First Thing I See Read online

  First Thing I See

  By Vi Keeland

  Text Copyright © Vi Keeland

  All Rights Reserved

  To my carpenter, chef, and driver for not thinking I am anymore insane for doing this.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 1

  Today, I start over. Hope stared in the mirror trying to convince herself that today would be a new beginning and things would change for the better. Hope Marie York put on the deep red Prada suit that cost her nearly two months pay from her job back in Florence, Oregon. After two years of planning and saving, the day had finally come for her to start over. Her closet was filled with designer clothing, in her small New York City studio apartment, and her expensive salon makeover had left her almost unrecognizable from the plain small town girl she left behind in Oregon. With a deep breath, she opened the door and walked to meet Shauna at the small café that had become their unofficial meeting spot.

  “My lord Hope, look at you!” Shauna said with a slow gaze up and down that I may have resented if I hadn’t been so thrilled to see Shauna’s mouth hanging open. I’d always admired Shauna’s style and confidence, perhaps even being a tiny bit jealous of how much of those qualities oozed out of her without effort. Knowing from her expression that I had impressed her gave me a jolt of confidence I needed on my first day. Shauna, although my best friend since 4th grade, could be a bit of a bitch and I knew it took a lot to make her jaw drop these days. Tall, fit, blonde hair and blue eyes with legs a mile long. Shauna could piss off Barbie, because Ken’s head would surely turn to follow her as she walked by.

  “Thanks Shauna, just seeing your expression almost makes the agony of the last two years of planning and saving worth it!”

  Two years ago, I would have gone unnoticed. I was average. Not too tall, not too short. Mousey dirty blonde hair, pale complexion and an extra ten pounds put me at around a five on the rating scale. My green eyes hidden behind glasses that concealed my lack of makeup. It didn’t help that my wardrobe consisted of only black, white, brown and navy. My closets were lined with conservative sweater sets, dark colored slacks, jeans, plain t-shirts and sensible flats. But today, Shauna’s face told me that I looked the part of at least an eight. In two years, I had worked hard to transform myself. A strict diet and exercise routine helped shed 15 pounds and defined my muscles. Bright blonde highlights and a magician haircutter transformed my thick hair into bright layers. A good lesson in using makeup to accentuate my almond shaped green eyes and full lips, along with trading my glasses for contacts, completed my physical makeover. Two years of saving transformed my wardrobe from drab to designer and even I thought I looked the part of a New York City professional woman.

  “We need to head to the bar and celebrate after your big first day today.” Shauna could truly find a reason to head to the bar and celebrate for anything. But today I wasn’t going to argue because I was counting on feeling as good at the end of the first day of my new job as I did at the beginning of it.

  “How about if we meet at that ritzy bar they have in your hotel after work? The one on the 45th floor that overlooks the city, Icon, I think it’s called. I’m sure the drinks are expensive, but we can find some horny traveling salesman to buy them for us!”

  I almost choked on my yogurt at her description of who tonight’s wallet would belong to for us. But Shauna was right; there was never a shortage of men waiting to buy our drinks with the way Shauna looked.

  “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for us to party in the hotel I am working at on my very first day. I wouldn’t want to people to see me and think I was a party girl.” I offered an alternative. “How about we go to Marley’s Pub instead?”

  Shauna gave a small wave to the handsome man clearly drooling at her from the table across from us and said loud enough for most of the café to hear “No, we are going to Icon tonight and I won’t take no for an answer. The old Hope goes to Marley’s Pub, the new Hope goes to Icon to be seen.” Finishing her breakfast and standing, clearly not a topic she was planning on discussing, Shauna took three steps and looked back “Icon 6:00 tonight”. Then she winked at the drooling man listening to our conversation intently and I wondered if she was hoping me or the stranger would be at Icon tonight when she arrived.

  Chapter 2

  Blowing an escaped strand of hair off my face, I stopped outside to look at the magnificent hotel where I would now spend my days. The Monet, one of only two five star hotels in a city where a two star hotel can cost more than three hundred dollars a night, is one of the most grand buildings in all of the city. Stone columns arching more than three stories high set the tone for the entry of the 45 story grand structure. The doorman smiled at me as I took it all in, opening the door tipping his hat to me, “Good morning and Welcome to The Monet”. Although I had been inside the building for two interviews, the lobby still struck me with awe as I entered the Upper East Side iconic hotel.

  Like stepping back in time, the lobby of the Monet brought together old world luxury with modern sleekness. Immaculate marble and gleaming crystal were offset by breathtaking vibrant colored flower arrangements on an unimaginable scale. Oversized archways and vaulted ceilings held grand crystal chandeliers that sparkled. A sweeping staircase, the epitome of elegance, set the backdrop for the understated reception desk.

  I was almost an hour early for the beginning of my first day, even after breakfast with Shauna. I tried not to walk around the lobby too starry eyed, but it was hard to contain my excitement of landing my dream job. With all of my new outward changed, I had hoped to blend in with all the other young professional native New Yorkers working at the magnificent hotel. But even without all my outward changes, inside I still felt like the plain girl from Oregon.

