Chapter 14

After a quick wash and shave, Dan found his way back to the lobby. Following a trail of signs, he discovered one of the hotel’s vast halls, filled with round tables covered by white tablecloths. While their German counterparts occupied many of the seats, empty ones bearing placards for the GBV team were scattered among them.

“The old divide and conquer,” he muttered while nodding to a server and scouring the room for his name.

He was right. No sooner had the meal begun than those at his table, all of whom spoke at least passable English, started asking pointed questions. With queries about the weather, German culture, and food, he did his best to deflect them.

After the main course, Mr. Grainger gave a brief, and at least surface-level, warm speech. Once polite clapping ended, a short, rotund man, Gert Fiedler, the head of the Berlin team, returned the favor.

As the man left the stage, Dan applauded, noting Natalie across the room. Eyes sparkling almost as much as a glittery, champagne-colored backless dress glued to her curves, she’d gathered a new entourage. Even over the din, he could pick out her laughter as she drained glass after glass of wine. Yes, he noticed she was drinking far too fast.

“ ... data, correct Mr. Murphy?”

At his boss’s voice, he looked up to find the man’s narrowed gaze and tight smile.

“Uh, excuse me, sir?”

“I was explaining to Herr Fiedler you’d be confirming their data.” He gestured to the heavy-set man beside him.

“Um, yes, sir.” He managed a shaky grin that wavered at more laughs from Natalie. “I’ve already entered the numbers.”

“ ... forward to seeing it in action,” the shorter guy said in a thick German accent, cutting through one more distant laugh.

After squeezing Dan’s shoulder, Mr. Grainger led Herr Fiedler away. Soon, the dinner ended, and everyone moved to another hall. While dimly lit, it sported a bar, and a small band played from a corner. Beyond an open bank of sliding doors stretched an extensive garden; among its manicured hedges colorful floodlights glinted.

While Natalie sailed like a golden swan amid her newfound followers, he remained near the bar. As she continued to laugh and drink, he nursed the same whiskey while deflecting more questions. The first ones to approach had been a pair of older men. After they’d left disappointed, a statuesque young blonde materialized. Impressive tits threatening to topple from a tiny black dress, she was even less circumspect.

With the whiskey mellowing him, he was just about to have some fun, testing the woman’s limits, when an abrupt motion across the hall caught his eye.

Head tilted forward and hand over her mouth, Natalie was dashing towards the garden exit. None of her newfound companions were accompanying her. Indeed, they only laughed before turning away.

“Excuse me,” Dan said before darting from the wide-eyed blonde.

After thumping his glass on a table, he weaved through the crowd. Other than a swift glance at Mr. Grainger’s cocked head and narrowed eyes, he tracked Natalie disappearing into the darkness. Once he’d burst into the humid night air, he scanned the dim stone patio.

“Where—”

His mutter ended at the sound of retching from the gloom. Pulse racing, he rushed towards the bent figure. Splayed fingers struggling to grasp shiny black hair, she was leaning over a hedge.

Right as she heaved once again, he rushed to her side. At her tensing when his fingers moved to gather her loose tresses, he cleared his throat.

“It’s me, Nat,” he said while sliding his other hand over hers atop her roiling belly. “I’ve got you.”

Before she could do more than give him a curt nod, an additional bout struck her. As she doubled over, stomach heaving, he pressed her outstretched fingers into the dress and kept the silken hair clear. Just as he’d done for Daisy so many years ago.

At length, after spitting into the shrubbery, she smacked her lips and sighed. Another quick heave brought nothing but air, and with a curt exhale, she pressed her hip into him.

“S-Sorry, Dan.” A shaky groan escaped her. “Drank too much.”

“Ya think?” He chuckled under his breath, then slipped the hand from her belly to find his handkerchief.

“Thanks,” she muttered, while taking it from him to wipe her mouth.

Neither said more as he shifted her to a nearby bench, before telling her to wait and heading into the ballroom. She remained quiet when he returned. With a grin, he handed her a bottle of water and unfolded a napkin full of plain crackers. As she drained the water and picked crunchy wafers from his palm, her dark eyes focused on him.

They stayed on him as he helped her to her shaky heels and guided her inside. When, as they moved across the hall towards the lobby, her warm sleek curves snuggled tighter to him, he gulped. From beneath furrowed brows, Grainger was tracking their hasty departure. Dan didn’t care, and when her new entourage glanced over, chortling, she held him closer.

Only once they’d entered the elevator did he speak. “What floor?”

“Nine.”

After he’d punched the button, more silence swaddled them. As wafting lilac, jasmine and wildflowers drove his pulse ever higher, her slender compact frame continued to press against his side. When the doors opened, he moved her along the hall until she halted before her room.

“Would you...” Her voice was tiny ... and shaky. Indeed, her entire body was vibrating as she eased from his arm and spun to face him. “Um, you could...” She glanced at the door. “If you want.”

The world stuttered to a stop. With the hallway wobbling around him, he found himself sinking into her glistening black pools. His heartbeat was a brass drum, hammering his ribcage, but after a heavy breath, he shook his head.

“Nah, don’t think that’d work, Nat.” He flashed her a smile despite his brain suddenly changing its tune, screaming that he was an idiot. “Be kinda awkward when you sober up. And, um, once we get back, roomie.”

For a trillion years, the world refused to restart. Her gaze remained locked on him as she stood motionless. Under the subdued lights, her black tresses flickered as she continued to tremble. When the lock clicked and the door slid open behind her, he gulped, and as she took a backward step into the dark room, the pull on him tore at his soul.

One quick shove and they’d be inside. Not long after, both would be naked, doing what she clearly wanted. After another curt swallow, he glanced at his straining trousers, but after a heavy sigh, he flashed her a grin.