As the warm water hits my face as I stand motionless in the shower, nothing is going through my mind.

No thoughts except that I'm tired and I want to go to sleep, just for two hours, I don't want to think about anything except for resting.

I lean my head back as my red hair falls off of my shoulder, hanging in the air freely. The hot water absorbs all the water as I have my back turned towards the shower head. Running the products through my hair, I can't seem to stop thinking about what Chopard was saying to me.

It seems he's getting brave with the way he thinks he gets to talk to me.

But at the same time, it's surprising in a way. No one, and I mean no one has ever said that they observe my behavior in a way.

I don't even do that.

Yeah sure, I can take the time out of my day and observe my feelings or emotions, but why would I? All that does is waste time and I can't afford to waste time.

That is only for people who don't have a clear goal in life and they only want clarify.

Come to think of it, I never actually sat down and evatate my emotions before, all my life. I have been hustling and working my ass off, I simply have the time then if I wanted to, why would I do that now?

I rinsed my hair free from the products as I turned off the shower. Stepping out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body, I wiped the stream off the mirror as I froze and stared into the reflection.

I don't even recognize myself for a quick second. My red hair has grown since the last time I saw it, there are major dark bags under my eyes, and my skin is paler than ever.

I look away as I think about my mom's reaction to my state, she would be so worried, she won't even comprend why I would put myself through all this.

Shaking my head, trying to put the thought of that out of my head. I can't focus on what other people are saying or thinking. I have a goal in mind, and once that goal is set and stone, I don't stop until I accomplish that.

                                            *
                       
As I finish with the essential products on my face and body, I put on my pajamas, consisting of a random shirt and shorts. I exit the bathroom, yawning and about to jump into the bed like a flying squirrel but stop in my tracks.

A body on my bed, my assigned sleeping bed. And that body belongs to Chopard, of course.

His back is turned towards me, his head is laying on one of the pillows as his feet aren't on the bed. In the silence in the room, I could hear light snoring or breathing, I don't know, I can't tell the difference.

Not with him.

I shake my head as I think about the absolute courage and the audacity to sleep in my bed, the bed that he gave up for a couch. Did he no longer want to sleep on the couch?

Well, whatever the case is, Chopard is going to sleep on the couch tonight, one way or another.

As I unconsciously close the bathroom door, not trying to slam it or make a big fuss about it, I carefully walk over to the other side of the bed, trying to see what to do to move this boy.

I'm shocked as I investigated that his phone is still in his hand as his backpack with important documents is tucked under him on the bed, about to fall off.

Now, I see what's going on.

He must have actually listened to me when I said that he needs to prepare for the meeting as well.

I sigh as I gently remove the backpack from under him, placing it on the floor. Grabbing his phone, setting it down on the bedside table for it to charge.

Staring down at him like a creep, I can truly see how tired he is, must be so exhausted that he just happened to pass out on the bed, not knowing where he is.

This is just one night, I thought to myself, trying to convince myself that it's fine that he can sleep in the comfy bed. Plus, it is kinda my fault.

There are many times where I didn't admit my fault, but in this moment, I was placing all the blame on me. Before that, I would just blame someone else, and people would believe it or go along with it.

I know that's bad, but I had important things to do other than admitting my rare fault.

But at this moment, yeah, I was totally at fault here. And a lot of things could happen, bad things. Consequences.

I should've booked the flight a day or two earlier, I could have double checked the hotel reservation, so we don't have to spend so much time downstairs with that hotel worker.

I should have done so much more to prevent this.

Now, it's almost five in the morning, and the meeting is in four hours, not giving Chopard enough time to sleep.

Besides, I'm pretty confident that this is the first time he has ever done this before.

So now I feel extra shitty about all of this.

I scoff at myself as I close those thoughts in my mind. There is no way that I'm actually feeling sorry for someone, especially when they knew what they were signing up for.

I shouldn't be feeling this way, not now, not ever. Some people don't even sleep at all because of their life or job.

Not everyone is going to take the easy way out of life, some people actually want to work hard and build a life that they can be proud of.

People who take the easy way out of life and expect people to feel bad for them and bare minimum effort they put in, thinking that their work is the hardest of them all.

I know Chopard didn't ask or tell me to feel bad about him sleeping for not even eight hours, but holy shit, I don't know, every time I think about him and his well being, it goes against my better judgment, clouds my thoughts with–

Actually thinking about others' feelings.

Disgusting and pitiful to say the least.

As I stop looking at Chopard, grabbing his backpack once again to place it on the nearby chair, so that neither of us will trip over it.

I went to my new assigned side of the bed, pulling back the covers, but barely pulled them as Chopard will be sleeping on top of them. His body mass, making it hard to do anything with the blankets and covers.

I pause, managing to make enough room for me so that I can carefully slide in the sheets. Pausing as I watch his body slowly move up and down as he peacefully breathes.

Am I really getting in the bed with my assistant? I thought to myself as I became indecisive with my choices.

Should I really sleep in the same bed as my employee or should I sleep somewhere else?

I massage my temple as it was already so late and I need to make a decision quickly.

I dropped the sheets as I quietly marched into the living room to check out the couch.

Standing from the back of the couch, it can only fit one person if someone were to sleep here, but it's long enough to lay comfortably.

Fuck no, I'm not doing that.

Why should I pay the price because someone can't even make it ten steps to the living room, besides did Chopard magically fall asleep there, and even pass out from exhaustion?

Or did he plan this, and layed on the bed, just so he won't have to sleep on the couch. Plus, he offered to sleep on the couch.

I shouldn't obsess over this, this arrangement is just one night anyway–I hope.

Going back in the room, I turned off the lamp as I climbed into the bed, trying to make my brain forget that there is a man next to me, taking up half of the damn bed. My assistant, who is resisting me from barely moving because he's laying on top of the covers.

I turn away from him, setting an alarm on my phone, the pain of waking up so early is making me want to die.

Setting my phone down, I closed my eyes as I tried my hardest to fall asleep quickly, if Chopard can do it, then I can too, just faster.

As I calmed down from the night I had, I slowly breathed in and out, trying to relax myself so that I won't have to think too much of it.

Just dream about the outcome of the meeting, Hailey, I thought to myself, dream that you got whatever you want and that you're taking over the world with your business and that everyone and their mothers know who you are and–

"Hailey?"

Why is a man talking?

I quickly opened my eyes as I thought I was dreaming that Chopard said my first name. I moved my eyes, not making out anything in the dark room.

Shaking my head, I thought–I really need to get some sleep. I closed my eyes once more, I was sure that I was gone crazy, then I heard him again.

"Hailey?" He said, even more urgent this time. Not dreaming, just a man with no duct tape on his mouth.

One bed trope indeed :)

-Summer Roe