She was staring at me with a look of…amazement? Shock?
I knew exactly how she felt. I too was shocked that these employees could think someone with my family name would accept being treated in this way.
“I, uh…I will see if we have anything else available?” the receptionist mumbled. She avoided looking up at me from the screen of her computer.
I casually twisted my body over to the mysterious lounge girl and offered her one of my winning smiles. She turned her face away and towards the other receptionist who was printing something at the back.
Probably shy, I thought. Because who could resist my smile and charm?
Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she kept her eyes trained on the back of the other receptionist. Probably waiting to get the receptionist’s attention. Probably doesn’t know any Spanish so is too shy to call out.
I guess it’s time for Prince Charming to come out and show a bit of mercy for the damsel in distress.
“Perdóneme,” I called out. Selena glanced up from the computer, startled. The other receptionist, whom I’d noted was called Maria, also turned around. “This lady has been waiting for her turn for quite a while now.” I flashed another winning smile in the direction of the American woman, but her expression remained stoic.Strange.
“Yes, sir. I know. I’m just photocopying a request form for her.” Maria clicked her tongue and walked over with a couple of documents in her hands. Maria was older than Selena and wore the type of resting expression of not-going-to-take-crap-from-anyone. She offered it to me at that moment.
“I see,” I said. I could feel a tinge of embarrassment growing so I turned away from the now-amused expression on the American woman’s face.Well, that didn’t go so well.
“We have an Executive Suite available, sea view, Mr. Rojas,” Selena spoke up. I was glad for the excuse to turn away from the other conversation.
“I’ll take it,” I muttered.
“That’ll be…”
“Charge this card,” I said and clapped my credit card on the desk. I sneaked a peak in the direction of the American woman, trying to harbor her reaction to seeing a black credit card.
But she was gone. I sighed. I didn’t even get her name or room number.Oh, this weekend is going to be torture. Speaking of which…
“Sebastian!” Elonzo had returned and was exaggeratedly pointing at his smartwatch. Whatever appetizer for the torture he had planned, I was late for it.
Another deep sigh.Let’s get this over with.
CHAPTER3
ELLY
“Hi, Mom!” I raised the phone so that I could see her better on the screen.
“Hi, honey! I didn’t know you were going to call me. Isn’t Simone keeping you to a tight itinerary?” Mom set her phone down on the coffee table and settled back in her favorite armchair. I could see Sarah hustling and bustling behind her. Probably dusting. Sarah had a grudge against dust.
“She does, but I’m uh…scheduled a little break now to rest so I thought rather than texting, I’d call you.” I settled back on the hotel room bed. The mattress dipped under my weight.
“Oh, but you should be resting. After the flight and…everything. You have a very important match in two days…” Mom bit her lip.Important match. It sure was. It was supposed to be life-changing.
“I am resting. Look, I’m in bed.” I patted the crisp pillows, smiling. Though, I really didn’t feel like smiling. It could be the lighting and angles of the camera or my just noticing all the little things in the way she looked, but Mom appeared worse than I had left her. She looked even more haggard, even more desperate for the treatment she needed.
Mom coughed. And then again. She tried to make up for it by whispering, “It’s such a nice room they gave you.” But she wasn’t fooling anyone.
Sarah came into view. “Hi, Elly. I want to wish you luck for tomorrow. Or are you not supposed to wish tennis players luck?”
“You can wish me luck,” I whispered, still staring at Mom as she struggled with her cough.
“Good luck, dear. Unfortunately, I’m going to need to turn this thing off and get your mom her medicine. She’s not feeling too well today, but I’m sure tomorrow we'll be right as rain, cheering you on from the TV.” Sarah waved her hand. I waved mine back, weakly. The screen went dark.
I got up off the bed and padded to the balcony. Looking out, my eyes rested upon the cresting waves, tossing and turning, picking up with the breeze. My heart was pumping so hard in my chest that I wondered if it would leap out of my chest straight into the sea. Straight back home to Mom. I could feel tears collecting in the corners of my eyes.
Even though it was still early, I could make out the outline of the moon. A full moon was promised tonight. Below, a party of people was gathering for some sort of celebration. Voices that seemed to ignore the beauty that was blossoming in the sky. The hues of purple and orange and the last hints of blue. It was like someone in pain had taken a paintbrush to the sky and let themselves free to try to make sense of their thoughts.