Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Darcy
I wasn’t going to press Sebastian to join me on my arrival to the hotel, mainly because I needed a break from the man’s presence. The only reason I thought it was best he just forgot about grabbing a damn engagement ring was because he’d seemed lost in Mexico since we got off the plane.
All of it was obnoxious. I watched him act like he knew exactly what he was doing, but I could tell he wasn’t used to being an average human when it came to international travel. He was typically babied by butlers, assistants, and his flight crew, but not this time.
I tried not to notice how lost he appeared, but it was hard. Don’t even get me started on baggage claim. The guy had ordered the baggage to be picked up by another driver and brought to our hotel room so he wouldn’t have to stand around that stupid conveyor belt with two hundred other impatient travelers, waiting thirty minutes for luggage to start whizzing by while people crowded around to grab their bags laboriously off the belt, creating a chaotic pile-up.
That was commercial travel at its finest. I guess I shouldn’t complain about it, though, because I was delighted not to have to stand amid that humid cluster fuck for once.
All that aside, I had to admit that I was concerned that major headline news would be made today when Sebastian Aster went missing in Mexico. I had no idea why this ring was such a big idea. He said it was because Natalia Monroe would be able to read right through us without a ring to seal the deal, but that had to be a line of bullshit.
My mind stayed on this merry-go-round of thoughts until the room’s personal butler welcomed me after the van pulled in front of the hotel. I walked through the entrance of the St. Regis resort, noticing how everything was focused on the luxuries that only a hotel like the St. Regis could and would offer.
I was offered a margarita and asked for a timeframe for when I should expect my fiancé, Mr. Aster, to arrive before being whisked off to a beautiful and luxurious suite.
It was breathtaking, and when I entered the massive suite, I should’ve noticed the sprawling views of the ocean that spanned the entire horizon beyond the infinity pool. I also should’ve been extremely impressed that this room sat on beachfront property, complete with a private outdoor shower terrace. However, all that slipped my mind as the most prominent amenity couldn’t be found anywhere.
“?Dónde está el otro dormitorio?” I asked the butler, Ricardo, where the second bedroom was because it certainly wasn’t in my line of sight.
“Perdóneme, pero el Se?or Aster solicitó la villa de un dormitorio.”
“He requested a one-bedroom villa?” I repeated his sentence to myself in English out of shock. I was speechless, trying to find the right words in Spanish to convey my concern and struggling because the only words coming to mind were curse words.
Pinche cabrón!
“I can speak English if you prefer, Senorita,” Ricardo said considerately.
“Fantastic, thank you,” I said, flustered, knowing Antonio would be laughing his ass off if he could see this. He always told me I liked the Spanish curse words too much, and it turned out he was right. “Since you’re our butler, do you know why he requested a one-bedroom suite?”
Why would I fucking ask this man that question?
Ricardo was the perfect gentleman, trying to remain that way with no help from my questions about why a billionaire would book a one-bedroom suite with a young blonde in a cute little summer dress. I’m pretty sure Ricardo had all kinds of reasons why Sebastian had booked only one bedroom. I just couldn’t understand why Sebastian had done this. No one would know if we slept in separate bedrooms inside our suite. Booking one bed was utterly pointless when it came to keeping up the ruse.
“I am sure Mr. Aster will be happy to inform you of the reasons he chose this room,” Ricardo said.
I nodded and walked onto the terrace, feeling the heat of the afternoon sun wash over me. I glanced down at the private pool, and since the temperature was hot as hell, the same as my temper, I wanted to dive into the enticing indigo water and cool off.
That’s what I needed, to cool off and get my head straight.
I turned back to Ricardo. “Could I please have a margarita or ten?” I laughed. “Mr. Aster and I were in a horrible fight on our flight here, and I’m just really not in the mood to have to share the same bed with the man. Actually,” I said softly, “I have an idea, is there any way I can change our villa to a two-bedroom suite?” I smiled, seeing his confusion. “While it was lovely to be greeted by you, I usually like to check into a hotel myself and ask for upgrades. I realize my request now is a downgrade, but it’s one I would prefer.”
“I’m sorry, Se?orita, this is our last villa at the hotel. If suites are available—although they are very nice—they do not include my services.”
