Commitment Issues

Chapter 1

As the plane landed in Denver, relief came over Mona. She made it, but it is still very much in question what her plan would be. She didn't want to stay long in Denver, and she still had her apartment and John back in New York City, but she needed to get away for a bit and find herself. Mona gathered her things, ready to exit the plane as it came to a complete stop. While leaving the plane, she took a look around the airport to see her new home for a few weeks. The dry heat hit her like a ton of bricks when she left the cold airport.

"This is why I left Denver the first time," she said to herself.

"Excuse me, sir, do you know where I can rent a car?" she turned to the older man helping her with her luggage.

"Yes, if you go to the information counter, they can help you get a rental and a hotel if needed."

He looked like he was in his late fifties with a head full of white hair and a crisp outfit as he pointed in the direction of the information counter.

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I think I can handle my baggage from here," she said and handed him a twenty-dollar tip.

As Mona gathered her things, she headed towards the information counter. The women at the information counter were amiable. They even discounted her rental and hotel because she too was from Brooklyn, New York. She grabbed her bags and loaded them into her 2017 Kia Sportage. After entering the hotel information into the navigation system, she reached for her cell phone to text her boyfriend back home and let him know that she made it to Denver safely and was headed to the hotel. Waiting for a reply, she set up her iPod and tuned to Pandora before pulling off to the smooth sounds of Sade, which softly came through her speakers.

"Right on time," she said to herself before pulling off onto I-225.

As she got on to the highway during the day, the traffic was always heavy, leaving the airport.

"What did I expect; it is 5 pm," she said, hitting the dashboard. "I should have gone local," she shook her head in frustration!

As the air conditioner blasts its cold air, she turned up the radio and let Sade take her mind off of the million things she has to do to get settled in. She slowly started to drift into Sade, Is It A Crime lyrics.

Her phone tone went off, taking her out of her Sade element. It's a text message from John. She forgot that she let him know that she had arrived safely. She was already in her own world.

I am glad to hear that you made it safely. Are you going to call me when you get settled into a hotel?

She read the text message rolling her eyes. She knows that her man is just insecure and thinks she is coming out here to have fun with other men. She replied back anyway. She knows that John is the type of guy that could buy a plane ticket and show up at her hotel room.

Soon as I get settled in, I will give you a call. I am currently in traffic right now.

As Mona arrived at the DoubleTree Hotel, she went to the counter to check-in to her room. She stood behind a tall, chocolate muscular man with dreads.

"Mhm," she said to herself, "I see the men in Denver are well kept. This could get me in trouble," she said, thinking to herself while looking him up and down.

He gave her eye contact, and she smiled at him with a little wink.

"Maybe what I need is a little trouble," she smirked.

She grabbed her bags, the reservationist called, her next in line. She could not take her eyes off the gorgeous sight in front of her.

"I would like a suite, please. I will be here for about a month. What are your hotel amenities?" asking while glancing over to look at the chocolate brother beside her.

"Sure! We have suites available on our twelfth floor. Our laundry rooms are on every floor. There are dining rooms on the main floors, which open at 6 am for breakfast. The last meal is served at 10 pm. There are vending machines with ice machines located on every floor. The fitness room, swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna are on the main floor behind me. Housekeeping comes every day at around 11 am. We are here to help with anything you need 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. I hope this helps you with your stay here at the DoubleTree. We want you to have the best experience and welcome to Denver, Colorado," the reservationist smiled and handed Mona her key.

"Thank you," Mona said.

"Do you need assistance with your bags?" the muscular man looked down at her.

Standing 5'3" and 110 pounds, black and Puerto Rican, her petite size to his muscular build turned her on just by looking at him. He was 6'2" with an athletic build and chocolate skin complexion channeling Morris Chestnut.

"If you wouldn't mind, but I do see you have quite a bit of baggage yourself," she said while looking over the side of him at all his Louis Vuitton luggage.

"No worries, I can handle it," he replied confidently.

"Well, what is your name? I don't want some random person who I don't know taking my bags, and I don't even know their name?" she said sarcastically.

