"Are you well? " was the first thing Morgan asked her, as he opened the taxi door for her, in front of the hotel "You seem nervous about something..."
“No, no... I'm fine. “ she did her best to manage a natural smile, not wanting to draw his attention further to the tension she was feeling, as the two entered the bright, white marble covered lobby “ I'm just looking forward to seeing the hotel, I I think. I've never been to such a beautiful place."
" Serious? “ Morgan's eyebrows rose, showing how confused he was “But you were so insistent that we go straight to the chapel when we arrived, instead of checking into the hotel first..."
“Uh… Yeah…” Charlie smirked, furious with herself for having thought of that stupid excuse, which could end up making him more suspicious “You know, the wedding was more important than anything else. Besides, I've been a little disoriented lately. I think... It's just a natural reaction to everything that's been going on the last few days. You know, things are happening so fast…" she tried to shake him off and had to stifle a huge sigh of relief at the realization that she seemed to have it, as he pulled her even closer, his expression full of pity.
Things had been chaotic lately and their marriage had touched her like no other moment in her life, it was true, but that wasn't why the cold sweat was starting to break out down her back as the two of them stopped at the counter and began waiting to be attended to by the nice girl on the other side, who seemed to be almost finished solving another guest's problem. Biting her lip, Charlie tried to be as inconspicuous as possible as she shifted her gaze to the open credentials on Morgan's cell phone, which would be used to confirm their room reservations.
"May I help? How can I help?" The attendant smiled as she finally addressed them, and Charlie couldn't help narrowing his eyes a little when he realized that she seemed to be being a little too friendly with Morgan.
“ Hello, we came to check in to these two rooms." he showed her the screen of the cell phone, pointing to the verification code, at the same time that he handed her his ID “There are two suites on the seventh floor in the name of Morgan and Charlotte Sullivan."
“Of course, I'll check in a moment. “ the girl smiled brightly, maintaining eye contact with him even when it was obvious that she should have already entered the code into the computer “ Should I ask one of the staff to get you and your sister a coffee or water while you wait ?
" No thank you. “ Charlie was the one who replied, pressing even closer to Morgan, so that she could link her arm in his, with a smile full of silent messages “My husband and I are fine. All we want now is to smile and rest.
“Oh, yes, of course, forgive me. “ the attendant gasped, gulping at her gaze, as she finally started fiddling with her computer “Very well… Oh, here you are, welcome Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan... Oh!" she broke off suddenly, looking more closely at the screen “That's two reservations, you say?"
" Yes. “ Morgan confirmed, confused “ Why? Some problem?"
“I am sorry, Mr. Sullivan. But the system only contains a reservation for one of the suites: the double, which was originally intended for Mrs. Sullivan."
" What? But I took care of those reservations myself and I'm pretty sure I asked for two rooms... " Morgan started to complain, surprised, until he seemed to realize something " I wait, what do you mean originally?"
“ Well, according to what is on the system, we received a call yesterday from someone who provided all their security details perfectly and asked that one of the reservations be canceled. “ the woman explained nervously.
“ That's impossible, I didn't make that call." Morgan sighed, frustrated but still polite. “That was a mistake."
“So we apologize, sir... Clearly it was a mistake by our security. I'll talk to the manager about getting you a discount on hotel services as compensation..."
“Much more important than the discount is making sure both rooms can be arranged…” Morgan began, making Charlie desperate enough to interrupt him, plastering on a smile that she was trying her best not to. convey the nervousness I was feeling.
“Now, Morgan, what's wrong with us sharing a room? “ she asked, praying that that argument was enough for him to let it go and not ruin her and Vivian's plan. ..
" Don't worry. “ he smiled at her, but soon amended the sentence with something that it made me want to grunt “You can go to the room that's already booked and get some rest. I'll stay here at reception until everything has been resolved..."
“Uh, Mr. Sullivan...? “ the attendant interrupted him hesitantly “ I'm sorry, but I just checked our reservations and we're fully booked tonight. It will not be possible to relocate the vacant vacancy to another of our rooms, at least not today."
