His Sister's Return

by Mary Goldberger

“Thank you, Trudy,” he told her with a smile. As she closed the door behind her, he leaned forward slightly resting his elbows on the arms of his chair. “This is going to be more interesting than I thought,” he mumbled as a different light entered his eyes.

  Just then his door opened and Marla walked in his office her eyes gleaming, and he smiled as she closed the door behind her saying, “Trystan, I need your help.”

  Chapter 3

  Samuel paced back and forward as Alina leaned against the window watching him. “Sam, you need to calm down before you wear out the carpet,” Alina remarked crossing her arms over her chest.

  He scowled at her before he said running a hand through his hair a little darker than her own. “I don’t know what the hell is going on but for the last few weeks every time I make a date with Marla so I can introduce the two of you, something comes up.”

  Alina had to admit that it was weird how things seem to crop up whenever he planned something, but she merely shrugged it away although she was starting to feel uneasy herself.

  “You said yourself that she is busy with a showcase she’s presenting next month,” Alina told him straightening up from her leaning position. “She probably has a lot on her mind right now so you have to be patient.”

  He scowled at her again and this time Alina glared at him. “Sam have you asked her to marry you yet?”

  “No, I want you two to meet first,” he told her walking over to the table and sitting down.

  “Oh Sam,” Alina said on a laugh. She walked over and sat down next to him as she asked, “Do you love her?”

  “Dumb question,” he muttered giving her a narrow look.

  “Then why are you waiting for us to meet before you ask her,” Alina said bluntly as she sighed leaning back slightly in her chair. “You are the one in love with her not me and whether I approve or not, it isn’t going to stop you from loving her. Correct?”

  He sighed putting his head back his eyes closed. “Yes.”

  She shook her head rolling her eyes at him before she straightened up in the chair looking down at her watch. “I have an appointment in about twenty minutes so I need to get going,” she said standing up and grabbing her purse from the bed before she headed for the door.

  He got up after her and asked, “What is the appointment for?”

  “Job interview,” Alina answered shortly, and he heard the slight nervousness in her voice.

  “Well that explains why you are dressed up more than usual,” he teased her, and she gave him a cool look that made him laugh as they walked out of her room, and she closed the door tight behind her.

  “I will give you a lift,” he offered when they stepped out of the elevator in the lobby.

  “Thanks,” she said as they headed out of the hotel and headed for his car parked in the parking lot.

  Trystan was just pulling up when he saw them getting in the car and his hands tightened on the steering wheel before he loosened them. His frown was fierce as he watched them drive away before he stepped out of the car. “Do you know where they are going, Rob?”

  “No sir,” the elderly gentleman answered as he took his keys and he headed inside the hotel. So far everything he did seem to backfire on him. The breakfasts he had sent every morning never gotten eaten because she left before they arrived and the flowers he had sent, after the first vase, was politely refused each and every time with the unshakeable belief that they were being delivered to the wrong room.

  As he walked to the dining room, a sudden smile began to form on his face before he turned and hurried up to his office.

  “Trudy, can you do something for me?” He asked the moment he stepped in the outer office, and she looked up with a frown although she nodded her head.

  A few hours later after her interview, Alina walked out of the elevator her hazel eyes wary as she walked into the lobby scanning it as someone called her, “Miss Barks.”

  She turned as the woman started toward her and Alina envied the smooth grace in which she walked before she said, “Miss Stone?”

  “Please call me Trudy,” the woman responded before she indicated the dining room. “Would you join me for lunch?”

  Alina couldn’t find a reason for her to say ‘no’ so she nodded her head following her in the dining room where they settled down at a table as a server came over to take their order.

  After the server left, Trudy said, “Miss Barks…”

  “Alina,” Alina intervened. “Call me Alina please.”

  Trudy smiled and nodded her head. “Alina, my boss wanted to assure you that he is sorry for the wrong deliveries that have occurred constantly over the last week.”

  Alina shook her head as she stated, “There is no reason for him to apologize for that. I would’ve felt bad that if I kept receiving such beautiful flowers that someone else was probably waiting for.”

  Trudy began to say something else but was interrupted as the server returned with their food.

  As they began to eat, Trudy began again. “He wanted to make it up to you by taking you out to dinner this evening. Unfortunately, he was called out of town on business suddenly so he asked a friend, and his partner, who helps him run this hotel to do it for him.”

  Alina winced as she said without hesitation, “Why do I feel like unwanted baggage that needs to be dealt with?”

  Trudy looked up at her with wide eyes as she said, “That’s not how they see” only to stop when Alina gave her warily look. “Your boss and his partner don’t have to go to the trouble of taking me out to dinner for a simple misunderstanding, Trudy.”

  Trudy chuckled as she ate some of her salad before she admitted, “I have to agree with you there, but unfortunately my boss thinks differently. So does his partner.”

  Alina had to laugh at that comment eliciting another smile from Trudy as they made small talk while they ate their meals.

  After they finished eating, Trudy said on a sigh, “Alina, I’m going to be honest with you my boss won’t give up so easy on this. If you don’t go out to dinner tonight, he probably will just keep asking until you say yes.”