I grinned, “As much as I would very much appreciate your services, especially the margaritas, I need my fiancé to be kept humbly in his place. He knows I’m intimidated by his wealth and family legacy, and having you spoil me rotten would be too much. He needs to understand how I truly live.”
I watched him shuffle his thoughts, seemingly very concerned about the wrath he’d face for downgrading Mr. Aster’s love nest at my request.
“I understand, Senorita,” he nodded.
“I will ensure you are tipped for the week as you would have been if you were servicing Mr. Aster and me. Now…where is the closest room with two beds?”
“Right this way.”
Close to thirty minutes and a shower later, I walked onto the balcony of the two-bed suite I was able to secure. It was nothing overly fancy, but I was more comfortable in it. It reminded me of the rooms I used to book in college when my friends and I would book a trip for spring break. I felt more like myself and needed some normalcy to get my head back on straight. The commercial flight would’ve been enough to keep me grounded had I not felt like I was traveling with Idris Elba next to me on the plane.
“Gracias,” I heard Sebastian’s voice.
I couldn’t help but sigh in annoyance, needing this time on the balcony overlooking the ocean to gather my thoughts and think about how we would pull off this week of ridiculous lies.
“Hey, cupcake,” he said, his voice cute, calm, and not what I expected after he found out he’d lost the butler for his fancy villa.
“That damn name,” I said, sipping the coffee I’d made myself in the room. “Can you please just call me something else?”
“At the rate your sneaky little ass is changing rooms on me, I prefer calling you Darcel,” he said, rightfully annoyed.
I watched as he walked around the terrace to grab a chair opposite where I sat. “Now, how do you plan to remain comfortable in this room with me?”
“Easy, you sleep on one bed, and I’ll sleep on the other.”
“I wasn’t planning on us sharing that king-sized bed in the large villa I purposefully booked,” he smiled, almost as if this joke was backfiring on me as the Billionaire Bachelor Auction had.
“What, then?”
“The sofa folds out into a bed, and I was planning on using that,” he smirked. “It seems you almost thought of everything.”
“Shit,” I said, annoyed at myself. “That was a gorgeous room, too.”
“I know,” he said, chuckling. “I guess my newly engaged bride-to-be is fearful I might take advantage of the bed she could’ve been snoring happily ever after in.”
“Well, what was I supposed to think?”
“I have no idea. I thought I’d made it clear that there was to be no romance involved in our little deception.” His forehead wrinkled in humor, and his brown irises, which were naturally dark and cold, looked like the color of smoky quartz. They dazzled in their warmth, and I couldn’t resist smiling.
“You did, but what was I supposed to think with a one-bedroom suite, especially when I know that when rich folks like yourself come here, they aren’t found in these common rooms? You all have those private villas to ensure your privacy, so no one knows you’re staying here.”
“That’s the point exactly,” he said, standing up, sweat beading on his forehead from the weather.
Sure, it was hot on the balcony, but even hotter if you’re wearing a button-down shirt?—
Holy shit. He’s taking it off.
“Oh, so you’re just going to strip right here with the excuse that it’s hot and there’s no pool?”
He pulled the shirt off, revealing his tight, white undershirt and biceps, which were way larger than I expected and not something I thought a man like him would have. His t-shirt paled against the dark tint of his tanned skin, and his sleeves looked like they might rip if he flexed his arm. That’s not even mentioning how the dampness of his sweaty body made the shirt tighten against his abs. The man was in perfect muscular shape, and I was starting to wish we had that villa so I could watch him swim laps in the pool without his shirt on.
Jesus H. Christ, this man was a glorious sight to behold.
“Of all the rooms you could switch us to, you picked the one with the hot afternoon sun, eh? I thought you hung with the rich and famous and knew a thing or two about which rooms to book?”
“They usually book the room for me,” I smiled. “Sort of like you did but without trying to share the room with me. I don’t typically feel the need to change my room, so forgive me for choosing the one with the hot afternoon sun. ”
“Well, I’m sure you’re pissed you changed rooms without calling me first. And now,” he looked around, “look at our little vacation room. It’s all quite adorable.”
“Why didn’t you book your own private villa? The one you requested isn’t very secluded.”
“I need people like those inconsiderate passengers on the plane to invade my privacy,” he said. “I chose that villa because it’s upgraded and nice while keeping us around the general population.”
