The first few days went by fast. Work at the hotel was always busy. Em was the day manager and had to make sure that everything was running in perfect order. I was a booking's manager and oversaw everything that had to do with bookings, from making sure that the rooms weren't double booked to sitting in endless meetings with the marketing team.

There was also a nifty little restaurant where we usually had our lunches. The dinners were always full as the restaurant was five star and open to the public, not just the guests that stayed over at the hotel.

The hotel had a big rustic feeling with wooden floors and metal decoration. It also gave a warm ambience with the dark green and maroon walls.

The staff knew everybody and we worked closely with the owner too. She was precise in the way she wanted things. If only her daughters were the same.

Mrs Finch had six beauties that were blessed with brains. Lizzy was the oldest and her life was like a telenovela that you couldn't wait for the next episode to envold.

Em gave her the nickname of Luscious Liz as she was shagging a new guy every weekend and demanded the best suite in the hotel. She used to be in a long term relationship, and the way she told it, she outgrew the guy, but the reality of it, he dumped her because she was way too needy and very controlling.

Liz had her mother's dark hair that she spent loads of dollars to get the right cut that would fit her heart shaped face. She had dark eyes, which I assumed belonged to her father, who was also Mrs. Finch's first lover. She was twenty-four and as smart as they'd come, always studying something or being invited to do her honors. Mrs. Finch couldn't stop gushing about her.

Sarah was a year younger than Liz and I could only imagine how horrible it must be to find out you were pregnant again with a baby of three months old not to mention that the father wasn't the first guy that made you pregnant.

Trudy was right after Sarah, who also introduced guy number three. I had to give it to Trudy, she was one of the nice ones and her father was still in her life. Trudy was really friendly and always went out of her way to speak to us when she came. She just turned twenty-one and the pictures of her big day were showcased for the entire hotel to see.

Candice was nineteen, and was fathered by Mr. Finch. She just finished with school and just started Uni. They all went into business or some other degree.

Mandy was Mr. Finch's second daughter, and she was still in high school, seventeen years old and then their baby was the fifteen year old, Claire.

Then there were the cousins that occasionally came with them. They always demanded the poshest rooms, even if the hotel were fully booked. They were impossible guests to cater for their needs.

Em called them the BFH (brats from hell), but Trudy and Candice were two that I really adored. They weren't as mean as the others and always reprimanded their siblings if they acted like helions.

Em also called Mrs. Finch, Cruella Deville.

The family sure was a strange one that tried to shove their crap underneath a carpet and protrude this perfect family to the rest of the world.

Well, to me, she was great and I really enjoyed working for her, even if she was demanding at times.

My phone buzzed and I saw a message on my whatsapp. I picked up my phone and my fingers pressed the app.

A smile spread on my lips as I knew it was from Jackson.

"You're up for a date on Friday, not the date, but a date."

"How did you get my number?"

My phone buzzed again.

"It wasn't what I asked."

"What time?"

"What time do you get off work?"

"Five."

"I'll pick you up at six."

My stomach flipped and I couldn't believe that I was going to go out with one of the hottest guys on Friday night. Don't lose your heart, Cass.

***

On Friday my stomach twisted in a ball of nerves. I wasn't that strong to play the game. Bullshit, you played the game well that night. Just take each date one step at a time.

I found myself numerous times daydreaming about tonight. Five weeks, all you have to do is keep your hormones at bay for five weeks.

I had no idea where we were going, and I didn't know what to wear. He said casual, but anything could be casual.

So I decided to go with a pair of skinny jeans and a beautiful top and my Jenn Ardor Slip On Canvas Fashion sneakers. They were extremely comfortable.

I grabbed my denim jacket when Jackson pulled into the driveaway with his hunchback Audi. It was a beautiful red one in spiffy condition and something told me that the guy came from a wealthy family.

What the hell is he doing with someone like me. Things like that grated on my nerves, as I have absolutely nothing to offer him, except my body.

I giggled at that thought. Don't lose your heart. This guy is dangerous and he will be out of your life in the next five weeks.

Em was right, that was stupid. I should've never caved.

