Prologue

"Being a receptionist isn't quite what it's made out to be." The young man sat at the Balamb Hotel's main desk thought with a yawn. His sleep-heavy eyes opened wide however as the doors opened and a woman walked in and up to the desk.

"Well, more like floated in like the angel she is." The young man mumbled as she drew nearer. "Those lips! That body! If only she were wearing a skirt! Okay man, just play it cool." He really hoped that the young woman couldn't read minds.

"Good evening, ma'am. Can I help?" He smiled at her, a very wide smile which she returned, though with a hint of coolness. He would've liked to see her eyes but they were hidden behind very dark glasses. A few stray strands of her hair were teasing him from beneath her hat. He had the niggling feeling he'd seen this woman before but he couldn't think where.

"I booked a room for this evening." The vision replied, placing her purse down on the counter.

"Under what name please?"

"White." The woman replied smoothly.

"Okay, you're in room 24. Sign here please." He gestured to the book and turned round to get her keys. "Here you go." He said, passing her a set of two keys. "I hope you have a pleasant stay. Will you be back down for dinner?" The young man's eyes were full of hope, but the woman just smiled, a half shy, half mischievous smile that entranced him. He never noticed that, as she picked her purse up, she left behind one of the keys slightly hidden by a piece of paper.

"I very much doubt it. Thank you." Picking up her one small bag with a black gloved hand, she made her way slowly up the stairs.

The young man could hardly take his eyes away from her, but a very loud cough rudely interrupted his dreaming.

"I booked a room." The man who had coughed said abruptly. He too, the young man noted with interest, was wearing sunglasses and a hat. He was tall and well built, the black trench coat showing off his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Again, the receptionist had the niggling feeling he had seen this man before. He hoped not though, there was something slightly menacing about him.

"Name please." The young man replied, just as abruptly.

"Black."

The young man blinked but indicated the guest to sign the book. "You will be in room 12. I'll just get your keys."

"Thanks." While the receptionists back was turned, the man slipped the key from under the paper on the desk into his pocket.

"There you go. Have a nice stay." He mumbled, handing the man his keys grudgingly. There was something about this stranger that annoyed him he realised as he watched the man pick up his one suitcase with a gloved hand and start decidedly up the stairs.

"Will you be wanting dinner down here?" The receptionist called up.

"No. I prefer dessert" The man replied with a grin.

The receptionist sat again by himself, pondering his life and thinking of the beauty in room 24. "Maybe she'd like to be woken up tomorrow at a particular hour. I think I'll go check with her." He thought to himself. "Hey Mark! Watch the desk will you?" He shouted at a friend and started up to Room 24 in the lift.

The lift doors opened at one end of the corridor and the receptionist started walking towards her room. He stopped though as he saw the man from downstairs walk towards room 24. Placing a key in the lock he turned it and slipped into the room as if it was his own!

"Did I give him the wrong keys?" The receptionist thought desperately. "Maybe she's in trouble!" With this thought in mind he walked towards the door and knocked. It was opened almost immediately by the young woman.

"Yes?" She asked, with a hint of a polite smile.

"I just thought I'd check you were okay." He stumbled quickly. "I thought I saw a man enter your rooms." He added stupidly.

"I think I would have noticed a strange man enter my room, don't you? Thank you for looking out for me though. I appreciate it." She smiled, warmer now.

Quistis Trepe shut the door on the receptionist and pulled her hat off, sending waves of golden hair cascading down her back and shoulders. She pulled the dark glasses off and her sparkling eyes met with a pair of smouldering ones.

Quistis smiled slightly then reached out and pulled Seifer Almasy towards her by putting one hand on the nape of his neck. He responded by pushing her up against the door and kissing her passionately.

In between the rapid kisses they managed to have a conversation.

"I've missed you." She said.

"I can tell." Came the reply.

"It's not enough though. These snatched moments. When are you going to come out of hiding?" She asked.

He pulled away briefly. "Wait a minute, don't make it sound like my fault. You're the one who didn't want this to go public."

"I meant I didn't want us to go public. Us. A couple. But you don't have to hide anymore."

"Maybe I like hiding." He said shortly.

"I didn't think you were a coward." She muttered, pushing him away and starting to move away. He grabbed her wrist and pushed her back against the wall.

"I'm not a coward!" He growled through clenched teeth.

She grinned suddenly. "I know you're not. Ha! Got you!" He smiled back at her slightly. It had been a habit of theirs to argue a lot, until both did all they could to rub the other one up the wrong way. It was a game to see who got upset the quickest.

"Good. Because I've got a plan." He replied.

"You?" She asked, playfully amazed.

"Yes, me." He said, kissing her gently on the lips. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, but he pretended to be confused. "What?"

"Aren't you going to tell me?" She asked.

"Nope. You'll just have to find out for yourself. Think of it as a surprise."

I don't like surprises." She muttered but immediately forgot about it as Seifer kissed her passionately.

"Tomorrow." He thought. "Tomorrow she'll find out what I've planned." He smiled happily to himself.