  I had to really work at pretending I belonged there as I walked to the general manager’s office to report for my first day as The Monet’s new event coordinator. Four years of college studying hospitality and business, three years as an assistant event coordinator in the largest hotel in Oregon, a brand new wardrobe, makeover, city and apartment and I still felt unworthy of the job. Why couldn’t I have Shauna’s sense of belonging? It took her all of about 30 minutes to feel at home in New York when she moved almost four years ago at the age of twenty two.

  It wasn’t just Shauna that had the innate sense of belonging wherever she went. My uber gorgeous step mother Candace, the former Miss Oregon, had the same sense of belonging that I clearly missed out on. My dad, Joe York, a retired secret service officer, had a different kind of confidence than his wife, his wasn’t showy. His was a quiet confidence, the kind that made you stand straighter when he was in the room. Of course, my beyond beautiful two step sisters also reaped the benefits from belonging to two confident parents and took confidence to a whole new level that some people would no longer call confident but instead call entitlement.

  ***

  George Windham, the general manager, was a forty something, roundish balding man that I looked forward to working for. He seemed kind and well manner
ed and I believed him when he told me that he would help me become a success in my new position. After a grand tour of the hotel and introductions to at least fifty employees, he left me with the reception manager for my first day of hotel training. Even though I was going to be the hotel’s event planner, the hotel had a policy of all new employees spending their first month training in the key positions of the hotel so that they truly understood how the hotel worked. My first week would be spent in reception, learning the check in and check out process.

  George left me with Dylan, the outgoing red headed reception manager, who gave me an overview and then we took a break together to grab some coffee. “So, are you single Hope? Because this hotel is better than any singles bar for hunting wealthy bachelors. I mean, when a man can spend seven hundred dollars a night on a hotel, he can afford to keep me stocked in my Jimmy Choos, right?”

  Dylan laughed as she studied me from across the table. Despite my surprise at hearing that a manager thinks of her position as a hunting ground, I couldn’t help but think that Dylan would have no problem finding a handsome bachelor of her own. Unlike me, Dylan was sex on a stick with an abundance of curves and sparkle. Although tiny, I’d bet men didn’t notice her height. She wore a plunging purple halter top barely containing her D cups under her snug fitting reception blazer. Her face looked like it was airbrushed with perfect makeup to suit her large brown eyes. Although to my liking it was a bit Dolly Parton over the top, I could definitely see the appeal that she would have over men.

  The rest of the morning flew by with me observing the reception staff as they did their work. By late afternoon Dylan announced that it was time for me to graduate and take a turn at checking in the next guest. I’d just hung up the phone after transferring a guest to the concierge to make some reservations, when I looked up to see the next guest approaching the desk for check in. My heart skipped a beat and I stuttered “Wwwww..Welcome to The Monet, how may I help you?” I looked up to the most amazing pale blue eyes surrounded by dark black eyelashes that I have ever seen. Instantly I felt my face flush and silently cursed my pale skin.

  “You must be new here” the Adonis standing before me said in a deep, smooth voice.

  “Ummm…. I apologize, I am new but I will do my best to get you checked in quickly.” Flushing even more as I realized that he was able to see my inexperience.

  “I wasn’t worried about a speedy check in, I meant I would have remembered you if I had seen you here before.”

  My lips and mouth went dry and I had trouble speaking. Wait, did he just flirt with me? Blinking out of my daze, I licked my dry lips and looked up at the beautiful man, who was staring at my mouth, seemingly unfazed by my bumbling motions.

  This was not a beautiful man; this was a walking work of art. Tall, dark and handsome couldn’t begin to describe what stood before me. His bone structure looked as if it was created from the chisel and stone of an artist. His straight strong nose, stood above perfect full lips and his slight smile revealed two glorious cavernous dimples that sent a tingle straight through my spine just seeing a hint of them. His light blue dress shirt neatly pressed with a beautiful blue and gray tie, and low hanging dark gray dress pants, all looked as if they were custom made for him.

  “ Kennedy Jenner, Mrs…..” the beautiful man said as he extended his hand in my direction.

  “It’s Miss Hope York, Mr. Jenner, nice to meet you.” A shock of electricity shot through my body as his large hand enveloped mine. My heartbeat raced and all of the hair on my body rose, despite my best effort to hide my excitement.

  He held my hand for longer than necessary for a standard handshake and stared into my eyes with one brow arched and the hint of a dimple desperate to escape. “Are you feeling okay Miss York?”

  Mortified, I was aware that my face had to match the deep red color of my suit by now, but I sputtered out a response. “I’m fine Mr. Jenner.”

  I was upset with myself for not being able to hide my nerves and for allowing a man I didn’t know turn me to jello. Yet, he stood there with his cocky expression not wavering in his focus to allow me a few seconds to compose myself. I stumbled with the computer keys and pulled up the amazing creatures’ reservation. “I’ll just need a credit card and a license to check you in Mr. Jenner.” I continued to look down at the computer screen as he grabbed for his wallet, but I could feel his gaze slowly taking in my face and its reactions to him. Finally, after what seemed like ten minutes of keypunching, but was in reality probably only thirty seconds, I completed the check in and offered Mr. Jenner the room card.

