Love Dilemma, Hollywood Style

Los Angeles

Late the next day, the morning Midwest Coach bus bound from Maryland, Nebraska, arrived at the LA Avenue Bus Station. Among the passengers who were deboarding the coach bus was eighteen-year-old Chastity.

Chastity retrieved her old, worn out suitcase, left the bus station and walked out to the sidewalk that ran along LA Avenue. There, she stepped onto the sidewalk and walked along the sidewalk to the city bus stop near the intersection of LA Avenue and LA Circle. There, Chastity stopped, put her suitcase down on the sidewalk and rested up a bit.

As she stood there, Chastity could not help but notice the handsome businessmen walking by the bus stop as they headed to and from a nearby office building. While most of the businessmen ignored Chastity and continued on their way, one businessman stopped a short distance in front of her, looked Chastity up and down, frowned at the site of her old, worn out suitcase but smiled and winked at Chastity herself.

Chastity smiled and winked back at the businessman as the businessman walked on. As he did, Chastity found herself admiringly watching the giant of a man with dark hair as he walked down the sidewalk to the same nearby office building as the other businessmen had entered.

The businessman sensed he was being watched and looked to see the newcomer watching him. He smiled and winked at her one more time and then, he disappeared into the office building.

Soon as the door was closed, Chastity turned her attention to the street and looked up and down the street.

Minutes later, Chastity saw a hotel nearby. As she picked up her suitcase and walked down the sidewalk towards the hotel.

Chastity soon arrived at the intersection of LA Avenue and LA Circle, stopped for the signal and continued onto the LA Avenue Inn & Suites. Chastity soon passed the hotel parking lot entrance and entered the hotel lobby. Although the lobby was somewhat elegant, Chastity was too tired to notice.

Chastity approached the front desk.

“May I help you, Miss?” The elderly male Clerk inquired.

“Do you have any rooms?” Chastity asked.

The Clerk noticed the young woman’s old worn out suitcase and frowned. Although he wanted to tell her no, the Clerk whose name was Alvin Marshall remembered another young woman who years ago had entered the hotel with an old worn out suitcase of her own and who actually was at first turned away.  That woman was his wife Rebecca Shane Marshall.

“Yes, we do have a room.” The Clerk finally answered.

“How much is it?” Chastity asked.

“A hundred and twenty nine dollars.”

“How much will it be for two nights?”

“Two hundred and fifty eight dollars. Plus an extra hundred which will be returned if there is no damage to the room.”

It’s gonna cut me down, but I’m too damn tired to go anywhere else, Chastity told herself.

“Altogether, you’re gonna need three hundred and fifty eight dollars?” Chastity asked.

“Correct.” The Clerk answered.

“Do you accept cash?”

The look on the Clerk’s face clearly told her no.

“I only have cash, so I guess I’ll have to find another hotel.” Chastity said. “Thanks.”

Chastity picked up her suitcase and started to leave.

“Wait a minute, Miss.” The Clerk spoke up, noticing the young woman was losing her balance clearly telling him there was no way she was gonna make it to another hotel.

Chastity stopped and turned back around. The Clerk motioned her back to the front desk. Chastity returned to the front desk.

“Listen, I can see how tired you are, so I’ll tell you what. Just pay me for the room in cash and I’ll take care of the rest.” The Clerk offered.

“What’s the catch?”

“No catch.”

Chastity set her suitcase, retrieved the two hundred and fifty eight dollars out of her purse and handed it to the Clerk. The Clerk put the money into the cash drawer and handed her an identity card and a pen.

Chastity flicked the pen, filled out the identity card and handed the pen and the identity card back to the Clerk.

The Clerk handed her the key card to her room.

“It’s room three-nineteen.”

“Okay. Thanks, Mister.”

The Clerk nodded.

Chastity picked up her suitcase and walked to the elevator.

There, she entered the elevator and pressed the Three button. The elevator ascended up to the third floor and stopped. Chastity exited the elevator and walked along it to room three-nineteen.

Upon arrival, Chastity unlocked the door, opened the door, turned on the light and entered the hotel room. She closed the door behind her and heard it lock itself.

Chastity walked to one of the queen sized beds, put her suitcase on the floor and laid down on the bed.

Minutes later, Chastity was sound asleep.

…

Early the next morning, Chastity woke to the feel of the hot morning sun shining in through the large balcony window onto her bare arms.

Chastity sat up on the bed, retrieved her suitcase and as she set it on the bed, she saw people walking back and forth outside the balcony window. She got up and walked to the window, closed the curtains and returned to the bed.

