"That too. You reckon Mr. Yo would swap places with me?"

"If you offered to let him do you up the butt, he might."

"If that's the deal, I'll stick with being a chambermaid for now."

"Scaredy cat." As we turn the corner, she leans in conspiratorially, her voice tinged with excitement. "Oh, I forgot to tell you," she whispers, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "There was a hot guy in the lobby earlier. Gucci suit, tall enough to touch the ceiling, hands that would look just right cupping my ass. You're looking at the future Mr., my girl."

I can't help but chuckle softly at her enthusiasm. "Can I come to the wedding?"

"Honey, you'll be the maid of honor. Or we can double-team him if you like? Me on his face and you on his monster dong." She stops outside 1207 to swipe her keycard.

"Is that what you mean by us girls taking care of each other?" I ask as the door swings open.

The cool air-conditioned interior washes over us as we step inside. The suite is spacious and elegantly furnished. The plush carpets, rich wood furniture, and tasteful artwork all exude luxury. There's a bedroom, living space, bathroom, and two balconies.

"The sex talk will have to wait," Arie says, grabbing a duster from the cart. "Work must temporarily intrude."

The crystal chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow, making the suite look almost ethereal. I move into the bedroom, straightening cushions, vacuuming the carpet, wiping down every surface until they gleam.

"No clean towels on your cart," Arie calls out as I move through to the bathroom. "And you call yourself the owner?"

"A good employee would go fetch some from the closet," I shout back as I wipe the mirror.

"No good ones around. I guess I'll have to go get some instead."

My elbow bumps a glass perched on the marble counter, sending it clinking to the floor and splashing water all over my blouse.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath, panic rising as I grab a towel and hastily blot at the spreading wetness. My top becomes transparent in seconds. "That's just perfect," I mutter. "Fantastic."

I hear footsteps out in the main lounge. "In here," I shout. "And I've got quite the sight for you." I spin around and thrust my chest out, expecting to see Arie with an armful of clean towels. "You're not the only one with big tits around here."

I freeze as a towering figure fills the doorway, his piercing dark brown eyes locking onto mine with a gaze that sends shivers down my spine. He steps forward, his presence dominating the room. He's like something out of a gangster movie.

He's dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuates his broad shoulders. His dark hair is neatly styled, framing a face that is ruggedly handsome yet marked with an aura of authority and danger.

His eyes, a piercing shade of chocolate, see right through me, taking in the scene with cool appraisal. I feel even more exposed under his intense gaze, my pulse quickening as I struggle to find words. Any words.

His eyes move to my soaking wet chest, his brows raising slightly. "I've seen bigger," he says. "But not many."

"I... I'm sorry," I stammer. "I didn't mean to..."

He steps further into the room. "Thrust your tits at me?" he says smoothly, his voice low and measured.

I swallow hard, acutely aware of his proximity. There's an undeniable tension in the air between us, a magnetic pull that I can't ignore. His presence commands attention and stirs something profound within me—a mix of fear and undeniable attraction.

I take a step back, trying to regain my composure. "I'll clean this up," I say, gesturing awkwardly at the wet patch on the tiles next to me.

He watches me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I'm going to take a shower," he announces suddenly. "You're more than welcome to join me." He begins to loosen his tie, glancing at the name badge on my chest. "Seeing as you're wet already, Y/n."

I get a sudden crystal clear image of him taking my virginity, saying my name in that exact tone of voice, his strong arms pinning me to a bed. The image takes my breath away.

He tosses his tie aside, getting to work on his shirt buttons. "Walk away and continue with your work. Or dive into the deep end of life. What do you want to do, Y/n?"

I stand frozen, torn between desire and reality, my fingers trembling against the damp cloth in my hand. God, can he tell my nipples are rock-hard and aching for his tongue?

Between my legs a tingle is growing, brought on by a new image in my head. The two of us, naked in the shower, his hands touching my pussy, the first man to ever touch me there. I only have to take one step forward and I could lose my virginity to the hottest man I've ever seen.

I turn on my heel and walk out of the bathroom, the door swinging shut behind me with a soft click.

Arie takes a sip of her drink. "Sorry, just explain that to me again. The hottest guy on the planet invites you to join him in the shower and you turn him down? No, don't even turn him down, just walk away without another word?"

We're in a dimly lit dive bar a block from The Dolphin. The air conditioner wheezes weakly, doing little to alleviate the sticky heat that clings to my skin

"God, it's like an oven in here," I mutter, pressing the cold glass to my forehead as I ignore her question. I glance around, taking in the eclectic mix of patrons—a group of rowdy twenty-somethings playing pool in the back, a couple in the middle of a blazing argument, and a lone figure in the darkest corner, face hidden by the shadows.

Arie smirks, pushing a stray lock of chestnut hair behind her ear. "Nice deflection," she quips, her voice laced with amusement.

"I didn't turn him down. I just didn't say yes."

"And why didn't you say yes?"

"Come on. He turned up two seconds after I'd spilled water all over my blouse and he stared at my tits. Said he'd seen bigger. Then he said he was jumping in the shower and I was welcome to join him. You seriously think I should have said yes?"

"I would have."

"That's you. I'm not having my first time be with a complete stranger who probably sleeps with a different girl every night of the week."

"Look, take some advice from one who knows. When a gorgeous rich guy offers to soap you up in a shower, no strings attached, you accept. That never happens, trust me. I've been working here four years and the only proposition I've had. I've never once had a hot guy proposition me like that."

"Come on, he clearly didn't mean it. He was obviously just teasing me."

"Well, you'll never find out now, will you? I'd have been soaping him up before you could say sudsy balls."

I manage a weak smile, grateful for her attempt to lighten the mood. "Oh look," I reply, picking up the sticky menu from the table and scanning it half-heartedly. "The drinks in here are as cheap as you."

Arie leans forward conspiratorially, her eyes glinting mischievously. "So, I went to your dad's place earlier," she says, lowering her voice as if sharing state secrets.

"You did what?"

"When I finished my shift, I went to have a look."

"But how did you even know where it is?"

"Because I'm Sherlock Holmes."

"Really?"

She grins. "Looked up your Dad's name online and found the address. Took five minutes."

I cringe, letting out a groan. "You promised not to go looking for him."

"I didn't. I went to see your place. Did not break my promise. Assumed he wouldn't be there. Thought there might be some clues as to what this is all about."

"And?" I ask, curious despite my fear for her safety. My mind drifts to my father, his whereabouts still unknown, and the fear of what might have happened to him gnawing at my heart.

"All your stuff's there but it looked like the place had been turned over. Everything was tossed on the floor. Right mess."

"He was never the tidiest."

"No, this was something else. Cushions ripped open, picture frames smashed."

"Shit. Really?"

Arie's eyes widen in sympathy, her hand tightening around mine. "Someone was looking for something," she says, her voice gentle. "What the hell was your dad up to?"