“ Can't check again? “ Morgan asked, insistent “ There must be a way out. I don't necessarily need to sleep in the highest standard suites. It could be in one of the simplest rooms..."
“ Well, the best I can do is get you a reservation at another of our hotels...” she offered, typing quickly on her computer “The closest one is 5km from here, but..."
“Morgan! “ Charlie butted into the conversation, making him look at her “What are you doing?"
" Like this? I'm trying to get a room for myself. “ he explained, completely confused “ I don't know how this mistake ended up happening, but..."
“ Would you rather go to another hotel than stay in the same room as me?" she questioned him, pouting.
“No, that's not it. “ he explained quickly, looking anxious “It's just... It'll be more comfortable for you if I..."
“ You said that the rooms in this hotel are huge, so surely both of us will be able to be comfortable, even if it's just one of them." she tried to convince him, in the sweetest voice possible, bending her neck to rest her head on his shoulder “ Besides, we're on our honeymoon and I would be very hurt if you didn't spend our wedding night with me." she winked at him, making him blush “So forget this nonsense about wanting to make me comfortable. We're a couple, remember?" she stated suggestively, nudging him slightly, wanting to indicate the attendant's attentive and curious gaze focused on them “I don't know why you're so shy about the idea of us sleeping together. We've done this before, remember?"
“Well… uh…” he cleared his throat a few times, completely flushed, before finally turning to the woman behind the counter, with a resigned sigh, “Well, forget it. Let's do what my wife suggested. Could you please give us the room key."
" It is clear. “ the attendant agreed, quickly picking up a gold key chain with the hotel's logo and handing it to him “Allow me to send a bottle of champagne to your room later, not only as an apology for our mistake, but also as a wedding gift."
" We thank. “ Charlie answered for him, very friendly, before starting to pull him towards the elevator, along with the bags, afraid that he might decide to insist a little more on getting another room if they stayed there any longer.
“I think I still have a lot to learn about how to act like a newlywed, don't you?" Morgan gave an embarrassed laugh, when they found themselves alone, towards the seventh floor “But really, I can go back there and get another room for myself, even if it's in another hotel. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable about having to share a room with me. Besides, it's not like Samantha has eyes everywhere. Here we do not need to pretend that we are intimate."
“I wasn't bluffing when I said I already slept with you, remember? “ she raised an eyebrow teasingly, making his cheeks redden again “So why the hell would I be uncomfortable, when I was the one who told you that I feel better when I fall asleep with you next to me? Also, no matter where we are, we better start acting like a couple in love as much as we can." she nodded, more than satisfied with that idea “ Practice makes perfect and we can't risk making a mistake that ends up reaching the ears of Samantha or one of her boyfriends. You never know what they would be able to do to take that 20% away from me..."
“Yes, of course…” Morgan agreed, even though her voice didn't sound so sure “Well, then I can sleep in one of the armchairs…"
" Dont be silly! “ she complained to him, the moment the two finally opened the bedroom door “ Wow, look at that!" Charlie whirled around, marveling at the clean, fragrant room, decorated in white and cream, plunging into the bed at home in the center of it all, as soon as she got close to it. “Look at the size of that bed! I can't believe you would go to the trouble of moving to another hotel when you clearly fit 10 people here." she complained, secretly irritated with the bed for being so big and allowing them to be apart, even sleeping together.
Damn, if only she'd known the room was the size of an island, she'd given Vivian the idea of canceling that room, rather than the other, so that she and Morgan would be forced to cram into a single bed the whole night...
“Oh good, they have a couch here where I can sleep." Morgan sighed, so relieved it made her huff, as she placed her bags next to the double closet next to the bed. “Problem solved."
“If you think I'm going to let you bend your spine by sleeping on this instead of making you sleep next to me, you're sorely mistaken." Charlie puffed out her cheeks, sitting up in bed to face him.
“ It's just one night. “ he laughed, seeming to find his anger the most amusing thing in the world “ My column will survive, I guarantee it. Your husband is not that old. he teased, making her grunt."
“No, apparently, he's just very stubborn." she dropped onto the bed again, this time head over heels, her face turned towards him “ If you weren't already wanting to sleep on a sofa, this is exactly where I would send you."