Page 12 of He Snatched My Soul
“No, this is the right one. They just fucked up and overbooked the rooms, and mine was one of them. Can you call the hotel where you are staying at and see if they have any rooms available?”
“Hotel?” He chuckled. “Naw, baby. I don’t do hotels when I travel. It’s a villa, or I’ll rent a house. My parents have a villa out here. That’s where I’m staying.”
Laying my head back on the headrest, I blew out a frustrated breath. “Now, what am I going to do?”
“No need to stress, baby. You know I got you. You can come stay with me,” he offered.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll figure something out,” I told him.
“Figure what out, shorty? You might think I’m an asshole, but I’m a real nigga. You think I’m gonna leave you out here stranded? Naw, we ain’t doing that. The villa has six bedrooms. You are welcome to come stay. I promise not to fuck with you or make you feel uncomfortable.”
There was no way I could stay in the same house with Jamian. I could feel a disaster waiting to happen already, especially with how my body had been responding to being in his presence these last couple of hours. But what other choice do I have? I sucked up my pride, and I accepted Jamian’s offer to stay with him at his villa. At this point, I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of calling around and trying to find another hotel. It’s festival week here, and I bet my last dollar I wouldn’t find any available hotels on such short notice. Not nearby, or as nice, and all exclusive like this one. I wasn’t trying to stay in any rundown hotels in the hood. Not that I’m judging. I’m just very particular about where I stay, and my safety is my number one priority.
“Wow! This is beautiful!” I was in awe at the vast villa when we arrived.
“It’s okay,” Jamian said nonchalantly.
“Oh, I forgot. You are used to stuff like this.” I cackled.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked defensively.
“No offense, but your family is wealthy. I just assumed that this is the norm for you, is all. Sorry if I offended you,” I apologized.
“I’m just fucking with you, shorty.” He chuckled. “Let’s get inside.”
He climbed out of the truck, and I followed, taking in the stunning villa nestled amidst lush tropical greenery, with vibrant flowers blooming all around it. It looked like a small piece of an oasis, with a charming blend of Caribbean and tropical influences in its design. The beautiful, lush palm trees created a sense of privacy and tranquility. As we approached the entrance, I noticed the elegant architecture, and large windows, and I’m sure the view was anything but breathtaking.
The outside didn’t do the inside any justice. From the earth-tone colors of the furniture along with the luxurious accommodations, I could definitely see myself spending summer vacations here. I probably wouldn’t leave the villa. It had spacious bedrooms with a private indoor and outdoor pool, including a built-in hot tub. But what set it all off for me is that it overlooked the beach, so you could see the clear blue water as you sunbathe in the backyard. Yeah, I could get used to this.
“I’m about to hit the shower and head to the beach. Make yourself at home. Oh, and the kitchen is fully stocked. If you need anything in particular, just dial the number on the refrigerator. It’s for the butler.”
“Okay. And thanks again for letting me stay here.”
“Like I said, it’s nothing.” He winked at me.
We stared at each other briefly before he turned to head upstairs, and I followed a few seconds later. He went to his room, which was across from mine. I had picked the second biggest bedroom when Jamian had given me the tour of the place. It was the size of a studio apartment. It was painted light blue, with hardwood floors, a king-size bed, flat screen TV mounted on the wall, and my own personal master bathroom with a soak-in tub. And I had a terrace. I couldn't wait to see the sunrise while the morning breeze whips through my hair.
After I unpacked all my clothes, I took a shower. Jamaica’s heat hits differently, and it felt good to wash the sweat from my body. I slipped on some cotton shorts and a sports bra before lying across the bed to FaceTime Jayla, but first, I called Ryan to let him know that I made it safely.
“Hey, sweetheart. I have been waiting for your call. You made it safely?”
“Yes. The plane ride here has me so exhausted. I was going to take a nap, but I need to review some paperwork before tomorrow. I'm so excited about the ideas that I have for the grand opening,” I beamed.
“Yeah, that’s nice. This case I’ve been handling is a tough one. But of course, I have no doubt that I am going to win this one,” Ryan stated confidently, dismissing everything that I just said to him.
That’s another thing I hated about Ryan. Everything had to be about him. No matter what we discussed, the conversation always deflected back to him and only him.
“Why do you always do that?”
“Do what?” he asked, confused.
“I was just telling you how happy I was about the grand opening, and as always, you just dismissed the conversation.” I sighed.
“Modesty, it’s not that deep. We talked about your little job before you left.” Now that pissed me off.
“Little job?” I let out an angry chuckle. “See, this is one of the many reasons we never work out. Ryan, everything doesn’t revolve around you. And for you to call my job little, lets me know how much you value what we have.”
“Oh boy, here you go. My mother told me you were jealous of my job, but I didn’t want to believe her.”
