Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Room 402
Alexander stood at Room 402 and the brass numbers blurred while his hands shook with the phone nearly slipping from his grip. He adjusted the Rolex and took a dry breath then knocked.
The lock clicked.
The room was dim and heavy with perfume while a woman stood by the window as a silhouette in a black lace robe. The fabric was thin and expensive and her dark hair fell in a mess over her shoulders "I’m here for the appointment" said Alexander.
The woman froze and turned slow while clutching a champagne glass as the color drained from her face until she was a ghost "Alexander?" said Helen.
"Aunt Helen?" said Alexander.
He backed away with his heart hammering against his ribs "What are you doing here why are you wearing that?" said Alexander.
"I could ask you the same the suit Alex what is this?" said Helen as her voice broke looking small like she wanted the floor to swallow her. Alexander’s hand found the door handle "I’m out I can’t do this" said Alexander.
The voice on the phone echoed about no second chances and twelve hundred dollars while he thought of Robert shouting at home because if he left now he was back to being a parasite. His hand stayed on the handle but the door didn’t open "Alex wait" said Helen.
"We shouldn’t be here this is wrong" said Alexander.
"Do you remember Ashley my old friend?" said Helen while she wiped her eyes.
"The godmother yeah" said Alexander.
"She gave me a VIP card and said I needed a night away because this place took care of everything but I didn’t know what that meant until I saw the menu on the tablet" said Helen. She let out a dry laugh and downed the rest of her drink "But I saw the room and the silk so I thought to hell with it because I’m tired Alex and so damn lonely. Your uncle hasn’t looked at me in years and I’m just furniture to him so I wanted to feel seen just for one night" said Helen.
Alexander let go of the handle because seeing her like that and totally broken by Robert made his own panic turn into a heavy weight in his chest. He walked a bit closer "You aren’t furniture Helen you’re the only one who actually gives a damn about me" said Alexander.
"And now we’re stuck in this" said Helen as her shoulders slumped and she started to cry.
"Look at me" said Alexander reaching out to touch her shoulder then pulling back "I’m here whatever this is you aren’t alone tonight."
He stepped closer with his legs feeling heavy and disconnected while the whole situation was a blur "Helen do you really want this?" said Alexander. She looked up with eyes that were red and swollen "It’s not that Alex it’s just..." said Helen as she trailed off.
Alexander took a breath and tried to slip into the role using the tone he’d practiced in theater "I get it" said Alexander with a voice that went flat and professional "we all need an escape a way to feel alive."
Helen cut him off and grabbed his face with both hands her fingers digging in "I don’t want a character Alex" said Helen "I know that voice that’s your acting voice and if we’re doing this I want it to be you just you."
Alexander just froze and under her touch the whole hotel room felt like it disappeared "It’s me Helen I’m right here" said Alexander as he whispered and let that fake gigolo act drop "but this is a mess it’s complicated."
"I know" said Helen with her thumbs brushing over his cheeks "but for one night can we just forget who we are just for tonight?"
He nodded unable to pull his eyes away from hers "Just for tonight" said Alexander.
He leaned in and kissed her which was shaky and a bit awkward at first but then it got deep and warm. Helen started pulling him toward the bed with her hands all over his chest and Alexander followed feeling clumsy until the heat just took over "Tell me you’re here with me Alex" said Helen against his lips while she fumbled with his shirt buttons with shaking hands "not for some job tell me you actually want this."
"I’m here with you Auntie" said Alexander as his breath hitched when her hands finally hit his bare skin "forget the money and forget the job it’s just you because I’ve always thought you were the most beautiful woman in the world."
He pushed the lace robe off her shoulders and it slumped to the floor while Helen let out a soft moan as he pressed her down into those expensive silk sheets. No more scripts and no more acting "Then show me" said Helen as she pulled him down hard.
Alexander didn’t hesitate and kicked his shoes aside to climb over her while his hands moved finally touching her. The room went silent except for the friction of fabric and their ragged breath as clothes hit the floor in the dark. For the first time the weight of being a burden was gone "You’re not furniture" said Alexander.
