Lobby

Various people are walking around, staff and various hotel visitors. It seems a miracle that the entire room isn’t gazing at you, but some of them do look in your direction. You want to shrink away in embarrassment. A cleaner stops and leans on his mop while gazing at you, a businessman sitting in the lobby looks over his paper at you.

The best you can do is grin and bear it, putting on a defensive plastic smile. You let Ray guide you across the lobby. This place has valet parking right? You just need to get through the front doors and… Ray abruptly turns towards the reception desk. Oh no.

“Ray?” you ask nervously. You stop in the queue, right behind a couple. Or “another” couple to anyone looking at you, which several people are.

“Relax babe, you don’t have to pay a cent for this. It’s all on me. Consider it my treat, especially with all the treats you’ve given me!”

You flush red with embarrassment. The woman of the middle aged couple ahead of you turns at the comment, and her eyes go wide at your getup, looking you both up and down. You **** the smile even more and soon with a roll of her eyes she looks forward again.

The wait in line seems interminable. You can do nothing but cling to Ray for support while your tense smile remains. When you finally walk up to the desk the receptionist, a young well groomed man, looks at you for a few seconds, then quickly turns his attention to the man beside you.

“Ah yes, Mr. Teller, the manager discussed your situation. If you’ll just confirm the room bill…”

Ray glances through the sheet, folds it with one hand (his other arm still around you), pockets it, and takes out his credit card. You don’t catch the total but it seems like there’s one more digit there than there should be.

“And that transaction went through,” the receptionist says, “Thank you for staying with us. Your car is being brought out front right now.”

“Perfect,” Ray grinned, then turned his head as another man walked to beside the receptionist, the same man who had appeared behind the elevator door when it finally opened yesterday…”

“Mr. Teller, I assume you and your lady friend have had a pleasurable stay at our establishment?” There was an edge to his voice through the veneer of geniality.

“‘Pleasurable’ and more!”

“Indeed,” the man handed over a package that Ray quickly pocketed, “I believe all accounts have been settled for now, and if you wish to return to this establishment…” his gaze now suddenly looked towards you, “... all we ask is you be a little more… discrete.”

“Hey,” Ray smiled, with his free hand he suddenly gestures around your entire body, “when she looks this good, there’s no hiding it!”

You want to burn up in embarrassment. The manager looks bemused as the attention is now on you.

“I would hope the lady had a pleasurable time too,” the manager says facing you.

Your face is on fire, with your fixed smile that seems to freeze all speech, all you can do is barely nod.

“Definitely five stars, and not just the hotel,” Ray gives you a squeeze.

The manager nodded and glanced towards the front doors. “Well, I see your car has arrived…”

Moving towards those doors seemed like a godsend and it was a huge relief when Ray guided you outside, leaving that intense lobby behind. For once you practically jumped into Ray’s car, anxious to get another door between you and the eyes of judgement. You were almost feeling safe, then Ray entered the drivers seat and started the engine.