Chapter 2
The rest of the card read:
“This year, we finally get to take our honeymoon.”
I folded it in half and slipped it into my bag.
Daniel reached for my arm.
“They’re just flowers. If you want some, I’ll have the hotel send another bouquet.”
I stepped away from his hand and took my suitcase.
“I’ll find out for myself how my reservation was changed.”
He frowned.
“You’re really going to make a scene at the front desk?”
“Do I need your permission to ask about a room I paid for?”
Rachel stood beside the bed, pinching the cuff of her robe.
She didn’t offer to move again.
I walked out.
Only after the elevator doors closed did I loosen my grip on the suitcase handle.
A red line marked my palm.
My phone still showed the reservation.
Two guests.
At the front desk, the receptionist pulled up the booking and smiled.
“Is there a problem with your room in Building B, Nora?”
“I booked the honeymoon suite. Who requested the change?”
She glanced at her screen.
“Daniel, the other guest on your reservation. He asked to keep the suite and add a garden-view king room.”
Garden view.
He’d told me my room had an ocean view, too.
I placed the key card on the counter.
“When did he request that?”
“Two days ago.”
I looked up.
“Not today?”
She checked again and gave me the date and time.
Four seventeen that afternoon.
I opened my messages with Daniel.
At four twenty-six, he’d written:
“Don’t worry. She’ll have her own room. It won’t affect us. We’ll have dinner together when you get here.”
I stared at the message for a few seconds, then took a screenshot.
He’d already reassigned my room when he told me not to worry.
“What does the reservation say about who’s staying in the suite?”
The receptionist hesitated.
I slid my ID and booking confirmation across the counter.
“I made the reservation. I need to verify the changes.”
She checked the details.
“Daniel and Rachel are listed in the suite. You’re in Building B.”
Someone passed behind me with a suitcase.
I stepped aside slightly.
“And who’s paying for the extra room?”
“It’s on the original booking. The balance is due at checkout.”
I almost laughed.
They got my honeymoon suite.
I got an extra bill for being pushed out of it.
“Please print the original reservation, the time of the change, and the additional charges. And don’t allow any further charges to my account without my authorization.”
She nodded and called the manager over.
A few minutes later, he handed me the itemized records. He explained that the additional room charge hadn’t been collected yet and that he could contact Daniel to arrange separate payment.
I gave him my email address and asked for written confirmation once it was resolved.
My phone vibrated on the counter.
Daniel.
“Rachel thinks you were trying to kick her out. She’s already upset.”
Another message followed.
“If you don’t like your room, we can change it. Don’t ruin the trip for everyone.”
I photographed the reservation change and sent it to him.
“You arranged this two days ago.”
The typing indicator appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
Finally, his reply arrived.
“The suite has a terrace. She’ll be more comfortable there. You only need your room to sleep in. What difference does it make?”
I gathered the papers.
I wasn’t going to keep arguing by text.
“Seven tonight. The restaurant we booked. I want to talk to you alone. Just the two of us.”
After a while, he agreed.
I asked the manager to confirm our anniversary dinner reservation.
He moved to the next screen and paused.
“Nora, there’s a change to the restaurant reservation, too.”
I looked at him.
He turned the screen toward me.
Our dinner for two had become a table for three.