo had all kinds of reasons why Sebastian had booked only one bedroom. I just couldn’t understand why Sebastian had done this. No one would know if we slept in separate bedrooms inside our suite. Booking one bed was utterly pointless when it came to keeping up the ruse.
“I am sure Mr. Aster will be happy to inform you of the reasons he chose this room,” Ricardo said.
I nodded and walked onto the terrace, feeling the heat of the afternoon sun wash over me. I glanced down at the private pool, and since the temperature was hotas hell, the same as my temper, I wanted to dive into the enticing indigo water and cool off.
That’s what I needed, to cool off and get my head straight.
I turned back to Ricardo. “Could I please have a margarita or ten?” I laughed. “Mr. Aster and I were in a horrible fight on our flight here, and I’m just really not in the mood to have to share the same bed with the man. Actually,” I said softly, “I have an idea, is there any way I can change our villa to a two-bedroom suite?” I smiled, seeing his confusion. “While it was lovely to begreeted by you, I usually like to check into a hotel myself and ask for upgrades. I realize my request now is a downgrade, but it’s one I would prefer.”
“I’m sorry, Señorita, this is our last villa at the hotel. If suites are available—although they are very nice—they do not include my services.”
I grinned, “As much as I would very much appreciate your services, especially the margaritas, I need my fiancé to be kept humbly in his place. He knows I’m intimidated by his wealth and family legacy, and having you spoil me rotten would be too much. He needs to understand how I truly live.”
I watched him shuffle his thoughts, seemingly very concerned about the wrath he’d face for downgrading Mr. Aster’slove nestat my request.
“I understand, Senorita,” he nodded.
“I will ensure you are tipped for the week as you would have been if you were servicing Mr. Aster and me. Now…where is the closest room with two beds?”
“Right this way.”
Close to thirty minutes and a shower later, I walked onto the balcony of the two-bed suite I was able to secure. It was nothing overly fancy, but I was more comfortable in it. It reminded me of the rooms I used to book in college when my friends and I would book a trip for spring break. I felt more like myself and needed some normalcy to get my head back on straight. The commercial flight would’ve been enough to keep me grounded had I not felt like I was traveling with Idris Elba next to me on the plane.
“Gracias,” I heard Sebastian’s voice.
I couldn’t help but sigh in annoyance, needing this time on the balcony overlooking the ocean to gather my thoughts and think about how we would pull off this week of ridiculous lies.