Back at the bed, Chastity opened her suitcase, took out a change of clothes … Fresh under garments, a fresh top and a fresh pair of jeans. Chastity picked up her clothes and went into the bathroom. Chastity took off her dirty clothes and threw them in the trash; and then took a long warm shower and dried herself off.

With a large bath towel wrapped around herself, she went back out into the bedroom and returned to the bed. At the bed, Chastity took off the bath towel and put on the fresh clothes.

Chastity had just sat down on the bed when she heard someone at the door. She got up and crossed to the door. Chastity opened the door and found a small see through bag hanging on the door lock. She retrieved the bag, closed the door and returned to the bed.

Chastity sat down on the bed, opened the small see through bag and removed its contents along with a brief note that read: Compliments of Room Service.

The bag contents consisted of a cinnamon bun, a nutrition bar and a small box of orange juice.

“Wow! That’s a whole lot.” Chastity said. “A person can starve if they have to go all day without food.”

Chastity picked up her purse and set it on the bed. She retrieved her wallet and checked to see how much money she had left. She counted her money and discovered she still had a good five hundred and something left.

Chastity put her wallet in her bra and closed her purse. She took a good long look at her old worn out suitcase and realized she needed to replace it and fast.

She opened the cinnamon bun and ate it. Chastity opened the orange juice and downed it. Chastity put the nutrition bar on the lamp stand.

Chastity got up from the bed, picked up her purse, pulled the strap onto her shoulder, picked up the room card and stuck it in her purse. She went to the door, opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. Chastity closed the door and walked to the elevator.

At the elevator, Chastity pressed the L button and waited for the elevator to arrive. It soon arrived and opened. A middle-aged couple emerged from the elevator and walked off along the corridor while she entered the elevator. Inside, the door closed & the elevator descended to the lobby. The elevator arrived at the lobby and stopped. Its door soon opened and Chastity exited the elevator.

Chastity passed through the hotel lobby and left the hotel.

Out on the sidewalk, Chastity knew what she had to do first and that was to get a new suitcase.

During the next hour or so, Chastity searched the local shops for a reasonably priced suitcase. It took a while and checking a few shops, Chastity found a decent looking suitcase and purchased it.

Out on the sidewalk, Chastity returned to the LA Avenue Inn and entered the hotel lobby.

Chastity passed through the lobby, smiled and waved at the young lady Clerk to the elevator. She pressed the THREE button & waited for the elevator. The elevator soon arrived and the door opened. Chastity entered the elevator, the door closed and the elevator ascended up to the third floor.

There, the elevator stopped and the door opened. Chastity exited the elevator into the third floor corridor and strolled through the corridor to her hotel room.

Chastity arrived at her hotel room, stopped, unlocked the door and entered her hotel room. She closed the door behind her and walked to the bed. Chastity put her new suitcase on the bed and sat down on the bed.

During the next few minutes, Chastity switched suitcases. Then took the old worn out suitcase and sat it down next to the trash can wide opened. She returned to the bed.

At the bed, Chastity retrieved the TV remote control, laid down in the bed and flicked through the TV channels.

Minutes later, Chastity found one of her favorite drama movies and watched the movie.

Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on the door.

Chastity put the TV on mute, got up from the bed and walked to the door.

There was another knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Chastity asked.

“Housekeeping.” A woman’s voice answered in a Spanish accent.

Chastity opened the door and allowed the Mexican housekeeper in.

“Thanks,” the Housekeeper smiled.

Chastity nodded and returned to the bed. She curled up on the bed, picked up the TV remote and released the mute.

The Housekeeper cleaned the room.

Chastity watched TV.

The Housekeeper changed the linens on one bed and then switched beds with Chastity so she could change the linens on the bed Chastity had been sleeping in.

Done, the Housekeeper went into the bathroom and cleaned it.

“Excuse me, Miss,” the Housekeeper said, emerging from the bathroom with Chastity’s clothes in her hand. “But are these your clothes?”

“Yes they are.” Chastity said, looking her way.

“Don’t you want them?” The Housekeeper asked.

“I do, but I have no way of washing them.” Chastity said.

“I can wash them for you.” The Housekeeper offered.

“Wouldn’t you get in trouble?”

“Not if I do it at home.”

“How much would it cost me?”

“Nothing.”

“In that case, help yourself, Miss.”

“Lupe.”

“Lupe.”

“Just out of curiosity, what is your name, Miss?”

“Chastity Hall.”

“Chastity. That’s a pretty name. I like that.” Lupe smiled. “I’ll bring them back tomorrow.”