"My name is Ryan," he kissed her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, beautiful lady," he said and winked.

"My name is Mona, Ryan, and it is a pleasure to meet you as well," she said, smiling shyly. They then headed to the elevator together.

"I am on the twelfth floor, Ryan," she told him as they climbed into the elevator.

"I am on the tenth floor," Ryan responded with a sly look on his face.

"It would be a pleasure to take you out to dinner. How about 9:00 pm if you aren't too tired from your travels?" trying to ask politely.

"Sure, I am starving. That is enough time for me to get ready," replying with a smile.

The elevator reached the twelfth floor, and they both got off, walking to suite 1205. Ryan helped bring her bags in, looking around at the room and surprised how such a young woman could afford this. He started to get curious about what she did for work.

"So where are you from?" he asked as he stood at the door, looking around curiously.

"I am from Denver, but I am currently living in New York City. What about yourself?" she said as she turned on the lights, moving her bags around.

"Miami," he said.

"Oh, nice. I spent a couple of years in the Orlando area. You're welcome to come in if you like."

"No, thank you. I better let you get ready, and we can talk more when you meet me at dinner," smiling.

"Sounds good," she smiled, walking towards the door.

"I will see you in a couple of hours."

"See you later, love," she smiled, closing the door behind him.

Glad that he didn't want to sit down, feeling exasperated and exhausted from her long excursion. All she could think about is a nice bubble bath with a glass of wine and the smooth sounds of Floetry coming from her iPod. Getting her bubble bath ready and her glass of wine. She made sure to call John back because he would be text soon enough, and with her dinner date, she didn't want any interruptions.

She picked up the phone and dialed his number, waiting for him to pick up. Praying in between rings, she would get his voicemail just as she got done with the thought.

"Hello," John answered.

"Hey," Mona responded.

"I am glad you made it safely. What hotel are your staying in?" inquiring with a slick tone.

Wow! I was not even on the phone for ten minutes, and he is already interrogating me about my whereabouts. I am so glad that I could get away from his insecure ass. And he wants me to marry him. Ha! Not until he can stop his inspector gadget attitude.

"I am at the DoubleTree. Room 1205," she replied, annoyed.

"Why do you sound annoyed?" he asked, concerned.

"I just spent four hours on a plane and an hour and a half in the car in traffic in one-hundred-degree weather. So yes, I am a little annoyed," she responded dryly.

"What are your plans for tonight?" he asked, completely ignoring her response.

"I am going to take a bubble bath and then head down to the dining room to get something to eat. I had not eaten since this morning when you dropped me off at the airport," she stated, leaving out the part where she would have company. She already knows this will lead to a long list of insecure questions about who will be there and what time she will be back in the room so he can call her, but she just cut him off before he could even start.

"Oh," he said, lost for words.

"Yeah, but I will call you first thing in the morning. I have to let my aunt know that I am here. I really would like to get in the bath, so you have a goodnight." Before he could respond, she ended the conversation.

"No problem," he said, trying to sound calm, "I will just talk to you in the morning, love. "Have a goodnight."

Thank God I could get him off the phone so quickly, she thought. The bath was ready as Mona just had to finish lighting the last of the candles. She poured herself a glass of red wine removing her clothes, and getting into the lukewarm water. Through the Beats speakers, you could hear the Smooth sounds of Floetry, It's Getting Late, coming from the room as Mona drifted into a world of tranquility. The cold silk wine quenching her thirst and the candles bouncing her silhouette off the walls. This is just what she needed right now before a night out with her Morris Chestnut look-a-like. She smiled, thinking about Ryan. She knows that going out with him will be wrong because of John. However, Mona didn't care; she needed to get her feet wet, get in a little trouble. Why not do it with a man that she won't see again? Looking over at the clock, it read 8:15 pm—time to stop playing around and get ready. Letting the water drain, she hopped into the shower wetting her straight hair.

"I am going to go curly tonight," she thought to herself.

