10.
~ The Fountain Inn was a magnificent hotel set deep in the California country side. Ariadne felt a little out of place as she pulled up to the long drive with valet parking. She had taken her rental car the two hour drive to where Arthur told her to meet him, and felt dirty, tired, and just worn out.
She hadn't had a chance to shower since the night before last. Her parent's home smelling too musty and she wanted to get her own hotel room tonight, read and forget about everything.
So, naturally, Arthur had to pick the nicest hotel she had ever seen to meet her in. She looked around at the luxury cars ahead of her. Well groomed couples getting out and having their bags taken in. She looks common and rough compared to these people.
They were Arthur's crowd. Men in expensive suits. Women in jewelry that cost more than the car she was driving.
She didn't want to get out of the car as the valet attendant bowed next to her window.
"Name?" he asked kindly.
"Oh... I'm just here so see a friend." she stammered.
"Your name, miss?" he asked. Unfazed by her stuttering.
"Ariadne?" she said her name like a question.
"Oh, yes. Your party is waiting in the bar. I'll take your car around." he said in a congenial tone.
He opened her driver side and she reluctantly got out. Looking wrinkled and travel worn compared to the casual rich around her.
The driver gave her a ticket and she followed a handsome couple through the glass doors to a lobby that looked like a grand church.
The echoes of guests there bounced off the walls as she looked up at the high domed celling.
It was like something from a dream. A dream even she could not build. The ceiling was painted with a mural of the rural landscape, and adorned with gilded rose work. She saw a large solarium across the lobby that was made of stained glass. The mixture of colors throwing the room into a strange array of light.
"She was built by a famous mobster in the 1920's." a deep voice said behind her.
Ariadne turned to see her Point Man standing beside her.
"He wanted to show off his ill gotten gains." Arthur added carelessly.
The Point Man was looking out towards the solarium. At it's stained class that contaminated the light in the lobby as well.
"Thank you for coming." he said softly. And she felt his hand on the small of her back.
"You didn't give me many options did you?" she said feeling slightly angry.
"I regret having to stoop so low." he admitted. "But I wanted to see you again."
"Look, just give them back." she sighed as an older, but very attractive woman glared at them and Ariadne felt more out of place than ever before.
"Can I show you around? We can see the solarium. It's also a movie theater. I think they are showing the classics right now."
"No." she hissed. What? Did he think they would have date night?
"It's Roman Holiday." he told her. His large hand waving to a lavish sign proclaiming the old film.
"No."
She caught an amused little smile on his face.
"Have you eaten yet? We can go to the bar, or to the restaurant they have here." he said and the pair of them started to walk around the lobby. He pointed to a very elegant looking restaurant where delicious smells were making her stomach roar.
"Arthur." she sighed and looked around to make sure they were alone. "I've been driving for hours to get here. I'm not dressed for a restaurant like that."
"We can get you something to wear." he said easily. "They have a dress shop."
"No." she hissed. "I'm a mess, I smell bad. Just give me back my-"
She looked around, sure they were already making a scene and felt her face flush.
"I have them upstairs in our suite." he said at last.
"Our suite?" she whispered and felt ready to strike him. "I'm not sleeping with you."
"That's what you said last time." he teased.
"Arthur."
The Point Man ignored her and waived to a bell hop that was waiting at the front desk.
"Please take the lady to the West Penthouse." he told the young man. "Have her bag brought up as well."
"Arthur." she growled.
"Don't worry." he said. Mischief in his eyes as the bell hop waited for her. "I'll have a dress sent up for you to wear."
~ "Mr. Arthur Williams is our finest board member. Stays here all the time." the young bell hop was saying as Ariadne sulked in the elevator. "Always keep the West Penthouse available for him and his family when they comes to visit."
"Board members?" Ariadne asked.
"Oh yes." the bell hop said. Happy to engage her in conversation. "His great grandfather I think built this place. The family has run it ever since."
Ariadne nodded. Arthur was related to the famous mobster. That made sense.
"Never seen him bring friends though. It's normally his parents with him."
She didn't say a word and the bell hop went on.
"How is it you know Mr. Williams? In the real-estate business to?" he asked.
"Yes." Ariadne lied. "We work together."
~ The room didn't fail to disappoint. It was a much nicer than the hotel they had stayed at in LA. It looked like a normal home, but one that teemed with elegance and beauty. There was a full kitchen, large marble bathroom and two, very well decorated bedrooms. The living room was cozy with a fire already burning and a spectacular view of the countryside.
Int he dinning room, there was fresh cut flowers on the table, and Ariadne couldn't help but want to live here.
She saw her travel worn bag in sitting on the luggage rack in one of the bedrooms. Arthur's luggage in the closet of the other bedroom.
She quickly fished into the luggage and tried to open it. Her panties had to be in there. She riffled through nice shirts and no less than three suits. She hung the suits up. Hoping he would blame the maid.
She couldn't find her underwear in among Arthur's things.
"Damn." she cursed as she realized he must have them on him.
She was sweating now from going through his luggage, and felt sticky and dirty.
'I'll take a shower. Then go. I'm not going to play his stupid game. I don't care if he sends them to Jerry or not. Let him. I won't be his puppet.' she thought.
She thought, but knew she would be staying the night as she stripped off her clothes and started to run a bath.
~ If heaven were real, it would be this bathtub. It had jet streams that pumped relaxing, hot water over her body and she almost fell asleep among the fragrant waters.
She liked this hotel room with it's home like design and excellent views of the country side. No wonder Arthur always took it for himself.
She shaved her legs and washed her hair with the salon products she had found in a little guest basket.
"Ariadne?" came a deep voice from the other side of the door.
She looked lazily over to the sound of Arthur's knocking.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Fine." she said.
"I've got your dress ready for you."
"I told you, I'm not having dinner with you." she said a little harsher than she meant to. The bath had relaxed her, but not enough.
"If you want your panties back, you'll join me at dinner in an hour." he said roughly. "You'll be dressed in the dress I've provided, and you'll look beautiful."
"No I won't." she said stubbornly.
"Your dress is on the hanger by the door." he growled and she could hear his light footsteps walking away.
She let out a sigh of aggravation, and got out of the tub.