Edited by Angel Love
Chapter 1
"Wish I could go sight seeing instead of attending this dumb convention!" Mark thought as he stepped into the lobby of the famous San Antonio El Palacio Hotel.
His boss in Seattle set his foot down on this particular trip, knowing Mark would do everything to get out of going to yet another convention. His boss knew that SoundTek's annual software package would be the craze at the San Antonio fair, not to mention that the city was Mark's hometown, so he insisted that Mark attend to represent their company. He could, after all, learn what new features the new package sported and maybe network with other users to evaluate how plausible SoundTek's audio innovations might be to research and development.
Now in the lobby, Mark dodged a flurry of mutual convention goers as he made his way to the check-in desk. Two lines had formed to accommodate guests. Both seemed rather long so he chose the one on his left, mainly because it put him behind a lady rather than the two men who were boring the crowd in the other. In his line, however, he stood directly behind a female who oddly enough, seemed familiar to him.
Why, he didn't know but for some reason, his gut feeling was that he knew her from days past. As his line moved forward, she eventually stood directly in front of the counter. A hotel employee greeted her but Mark couldn't quite hear the conversation over the noisy lobby crowd and the fountain gushing geysers of water to his right. Then checking his watch, he noticed it was about six o'clock, time to go and get some of San Antonio's famous Chicken Fajitas.
Suddenly, the lady in front of him stepped to her left, turned, and walked past him, allowing him plenty of room to move forward. As she did, they mutually caught the other's eye for a moment.
"My God, she's lovely!" Mark thought as he took two steps forward.
While the hotel clerk processed his reservation, Mark kept searching his database of memories to see if he might have known this woman. She looked so familiar, probably his age, and her smile was much like a girl he'd known in high school.
And as he maneuvered his way to the elevator to ascend to the ninth floor, he caught a glimpse of her again from behind. Several people cut in front of him blocking his view as several elevators opened to receive their prey. By the time he reached the panel, she was gone. He pressed the up button and waited for the first door to open. When it did, he stepped in only to receive the shock that comes when one encounters someone he hasn't seen in over thirty years.
Mutually, the two inhaled sharply as the realization hit them simultaneously. There in the hotel, Mark Styles stared directly into the beautiful eyes of his high school sweetheart, Vesta Brandon.
"Mark?" Vesta said in surprise.
"Vesta?" he responded in like kind.
Immediately, they wrapped their arms around the other while several inhabitants entered the elevator. Neither noticed the others nor would they care what anyone else might have imagined. Their hug lasted several flights until the eighth floor dinged its announcement.
"Oh Mark! I can't believe its you!" Vesta said. "This is my floor! Can we?"
But Mark interrupted quickly and said, "You bet we can! Dinner! Meet you in the lobby in thirty minutes!" then her charming face disappeared as the door closed between them.
When the door opened to the ninth floor, Mark stepped into the hallway with a dance like step, all the way to his room, #952. His keycard unlocked the door in a flash. He threw his suitcase, bags, and laptop on the king size bed nearby, and immediately pulled his cell phone out to report in with his boss, who was probably fixing his afternoon cup of coffee.
"Bill here!" his boss muttered as he answered the phone.
"Bill, it's Mark Styles and I'm at the hotel now," he said in his business like voice.
Though he tried to sound like he was worn out from his flight, his tone sounded suspect as he did everything he could to cover-up the sheer excitement he felt from meeting his old fling. A little surprised by the detection of a faint sound of enjoyment in Mark's tone, Bill made sure to remind Mark that this was supposed to be a working trip, Monday through Friday afternoon.
In his typical commanding voice, Bill said, "Now Mark. I know San Antonio is home turf for you but remember! You're there to work, not to look up your old buddies and go gallivanting around!"
Occasionally listening to his boss but mainly pondering what the night might hold, Mark managed to respond, "Uh, what? Oh sure, Bill, I'll report to you each evening on the day's progress in software development."
"See that you do, Mark!" Bill demanded knowing all the while that he'd would most likely forget.
As they disconnected, Bill smiled at what he deemed to be his best employee, one who might even become a vice president in the next few years. He'd been grooming Mark for the position but he knew well that Mark lacked one credential that was a must for a vice. Mark simply didn't know how to have fun! Bill would have to teach this man how to loosen up, how to live as a professional but have a rip snorting good time.
Mark, on the other hand, had completely forgotten the phone call. He stood in front of his bathroom mirror to get a quick shave and brush his teeth. Then he spritzed on his favorite cologne Halston, and quickly changed into a clean pullover shirt. So he wouldn't be interrupted, he decided to leave his cell phone behind, just in case Bill decided his working week should start that night.