Page 136 of The Man Upstairs

That wasn’t why I wanted Beverly to accept our relationship, though. Money and extravagance meant nothing compared to the love I felt for her daughter. That was the acceptance I truly wanted from her. If only she knew the real strength of my adoration for her little girl. The way she brought me joy from even the slightest smile. The way she pushed her glasses up her nose. Her sweet laugh, and the way she’d sigh in my arms every night, content as she drifted into dreamland.

Maybe one day soon she would. I already had my plans on the horizon, but once again, my cards were very, very close to my chest. That feeling, at least, was familiar.

I began unpacking our cases as Rosie stood at the window, still admiring the view.

“We’re going to have an incredible time,” I told her. “I promise.”

She turned and grinned at me, with the sunlight from the window catching her hair.

“I already am.”

I took out my new suit, still in its premier casing, hanging it up on the wardrobe door. Rosie wasn’t the only one who’d be dressed for the occasion. I’d ventured into town to have my new outfit tailored while she was at college.

“Ah, ah, no!” I chided as she approached the suit cover. “No peeking. We’ll both surprise each other tonight.”

“But I want to see!” she said, and I fake wrestled her, bundling her down onto the bed where I pinned her arms over her head.

“I said, no,” I told her, and she arched up, pouting as she wrapped her legs around my waist.

Jesus Christ, at that I was already done for. I was already kissing her when her phone started ringing in her bag.

“That will probably be Lola,” she said between kisses.

“I don’t give a fuck,” I said, and carried on.

It was at least an hour later when Rosie and I were done, panting wrecks, lying together on the bed as we calmed, with the light streaming in. Rosie’s phone had been ringing a few times, so it shouldn’t have been a shock when a knock sounded from our hotel room door.

“Shit!” Rosie laughed, and jumped up, fishing for a t-shirt from her case. I disappeared into the bathroom and grabbed a towel to wrap around my waist while she went for the door. Damn. Lola and Peter were already dressed for a meal and the bar downstairs.

Lola giggled when she saw us. She looked absolutely stunning in a sequined dark blue dress, her hair braided with a ribbon of the same colour. Peter was in a suit himself, and he looked good for it. His tie was Windsor knotted, in a blue that matched Lola’s outfit. Fantastic.

“Guess we interrupted you,” Peter said, laughing too.

“Head on down,” I said. “We’ll join you shortly.”

They nodded, but Lola pulled Rosie in for a hug before they went. She didn’t stop there, either. She teetered across the carpet in high heels and wrapped me up tight in her arms. She smelt like bright floral perfume, and the touch of her bare arms against my skin was a delight. It would have usually been enough to drive me crazy. But it didn’t. Not this time.

I didn’t feel even the slightest hint of attraction to the girl in my arms, despite the fact she was cute, young, sweet and quirky. Not a thing. I didn’t get a hard-on, nor the desire to pin her to the messy bed and fist her tight little cunt. Nothing.

The demons of addiction didn’t show their faces.

“Thank you,” she said. “I just can’t believe we’re here with you. It’s amazing.”

“You’re very welcome,” I told her, and before she pulled away, I used the opportunity to whisper a request, since Rosie was speaking with Peter. “I need to talk to you actually. I need your help.”

She was startled, pulling away to look up at me.

“Are you ok?” she whispered back.

“Yes, yes. I just need some of your time in private, please. Just for a chat. Nothing ominous. Not in the slightest.”

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll make sure we get some time later.”

“Thank you.”

We waved them off down the corridor, and Rosie was like a whippet into the shower as I chased after her. We soaped ourselves down, and dried each other with grins before getting ready. Rosie styled and straightened her hair and put more makeup on than usual. Her eyelashes were stunningly thick and fluttery behind her glasses, and her lips were pink and glossy.

She grabbed her new dress from her case, but all I saw was a flash of pink as she dashed on back through to the bathroom.