Contract lovers

Ashley Banton. I'm so stupid. Even a whole lot more stupid for letting Stace talk me into having drinks with her at the club till very late into the night when I should be on the very first flight to Freix for my long overdue vacation. She herself had talked me into so I could ward off the bad memories of Richard my demon of an ex who literally ruined my life. One glance up at the tiny wooden clock that hung oddly at the far end of my sparsely furnished single apartment and I got alarmed and extremely time conscious. My flight is for the next half an hour and I still looked a mess because I only just managed to open my eyes some few seconds back. I looked past the bitchy ache striking hard on one side of my head and sprang up to my feet from the sofa I had fallen asleep on since I returned from the club and hurried off into the bathroom. I felt like I reeked of alcohol so there's no way I could manage to rush down to the airport like this even though one part of my mind was telling me to. My shower was literally the quickest one I've had since I could remember and I stomped into my closet and dug into a pile of clothes I had left on the floor the day before while I was packing up my suitcase. It's a good thing I already had my luggage packed else there's no way I would possibly make it in time. I picked one shirt after the other and tossed them right behind me before I settled for a pair of black skinny jeans I forced up my legs while jumping in place to get the slim waist past my hips then threw on a peach button down shirt that was still hanging neatly in my closet and escaped the mumbled up pile I had all over the place on the floor. Time was running out so I wasted no time in the closet after snatching on a pair of black slingback heels that clung firmly to my feet with its low heel allowing me very easy movement as I glided around the place searching for my hairbrush I thought I left by the dresser but scowled outrightly when I didn't find it and I didn't want to reach the airport with my hair looking like a bed nest as I could clearly observe in the mirror standing before me. I eventually found the brush beneath my pillow on the bed and chose not to question how it got there but ran it down through the thick tangles on my hair and wondered how exactly I did all I've done in just about roughly five minutes. I sure could be quick, but only when being quick was my only option. I swallowed down a tablet of aspirin to stop the banging ache in my head and still managed to stop by the fridge to snatch a juice box and my half eaten cheeseburger from last night in my hand before I yanked my relatively large bright pink suitcase in my free hand and pulled it aggressively behind me as I aimed for the door with its whole four tires singing as they rolled furiously on the marble tied floor. With my purse clutched underneath my arm and my suitcase firmly held in my hand, I left home straight for the airport. The cab driver drove painfully slow and hummed along to some crappy disturbing song booming out of the car's stereo and I couldn't be more annoyed but I managed to stay calm although my fingers were continuously drumming on my knee till they dug into my pocket when my phone buzzed loudly. Great, it's the main reason I'm in this mess. "Stace! I'm so gonna smack you hard in the jaw once I return, it's a promise." I stated plainly once I slammed my phone against my ear to receive the phone call from my weasel of a best friend Stacey. "Relax girl" she giggled and hiccuped loudly and she did pretty much sound really hungover. "You'd be away for what? Days? Weeks? I just had to." She added and even though she couldn't see me, I rolled my eyes and at the same time a bright smile played its way to my face when I noticed we had reached the airport. "I'ma call you once I land okay? Take care of yourself and no, you cannot take my car to work" I replied and held the phone against my ear with one shoulder I raised up as I helped myself down the cab and took out my suitcase with me clearly reminding Stace of my stance on the car issue she's been bugging me about since last night. I listened to her whine while I paid off the driver. We exchanged hurried goodbyes and I returned my phone back into my pocket as I hurried into the airport packed full with a lot of people and I tried my very best to maneuver my way through the crowd to go get my plane ticket. The line was ridiculously long and I would be sure to miss my flight if I join on the queue. I needed to somehow make it to the front. I could easily squeeze through everyone with my petite structure and flashed everyone I managed eye contact with a cute apologetic smile till I got to the front of the line and squeezed in between the third and the fourth person but it turned out the grumpy gentleman behind me had a problem with that because not only did he scowl at me, he glared at me in questioning. "You cannot just step right in my front" his deep rich tone sounded out suddenly when I said nothing but just hoped the sweet smile I sent him would make him overlook it but it was apparently not working. "I'm sorry, but I'm kind of in a hurry right now" I retorted and let my eyes roam down his body. His dark grey eyes piercing hard into mine and long lashes that fluttered in place as he blinked very much complemented his full pink lips resting beautifully on his magazine worthy face. His well chiselled jaw and nicely trimmed thick black hair that swept backwards to slightly past his neck gave him this Greek god look and don't get me started