“Why, so people can video us in our room while you’re sleeping on the sofa?”
He chuckled. “No, we can’t fight while on a lovely vacation in Mexico, and most certainly not while we are newly engaged. It was to ensure everyone knows I’m spoken for and by you. There is no way now that I’ll be a part of that auction.”
“See, that’s cheating. You’re ensuring that you don’t go up for auction before I get my story.” I raised my eyebrows at him in reprimand, “And now that I think about it, it looks like I won’t be breaking any news about your private life before anyone else. You let those kids do it.”
“No,” he said without apology, “they haven’t broken anything personal aside from the fact that I’m dating—well, engaged—to you. I probably helped you and Juniper gain popularity by allowing that to happen today.”
“Yay for me,” I rolled my eyes, ready to ditch my coffee for tequila. “I would’ve rather gained popularity by doing a good write-up about you.”
“Well, that’s up to you. I’m just trying to put you on the map, is all.”
“Subject change,” I said, not wanting to discuss how the man ensured he got out of this alive regardless of where I landed in our little deal. “Did you find a ring? I was sure you’d get mugged or lost back there after seeing you look so out of your element at the airport.”
“I did,” he said, exhaling and ignoring my insult. “So, here you are.” He pulled a black box out of the leather bag he brought out here with him. “I managed to secure what is known as a Mexican fire opal. After researching what the particular opal represented, I thought it was perfectly fitting for you.”
“Wow,” I said, my hand covering my heart as he opened the box, revealing what looked like a three to four-carat cushion-cut stone set in what looked to be white gold. The gemstone’s fiery color resembled the beauty of an exquisite sunset’s red and orange hues. It was a genuinely gorgeous piece of jewelry. “It’s stunning.” I looked at him and smiled, “I’m impressed you pulled this off.”
“And here you thought I couldn’t. I don’t only shop at Harry Winston, you know? I’m creative, too. Now, let’s see,” he said, sliding it on my ring finger. “Damn, it’s a little loose.” He concentrated on my ring finger, moving the stone around as if that would tighten it somehow. “Well, we could just say we’re waiting for the jeweler to fit it for you.”
“Or we could say it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to take it off after you put it on my hand,” I laughed. “This really is gorgeous.”
“The fire opal is associated with passion, creativity, and vitality,” he glanced up from what he was reading aloud on his phone. “Its intense color is thought to ignite the spirit and inspire enthusiasm.”
“Well, looks like you and Google have it all figured out,” I said, trying to play down how adorable this moment really was.
This guy, who I’d been referring to as the devil until a few days ago, was showing a side of himself that made me secretly wonder if he were the sweetest man I’d ever known. Only my mom would think of getting me a unique gemstone representing what she thought about me, not El Diablo. Never would I have imagined that he was capable of being so charming, especially with someone of my status.
“I could go on,” he said with excitement. “I think you’ll like the part where it matches the sunsets from our room.”
“I highly doubt we’ll survive this balcony during the hot sunset hours,” I chuckled. “And now I feel bad for changing the room because it is quite sweet of you to choose this ring, knowing the real history between us.”
“I told you,” he smiled, standing up, “you’ve only met the business side of me, and you and your family were planted right in the middle of that business. Now, you’ll see a better side to me that I believe you will find more agreeable.”
“I could definitely get used to this side of you,” I smiled. I wanted to hug him in appreciation, but I realized that this gift was just part of a lie because he didn’t want to be found out by Natalia and Spencer once we met with them later.
“Well, good,” he said, “because I might want to share that damn king-sized bed with you once we return to the original room I booked. Ricardo will be here to snatch our luggage, and I think you’ll enjoy comparing the sunset colors to the colors of that gemstone before we meet Natalia and Spencer for dinner tonight.”
“You are a very spoiled man,” I said, standing up.
“Frankly, my sweet little sprinkle-top cupcake, I don’t give a fuck,” he said. “I’m not staying in a room so cramped that if I fart, it’ll blow you off the balcony.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The room wasn’t small by any stretch, but nothing but the best would do for an Aster.
I wasn’t going to put up a fight about moving rooms again, though. As long as I got the bed, I was good to go, and since the afternoon sun had taken its toll on me, I was ready for a margarita and a dip in that refreshing pool.