Chapter 22 - The Upper Hand

While the valet handled the people outside, Alice strolled into the hotel with a heave expression. As she reached closer and closer, she had a bad feeling about this idea. Somehow, she was too unsure of this plan. At the reception, she said curtly, "Miss Alice Faye for Mr. Adam..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to remember the man's surname but failed.

The receptionist smiled and prompted the woman," Which room number madam?"

But Alice had no idea of the room also. Almost feeling embarrassed, she was about to bluff her way out of it when the receptionist excused herself to answer the phone ringing on her desk. After a brief conversation while Alice tried to think hard of the name, the receptionist placed down the phone and smiled while carefully concealing the curiosity in her eyes. "Mr. Adam Perry has asked us to invite you upstairs to the private deck. Please follow me, madam."

The receptionist was naturally aware of the famous Adam Perry, famously known as K. And when she had heard the woman trail off, she had assumed that this must be some stalker fan who wanted to harass their client. She had been prepared to chase the woman away, but then Mr. K called her himself! And instructed that a woman named Alice Faye be sent up as soon as she came. The receptionist wondered is this beautiful woman had actually forgotten the man's name! Who was she.. Alice Faye? The name did sound familiar. And the clothes were all branded. Maybe she was here to discuss business with K? How interesting..

Sadly, once inside the elevator, the receptionist pressed her own Id card into the elevator slot as she explained," Miss Faye. the elevator can only take you up. To come down, you will have to ask Mr. Adam. Thank you madam."

As the woman stepped back and the doors of the elevator closed the butterflies in her stomach seemed to have turned into stomping hungry elephants. Placing her hand on her stomach, Alice tried to calm her nerves. She reminded herself that she was no green girl in the first throws of love. She was a modern woman! A go getter! Though why she had to keep reminding herself these things when in his presence, she refused to mull over.

The doors soon opened and she came face to face with the man himself! He was actually waiting for her at the doors! But that was not what shocked Alice. The moment she walked out of the elevator, she was swept into a hug by the man who then placed a small peck on his cheek and stepped back with a grin.. All in the blink of an eye!

But this time, she was better prepared to response and she scolded,"Mr. Perry. Please behave with some decorum! First, you stole my phone number. And then you have been messaging me with nonsensical memes since the morning. And now you are taking liberties with my body! Please maintain a distance."

Out of cultivated habit, Alice's voice had turned colder as she continued the lecture. If Ximin was here then she would have snorted and said that Alice had now donned her icy back off cloak that was know to repel all men and women. But, to Alice's horror the man did not back off and instead leaned in closer as he said, " Don't tell me that you have not enjoyed the memes! And regarding the other fact, let me tell you babe, I only greeted you. Now if I were to take liberties, I would have placed my arms around your waist, pulled you in and placed a nice kiss on your very beautiful pink kissable lips."

After finishing the threat, Adam moved in as if to really make true on his words, flustering Alice who stepped back and almost lost her footing, before raising her hands to his chest in alarm and muttering, "Fine fine. I am sorry. Now can we please discuss business?"

To which Adam put on an extremely disappointed expression and complained, "You are here to discuss business? I am extremely disappointed babe! I thought you came here because you missed me and wanted to talk to me! What a heartless girl you are. Fine, come on in! And we will discuss this business!"

As the man walked away, Alice could only follow him thoughtfully as how he managed to have the upper hand every time they interacted.