Randy could not believe how drunk Vanessa has gotten in such a short time, but she surely didn't miss any opportunity a butler passed-by with a tray of champagne. With each drink consumed, she became more exuberant and clingy. He drank more than he should, he felt that he should go back and see how his sister's presentation went, but this crazy German woman became his self-appointed host, dragging him back and forth, from one table to another, stuffing him with food and gossips about many people in the hall she was capable to recognize. He didn't want to be rude and call quits on Vanessa, even though part of him hoped she'll find someone else to enlighten with social chit-chat, and binge-drinking, but her persistence was matched only by the incredible metabolism she clearly possessed.
And then, on one occasion Randy noticed Sandy coming-up on them. Despite his mild intoxication from the champagne he'd had, his sister seemed pretty upset to him- frustrated even. He turned to Vanessa and wanted to excuse himself, but quite unexpectedly, she announced she can't stand the phony pricks and suggested a scenic Seattle drive. It actually wasn't much of a suggestion, as a declaration of her intentions, when she locked her hand around him and started dragging him to the parking lot.
Vanessa planned her post-haste leave from the event well ahead of time by conveniently parking her brand-spanking-new corvette close-by, and it took no time to get the vehicle ready for departure. Randy was passively following her example to jump in the car, looking behind him he clearly saw how Sandy tried to get to him, with irritated glare fixated on him. She was about to get to them, when the drink-fueled woman next to him slammed the pedal and after a swerve of spinning tires, she mysteriously regained control over her roadster, darting towards the green lights in the nearest intersection.
Randy felt miserable, watching his sister disappear in the rearview mirror, still holding onto a handlebar for dear life. After a couple of minutes of crazy driving, they reached the parking lot across from the Space needle, and after they went there to observe the breathtaking scenery of rainy Seattle. The rain, coupled with occasional wind gusts made Vanessa ease-up and sober a little. She looked at Randy, who was distant, worrying about his sister. She noticed his sad look and wanted to cheer him up, however with little success. Even after a kiss on his lips, Randy didn't seem to get in the better mood, contrary what she hoped for.
Vanessa suggested he can spend the night at her place, which has a scenic look and a jacuzzi that was now calling her name, but the Squirrel next to her with droopy tail, apologetically declined the generous offer, focused more on his phone than at her. As they walked towards her parked-up car, Randy politely asked her to drop him off close to downtown. Vanessa reluctantly agreed, realizing that she won't be able to drag him where she intended, and it's in their mutual interest to split their ways amicably. From the looks of it, there is someone he genuinely cares about more than anyone else.
After a drive back they talked and he let Vanessa know, that he was worried about his sister and despite him trying to call her, to no avail. He was a sweetheart, after all. There aren't many guys like him around, in fact, Vanessa couldn't tell for sure if she ever met a man who could care more about his sister than getting in her panties. She was driving him back to his hotel, but 2 blocks back she pulled over to nearest convenience store, and dashed inside while Randy tried to call his sister inside the car. When he looked outside, this crazy lady with a big track and expensive clothes was getting back in the car, handing him a paper bag with two bottles. "The tall wine bottle is mine"- she said- "to help me drown my loneliness tonight, but..." she pulled the square bottle out of the bag and placed it in Randy's lap- "this one, here, is my gift for you - and your sister. She must be one outstanding woman".
The male squirrel was confused- it was very sweet of this lady to give him something to remember her by. At first Randy wanted to decline the bottle, knowing it ain't exactly the gift he should be tempted with, however it was him who turned this remarkable woman down, and she wasn't offended, what more, she was presenting him with probably the most expensive item that store carried. As she pulled-over to the drive-in of Hotel West, Randy kissed her goodbye, while she gave him the warmest, but also sad smile.
All of a sudden, he felt bad- Vanessa might've been superficial and spoiled rich, but she had a heart and manners that could melt ice. And that body, too. The Corvette made a U-turn and headed back into the rainy street it came from, but without the passenger. Randy shook his hand in disbelief - he couldn't shake the feeling that he just passed the opportunity to score with a loaded hot looker. As he entered the lobby with bottle in his hand, he noticed Alan behind the desk. Randy wanted to talk to him about the night he had, but the hotelier just looked in his direction and nodded at him with his trademark polite smile while being preoccupied inventorying the delivery of toiletries the hotel received.
Randy hoped to meet his sister in the room, A little worried that she might have explained his abrupt departure the wrong way, formulating the thoughts that would comprehensively explain the situation he was trapped in, to calm her down. After opening the room door, he sighed, noticing there is no one there. He looked at the alarm clock on the end table, noticing it's short before Ten PM. That unsettled him, there was an unsettling hunch of something going wrong. He felt very tired- hasn't had sleep since they took off from Albuquerque, but was thinking about gong back to the conference, to check if she's still there, however improbable it seemed.
However, he was worried he could miss her coming back to hotel. He sat at corner of Sandy's bed, wondering about her whereabouts, eyes closed and mind drifting. His habit of dealing stress unintentionally kicked-in, and he popped open the gifted bottle without even thinking of it. As he took a swig, he came around, briefly thinking about taking few more gulps of this tasty liquor, but shrugged thinking about consequences. "She would kill me..."
Randy thought how it would make his sister feel to see him passed-out drunk with bottle in his hand. "Nah- I'm better than that"-he mumbled quietly, putting away the bottle on the end of her bed. After trying to make another phone call on Sandy's number, which went to voicemail, just as last time. Her phone's dead- he thought while putting off his clothes and making his bed ready. He went to bathroom to take a leak, he noticed the towels, also the one she had on before it fell on the ground. He washed his hands and turned-off the light on his way to get some winks. An image of her bare body standing flashed in his mind, making him wonder off. As he tripped over his sack and lost balance, he bumped into Sandy's bed. He cursed as he heard the bottle, he forgot about roll off the bed, landed on the carpet. He should pick it up, but in a moment- he's just going to take a 5-minute nap and then he calls her again.
The sleep-deprived male squirrel made it to bed and the warmth of the air in the room with the blanket he tucked himself in, dispatched him into deep slumber. Moments later Randy got caught dreaming about unsettling moment from the past, when he saw her helping herself, and the pain of a fractured leg.
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