  Alina grimaced shaking her head as she said, “You are making it were either I say yes now, or later after being constantly pestered by him.”

  Trudy looked at her with a knowing smile as Alina groaned softly before she said, “Okay, okay, tell your boss that I will go out to dinner with him, or whoever he wants to babysit me, tonight.”

  Trudy nodded her head. “Thank you, Alina,” she said quietly.

  Alina tilted her head at her in confusion as she asked, “For what?”

  Trudy just shook her head as she stood up from the table and Alina followed her as she said, “I will call your hotel room later with the details.”

  “Okay, I don’t plan on going anywhere else today,” Alina told her as they walked out of the dining room together.

  “Talk to you later, Alina,” Trudy said as she stopped at the receptionist desk.

  Alina nodded her head and smiled at her before she headed to the elevator, and Trudy watched her as she entered before she pulled out her cell heading over to the elevator herself.

  “Trystan, she agreed to go out to dinner with you,” Trudy told him as she waited for the elevator to return. “I told her I will contact her later with the details. I also did as you requested and told her that you were a partner instead of the owner, but I don’t see why you just don’t tell her the truth?”

  Trystan on the end smiled as he nodded his head to his companions as they separated before he said in his cell, “Trudy please get a reservation at Sebastian’s for around eight this evening. Have a car give Miss Barks a ride to the restaurant and tell her I will meet her there. And Trudy, there is a reason I don’t want her to know that I own this hotel.” Trystan wasn’t sure if Samuel had told his ‘mistress’ that his girlfriend’s brother owned the hotel or not so by doing this he was keeping her suspicion down if he had mentioned it. “Oh, Trudy, I need your help with something else too,” as
he explained what he wanted and Trudy couldn’t help the frown that came to her face at what her boss was asking her to do.

  “Yes sir,” Trudy said slowly as she stepped on the elevator heading back upstairs to her office where she did as he requested before calling Alina with the information although she wondered the whole time what game her boss was playing with the woman.

  That evening around seven thirty, Alina walked in the lobby dressed in the only dress she had with her. The dress went a little past her knees in a soft shade of green that brought out her eyes, or so she was told when she tried it on, and it clung softly to her body with a wide black belt at her waist. She had added a light touch of make-up and a pair of black heels that she had brought for the dress, and she pinned her hair back at the sides leaving the rest hanging to her shoulders.

  “Miss Barks,” a male voice said, and she turned on her heel to meet the kind eyes of an elderly gentleman. “I am Rob and I will be your driver for this evening.”

  “Thank you, Rob,” Alina said with a nod and smile as Rob stepped aside to allow her to pass.

  In the car, though, she said, “Rob, so will you also be driving me home if your boss doesn’t show up?”

  He glanced at her briefly in the review mirror before turning his attention back to the road as he drove away from the hotel. “Miss Barks, I was told to take you to the restaurant and I believe that Mr.… my boss’s partner will bring you back.”

  Alina didn’t say another word as they drove to the restaurant although she looked at him strangely when he hesitated slightly and once they got there, Rob opened the door for her with a kind smile. “There is already a reservation, but I don’t know if he has arrived yet. I think I should…”

  Alina shook her head as she told him, “Go on back, Rob. I will be fine by myself until my dinner companion arrives,” or stands me up, she thought to herself.

  “If you are sure,” Rob said giving her a steady look.

  “I’m sure,” Alina said giving him a warm smile before she headed for the entrance to the restaurant. Before she entered, she turned and waved at Rob who nodded his head in relief as he got into the car waiting as she entered the place before he drove away.

  Trystan looked down at his watch and swore under his breath as he closed his briefcase with a snap just as his office door opened.

  “Trudy, I am about to leave now so if there is anything important leave it on my desk until morning,” he said not looking up as he grabbed his jacket sliding it on.

  “I don’t think morning would be the right time,” a seductive voice said, and he glanced up sharply as Bea smiled at him from the open doorway.

  “Good evening, Bea,” he said giving her a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”

  She laughed breathlessly as she said, “I thought I could talk you into taking me out to dinner.”

  He looked at his watch again noticing that he was going to be late before looking up at Bea. “Not tonight, Bea, as I already have a dinner reservation.”

  Bea frowned slightly before she said, “Somebody important?”

  Trystan smiled as he walked over to her and kissed her lightly. “It is nothing like that I am just taking out a guest who has been having some problems recently.”

  Bea laughed lightly before she kissed him passionately and then backed away. “Okay, I will let you have your fun, Trystan, but remember I will be waiting.”

  Trystan smiled and said, “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  She gave him another kiss before she headed out to the elevator as Trystan watched her. She turned as she entered the elevator and blew him a kiss before the doors closed on her.

  He shook his head before he headed for the elevator pulling his cell from his pocket to make a quick phone call waiting for the elevator’s return.

  The elevator returned just as he hung up the phone and stepped into it with a heavy frown as the doors closed behind him.

