Ava

 

I take a deep breath before I enter the hotel. The certificate allowed me to schedule an appointment whenever I wanted to, and I picked the second Advent Sunday.

I’ve never been in a fancy hotel like this and can’t help but stare at the beautiful décor that’s surrounding me once I step inside. I feel so out of place. The reception hall alone is so much more extravagant and lavish than any building I have ever entered. The light marble floors and walls are topped with golden details at the doors and window frames. Ornamental stucco decorates the high ceilings and thick, heavy curtains in dark red frame the giant entrance door.

I remain at the entrance for a few moments and look around, taking in the flamboyant appearance of this costly place. Despite my efforts to act as natural as possible and to give the impression that this is nothing out of the ordinary for me, I cannot help but feel utterly lost.

The place is already fully decorated for Christmas, with a giant Christmas tree, decorated with golden and red ornaments, building the central focal point.

I approach the reception desk, where a tiny blond beauty is sitting behind the counter, looking up at me with an expectant smile.

“Ava Claire,” I introduce myself. “I have an appointment for an Oriental Essence treatment.”

Her eyebrows rise as I hand her the certificate.

“Sure,” she says in a friendly but distant tone. “This also includes all day usage of our sauna and spa area.”

“It does?” I ask, bewildered.

The woman nods, appearing slightly annoyed. “You can stay all day, if you wish to. The treatment itself will only last for about an hour.”

“Yes, I know,” I say. “Thank you.”

She smiles at me. “Please have a seat, we'll be right with you.”

The receptionist points over to a little seating area and I follow her gesture and sit down on one of the lounge chairs, placing my sports bag next to my feet.

Just a few moments after I have taken my seat, a woman in a white uniform that kind of makes her look like a surgeon emerges from around the corner.

“Ava?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. “I’m Lucy, let me show you up to the spa area.”

I follow her to the elevators, and as she begins to tell me about the facilities we’re about to visit and the extras that my treatment for today will include, my attention is quickly caught by the person standing next to us as we wait for the elevator to arrive—the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

He is wearing a black trench coat and standing right next to me. A man in his early thirties with piercing steel blue eyes, dishwater blond hair with a few lighter strands here and there and a light tan. His jaw is strong, framing a seductive smile as he looks at me. I blush like a school girl and turn away.

“Mr. Cartwright, it’s nice to see you again,” Lucy says, greeting the handsome man next to me. “We haven’t seen you in a while.”

He turns away from me and looks at her, displaying a professional smile.

“Busy times,” he says. “But it was time for a day off. Long overdue.”

“We’re glad to have you back,” Lucy replies as the elevator door opens.

Mr. Cartwright beckons for us to enter first and my heart almost stops when I realize that he’s heading for the spa area as well.

None of us speak a word during the elevator ride up and a weird tensions spreads between us. I can feel Mr. Cartwright’s eyes on me but decide to keep my eyes straight ahead. His close proximity unsettles me. Men like him have always intimidated me, but in his case, it seems to be so much more. A palpable attraction and a weird sense of being seen, by him. He noticed me. Men like him never notice women like me.

I almost sigh in relief when the elevator reaches its destination and we can leave the small enclosure. To my relief, Mr. Cartwright excuses himself and heads in the opposite direction from which Lucy is leading me now.

“Phew,” I make once he’s out of earshot.

She looks at me, casting me a knowing smile.

“He’s quite something, isn’t he?” she says. “I can’t believe that man is still single.”

“Who is he?” I ask. “If you don’t mind my asking.”

Lucy smiles and shakes her head.

“No, of course,” she says. “He’s Derek Cartwright, one of the shareholders of the Mandarin Oriental empire—and a regular guest at our facilities, when he has the time.”

“I see.”

I don’t know what else to say. Handsome, charming and rich? Yeah, he couldn’t be more out of my league.

I follow Lucy to the massage suits and she instructs me to get comfortable, and naked, leaving the room to give me some privacy as I disrobe.

I get undressed and tie my long hair up in a bun. I have been told before that this hairstyle is an attractive look on me and that I have a pleasant neckline. It was a random compliment by a guy who I had seen for a while years ago, but it still serves as a reliable ego-push every time I need to feel a little better about myself.

The treatment I won is one of Mandarin Oriental’s signature spa treatments, a massage that has been designed to specifically relieve neck and shoulder tension. It combines Swedish-style sequences, aromatherapy and acupressure to ease stress, realign the mind, soothe emotions and relax the body. Lucy is joined by another woman and together they use Quintessence oil blended with warming ginger, uplifting mandarin and sacred frankincense while giving me the best massage I’ve ever received.

I feel completely relaxed once the massage is over and Lucy advises me to retreat to the sauna area right after so the effect of the massage can settle.

So, that’s where am I now. Naked, just wrapped in one of the hotel’s soft towels, sweating, with a dazed look on my face while soaking in the heat all by myself.

Until the door opens and a familiar face appears.