Ayla

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"What would you like miss?" The young bartender that approached me asked with a smile.

"Just a glass of water thank you" I said returning his smile and his brows dipped, it was weird to be in a crappy hotel like this and asking for a glass of water when everybody else was guzzling down beer.

"I am waiting for someone" I added, I didn't have to explain myself but I didn't want his attention on me at least not while I was in the middle of doing something I should never think of doing.

"You can come wait at the bar if you want to, I mean so you don't look lonely" he said, this time his brows had gone back to normal.

"That would be great thanks" with a nod he walked back towards the bar and I just watched him.

If he knew who I was he would never have approached me, for the first time since I got married I was grateful to my husband for not bringing me into the media spotlight.

I picked up my purse and as much as I tried not to, I elegantly walked up to the bar, on my way there I felt tons of eyes on me. They might not know me but they could tell I was different, I was not from around or better still this place was unbefitting for my presence which is true but for my mission tonight I had to pick the crappiest place to cover my ass although I am failing terribly at blending in.

"You can just pick the stool in front of the TV if you like" the bartender said again. I didn't want to but I glanced at his name tag that read Skip and curiosity got the better of me.

"It's not real" he said and my eyes darted back up to his face.

"Oh i-i d-"

"No need to explain, I just didn't want you wandering if it was my real name or not" with a wink he grabbed a glass cup filling it with what looked like tap water and my stomach churned, maybe the beer would have been better I thought but remained silent.

I could always ignore the reason I was here and pick a different candidate, Skip wasn't bad looking and he had just the right build I was looking for but too bad we already got familiar, this was why I didn't want to look at his tag.

Ugh.

I got up from where I sat, paid for the drink and headed up to the room I paid for, there was no use sitting and looking lost, as much as skip would have been a good person to chat with, he would just be a trail I didn’t want coming back to me.

The room smelled like cheap air freshener and bath soap. My fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted the strap of my dress, it’s been almost an hour since I came up, my eyes glued to the door like it might suddenly open and expose me for what I was doing. This was insane.

Completely insane, but I was definitely going through with it, been here too long to back out now. A soft knock came ending my trail of thoughts. My heart jumped into my throat. He was finally here.

“C-Come in” I said, forcing my voice to remain calm.

The door opened slowly, and then he walked in.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe, He wasn’t what I expected not even close. I had imagined someone ordinary, someone I could easily forget by morning.

But this man?

He was… dangerous.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Dressed too well for what I had paid for.

His presence filled the room in a way that made my skin tingle. This was a mistake. “I-i think you’re in the wrong room” I said quickly, already reaching for my purse.

This had to be the wrong person, there was no way this was who the agency assigned to me. I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to It.

“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” he interrupted, his voice too calm that it sent a strange shiver down my spine.

I frowned. “No. It can’t be, I-i asked for someone else. Someone more… discreet, normal”

His lips curved slightly in a smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I am discreet and normal” The way he said it made my stomach churn. Taking a step back, I suddenly became very aware of how alone I was.

“You’re not what I asked for” I insisted. “And I don’t like surprises”. He stepped closer, Slowly.

“Then maybe,” he said quietly, “you should have been more specific.”

My breath caught. There was something off about him. Something that didn’t sit right. This wasn’t just a man doing a job. This was someone who chose to be here.

“I was specific, Infact I had changed my mind,” I said quickly, my hard composure slipping. “You can leave. I’ll still pay-“

Before I could finish, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. Not painfully, but firmly and my pulse spiked.

“You called for a service,” he said, his voice lower now. “I’m here to provide it.”

My heart pounded loudly in my ear as my hands grew clammy.

“You don’t get to change the rules halfway through.” Anger flickered through my fear, my composure coming back.

“I absolutely do” I snapped. “I paid for this. I decide what happens.”

He flicked his tongue, let me go and took a step back.

“You don’t strike me as someone who gives into fear, you waited three days for this and you are what? Just going to run away because I don’t look……discreet?”

He was mocking me, no more like baiting me, the smug bastard knew what he was doing.

“You don’t know me”

“I don’t want to, I don’t like stains on my record but I should let you know that you would not truly be free until you rebel”

Does he know something? No that was impossible he clearly was a stranger but why did what he said hit me right in the spot.

He turned to leave while i stood there going through an internal battle, his hand held the doorknob and I sighed.

“Wait!.”