JULIET

"Ti... there must be a mistake." I can hear the panic in Neville's voice as he steps forward and speaks to the girl at the reception desk. "This is not possible. I specifically asked that they reserve one more room."

"You said Mr. Deniz would have extra company," the girl explains. "I was the one who took the reservation. You even said that an extra presidential room would not be necessary."

"But that didn't mean that you put them in the same room!"

"Do you know how many ways people come here and ask for rooms in codes and ways that have to be deciphered in order not to say out loud that they want a double bed?"

"This was not the case!"

"Neville." Kerem's voice calling him seems to be about to try to eat his assistant alive by mistake.

The truth is that the girl is right. Any mortal who is asked for one more place, but without an extra room, will understand that they want one of two.

Not that.

"M...sir," he says.

"Resolve this matter for me immediately. I have to take a shower and there is a very important lunch in less than an hour."

"Yes," Neville says, then turns to the girl. "Will you have an extra room? One at least please."

She checks the screen and shakes her head.

"Sorry but no."

"And a friendly hotel that will do us a favor? It's super, super important that it needs to happen. Is it feasible?"

She sighs and types some things.

"Maybe tomorrow," she murmurs, "I can make a change of rooms, but I suggest you find out. On Airbnb there are private apartments that you could rent; Anyway, due to the events taking place in the city, I think there will be no luck this time other than what we offer you, sir."

Mr. Deniz's cell phone rings and he steps aside to speak expressly, closing with the fact that he will be there shortly.

"I think the lord is in a hurry," I warn in a whisper that he seeks to poke both Neville and Kerem.

"Get me a shower now and then I'm out of here," my boss says to his assistant. "At night we see what alternative arises."

"Juliet." Neville turns to me. "Would you mind sharing a room with little Ali's governess?"

"And would I have to sleep on the floor?"

"I'll get you an inflatable mattress or blankets."

"I have a lot of back pain."

"Then you change with her."

"If Ali cries, you should take him to bed," she intervenes, listening to the conversation. I don't think Mr. Deniz would like the idea that his son could have slept on the floor.

"And if Ali cries at night, I won't be rested for my labors during the day," I must add.

"Then he sleeps in my room and I sleep on the floor," Neville offers.

Kerem listens and immediately jumps in:

"No way. Come to my...room, Juliet. But we'll get something else even if it's out of town."

"Copy, Colonel," I tell him, mocking his super strict tone. I say yes. It's okay. Heh.

I shrug and let them hand us the keys. Two men approach to help us with the luggage and each one goes to his place.

But with Kerem we continue to one of the top floors, finding superlative luxury, even more imposing than the rest of the hotel.

As soon as he opens the door of the room I discover something that is more complete and three times larger than my own two-bedroom apartment. There's a king-size bed in the center that looks like the ones wealthy families use in movies or soap operas, plus it's round. Round! I had never seen one of these in person with such a brutal size.

The walls are glazed with those curtains that seem automatic and I only thought they existed in science fiction books. The lights are dimmable and oh my gosh! There is a whirlpool in the room!

"Is this real?" I say as I circle the monster.

"You can't use it," he warns me.

I look at him furiously.

"I hadn't asked for it either."

He takes off his jacket, shoes, and tie. He leaves everything tidy on an armchair next to the bed. There is another long one at the foot of the bed, I don't even know for sure what those are called.

"Is it necessary to have this in the room?" I ask. "Or is it just to flaunt the luxury of having one like that?"

"Both," he answers as he grabs a towel. "Are you going to shower too? Because we are short on time."

"T-together?"

"There are two showers in there, but it's to know whether to hurry or not."

Thick swallow

My mouth is dry.

He unbuttons the top few buttons of his shirt and I go dumb looking at the brown hairs that appear adorning his firm pectorals and I have to make an effort to remind myself how a normal person behaves so I look away and go to my suitcase, pretending that I have to do things here.

"I showered before going out."

"And you won't shower again?"

"It's only been a few hours!"
"You're not going to shower?"

"I don't want to waste water!"

"As you say, Judith."

"And also my name is not Judith!"

I turn around as he goes into the bathroom, he leaves the shirt on the way and I go dumb watching the muscles of his shoulders and back perfectly defined.

He closes the door behind him and I fan myself with one hand so as not to die of heat from the battle of sensations that are released inside me because of this attractive, insufferable, indomitable Turk.