Pleasant Persuasion

"All good, Stanley?" I asked my chauffeur as he checked the car. He came to my side of the window and indicated that I had rolled it down. "We might need a mechanic at this point, sir. It's not a problem I can resolve." He informed guiltily while holding the umbrella over his head. I nodded in understanding and sighed as I ran out of luck with the network on my phone too. "There's no network here. Is there any place nearby where we can stay for the night?" I asked him. He thought for a second then answered. "There is a lodge across the street sir but it isn't your style." “That's okay! Let's just go there”, I replied as I stepped out of the car and Stanley immediately held the umbrella over me, letting himself drench in the heavy rain. "Come on!" I yelled as I moved the umbrella to accommodate us two. He looked perplexed by what I just did and that made me chuckle. "I’m not the only one who could catch a cold, am I?" I said. He turned his eyes down with an awkward smile and then led the way to the lodge. It required us to walk for nearly seven minutes- give or take, to reach the lodge and when we got there I asked Stanley to book two rooms on my name and he did. The lodge was not the kind of one I have stayed in before as Stanley said. But I obviously do not expect a five-star hotel in case of such emergencies. I don't mind staying here for a night since the weather was at its worst. "Isn't that Viru Muzirathi?" I heard a lady in a group of three whisper. I did not look towards them but continued to listen. "Yes. That is." Another whisper followed. "God! He is so handsome." Their girly squeal made me smirk and I turned away from their sight. Soon, both Stanley and I settled in our respective rooms, sighing heavily and I carelessly landed on the bed, I've had a tiring day. The exhaustion in me heightened as soon as my eyes fell on the bed covered with off-white sheets and I didn't remember to lock the door. After a while, the cold was getting uncomfortable, so I had to go and turn on the heater. As the room became warmer, I removed my shirt and stretched my body. Right when I was about to call it a day, the door of my room banged open, I turned around in a snap with wide eyes and they fell on a womanly figure. Her long brown hair covered most of her face as she leaned on the door and breathed heavily. "Excuse me?" I called. She opened her eyes and pulled her hair back. My jaw hit the floor when I saw her face. A stunning woman was standing there, looking alarmed and astonished. I stared into her hazel-colored eyes as they met mine, and my heart literally skipped a beat. My gaze naturally moved down her body. She was completely wet, and her clothing fit her like a glove. I had a hard time taking my eyes away from her contours. When I spotted her ogling at me, I turned to stare back at her face and felt content.. Well, my body.. I c****d an eyebrow and crossed my arms across my chest as she turned to face me. I assumed that's when she suddenly became aware of her surroundings. I'm genuinely sorry, I swear. I'm in a bit of tr-r-ouble...My ears were filled with honey as soon as she spoke. Actually, I need to hide since I am in some difficulties, so I walked into your room. She spoke incoherently. "Trouble?" I grimaced. "Yes. A few g-goons are after me. I noticed a glimmer of terror in her eyes. I took up my shirt off the bed and put it on as my frown grew more intense."Yes?" I asked the man with the scarred skin and tight black t-shirt. My tone of voice was irritated. "We're looking for a girl who is about this height,"he gestured with his hand, indicating the approximate height. "Perhaps you saw someone wearing a green crop top and blue jeans? She entered this wing a few minutes ago," he gruffly inquired, his voice filled with disgust. I sighed in frustration and rubbed my temples before looking into his eyes. "Boy, it's past late. On such a chilly night, why would I be wandering the hallways instead of resting peacefully?" I gave him a sneer. I've never encountered somebody like that. I then slammed the door in his face and focused on the shaky woman who was standing next to me. I made a move towards the bed and stated, "You can sit down if you'd like. She gratefully sat down, shivering clearly from the cold. I turned up the heater and gave her one of the towels I had discovered in the closet, which she wrapped around herself before murmuring a brief "thank you." "I'm sorry to bother you. I'll leave as soon as it's safe," she apologized, her guilt evident in her voice. "It's okay," I assured her, taking a seat beside her but maintaining a slight distance. Curiosity got the better of me, and I skeptically asked, "Why are they after you, if you don't mind me asking?" After contemplating, she let out a light sigh answering, "They're loan sharks." Her response caught me off guard, but I refrained from passing judgment. I hadn't intended to pry further, but she took the initiative to break the silence. "I'm not running away from repaying the money," she continued, her voice tinged with frustration. "But the man I owe unfairly raised the interest rate and expects me to pay an amount I simply can't afford at the moment. When I refused, he sent his men after me." She explained her predicament, and I stayed quiet, unsure of what more to say. "How did you get here with them following you?" After a little while watching and her demeanor, my concern grew, so I asked. "I traveled from Brooklyn to attend a friend's wedding tomorrow, but the weather forced me to stay here tonight. She sighed, rubbing her temples in tiredness. "I had no idea they were following me," she said. What level of security is present here? How could savage thugs sneak inside the lodge undetected? I consciously reminded myself to complain about this. I suddenly became aware of the hallway's unsettling silence, maybe the thugs were gone. "I think they're gone," the girl beside me voiced my thoughts. I nodded and moved closer to the door. "Let me check." I peeked outside and, thankfully, the corridor was empty.These vile beings have vanished. I told her, "All clear," and she looked relieved. She moved the towel to the side and set it down on the table before standing up and coming towards me. Standing beside the door, she conveyed her gratitude, "Thank you for helping me." I smiled softly at her and said, "You're welcome." But my query stopped her before she could leave. "Where is your bedroom?" She said, "In the next wing," to which I nodded. I insisted, "Let me walk you there," fearing that those thugs could still be hiding nearby. She nodded, and after she had left, secured the door, we proceeded quietly in the direction of the other wing, following her lead.