Chapter 5

Charles POV

My poor Toyota car was seriously protesting.

The way I was manhandling it was as though it was responsible for the shitty way I was feeling. Well, at this point, I was willing to blame anyone and anything for my mood.

I couldn't even figure out why I was being temperamental.

"Man, you are stressed." My subconscious shot, sneaking its way into my thoughts.

The fact that I hadn't eaten breakfast was registered somewhere at the back of my mind. but I somehow knew that food wasn't the real reason I was pissed. I just couldn't place my finger on it.

I reached the hotel and matched into the foyer in high hopes of meeting the bonny receptionist I had flirted with a few hours ago. However, as I approached the desk, the lady that was behind the counter was different from the one I had met in the morning.

Bullocks!

"Hello sir, welcome to Bolton White. What can we do for you?" The receptionist said, taking her eyes away from the computer and settling them on me instead.

"I have a reservation here." I replied, but before she could start verifying, I asked, "Where is the lady that was here earlier this morning, let's say around 6 am?"

"Do you mean Vivian?" she asked, her brows rising with suspicion.

"Yeah, Vivian. How can I get in touch with her?" I asked with a smile. A simple ploy to get the information I needed.

"Vivian is on night shift this week, so you'll have to wait for her to resume her shift by 10 pm today," she said smoothly.

Vivian was my only option right now. I had no girlfriends in Abuja. Neither could I call a prostitute. Prostitutes were a no-go area for me. Moreover, I needed to interrogate the hell out of her and seduction was the only way.

"Is there a way I can get her number?" I asked sweetly.

"Not from me sir. You could probably ask the management," She replied without even looking at me.

What the hell? It seemed my nice guy attitude wasn't working on her.

Damn it all to hell.

"Give me my card. Charles Harrell." Now I sounded agitated. I was done playing nice. This chick was a freaking cockblocker.

She looked up at me, surprised at my sudden mood switch.

She had it coming.

Silently checking her computer to confirm my reservation, she nodded and handed me my room card in silence.

I angrily picked up the key and started for my room, but my tummy had a mind of its own. It needed food, and it wasn't taking no for an answer. With a sign, I diverted to the restaurant. I was going to be bored in that room all by myself anyways. Maybe eating amid people would help ease my anxiety.

Walking straight for the executive-looking table located at the far end of the hall, I took the seat facing the glass. Which also overlooked the garden. Looking out the glass, I could see the sun peaking over the garden. The view was beyond beautiful. Happy men, women and children were having fun in the pool, and for a moment, I closed my eyes and basked in the sounds of laughter and joy coming from those little kids.

Something I never really had as a child.

Just as I was getting into the moment, my thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of female laughter. The fact that I could recognize the voice was what caused me to pause.

I opened my eyes to follow the direction of the laughter. My heart sped up as I heard the voices again. A pang of fear seeped into my heart.

I had never gotten close to a woman long enough to recognize her voice. When I was done with them, I would cut them off and forget them. So, the idea of being familiar with any female voice at all was a nightmare.

Who the fuck was this lady anyway?

I looked to my right, searching from table to table. Just when I thought the sound was a figment of my imagination, my eyes caught a glimpse of dark hair.

I froze.

I could vaguely remember seeing this hair somewhere. But where?

Was she the lady I bumped into this morning? Because I could faintly remember what she was putting on, and it wasn't this.

Right now, she was wearing a pair of black fitted bikini that was joined from top to bottom. Which gave an amazing contrast to her sun-kissed skin. Showcasing her amazingly long legs. To everything proper, she was beautiful.

She was engrossed in a heated discussion with one of the hotel maids. Wait. Wasn't that Vivian? The receptionist I was desperately looking for to interrogate? I thought that bitch said she was off duty?

What was going on?

I was about to march up to their table and give them both a piece of my mind when I caught a bald old man staring at her legs. I suddenly became aware of the hungry male eyes staring at her from every corner of the restaurant. I felt myself ball up in a fit of jealousy. I didn't like the way they were looking at her. I felt like scratching their eyes out for having the guts to do so.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" My subconscious snickered.

When I had bumped into her earlier and tried flirting with her, she completely told me off and walked out on me. I didn't mind because I didn't care for attitude. But now I could see that Ms Hazel's eyes were the perfect replacement for Vivian.

All I had to do was have her for one night. And all this pent-up anxiety and frustration would be abated. As for Vivian, she would have to answer for that tattoo on her wrist. And that'll have to happen soon. But soon would have to be after I was done with hazel eyes. She was from this moment, my number one priority.

A shiver ran down my spine at the very thought of what I was gonna do to her.

Fuck!

I began to think about how I was going to get her attention. Then I remembered I had picked up her purse earlier this morning and my crazy mind went to work.

I was going to have them. Whether by hook or by crook.