  He took the room cards from my hand, his thumb brushing against mine in the exchange and there it was again, the unmistakable electricity traveling to places that no man has gone in quite some time. Too long, I suddenly realized. “Enjoy your stay Mr. Jenner.” I managed a smile.

  “Oh, I will enjoy my stay this time, Ms. York, you can count on it.”

  I nodded, although I had no idea what that was supposed to mean. I watched as the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on walked toward the elevator. I saw him smile without looking my way as he stepped into the car and my knees went weak.

  I felt the flood of relief from the release of the intensity Kennedy Jenner had brought upon. Yet, I also felt oddly sad that he was now gone. Dylan, obviously not one to miss much that happens when a handsome man approaches her reception desk, whistled a sexy catcall from behind me.

  “Jesus, Hope, you couldn’t cut the sexual tension in that exchange with a hatchet!”

  Had I really just made an ass out of myself on my first day at my dream job in front of a man way out of my league? I smiled politely to Dylan and excused myself to go the ladies room to compose myself back to the professional I was supposed to be.

  The remainder of the day was uneventful, although I did find myself staring at the elevator bank on one too many occasions. Thank the Lord that man came in late in the day, or I would have been unable to function for the entire day.

  Chapter 3

  Shauna was already seated at the bar when I walked into Icon. The bar was truly a spectacular sight. On one side, floor to ceiling windows displayed the entire city from the bar’s perch upon the 45th floor of The Monet. The other side was a wall of glass leading to an outside deck boasting mahogany outdoor lounge chairs that were set up in intimate arrangements to allow for small groups to talk. The deck displayed two outdoor bars and I could hear jazz playing and voices laughing in the distance.

  “Hope!” Shauna’s loud bubbly display of excitement caused some of the men that were watching Shauna to look my way. I walked to the bar, again slightly flushed, and hugged Shauna, happy to see a familiar face after a long first day. “Well, how was it? Find any hot men to seduce at work?”

  We talked and laughed about my day and at some point, I made the mistake of telling her about the Adonis I had met. If I was what could be considered a prude, Shauna would be the exact opposite. Always ready to openly discuss sexual encounters and her love of men in general. Me, on the other hand, generally didn’t have much to discuss.

  After a few drinks and Shauna’s playfully teasing me to print an extra key and slip into the handsome guest’s room for a little excitement, I convinced her it was time to go. Linking arms, we headed toward the door, where I promptly walked directly into him.

  He grinned, showing a hint of the dimples that made my knees go weak and stared down at me “I told you I was going to have a good stay this time.” I froze, unable to respond, and just stared at him like a love struck teenager. Why did I respond like such an idiot around this man? Kennedy put his arm out to place his hand on my shoulder and reached down so that I could feel his breath on my ear, “Please, have a drink with me Miss York.”

  Shauna giggled and quickly interjected “I really have to go, but you should stay for a little while and enjoy that drink Hope”. Kennedy smiled at Shauna, but I noticed that he didn’t look her up and down as all men do when meeting her.

  “Um
mm….I really have to get going, I have an appointment I need to get to.”

  Kennedy smiled down at me and released my shoulder. Leaning closer until I could feel the heat resonating from his body and I felt my own body start to tingle, he whispered “I only take no for an answer once, so I will see you again soon Ms. York.”

  “What in the world happened in there?” Shauna screeched as we entered the elevator for the ride down to the street. “From the look on your face, I take it that was the guy from this afternoon?” She pushed the buttons staring at me, apparently it wasn’t a rhetorical question and she was awaiting a response.

  “Yes, that was the man from reception today. I have no idea what comes over me when I am near that man. It’s like my brain turns to mush and I can’t control my body!”

  Shauna looked irritated “Hope, one look at the way that man looks at you and I can tell you that you do not need to control your body. That man is going to do it for you! Why on earth didn’t you accept his invitation to have a drink?”

  As the doors opened to the lobby level, I couldn’t help but wonder why I didn’t accept his invitation either. As we walked through the lobby a few of the employees waived goodnight and I was glad for the relief from Shauna’s inquisition for a moment.

  Out on the street, the fresh air and bustling sounds of the city brought me back to reality. “I have no idea Shauna, I think I may be afraid of the man a little. Not in the violent-afraid sort of way, but in the ‘he makes me melt like butter on a roof in Arizona type of way!’”

  After another short lecture on the benefits of casual sex, and reminding me that I moved to New York to start a new, better life, Shauna hugged me and we agreed to meet at Icon again Thursday after work.

  ***

  The next two days passed in a blur as I worked to learn everything I could about the hotel and all of the different jobs that keep the hotel rated with five stars. Although I kept myself busy, my eyes were always on the lookout for the Adonis. Unfortunately, I didn’t see him, and because I checked him in, I knew that he was checking out soon.