She made a right on Prospect Street and pulled up to her hotel on the right. Since it was so late she drove straight to the parking garage and found a parking spot close to the elevator being very conscious of her surroundings as she got out of the car retrieving both her briefcase and suitcase along with her purse.

She was tired as hell having spent two additional hours on the plane sitting on the runway waiting for a gate. Two hours she’d never get back when she really could have used the time to prep for her meeting.

“Welcome to La Valencia.”

“I’d like to check in please. The name is Madison Connelly.”

“Of course Ms. Connelly.” He typed into the computer. I see you’re staying with us for one night. If you just give me a credit card I will get you set up.”

She reached in her purse and pulled out her wallet, handing him a credit card. “Would you check to see if there is any availability for a massage around 8:00 am with Joan?”

“My apologies but Joan is on vacation and since it’s so late, there isn’t anyone in the spa to help me. I can set something up for you and let you know first thing in the morning regarding specifics if you’d like?”

“Excellent.” She picked up her keys and glanced at the room number. “Is this an ocean view with a balcolny?

“Yes ma’am, have a good night Ms. Connelly.”

“Thank you Brendan. You too.” And she wearily walked to the elevators pulling her bag behind her.

She was so tired she leaned against the wall of the elevator and closed her eyes until it stopped and slowly made her way to her room.

The first thing she did when she walked in was to open the door to the balcony. She loved the ocean so much that even though she couldn’t see it, the smell and the sound of it soothed her and she took a deep, cleansing breath and just stood there listening. Her mind whirling with the details in the proposal she’d wrote that was in her briefcase. The proposal she’d damn near memorized along with the answers to ever possible question that could be brought up regarding in the meeting. If she landed this contract, she’d be partner before the end of the year. Her employment contract was very specific regarding business development goals and this contract would put her exactly where she wanted to be financially.

She left the door open as she unpacked her bag. Took her suit out and hung it in the closet and put her toiletry bag in the bathroom. Turned on her laptop and got it set up wirelessly on the hotel’s system. Then…she sat on the bed and pulled out the proposal. She didn’t need to. She knew it backwards and forwards. This was it. This was what it all boiled down to. Put up or shut up.

She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. She crossed her legs and the proposal slipped off onto the floor. She raised up and reached over the bed to pick it up from the floor.

The time was 11:38 pm and she decided to wash the plane dirt off of her and go to sleep. She contemplated closing the balcony doors but didn’t since she was so far up and in a corner room. She showered, brushed her teeth and washed her face, deciding to sleep with her hair down since she was going to wear it straight for her meeting so she’d have to wash it after her massage.

The last thought as she drifted off to sleep was what time she should wake up. Her meeting wasn’t until 11:30 and it was ten minutes away from the hotel. She had enough time to have her massage, blow dry her hair straight, get dressed and be ready. She was ready.

It was 6:15 am when she awoke and stretched. Whomever says Frette sheets weren’t worth the cost had never slept on them she thought and she got dressed to go run thirty minutes along the beach picking up her express checkout receipt from the floor in front of the door on her way out.

At 9:00 am she’d had a 60 minute massage that was just okay. She felt good, but not as good as when Joan did it.

By 10:30 am she was dressed and smiling. Confident that the reflection in the mirror was that of a partner in her firm. Confident at what she knew to be sure. Confident enough to do what needed to be done. She put the proposal back in her briefcase and sat on the edge of the bed to put her diamond studs in her ear at 10:34 am. She dropped one of them and her eye immediately went to the carpet to see where it landed. It bounced right to the end of the bed and rolled under. She dropped to the carpet and felt around, lifted the bedskirt and jumped back scurrying backwards away from the bed. She jumped up…grabbed her cell phone and ran out of the room leaving behind her briefcase, her earring, her purse, her keys. She got out to the hallway, knees trembling and she fell to the floor and started screaming.

Shaking she dialed 911. Doors to rooms started opening. She kept saying over and over and over…OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD!

The 911 operator asked what was her emergency.

“THERE IS A WOMAN…A DEAD WOMAN UNDER THE BED IN MY HOTEL ROOM!” she screamed into the phone.

Then…the thought of sleeping in the room with a dead woman became too much for her and she slipped out of consciousness.

- See more at: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/author_monica_mingo/page/2/#sthash.1NtxonDa.dpuf