Page 29 of Accidental Getaway

It took everything in me to not completely lose myself on my walk back to the hotel.

I pulled myself together enough to work most of the day.

I had to catch up on a few admin things, but mostly I went over the presentation with a fine-tooth comb, again.

If this is my one chance to fix myself, I need to make it work.

I briefly texted with Niko, but he was off property all day for finance meetings, so I haven’t seen him at all.

Instead, I’m spending the evening with Ana.

She has been begging me to have an “American movie marathon” where we paint our nails, braid each other’s hair, and watch rom-coms. A good old-fashioned sleepover without the actual sleeping over part.

At least, I think Ana is planning on returning to her room at the end of the night.

I’m starting to expect the unexpected with her.

She may crawl into bed, don a sleep mask, and start snoring, and I wouldn’t be surprised.

She should be here any minute, so I head to the bathroom to check my appearance.

I already washed off my makeup in preparation for face masks, and I’m wearing the only pajamas I brought with me: an old concert T-shirt and a pair of form-fitting black shorts.

I had contemplated going shopping for something a bit chicer to wear, but after last night, I couldn’t be bothered.

If Ana wants the real experience, this is what she gets.

I tie my hair back in a scrunchie and add another layer of deodorant to my pits.

A minute later, Ana is at the door and wraps me in a perfumed, silky hug. She looks gorgeous in pair of silk pajama pants and a button-up pajama top.

“I’m so excited! Are you excited? I’ve just had a message that the courier dropped off my order of goodies. Come with me to the lobby to get them!”

“Oh, sure.” I turn back to slip on my sandals. I definitely didn’t plan on leaving the room, but what’s the worst that could happen?

“It’s not a movie night without popcorn and candy, right? That’s what I’ve always heard, at least,” Ana says, a gleeful look on her face. “I had a guy track down as much American candy and snacks as he could.”

She really is going all-in on the theme here.

I can’t help the swell of happiness over this trip having brought Ana into my life.

She is so easy to love and, despite being literally perfect, has never made me feel anything less than special.

If it weren’t for her, I think I would have been on the next flight back to Denver after that first disastrous day on the beach.

As we make our way down to the lobby, Ana lists off rom-com movies she wants to watch tonight, including The Proposal and Crazy Rich Asians . No disagreement here.

We’re rounding the corner from the elevators to the lobby when my heart stops.

That blonde hair. That broad-shouldered frame, that obnoxious University of Chicago polo shirt.

In the half-of-a-second it takes for me to recognize Malcolm, I pull Ana back into the hallway with me and slam my back against the nearest wall, my breathing becoming fast and erratic. I need to get out of here. I need an escape. Now .

“Are you all right? What’s wrong?” Ana asks. “You look like you’ve seen a bear or something.”

Trust me, I would rather have seen a bear. I know how to handle a bear. Malcolm, on the other hand, is a far bigger problem.

When I don’t speak, Ana looks over me to peek back into the lobby.

“What’s going on? Do you know that guy?”

I know I should lie. I should keep quiet and pull myself together. But I just can’t pretend. Not right now and not with Ana. So I nod. “It’s him. It’s my ex.”

Her jaw drops, realization dawning on her face. “Your ex? The one we talked about? How? Why?”

I take a deep breath. Why is he here? Is this some sick coincidence? The universe’s way of punishing me for even trying to get back on my feet? Endless possibilities flood my brain, but all I say is, “I don’t know.”

“Oh, no.” Ana looks lost for words. “Jenni, this is not okay. We have to tell Niko. We can’t have that guy here, around you. Niko will book him a room at another hotel. He’ll take care of all of this.”

“No.”

Ana whirls to face me. Clearly, she doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation. I can’t tell Niko. There is absolutely no telling what he will think. I don’t want him to picture me as a victim. Or worse, unprofessional. I can’t put personal matters in the way of work.