“That might be a problem.” Chastity said.

“Why’s that?”

“I’ll be checking out tomorrow.”

“Why? You’re paid up for a week.”

“What? Can’t be. I only paid for two nights.” Chastity confessed.

“Well then, apparently somebody else has paid for your room.” Lupe answered. “I heard you’re gonna be with us for a whole week.”

“Who told you that?”

“Rebecca.”

“Who’s Rebecca?”

“The day Clerk.”

“Is she still here?”

“Yes, but not for much longer. She leaves around three in the afternoon. Then her husband Harold takes over for her as the night clerk.” Lupe said.

“Thanks for telling me, Lupe.” Chastity smiled.

“You’re welcome, Chastity.” Lupe smiled.

“How much more cleaning do you have to do?”

“I’m done.”

Lupe headed for the door. Briefly, she stopped at the trash can.

“Are you throwing away this suitcase?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll take it out to the trash.”

Lupe picked up the old worn out suitcase and left Chastity’s room.

Chastity got up, picked up her purse and walked to the corridor door. She left her hotel room and walked to the elevator.

At the elevator, Chastity pressed the L button and waited for the elevator. It soon arrived and the door opened. Chastity entered the elevator and the elevator door closed. The elevator descended to the lobby and stopped.

Chastity emerged from the elevator into the lobby and crossed to the counter. She tapped the bell.

Minutes later, Rebecca Marshall emerged from the office and approached the counter.

“Yes?” Rebecca asked.

“I’ve just been informed that someone other than me has paid for me to stay here a whole week.” Chastity said. “Is this true?”

“Your name is?”

“Chastity Hall.”

“Why yes I believe that someone did pay for your stay here.”

“Could you tell me who it was?”

“Sorry, Miss Hall, I’m not at liberty to give out that information.”

“Why not?”

“Because the gentleman asked to remain anonymous.”

“A man, huh?”

“Yep.”

“Was he a businessman?”

“He had on a business suit yes.”

“But he wouldn’t give his name?”

“No. He would not.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Chastity started to walk away.

“One more thing.” Rebecca spoke up.

“What?” Chastity asked, stopping.

“A man left you this message.” Rebecca said, holding up a folded note.

“What’s that?”

“I don’t know. He just said to give this to you when I see you.”

Chastity returned to the counter and took the note from Rebecca’s hand. She unfolded the note. It read: Beautiful Newcomer, meet me at Jacqueline’s Café near the intersection of LA Avenue and LA Boulevard about six o’clock tonight. Fondly, a Friend.

“Is this the same man who paid for my room?”

“No, it is not.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Rebecca nodded.

Chastity refolded the note and stuck it in her blue jeans’ pocket and returned to the elevator.

At the elevator, Chastity pressed the THREE button and waited for the elevator. It soon arrived and the door opened. A young couple exited the elevator into the lobby. Chastity entered the elevator and the door closed. The elevator ascended up to the third floor and soon stopped. The elevator door opened and Chastity exited the elevator into the corridor.

Chastity walked to her hotel room. There, she stopped, unlocked the door and entered the hotel room.  Chastity closed the door and returned to the bed on which she had been sleeping.

She laid down on the bed, retrieved the note, put it on the lamp stand and watched the rest of the drama movie she had been watching.

Although she was curious as to whom the man was who paid for her stay there, Chastity was even more curious as to who the man was who had left her the note and the dinner invitation that evening.

Minutes later, Chastity shrugged it off and watched the rest of the movie. While watching the movie, Chastity fell asleep.

***

At a little past five p.m. that same afternoon, Chastity woke up and sat up on the bed.

Chastity retrieved the note from off the lamp stand, unfolded the note and read it again. Then she put the note back onto the lamp stand, picked up her suitcase, opened it, found the only dress she was able to bring with her that was halfway decent to wear I’m public, retrieved it, got up and changed into the dress. The dress was a blue velvet gown with a red silk belt with off the shoulder sleeves. Chastity got her hairbrush and brushed her long, straight as a board blonde hair and fixed it back out of her eyes.

She checked her wristwatch and saw the time: 5:27 p.m.

Chastity got to her feet, flicked off the TV, left the TV remote on the bed, got up from the bed and walked to the corridor door. She stepped out into the corridor and closed the door.

She walked to the elevator, pressed the L button and waited for the elevator.

The elevator soon arrived, stopped and opened. Chastity entered the elevator and the door closed. The elevator descended to the lobby, stopped and the door opened.

Chastity exited into the lobby and left the hotel.

Outside, Chastity headed for Jacqueline’s Café.