through the city. The times he had gone with his friends had shown him that it took a lot longer to get where you were going without a wad of money in your pocket.
They stepped out of the coffee shop and toward the curb. The sun had recently come out after a quick burst of rain and the sidewalk was shining with residual water. Justin stepped back quickly to try to get the attention of a cab down the street. Just at that moment, a car pulled up to the curb to deposit a woman who appeared to be in an immense hurry.
A puddle of muddy water had collected from the recent thunderstorm and as the car drew up close to the curb, the water in the gutter splashed up, soaking Chantelle from head to toe with the mess. The woman barely acknowledged her before speeding off and the driver immediately turned back into traffic. Chantelle stood, water dripping from her new clothes and shoes. She was furious but there was nobody left to launch at with her angry words. Her anger dissolved into sorrow and a sense of defeat settled over her. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried in life, something always came along and beat her back down.
It was just like her college education. She struggled every semester to take another class, but knew that it was a dream that might not come true, and it seemed that every time she reached for love, she ended up with nothing but trouble.
Just then she caught sight of a familiar form down the sidewalk. She tried to get another look, but shook her head. It couldn’t have been Tom. She had left him in Vegas and even if he did want to follow her, he never had enough money to eat out, let alone get on an airplane! Besides, she had only told him about this earlier in the day. To book a same day flight would cost an enormous amount of money!
Standing there soaking wet, with so many thoughts flooding her mind, Justin turned to her and a look of real concern covered his face. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I should have made sure you were in a safer place. Chantelle, let’s get you somewhere warm and dry.” He took her shoulder and guided her to the enormous and awe inspiring building that was almost directly behind them.
The doorman seemed to recognize Justin and was about to greet him with courtesy and respect, but Justin shook his head subtly, gave the man a wink, and slipped him a few bills.
“Hello, I hope you won’t mind. I’m taking this lady inside for some assistance.” The doorman wasn’t sure why Justin behaved as if he were any stranger on the street entering the building, but he helped them in and decided that it was none of his business.
Chantelle did notice that Justin seemed to know exactly where he was going. They went through the reception area and into what appeared to be a private elevator. Even though she was dripping wet, Chantelle couldn’t help but notice the beautiful lobby with its high ceilings and the delicate sounds of water coming from a fountain in the center. Part of her wished she could just collapse into one of the comfortable chairs and have a good cry, but Justin seemed to sense her mood and put one arm chastely around her back and allowed her to lean into him.
The elevator opened into what appeared to be a home. She was confused that it didn’t go to a hallway or another lobby of some sort. Justin hurried her into a bedroom with bathroom, and told her to go ahead and take off her clothes. He informed her that there was a robe hanging on the door in the bathroom. Before they reached the door of the bedroom, he was calling to have someone pick up her suit and blouse for rapid dry cleaning, and asked them to make arrangements for her shoes to be cleaned and shined.
Chantelle handed her clothes to him through a crack in the door and then sat in a daze on the California king sized bed. The guest room where she found herself was spacious and obviously decorated by a talented designer. Her thoughts swirled as she noticed a small print on the wall. She stood to look at the
They stepped out of the coffee shop and toward the curb. The sun had recently come out after a quick burst of rain and the sidewalk was shining with residual water. Justin stepped back quickly to try to get the attention of a cab down the street. Just at that moment, a car pulled up to the curb to deposit a woman who appeared to be in an immense hurry.
A puddle of muddy water had collected from the recent thunderstorm and as the car drew up close to the curb, the water in the gutter splashed up, soaking Chantelle from head to toe with the mess. The woman barely acknowledged her before speeding off and the driver immediately turned back into traffic. Chantelle stood, water dripping from her new clothes and shoes. She was furious but there was nobody left to launch at with her angry words. Her anger dissolved into sorrow and a sense of defeat settled over her. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried in life, something always came along and beat her back down.
It was just like her college education. She struggled every semester to take another class, but knew that it was a dream that might not come true, and it seemed that every time she reached for love, she ended up with nothing but trouble.
Just then she caught sight of a familiar form down the sidewalk. She tried to get another look, but shook her head. It couldn’t have been Tom. She had left him in Vegas and even if he did want to follow her, he never had enough money to eat out, let alone get on an airplane! Besides, she had only told him about this earlier in the day. To book a same day flight would cost an enormous amount of money!
Standing there soaking wet, with so many thoughts flooding her mind, Justin turned to her and a look of real concern covered his face. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I should have made sure you were in a safer place. Chantelle, let’s get you somewhere warm and dry.” He took her shoulder and guided her to the enormous and awe inspiring building that was almost directly behind them.
The doorman seemed to recognize Justin and was about to greet him with courtesy and respect, but Justin shook his head subtly, gave the man a wink, and slipped him a few bills.
“Hello, I hope you won’t mind. I’m taking this lady inside for some assistance.” The doorman wasn’t sure why Justin behaved as if he were any stranger on the street entering the building, but he helped them in and decided that it was none of his business.
Chantelle did notice that Justin seemed to know exactly where he was going. They went through the reception area and into what appeared to be a private elevator. Even though she was dripping wet, Chantelle couldn’t help but notice the beautiful lobby with its high ceilings and the delicate sounds of water coming from a fountain in the center. Part of her wished she could just collapse into one of the comfortable chairs and have a good cry, but Justin seemed to sense her mood and put one arm chastely around her back and allowed her to lean into him.
The elevator opened into what appeared to be a home. She was confused that it didn’t go to a hallway or another lobby of some sort. Justin hurried her into a bedroom with bathroom, and told her to go ahead and take off her clothes. He informed her that there was a robe hanging on the door in the bathroom. Before they reached the door of the bedroom, he was calling to have someone pick up her suit and blouse for rapid dry cleaning, and asked them to make arrangements for her shoes to be cleaned and shined.
Chantelle handed her clothes to him through a crack in the door and then sat in a daze on the California king sized bed. The guest room where she found herself was spacious and obviously decorated by a talented designer. Her thoughts swirled as she noticed a small print on the wall. She stood to look at the
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