about his tall build and dreamy masculine structure. "Not my problem" came his dismissive response and I almost snapped at him but chose to clench my teeth instead. "What difference would it make if you just let me stay here?" I questioned right in his face and he folded his obviously strong arms that looked like they would soon rip open his tight fitting spotless white shirt at the juncture where his muscles folded up together. "It would make no difference" came his response and I watched as he nodded his head and studied me. "See" I pointed out and spread my arms open to buttress my point that has been made and then turned to properly stand on the line when I felt him bend so close to my ears that I felt his warm breath fan against my skin. "That's exactly why you should stand behind." He whispered and I turned sharply to roll my eyes at him. "Jerk" I scoffed out at him and grumpily left his front to stand behind him. The nice elderly man who initially stood behind him saw no problem with me taking his slot because he allowed me in without a single problem and I smiled brightly at him to show my gratitude. I stood in line right behind the arrogant jerk and glared directly at the back of his head with a piercing gaze like I was intending on boring a hole right through it. Just as it got to his turn on the line, his phone started to ring and as he searched his pocket for his device, I smartly sneaked past him and stood in front of the line. "Ashley Banton" I announced my name out sweetly to the middle aged ticket agent and she nodded in response and put down my name. I turned backwards and smirked at him as he glared at me and just to spite him even more, I flicked my straight long blonde hair with my left hand before turning to receive my ticket and skipped away when I heard the very first announcement for my flight being made. I woke up this morning and feared to miss this very flight but here I was, seated on board the plane by the window just as I had wanted and already feeling very much excited for the trip. I never wanted to go, but it's a good thing Stace talked me into it. I snatched up a magazine from the still empty seat beside me and kept myself busy flipping through the pages that held very many remarkable fashion tips till I peeled my eyes off it to smile at the individual who just sank down on the seat beside me only to almost choke on air when my eyes met with the very same dark grey orbs belonging to the same arrogant jerk I met on the queue. He also looked surprised to see me but didn't let his look of surprise last because his eyes turned into slits almost too soon, digging into my skin and I chose to glue my eyes to the window as my next best option. Great. Just when I thought I had gotten away from him, he turns out to me my seatmate! I shut down the tiny petty voice in me screaming at me to find another seat and just settled to fix my eyes on the magazine still present in my hands although I was beginning to feel uneasy. When the plane took off, I once again found drinking to bed last night as a very wrong thing to do because I could literally feel my stomach stir up side down and I felt really embarrassed when it made a rumbling sound but he seemed not to have noticed because he was having a word with a flight attendant. I was suddenly becoming sweaty and mostly hated the way my stomach was acting up till I couldn't take it anymore, I needed to get to the lavatory. "Please excuse me" I whispered with urgency as I rose up to my feet and waited impatiently for him to move his legs so I could squeeze through. He glared up at me and slowly moved his legs aside and then I rushed away to the aircraft toilet and as expected, I threw up all that was present in my system and only then did I get to feel a bit better then returned back to my seat after thoroughly rinsing my mouth. The flight continued and I was really becoming a nuisance because I was up and rushing to the lavatory every now and then till it started to become embarrassing and I settled to keep my eyes glued to the window through out the remaining hours of the flight till we landed at the airport and I was glad I could finally get off this plane. My suitcase and I were present in the back seat of a cab moments later as I stared wide eyed in awe at the breathtaking street as the several tall buildings breed by as the driver sped along the road down for the hotel I am to spend my entire vacation. My eyes widened even the more up to the size of an oversized donut as I took in the appearance of the hotel I was to stay in once the driver pulled up front and announced our arrival. I alighted his vehicle and let my eyes rake up and down the entire six story building that towered high up till I was ushered in by some of the hotel staffs dressed uniformly in the same orange and Ash coloured pattern. I grinned stupidly and nodded in response at almost every question the red haired receptionist threw my way when she was checking me in. Not only was the hotel a beauty from the outside, it was magnificent on the inside. The tall white walls and high ceilings matched with glass doors and silver coated railings got me marvelled by the entire architecture. "Ma'am, Your Room is 409, here are your keys, please have a wonderful stay here" the red haired receptionist beamed and handed me a single key which I took and followed after the valet that helped with my suitcase and showed me up to the fourth floor where my room was situated on the right hand side of the wide hallway. I gave some tip to the young lad as he set down my suitcase