"Cass, your knight in shining armor is here," Em yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

He was everything but a knight in shining armor. "More like the devil in disguise." 

The sound of her laughter rolled up the stairs as I took a mint and sprayed some body spray one last time before I left the room.

Mr. Dangerous was wearing jeans with sneakers and a branded blueish grey shirt. He smelled wonderful as I reached him.

"What did you just call me?"

"Nothing, let's go."

"That eager to go on a date with me?"

"Maybe that eager for the night to finish."

Em screamed her laughter as Jackson's face slacked and said goodbye to Harold.

He opened the door for me like a true gentleman and my lips curved into a smile as I shook my head.

"What, I can't be a gentleman now?"

"I didn't say anything."

He closed the door when my feet were in the car and I hated my sweaty palms. Just be yourself, Cass, just be yourself.

The driver's side door opened and he slipped casually behind the steering wheel. Sof music played from the speakers as he started the car.

I buckled up remembering the story he told me about Derick and he did the same.

"So, where are we going?"

"A frat party."

"I'm going to be surrounded by kids tonight?"

"Haha," he said mockingly as I laughed. "Be careful that you don't break your hip when enjoying it too much, old woman. You're turning what? Eighty?"

"Sometimes it feels like that."

He laughed. "Age is but a number, Cass."

"Yeah, you said that already. So what do I tell everyone that is going to ask questions as I'm sure there are going to be some? You don't seem like the guy that goes to a frat party with a date."

"Tell them whatever you want. I really don't care."

"Oh, you should not have said that."

We drove down the street. "So you work with Em?" .

"Em works with me. I started there first."

"Okay, got it. You are what?"

"Booking's manager."

"Em is like the general manager already?"

"Don't look down on the title. I declined that position. You do not know what shit comes with that one. Besides, I saw Em's paycheck, it's nothing compared to what they pay me."

"Oh, you are one of those employees."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, make the boss's wildest dreams come true."

"Yeah, that would be very difficult as he is six feet under the ground, Jackson, and his wife loves dick way too much."

He threw back his head and laughed.

"I'm just kidding, she is very busy with being the pain in our asses and lately doesn't have time for men anymore."

"Yeah, speaking about time. I have something coming up next week that I completely forgot about. I got a reminder this week."

"It's turning into six weeks?"

"Hell no. I hope that you'll come with me?"

"To where?"

"It's an entire weekend away?"

Oh fuck. "To where?"

"California. It's where I'm from. I moved up here because of the scholarship I got at Harvard."

"Oh, I see, you are that clever."

"Yes, I'm that clever."

"If you tell me you have a photographic memory, I'm going to kill you."

He didn't reply, just chuckled.

"It's so unfair."

"What is?"

"You have everything working for you, seriously. Maybe if I had that, I wouldn't be single."

"You are not single, you are with me."

I hated the bubbles that erupted in my stomach with his words. "Fine, semi-single."

"No, I hope you are playing by the rules too, Cass. If I don't get sex for the next five weeks neither are you."

"Jackson, I don't shake my booty and flutter my eyelashes at every guy I meet."

"You never know. You are committed to five weeks, Cass."

"Fine, I'm not single for the next five weeks."

"Or semi-single."

"Yes, that too. So what is in California?"

"A wedding of one of my best friends. I'm the best man. We are going to have to sleep over at the function on Saturday but it will be a very personal weekend for you as you will meet my parents."

"Already?"

He laughed. "I have no choice. We are going to stay over Friday at home. My mom is extremely excited to meet you. I told her you are my girlfriend as I have no idea how to explain this five week thing to her. I think she will kill me."

I couldn't help but laugh, just trying to imagine that one. "Don't worry, it's our little secret."

"So, do you have any siblings?"

"I do, a sister and one very confused brother."

"Confused, in what way?"

"He has no idea what he wants to be."

"That is normal, a lot of people only find their way at a certain age."

I laughed as he completely misinterpreted my comment again.

"Why are you laughing?"

"If only it was that easy. No, I mean, he really doesn't know what he wants to be."

Jackson frowned. "Meaning?"

"Meaning he is into all sorts of weird things. He was once a horse for an entire month and a volcano for a week."