“I just can’t.” Fear laces my words, but I can’t make my mouth move, to explain to Ana what is at stake here. If I let Niko know about what happened, it could change his entire perception of me. I force myself to focus on breathing. My whole body is shaking now.

I want to cry. I want to punch a hole in the wall. I want to punch Malcolm in his smug face .

“He’s coming,” Ana whispers. “Act surprised.”

She pulls me away from the wall, slips her arm through mine before laughing as if I said something hilarious. When Malcolm approaches, Ana attempts to ignore him with an air of superiority like only an heiress would. Unfortunately, Malcolm doesn’t fall for those kinds of tricks.

“Jenni?” Malcolm sounds surprised, but his face tells a different story—the cold, calculating look in his eyes, the smirk on his lips. He’s feeling something, but definitely not surprised. It gives me goose bumps.

I want to respond, but I’m completely frozen. Except for my eyes, that won’t stop blinking. I’m positive he can see right through me and straight into my broken heart. He rubs his hands together smugly. I’m convinced he knows how much power he still has over me.

“Excuse me, but does my friend know you? Or are you some kind of creep?” Ana says with a “get lost” attitude. She looks him up and down with a disapproving grimace as she slips her hand into mine and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

Malcolm clears his throat and squares his shoulders, clearly thrown off by her comments.

Only Ana could get away with calling someone a creep to his face.

She doesn’t seem remotely fazed by his demeanor or interested in backing down.

If anything, she stands taller, waiting for Malcolm to make a move.

“Jenni and I used to work together,” Malcolm tells Ana. Of course, that’s what he would say. Still unwilling to admit to our relationship in front of anyone who might be important. Turning back to me, he asks, “How long has it been now?”

One year, six weeks, and three days. I can’t tell if he is pretending not to know how long it’s been or if he truly cares that little about everything that transpired the last time we saw each other.

“About six months,” I finally say .

Before he can say anything else, Ana asks, “What are you doing here?”

Malcolm cocks his chin, a subtle movement that I wouldn’t have even noticed if not for the years I spent watching for it. It’s the move he makes any time he is about to hurt me.

“I’m here to meet with a client,” he says nonchalantly. I stand, stunned while he turns to Ana. “I’m a partner at Prewitt Luxury Marketing. We’re going to be taking over American marketing for this hotel. And who are you?”

She scowls. “You must be confused. My cousin is the general manager, and I know for a fact that he hasn’t hired anyone.

Jenni has been working with him for a week already, and it’s all but official that her firm will be hired.

You must only be here for a courtesy interview. I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

Ana’s words run right through me. She said so herself at the beach that she isn’t involved in the business. I’m still stuck on what Malcolm said, though. If he’s really here to pitch, with everything that his giant Chicago firm has to offer, I don’t stand a chance.

“We’ll see,” he says, forming a condescending smile that used to make me bend to his every will. Now, it just makes me feel like I’m going to be sick. “So you’re still in marketing then, Jen? I wasn’t sure you’d stick with it.”

I hate when he calls me Jen. And he knows that.

“I am,” I say hesitantly. Ana squeezes my hand again. “I work for an agency that helps independent hotels and resorts. Most of our clients are high-end bed-and-breakfasts and spas in the US, but we’re expanding into the international market.”

My voice is shaky and way too high-pitched. I power through, trying to channel Ana’s brazen attitude. “I didn’t realize Prewitt Luxury was taking on smaller clients these days.”

A look of uncertainty crosses Malcolm’s face. And I revel in it. But it’s gone in a flash .

“We aren’t. I made a personal exception for this one.”

The way he says it makes me feel like he knew I was here, and this “personal exception” has something to do with me.

There is no benefit to him taking on a small client like the Omorfiá Hotel.

Is he really here just to mess with me? He can’t be.

Malcolm would never go through all this trouble just to kick me when I’m down, would he?

He already destroyed my life once. Why would he feel the need to do it again?

