JAW DROPING

As I forcefully roused from my slumber, my senses groggily came to life, wrapping me in a disoriented fog. With a jolt, I felt I had been tangled in the remnants of a nightmare, its tendrils still clinging to my consciousness. Blinking away the haze, I found myself seated upon an unfamiliar bed, a room foreign to me in every aspect.

"Where am I? This wasn't my room.

Surveying my surroundings, I found the space cloaked in a somber elegance. The weighty duvet enveloped me, it seemed to have been draped over me covering my lower half. The room had a dark tone to it. It exuded a modernity that whispered of opulence, its palette a symphony of blacks and grays.

The walls, painted in these shadowy hues, framed a realm of sophistication, a backdrop for the minimalist furniture that adorned the space. I checked the bed and noticed it was a king-sized bed, its headboard clad in sleek black leather, which dominated the room. The duvet I noticed was gray and it claimed the center where I lay. The bed was flanked by metallic nightstands crowned with matching lamps.

Above the bed hung a large abstract painting, its shades of gray and white lending an air of artistic mystique. Across the room, a fireplace shared its warmth, while a sliding glass door beckoned to a balcony boasting a breathtaking skyline view. 

Then I saw an opened closet, which was a walk-in with custom-built shelves and drawers. It revealed a collection of suits and shirts and weirdly enough, they were all uniformly black which was a curious choice indeed. There was a mirror that I couldn't see clearly but could tell it was a full-length mirror.

Before I could further ponder this enigma of a room, a knock echoed, heralding the arrival of a striking gentleman. His ebony locks framed his chiseled features, his attire impeccably tailored, was tucked in and sleeves folded to his elbows fitted perfectly, two buttons opened showing his perfectly toned chest a testament to refined taste. The prevalence of black in his ensemble mirrored the room's aesthetic, prompting a bemused thought on the matter.

"What is with this people and black?" I wondered, but before I could ask who he was and where I was, he beat me to it.

"Good day, miss. I trust you had a restful night. Patron Lucchese instructed me to check in on you," he greeted in a melodious Spanish cadence.

Perplexed, I inquired about this mysterious patron, "Who is your patron?" I asked curiously, only to discover his identity.

"Mr. Eugene Lucchese,"

"Eugene!" The name struck a chord, igniting a fervent desire to seek him out.

"Where is he? I must see him," I implored, poised to bolt from the room. I got off the bed without a second thought only to be restrained by the gentleman's firm grip with both hands placed on my shoulders.

"Miss, miss, Por favor, I can't allow you to go out."

I looked at him with questioning eyes "Why?" I asked with a hint of annoyance.

I saw him look at me from top to bottom and then he looked sideways and cleared his throat.

"Well, umm miss, you are not adequately dressed." He explained with a hint of amusement. 

It was then that I realized my predicament. I was clad in a black long-sleeved shirt barely covering my modesty, which was all buttoned up except for the collar button, an inadvertent comic sight. "Ahh," I gasped. Mortified, I attempted to salvage what little dignity remained, though my efforts only seemed to amuse my companion further.

"hmmmmhehe" I looked up to see him trying to stop his laughter with his fist covering his mouth. 

"Emm mmhmhh" I started to clear my throat as well.

"I'll be outside let me know when you are done" He took the words out of my mouth once again noticing my embarrassment. I felt so relieved and nodded.

"Um ok thank you" I managed to say.

After a brief interlude of embarrassment, I emerged, tentatively composed, ready to face Eugene "I am ready now, please take me to Eugene". However, the scrutiny of my attire by my escort left me apprehensive.

"Is something wrong?" I asked nervously, fearing I had messed up the attire or had failed to meet the standards of this mysterious world of black.

Since there wasn't anything for a female, I had to put on one of the black pants and I took one of the belts to hold it up since it was big on me. I tucked the shirt in loosely putting my dark blonde hair in a messing bun. I completed the ensemble with the black leather bedroom slipper I saw which was bigger than me, but I had no options.

I felt ok with it before stepping out but with how he stared at me I couldn't help but feel really nervous.

To my surprise, I saw his lips slowly form a smile, and then without speaking he gave me the hand sign that said Perfect. I smiled as well reassured, as his smile was beautifully contagious and approving. 

"Let's go." With newfound confidence, I followed him.

I saw us descending a staircase that unveiled a realm of grandeur beyond comprehension. I couldn't help but be awed by what I was seeing.

This was nothing like the bedroom I had just come out of, but there amidst the splendor, stood Eugene, a figure both familiar and enigmatic, leaving me to wonder, was it truly him? My jaw dropped.