I laughed at the look on Jackson's face. "You are messing with me now?"

"I wish I was. He is very eccentric, a genius, and very adamant. You will like him as he is one of the most interesting people you'll ever meet."

His lips fanned into a grin. "How does one become a volcano for an entire week?"

"I don't know, but that is Mark for you. Thank heavens my dad died a long time ago. He would not understand any of this the way my mother does."

"So, it's just your mom?"

"And step dad, but we never see eye to eye. I think he is trying way too hard and comes through as demanding and extremely manipulative. There are always conditions with him to be honest."

"That must suck."

"Yeah, it does, but that is Gary for you. I'm sure he means well."

"You are the oldest?"

"No, I'm the baby. You?"

"The oldest of four. I have a sister that is a few years younger than me and a brother who just turned twenty. Now he is a player."

"I wonder where he got it from?"

Jackson chuckled. "And my baby sister, who is in her senior year of highschool. None of them seems lost, but I'm sure they do other things that my parents don't know about. Except for Kate?"

"Who is Kate?"

"My sister who is a few years younger than me. I think the two of you might just hit it off great. She also cracks a hip every second week."

I smacked him hard on his shoulder, which actually hurt, as he was pure muscle.

"And then there is her husband, Jim."

"You see what I mean? Everyone that is younger than me is already married. Maybe I should speak to her and pick up a few pointers."

He grinned as he pulled into a street that had houses lined up after each other.

Loud music came from the front. I hadn't been to a frat party before, and it was weird that they held one as it was still June, weren't they supposed to be on a break or something?

Jackson parked in the street a few houses away from where the loud music came from.

We walked on the pavement.

"I thought everyone was on summer break."

"Most are, but this party is held by a sorority sister's house. To initiate the seniors. Their initiations are quite something to experience. I think they are sacrificing a virgin tonight."

"Thank heavens I'm not a virgin anymore."

"Yeah, I doubt the person is really a virgin."

We reached the house and Jackson reached over the white wooden fence and opened the gate.

He let me walk in first and closed the gate behind him.

The front yard was big and a BBQ was busy taking place close to a huge bonfire. A group of guys standing with beer and cigarettes in their hands grilled meat. Behind a wall, was some sort of a podium and gigantic palm trees and Hawaian decoration peeked from the other side.

"What is that?"

"Probably the sacrificial ritual. I don't know."

"Wow, they really go all out, don't they?"

He chuckled as we reached the first guy and slapped his hand into a shake.

"You made it, you must be Cassy." The guy left out his hand for me to shake.

I looked at Jackson. "Who is Cassy, Jackson?"

"Oh, fuck," the guy said, and we both laughed at his face going slack.

"Meet the Devil. I'm not responsible for what is going to leave her lips tonight."

"You are Cassy?"

"Yes, nice to meet you."

The guy blew out air as he wiped his hair. "With Jackson you never know."

"Tell me about it."

The guy laughed. "She is a keeper, Jackson."

Jackson flipped him off, as he greeted another few guys.

"That doesn't bother you one bit?" the guy asked.

"What? It's Jackson. You can never take whatever he does seriously. I learned that one fast."

"It's about time he gets someone feisty."

"Yeah, that is still a hard bargain, dude."

"I'm Sean, nice to meet you, Cassy."

"Likewise, Sean."

"Sean, stop sweet talking my date, seriously," Jackson yelled.

"The girls are at the back. I hope Jackson prepared you for what is going to follow. The girls at Uni are vicious with Jackson's dates."

"Thanks for the warning. I'll guess I'll be his cousin for tonight."

Sean thought it was hilarious. "Oh, I can't wait to see that first kiss."

I snorted my laugh, failing at suppressing it.

"You are the older chick, right?"

I turned my head to look at Sean. "How much did he tell you about me?"

"Oh, he couldn't shut up about you. If you are that chick."

Another warm and fuzzy explosion erupted inside my stomach. Stop it, Cass. It means nothing. Absolutely nothing. Tonight I was just going to enjoy the party for what it was.

Hoped you like this chapter. Let me know your thoughts in comments. What do you guys think about Mark? I love him to bits. He is such an interesting character to write about.