My stomach churns like I’m about to lose my dinner.

“How gracious of you,” Ana declares, with an eye roll as big as Malcolm’s ego. I need to stop this. As much as I want to hug her right now, antagonizing Malcolm won’t end well. He has no tolerance for disrespect.

“It was nice seeing you, Malcolm, but we have to go.”

This time, I put my arm through Ana’s and pull her toward the front desk, leaving Malcolm behind us. I fight every urge to look back and gauge his reaction. I can’t let him see that I care. I can’t let him see how he is affecting me.

By the time we reach the desk, I’m practically catatonic. “Miss Jenni!” Alexander gasps. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

I briefly look in his direction, acknowledging that I heard him. But I can’t bring myself to answer. Ana steps in. “She’s being overdramatic about the fact I’m making her watch a Ryan Gosling movie. She prefers Paul Rudd.”

“I don’t think I know who you are talking about. But I’m sure they are both wonderful people.”

Ana laughs, and it brings me out of my daze for a minute. “Don’t worry. You aren’t missing much,” I tell him.

“Alexander, dear, I had a courier drop off a package. Do you have it?” Ana asks.

“Yes, ma’am!”

Alexander collects a bag from under the desk and hands it to Ana. “You two have a lovely evening. ”

Once we’re upstairs, I rush into the bathroom and deposit the contents of my stomach into the toilet, collapsing on the floor. Ana sits down next to me as another wave of nausea sends my head over the toilet again.

I feel like I’m ripping in two. I have spent so much time trying to put both my heart and career back together, and it has all been for nothing. I made one mistake and fell for the wrong guy when I was young and inexperienced. Everything since then has been one colossal punishment.

Just when I thought things were starting to get better, Malcolm shows back up. He’s like a nasty parasite I can’t get rid of, feeding on me until I have nothing left.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp out between sobs. “You shouldn’t have to see this. I’m okay.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” She rubs my back. “I’m here. No matter what.”

She runs warm water over a washcloth and hands it to me.

“Thank you,” I say, after washing my face. “I don’t know what I would have done without you down there.”

She hugs me. “Of course, darling. I still think we should tell Niko. He would take care of it. I promise.”

I lean into her. “I just can’t. I’m sorry. I have to get through this on my own.”

I have to pull myself together and fix this. I can’t keep being a victim, over and over.

Though Ana sighs, I can tell she accepts my answer.

“Okay. It’s your decision. I won’t take away your autonomy. Just know that I am here for you, okay?”

We get up from the bathroom floor. “I know you are.”

She grabs my hand. “And if he so much as looks at you wrong, I’ll kick him in the … in the psolí ,” Ana spits out the last word with such disgust that I take a step back.

“What in the world is a psolí ?” I can’t help but laugh.

“His penis. The translation is more like, ugly little pecker. ”

At that, I full-on snort, which makes Ana laugh, and then we both laugh until we cry.

I don’t know how to navigate a world in which Malcolm is present in my life.

When I left Chicago, it was supposed to be a new start.

One where I could pretend he had never existed or was at least buried in the past. But now, he has crash-landed back into the present.

And he has the potential to destroy everything again.

I don’t know if I am strong enough to keep it all together.

Jenni: I know you’re at rock climbing, but I need help.

I can’t sleep. Malcolm is here. Everything is falling apart.

I’ve been shaking and ill all night. He’s stealing the hotel from me.

I know that sounds ridiculous, but he must have known I was here somehow.

I’m feeling so paranoid. I can’t do this.

I need to come home. This was all such a mistake. I’m falling apart. Please call me.

*Undo Send*

Jenni: Sorry I haven’t checked in. We’ve been sooo busy. Got back super late from dinner, and then I crashed (Alone. Because I know you’ll ask). Just woke up to pee and thought I’d send you a text! I hope rock climbing is a blast tonight! Ok, love you! Give Sarah a hug for me!