Distance Between Us

CHAPTER ONE

Amelia

The black sleek SUV rolled with a smooth stop at the giant archway right in front of the CAPRISTA.

Amelia was sitting at the back of the car but it didn't move immediately.

She glanced at the hotel, an expression flashinh across her face for a brief moment.

Through the tinted glass, she watched the entrance of the hotel.

Guests moved in and out of the hotel, the revolving doors spinning lazily.

She took it all in, distantly watching people from the safety of the tinted glass.

The CAPRISTA was one of her father's quiet acquisitions, it was discreet, exclusive, and private.

A place where secret rendezvous happen and private meetings take place.

The driver rushed out from the SUV, and in a fluid motion opened the back door.

Once the car door was open, she extended one leg, the heel of her stiletto clicking on the pavement in silence.

Her gown flowed… a pale shimmering blue number that caught the sunlight with each movement.

Studded with silver threads, it was subtle, elegant and impeccable.

To add to the look, her long curls which was expertly styled to frame her face glided down from her shoulders to rest at the top of her ass.

A hint of makeup graced her face while she tugged the dress down to show a hint of cleavage…each of these accentuating the look.

On the outside, she looked perfectly put together and stunning with a bit of a cold exterior but it wasn't real.

It was mostly a mask because on the inside, her pulse quickened.

It might have stemmed from excitement or nerves…she wasn't sure but her heart was pounding fiercely in her chest.

As she took one more step, an attendant rushed to take her luggage from the car and followed her into the Hotel.

Walking towards the entrance, the lobby doors parted to welcome her, the scent of a newly constructed building wrapping around her.

She inhaled deeply, sensing a faint smell of jasmine, polished wood and licorice. It smelt expensive.

At the reception, Sandra, the receptionist noticing her walking towards the counter and sat up straighter.

“Hello, good afternoon Miss Handoff! It's nice to see you here.” Sandra beamed.

Amelia slowly removed her dark glasses, directing a cool look towards Sandra. It wasn't mean or annoyed look but just pleasant enough.

“It was fine," she replied, pausing forms moment before saying, “And how was your week, Sandra?”

The receptionist blinked in surprise. ‘It was….lovely! Th-thank you, miss.” She stammered out, her cheeks flaming bright pink.

She was clearly flustered by the simple question as it took a couple of minutes before she composed herself.

Amelia watched her, amused by her reaction.

It's always funny to watch when that happens because most people do not expect rich people like her to be nice or good to the ‘help’ so it always comes as a shock whenever she does so.

What they don't know is that unlike most rich people, Amelia was different.

She learned that kindness delivered sparingly, brought the best results as most people wanted to be appreciated for who they are and what they bring to your organization.

The simple things like checking in on them or remembering their birthdays or going out of your way to help or celebrate them whenever you had to was something that would stick to them.

“So can I go in now?” Amelia cleared her throat to ask.

Sandra nodded. “Oh, yes miss! Your special suite is ready. We've arranged your favourites as requested for… a spa, foot massages, special lightings and upgraded security access.”

“Security?” Her brows climbed up to her forehead.

“Oh, yes… recently upgraded our security system, so we came up with new cards and easier ways to contact the staffs. It's all in the folder and a VIP card.”

As she was speaking, I could hear, there was a back and forth situation on the other side of the lobby, a few metres away from me between another client and the receptionist or what sounded like the beginning of an argument.

Their voices carried and so did the conversation.

She didn't want to listen, yet she couldn't help it.

Arguments in the hotel were rare, but not unusual.

Most of the times, it was a result of miscomunication or improper documentation.

“I’m so sorry Mr. Maxwell but we can't refund you. No matter what you say, I'm sorry it's against hotel policy.” An attendant repeated with a patient tone.

“But I really need the cash back and I can't stay…” the man repeated, his tone bordering on begging. Then with a smile, he leaned in to ask, “Isn't there any.thing you can do? Anything at….all?”

With a lowered voice, the attendant exhaled a tired sigh and said… “Don't tell anyone I told you this, but if you can find someone who's staying in the hotel and exchange this Gift card with them, they hey might just be willing to pay you for it.” She added.

“Here miss…” Sandra's voice snapped her back to the present and Amelia looked down to see Sandra handing over a room key.

Pushing off the weird conversation from her mind, Amelia collected her card and turned towards the elevator.

She had barely taken three steps when she heard someone speak up behind her. “Hello, excuse me…” came a voice behind her.

She didn't stop though, only slowed down her steps long enough for the man to catch up to her.

“Excuse me, miss!” Footsteps quickened, followed by the sound of a guy jogging up to her. “Please, can you wait a minute?”

The first thing she noticed was his scent. It was the smell of the ocean… fresh, wild and so daring, but yet so subtle.

She turned slowly, her eyes measuring him up.

He was tall, but not huge, his brown hair falling messily over his forehead.

He had on casual clothes and a air of someone who didn't take themselves too seriously so he wasn't a businessman.

But she scanned his outfit, noticing they were ironed and neat. Even his fingernails were clean.

