The hum of the city was a low, constant thrum beneath the soaring heights of the Grand Meridian Hotel. Tyrone, fresh off the plane and still adjusting to the time difference, stood at the polished marble reception desk, listening to the clerk drone on about breakfast hours. That’s when she walked by.
Ebony. The name just popped into his head, unbidden, as she strolled towards the elevators. She was a vision in a flowing sundress the color of sunshine, her dark hair cascading down her back like a silken waterfall. A small, elegant purse swung from her shoulder, adding a touch of sophisticated nonchalance to her already captivating presence. Tyrone wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat. She disappeared into the elevator, leaving him standing there, suddenly regretting his choice of a plain, practical business suit. There was no way he could just chase after her.
He sighed, finished checking in, and trudged to his room. After unpacking and changing into something more comfortable, Tyrone decided the rooftop bar was calling his name. Maybe a drink would help him unwind.
The rooftop was an oasis of cool blues and shimmering turquoise. A long, sleek bar stretched across one side, while the rest of the space was dotted with comfortable lounge chairs and small tables. The centerpiece was a dazzling pool, its surface reflecting the city lights like a thousand scattered diamonds. He ordered a whiskey neat, his eyes sweeping over the cityscape. Then he saw her.
Ebony. Beside the pool, laughing with a group of friends. The sundress was gone, replaced by a sleek, black swimsuit that accentuated her curves. She looked even more breathtaking in the open air, the setting sun painting her skin in hues of gold and bronze.
Taking a deep breath, Tyrone walked over. “Excuse me,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I think I saw you downstairs in the lobby earlier.”
She turned, her eyes, a deep, mesmerizing brown, widened slightly. “Oh, you did! I remember you. You were checking in.”
He introduced himself, she introduced herself as Ebony, and soon they were chatting easily, the initial awkwardness dissolving like sugar in water. He learned she was in town for a conference, not related to his own. They talked about the city, about their work, about everything and nothing. Her laughter was infectious, her smile radiant. Tyrone found himself completely captivated.
As the evening deepened, the crowd thinned. They moved to a quieter corner, the city lights twinkling around them. He found himself wanting, needing, to be closer.
Finally, he took a chance. “Would you maybe want to…continue this conversation somewhere a little more private?” He held his breath, bracing for rejection.
Ebony’s smile softened. She looked at him, her expression unreadable for a moment, then whispered, “Okay.”
The elevator ride to his room felt like an eternity. The air crackled with unspoken anticipation. As he unlocked the door, Tyrone knew that this business trip had just taken a very unexpected, and very welcome, turn. He stepped in, Ebony followed, and the door clicked shut, leaving the dazzling city and the rooftop bar far behind.