  Alina sipped at her glass of water as the server came up and leaned down to tell her, “Your companion called and said that he would be late. Would you like to order now, or wait for him?”

  “I will wait for him,” Alina said with a smile. “May I have a glass of cherry lemonade please?”

  “Of course,” the server said with a smile before she walked away.

  Alina looked around the restaurant her eyes taking in the nice décor and its warm atmosphere, and she smiled as the server came back with her drink.

  She had been sitting there for ten minutes sipping at her drink when suddenly a deep male voice said, “I apologize for being late, Miss Barks.”

  Alina looked up as she said, “It is okay,” before her eyes widened as she met the grey eyes of the man who sat down across from her. She let her eyes run over him seeing amusement in his eyes at her observation and she ignored it as she took in the man in front of her. His hair was black brushing the collar of his shirt and she noted absently that he had recently run a comb through it. His body was encased in dark grey suit with a burgundy tie and remembering the observation from last night, he was lean although she didn’t remember seeing any fat on him.

  “Mr. Tyeson’s business partner, I presume,” she said with a sigh pulling out of her thoughts as she settled back against her seat. “Sorry, but I never caught your name.”

  “Miss Barks,” he said with a smile his eyes shining with satisfaction as if he got something he had been wanting for and she mentally groaned thinking about her blunt observation of him. “You can call me Trystan.”

  The server came over with a smile and a nod. “The young woman said she would wait for you. Are you ready to order now?”

  Trystan looked at Alina questioningly before he turned back to the server. “Yes, we will order now.”

  The server nodded her head before she straightened to go get some menus and Trystan turned back to his companion.

  “Just Trystan,” Alina asked as the server walked away tilting her head slightly to look at him. “No last name?”

  Trystan chuckled as he said with intimacy, “I think we should be on a first name bases, don’t you?”

  “You know,” she said reaching for her glass ignoring his comment, “there was no reason to take me out because someone kept getting the room number wrong.”

  She drained her glass and placed it on the table just as the server returned with their menus.

  “Would you like another drink, miss?” She asked with a smile and Alina nodded her head with a polite ‘please’.

  Trystan waited until the server walked away before responded to her comment. “What makes you think that the person who sent the flowers had the wrong room number?”

  Alina looked at him briefly before she shook her head and smiled turning her attention to her menu. “There was no message with any of the flowers although I will have to admit they were very beautiful, but no message means that the recipient knew who they were from, which could have been from a lover, husband, or both.”

  She shrugged her shoulders as she scanned the menu before closing it and placing it on the table. “I have been here for two weeks give or take a few days, and I haven’t met anyone I can put in either category at this moment in time. Therefore, it was a wrong room number.”

  Trystan closed his own menu and laughed as he observed her thinking how much an accomplished liar she was considering the fact he saw her this morning leaving with Samuel. He didn’t mention that though as he continued staring at her. “You could be wrong about the reason behind the flowers,” he told her as the server returned to take their order.

  After giving their order and Trystan ordering a glass of wine, the server walked away before he continued, “You could have a secret admirer.”

  Alina nodded her head as she studied him. “I thought about that too especially when I received a letter hours before the first vase of flowers were delivered.”

  “So…” he began only to stop as she shook her head.

  “I’m not beautiful so someone probably saw me in the hotel a
nd decided to play a game,” Alina said with another shrug of her shoulders.

  Trystan sat back stunned at her response as he looked her over from the dark hair that fell past her shoulders to the hazel eyes that seemed very cautious even though she seemed to be relaxed. He could tell that she had light coating of make-up on but nothing too heavy to hint that she went out of her way. He continued looking at her as a light blushed tinted her cheeks noticing that she had high cheekbones and her neck was long, and slender. The bodice of dress hinted that she was nicely endowed although nothing to brag about and if remembering from the picture, she was of slender frame with long legs although Bea had longer.

  “You are a strange woman,” he remarked slowly wishing he had paid a little more attention to the picture.

  Alina smiled as she lifted her fresh glass the server gave her and said sincerely, “Thank you.”

  Trystan couldn’t help the laugh that came out at her words and she only chuckled before taking a sip of her drink.

  The rest of the meal was the same way as they bantered back and forward as they ate. It was the first time that Trystan would admit to himself that he had enjoyed a meal so much as their dinner plates were taken away.

  “Would you like a dessert?” He offered, and Alina shook her head ‘no’.

  “It is getting late,” she said her eyes roving around the empty restaurant with only a few staff members left, and Trystan chuckled at her words.

  He leaned forward in his seat as he said, “So can I talk you into going out with me again?”

  She looked at him curiously before saying, “You have already apologized enough, so you don’t need to take me out again for it.”

  He reached forward and grabbed her hand as he said, “This time I’m doing it because I want to and not because I see it as an apology.”

  “Sir…” Alina began only to be stopped as he squeezed her hand.

  “Trystan,” he amended as they were presented their bill. He released her hand to pay it and Alina took the opportunity to stand up smoothing down her dress as Trystan followed suit subtly checking out her figure liking the nice swell of her hips below a trim waist and he noticed the slender fingers as she fiddled with her belt.