<div style="text-align: justify;">Marie, unaware of the drama that was happening upstairs, was now in the linen chamber. Since she didn’t have any guests to take care of as of now, she was working there, folding and separating sheets and towels that had come in from the laundry room. They would need to be ironed later, but maybe someone else would take care of it. Or she would do it herself later. She didn’t really mind any of the work the hotel required, after all.<br/><br/>The woman was almost done with the bedsheets when she was called by the phone operator. “In a minute”, she replied in French. Folding one last sheet, she stepped up to the counter and picked up the phone. “Marie speaking”, she said in French, her voice kind and gentle as usual.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div><br/>The chamber maid who had brought the ice up to Diane made her best sorrowful expression. She seemed really disappointed about being unable to speak to the woman. <br/><br/>Keeping that expression, she patted Diane’s arm in a somewhat awkward way. After apparently picking her mind for words, she muttered a few words. “Bad man. Should not”, she commented, not bothering to indicate the man she was talking about. That was obvious, after all. It would be so much easier if that other man - the one who had asked for the ice - had been around. Her English really didn’t reach much more than a few scraps of words.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div><br/>“Agents”, Pierre sighed. “To be honest, I worry about that. I wonder about what an agent would have me do if I were to get a big contract for movies and all that. Theater is more forgiving in that regard”, the young man commented, without saying explicitly in what regard. <br/><br/>When Martin stood up, Pierre showed him a bright smile. “As you wish”, he replied. He seemed really happy to have a chance to hang out with Martin.<br/><br/>Leading the way to the elevator, Pierre kept casual talk while the two men walked, as he knew being discreet was a part of the game he was playing. <br/><br/>Once they were alone in the elevator, Pierre seemed to relax a little more. “Don’t worry”, he tried to reassure Martin. “I won’t do anything to get you in trouble. I just feel we could be good friends. We have things in common, after all”. He paused and added, as though to make clear that he didn’t plan on getting Martin in trouble. “The acting, and all”.<br/><br/>He would keep neutral conversation until they reached the room he was renting in the hotel. The young man was staying in the third floor, and his room was neat and filled with books all around. Most were about art or classical plays. “Make yourself comfortable”, he invited warmly. “Well… I feel a little… I’m not really sure about what to say. Why don’t you start by getting everything off your chest?”, Pierre suggested.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div><br/>The Lady couldn’t help but smile at Rich’s reply. He was such a dirty dog. He would have said anything just to please her, she was sure. And she decided to play it up a bit. It wasn’t as though he would have to make good on any promises, since he wouldn’t be going back to the United States. Not alive, at least. <br/><br/>“I have half a mind of going back home with you”, she whispered, nibbling on the man’s lower lip. “But I would probably want to do my own thing… and only meet up every now and then… that is… if you please me today”.<br/><br/>She was having so much fun teasing the man. Making promises about a future that wouldn’t happen. “But for now, let us focus on the present and have fun… shall we?”, the woman whispered.</div>