So not a homeless person either.

“Yes?” she answered coolly.

His response was to stretch forth his hand. “Hi, my name is Noah.”

She looked at his hands, then at him, not making a move to take his outstretched hand.

He withdrew his hands without a change in expression.

“Well, I guess that's fair,” he said casually. “I suppose I would have to earn that first without being rude.”

A flicker of surprise, then amusement threatened her composure threaded her emotions.

“Noah, right? Do I know you?” she asked, her eyes narrowing gently.

“No, you don't but i hope that can change in the next ten seconds.”

Oh, he was bold.

Now, she's officially intrigued.

It's not everyday a less powerful man walks up to her to strike her up in a conversation random.

“I believe you can help me. I have a week-long stay at this hotel. It's in a suite, non refundable and non transferable through official channels.” He explained, waving around what looked like a card.

“My best friend won it from a client, and I won it from him. Don't judge him, he's a terrible gambler.”

“ And you? “ She eyed him suspiciously. Less than ten minutes and he's trying to ask for something from me.

“Oh, me? I'm just terrible with timing, I have a career making gig tomorrow and I can't miss it for any reason.”

There was a long pause where he stared at her expectantly like he was waiting for her to do something, and it was unnerving which prompted her to say, “So?”

“That's where you come in, I have a creative solution that can suit both of us.” He kept his gaze on her face, not her jewellery or her clothes .

“You look like someone to that values privacy,”

Amelia pieced together what he was saying before he outrightly asked. “You are assuming I will stay a week here,” she points out.

“I'm assuming,” he corrected gently, his eyes roaming over her face. “that someone like you…doesn't do anything unless she wants to.”

For the first time, her eyes truly focused on him, spotting what she should have noticed earlier.

It wasn't arrogance, or pride. It was perception.

“Let me guess,” he continued, tone warmer now. “You came here to think, to plan, not for a vacation.”

Silence stretched between them.

She waited. She didn't ask how he knew or indicate that he was right because he wasn't entirely wrong.

Instead she looked at him again, and then glanced at the card in his hands. “You want me to buy it…” she declared, not asking.

“Yes.”

Another pause.

Then she asked, “Why me? There are times of other people here that you could have asked.”

A faint smile curved his mouth. “Because despite your persona, something tells me that there's more to you than what you present.”

Her breath caught upon hearing that statement.

He could be guessing, trying to play mind tricks on her so she could help him but in that moment, she didn't feel like that was what was happening.

It was like he saw her. Like really saw her, saw through the layers of armour that she put on to defend herself and hide from the world.

It was both unnerving and intriguing.

“How much?”

A flash of relief passed through his eyes but he quickly masked it. “Half of its original value,” he said.

She was surprised…she expected him to lay out the full price instead of half.

“You approached a stranger, a female at that.” She held his gaze as she spoke said. “You have no guarantee I won't report this to someone.”

He shrugged . “You don't look like someone who needs to report to ruin a stranger's day.”

She raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression softening at the light teasing.

Most people saw wealth and assume cruelty and they were right most of the time.

He had assumed otherwise, meaning he was more perceptive than he lets us.

Taking a step forward, she moved closer to him, not too close to cause discomfort but close enough to study him.

“What's the real reason?” she asked, c*****g her head.

“That is the real reason,” he responded.

“No,” she said. “Why didn't you ask anyone else?” His eyes shifted away but just briefly.

“Because,” he admitted. “Most people here look like they are either showing off or are trying to prove something to someone.”

“And I'm not.” She surmised.

“You”…he hesitated, staring at her as though he was trying to choose his words carefully. “You look like you are trying not to feel anything.” The words pierced her harder than it should have.

For a moment, her tough armour cracked.

Her perfect mask slipped.

He caught it.

A glimpse.

Loneliness.

Then it vanished.

She extended her hand. “Let me see it.”

He handed it over and for a second, their fingers brushing over the brief contact. It felt like there was a small spark that erupted when they touched but she acted like she felt nothing, causally looking over the card to assess that it claimed to be what he said.

Sure enough, she realised it was authentic.

“Fine”. She said. “I'll pay for it.”

He visibly relaxed, his shoulders slumping. “Thank you so much-”

“But….” She raised a hand to cut him off. “You're staying.”

The lobby seem to turn silent.

“You said you have an important gig in the city,” She replied calmly. If it's important you live when necessary. My driver can take you anywhere in the city. “

“Until then you remain accessible.”

There was a pause in which he seems to be considering her words.

“What if I refuse?” His lips twitched.

“You won't.” She answered easily.

“Hmm, seems like you don't trust easily.” He points out

“No, I don't.” She agreed.

A smile bloomed on his face. “Good.” He responded. “Neither do I.”

The elevator doors open behind her. She turned gazing into his eyes.

“Ladies first,” he gestured, holding her gaze.

She stepped in without breaking eye contact and after a brief pause, he followed.

The elevator door closed, the atmosphere growing charged with every passing minute.

And for the first time in a long way Amelia handoff felt something staring within her, something dangerous, it was anticipation.