Chapter Three: A warm bed, A cold goodbye

NADIA'S POV

When I woke up, he was gone.

The clock on the wall above said six o'clock, and with heavy legs, I dragged myself into the bathroom before dressing up for the evening session of the writers conference.

By the time I managed to lay my hands on my phone, my friend and fellow writer, Bobbi, who had also come to the conference but was in a different hotel had already called me ten times.

“My goodness, Nadia, I've been calling you repeatedly.” Bobbi was standing directly outside the hotel, her eyes searching my face. “What happened?”

I scratched the back of my neck as I fought off the urge to share the goodness of my day with a friend I felt I could trust.

As writers, Bobbi and I yearned to have the fun we created for the fictional characters in our books. But at that moment, I knew that the fact that my wish had come true and Bobbi's hadn't could serve as a problem once I told my story.

“I was tired. I had a quick snack, and next thing you know, I was flat on the bed.”

Bobbi's eyebrows narrowed in a manner that suggested she didn't believe me.

“I've seen you work on nights when you were very tired in order to beat a deadline. You're not the type to randomly fall asleep in the afternoon.”

I shrugged tiredly, hoping she could just let the topic go.

“Well, I guess I did today. Even the best of the best have off days.”

Bobbi raised her hand as she hailed a taxi that would take us to the conference hall.

A taxi stopped and we piled into it. As soon as my behind touched the leather of the vehicle, I was harshly reminded of the technician's hand as he spanked my behind, his hands grabbing my buttocks with a ferocity that I never knew existed.

Finally settled, I had the time to think carefully about what had just happened to me in the hotel.

Who was he? Would I ever see him again or was it just a one time job?

It was only when the taxi came to a halt next to the hall which was packed with writers from all over the country that I was pulled out of my reverie.

“Are you alright?” Bobbi eyed me cautiously. “You're never this quiet before a concert.”

I smiled at her, knowing that telling her the truth was a huge risk I wasn't ready to take.

Bobbi had been married to her husband, Anthony Gray for about ten years. They had two wonderful boys, and often, we joked about leaving our husbands and running off with hot, fictional characters, but that was it.

What had happened between the technician and I in the hotel room wasn't a joke about a fictional character. It was real.

And I wasn't ready to cross the line that separated jokes and reality yet.

“I think I'm just a little bit under the weather, Bobbi.”

She squeezed my shoulder fondly.

“Well, you need to start feeling better because Melissa Xan is speaking this evening.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“Melissa?”

“You heard right.” Bobbi's eyes twinkled in reply.

Melissa Xan was our favourite writer and one of the major reasons we had come to the conference. Initially, she had pulled out of the conference because of an emergency.

Hearing my favourite author and role model was going to be speaking was enough to make me temporarily forget about the technician and the intense moment of bliss we had in my hotel room.

“If Melissa is speaking, then why are we walking so slowly?”

Bobbi chuckled, the sound of her weird laughter turning a few heads.

“Oh, Nadia, wait up!” She called out as I began to speed up in a quest to secure front row seats for both of us.

_________

The evening session marked the end of the conference for the year.

As drinks were shared and soft music played in the background, I watched silently as writers from different cities connected with each other, exchanging pleasantries and conversation.

I recognized a few faces, but I knew the last thing I wanted to be doing was speaking to a writer and pretending I cared about what had been going on in their lives.

I had barely been able to think about anything else but green eyes, hairy arms and a body so perfectly matched for mine it made us feel like soulmates when we were intertwined that afternoon.

“Nadia? Melissa is signing autographs.” Bobbi's eyes gleamed with delight as she showed me a copy of Melissa's latest book which was in her hands. “Come on, grab a book and let's wait. We might even sneak in a selfie if we're lucky!”

I stared at Bobbi unenthusiastically, knowing that I no longer cared about Melissa Xan or any other writer in the hall for that matter.

How did I know the technician wasn't at the hotel at that moment? What if he had forgotten something?

And in that moment, it clicked.

I could ask the receptionist for his name and number.

Grabbing my purse, I ignored Bobbi's narrowed eyebrows once again.

“I'm sorry Bobbi, but I have to run. It's important. I'll text you as soon as I'm settled, I promise!”

I fled the hall, the writers conference and everything that had happened that evening a blur. I hailed a taxi and told the driver the name of my hotel.

In the next twenty minutes I swept through the sliding doors of my hotel, my heart slamming in my chest repeatedly.

“Good evening.” I muttered to the receptionist, forcing a smile onto my lips.

“Evening Ma'am.” The receptionist's eyes shone with recognition. “How can I help you?”

“The technician that came to work on my air conditioner this afternoon, did he leave a contact address? What company does he work for?”

“Is there a problem, Ma'am?” The receptionist inquired concernedly as she leaned against the counter, one hand already going to her telephone.

“No, nothing at all. He did a very good job, I was wondering if I could hire him for another job when I leave the hotel.”

The receptionist nodded as she dug out a card which she slid into the counter.

“He works for this company, Ma'am. We work with them whenever we have issues involving electricity, and the company sends a worker most times. We don't work with the technicians directly.”

Grabbing the card and slipping it into my purse, I muttered a stiff thank you as I made my way to the elevator in a bid to get to my room.

What was I doing? Searching for a stranger who probably didn't want anything to do with me? What was I thinking?

As I slipped into the emptiness of my bedroom, I was faced with the harsh reality of the truth.

I might never see the technician ever again.