and I proceeded into my room after unlocking the door with the one single key I had tucked in one part of my small clutch purse. The room stood neat and shiny as I unlocked the door to be met with a large queen sized bed at the very middle of the room with cream coloured walls and white ceilings. The high curtains were having a color perfectly matching the sheets on the well laid bed and every other thing was all so perfect. I abandoned my suitcase by the door I had kicked short with my foot and walked over to the bed and fell backwards on it. I spread out my arms and eased into its softness with a loud relaxing sigh as I felt my muscles relax from the tiring flight. I remained in that position till I drifted off to sleep and didn't at all open my eyes till hours later when it was already getting to evening time. I got out of bed and yawned loudly then suddenly itched to have a bath because I couldn't term what I had this morning as a bath. I glided towards the bathroom and soaked myself in the tub that was large enough to take three of me and just relaxed silently in it with my eyes closed, enjoying the soft feel of the rose scented bubbles on my skin till I decided I was ready to conclude my bath. I threw on a plain coloured round neck shirt with flowered patterned shorts that reached down to my mid thigh then ventured out to explore the environment because I had basically no other reason for being here. I passed through the hotel's resort and out into the beach that was surprisingly almost empty but it was just perfect that way. I relaxed down onto one of the many empty armchairs present on one side and silently enjoyed the peaceful scenery especially when the water waves come slapping hard against the front line shore. I was admiring the gift of nature when my eyes swept towards my right and they almost dropped out of their sockets when they rested on my seatmate on the plane. This could no longer be termed a coincidence right? I noticed he was also looking in my direction and right then, I thought to walk up to him because if I'm being honest, I did owe him an apology. He stood in place with both his hands in his pockets as he watched me approach him and although my mind was telling me not to, I walked up to him with a bright smile like he wasn't the same man I called a jerk on the line. "Hey" I greeted with an awkward wave of my hand. "Hey" he replied and this time, he wasn't glaring at me so I felt a bit relaxed to go on with whatever I have to say to him. "So, I'm sorry about this morning and I take full responsibility for my actions" I blurted out and he suddenly seemed amused. Could I have said something funny? "It's Fine really" he replied and waved it off like it meant nothing at all. "Well, I'm Ashley" I replied as I introduced myself to him and held out my hand towards him. "Fred. Fred Hollands" came his response and he took my hand in his and I felt a shiver run down my spine when his large hand wrapped mine and the handshake lingered on more than necessary. I swallowed hard when I noticed his eyes dig into mine and I thought to look away but I couldn't. "So, why are you here?" I questioned and look away so I could stop my eyes from melting into his. "You mean here at the beach?" He questioned with a smirk and I threw my head back laughing. "Don't be silly" I whined and slammed my fist softly against his hardened chest then he released a chuckle that was worth hearing again. "You're here on vacation?" He questioned in response and I only nodded in response. He is seemingly very easy to talk to because we spent the next couple of minutes talking about a whole lot of random things. I hated to break up the conversation but I was seriously starving. I didn't have anything serious to eat this morning and I ended up throwing it all up. "Well, it was really nice talking to you Fred" I confessed with a nod as I replayed the sound of his name from my lips. He didn't respond nor did he move an inch but stared blankly at me so I took that as my cue to leave but as I tried to walk past him after my small wave, he held out his hand and stopped me from leaving. Just as I turned to look back at him, his hands circled round my waist and my heart began to drum twice as hard at our suddenly close proximity. I was looking directly in his eyes and it was dreamy. In that very blurry moment, our faces drew close on their own accord and I could already feel his nose against mine when a group of kids appeared from nowhere with their parents and I straightened up myself and swallowed hard in place. "I would see you soon" he whispered very close to my ears and I only nodded in response because I couldn't form any words at the moment then hurried away from the beach til I got into my room and rested my back against the door. After a deep breath to calm my uneven breathing, I order for some food and spoke with Stacy on the phone as I ate my food till the weasel slept off on me and I had to hang up and focus on my food till I was done and ready to settle in bed when a heard a soft knock on my door. I raised a brow in questioning before pulling myself down from the bed and glided towards the door to find out who it is. I took the door knob in my hand and yanked it open and then came face to face with Fred leaning casually against the wall while I was going to question myself how he got here but I then remembered I had given him my room number while we chatted at the beach. I then wordlessly stepped out of the way and held the door open for him to come in then shut the door close after he strolled in.