Getting out of the shower, she walked over to her luggage, trying to figure out what she would wear to her dinner date. She saw her all-black cotton sleeveless V-neck ruched bubble hem cocktail dress. "This will be perfect with my black Alexander McQueen heels," Mona said, grabbing her luggage full of just designer shoes. "Perfect!" she exclaimed, smiling as she ran to the bathroom to put on make-up and spray on Rihanna's fragrance. She looked at the clock to make sure she was still on time. It read at 8:42 pm. "Shit!" she exclaimed.

Mona hated to be late anywhere. She was always on time. She slipped into her dress and put on her heels, taking one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs.

"He'll be taking this off of me tonight; I am sure," she said, smiling to herself in the mirror.

She headed down to the elevator, making her way to the first floor.

The host approached her.

"Are you dining alone?" he asked politely.

"No. Table for two on the patio, please."

"Follow me," the host responded, walking her towards the patio.

This place is gorgeous, she thought to herself.

She looked down at her gold Michael Kors watch to check the time; it was 9:00 pm. She waited for him before ordering drinks. As the waiter walked away, she saw Ryan walk into the restaurant in his Versace suit with his Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. She knew that line from somewhere. Mona is a successful fashion writer for all different magazines ranging from Vogue to Jet Magazine. Mona is always in the front row at New York City's fashion week and Paris fashion week. That was her weakness: Fashion. And seeing Ryan as a well-dressed man turned her on even more.

"How nice of you to make it," she said with a smirk pointing down at her watch.

"You know I am meeting a beautiful woman, so I had to look my best for her," he responded, apologetic.

"You do look very handsome, I must say," she said, smiling as he kissed her on the cheek.

"You look quite stunning yourself, beautiful."

"Thank you."

"Drinks," he asked while getting the waiter's attention.

"Sure, I was waiting on you before I ordered anything," she said, a look of amazement at how manly he was even with other people on her face. It was like he was the authority and everyone worked for him.

"The lovely lady will take some of your best champagne. You can bring us a bottle, and I will have a gin tonic. And please bring water for us as well while we look at the menu," he told the waiter.

The waiter bowed and nodded before leaving.

"You sure know how to give orders. What is it that you do?" asked curiously, a little intrigued by forwardness.

"It's funny that you brought that up because I had the same curiosity about what it is a young lady with such wealth does," he smirked. "But to answer your question, I am the CEO of a record company."

"Very nice. And I am only 30 years old, but I write for a couple of fashion magazines. I have written a couple of books myself as well. My a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication from Temple University. What about yourself? Tell me a little bit of your background as a CEO of a record company?"

"Impressive. I went to the University of Miami and received a degree in Business Management with a minor in International Business," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

They stared at each other for a moment, thinking the same thing — that they couldn't wait to rip each other's clothes off when they got back upstairs. Turning their attention back to the menu, Mona knew what she wanted — the Lemon Thyme Swordfish with Asparagus.

"So, what are you having?" Mona said, changing the conversation.

"Think I will have Crab-Stuffed Filet Mignon with Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce and the Caesar Salad. What about yourself?" Ryan asked.

"I will have the Lemon Thyme Swordfish with Asparagus," Mona responded.

"You have good taste in food and great taste in Fashion. So my question to you is: are you single?" Ryan asked with a smirk on his face.

"It's complicated," she said, avoiding eye contact with Ryan.

"Really? So how would you," he holds up his hands, making the symbol "complication" feel if he knew you were on a date with me?" he asked suspiciously.

"My complication does not need to know," Mona replied sarcastically.

"Mhm. Sounds good," Ryan replied with a devilish smile on his face.

"What about yourself, Mr. Ryan? Are you single?"

"Yes. Actually, I am single. I just recently got out of a four-year relationship. That resulted in cheating on me with one of my clients. So I am new to the whole dating scene."

The waiter interrupted before Mona could respond. It was perfect timing because Mona didn't want to touch such a challenging subject with Ryan tonight. Her thoughts were only on getting this man upstairs, having fun with him, and sending him his way. She was already in a relationship; she didn't want to catch feelings for this man before it'd turn into something else. She already feels bad for going on a date behind her boyfriend's back. With him, there is no need to make things worse.

Mona drifted away in her own thoughts; she looked up to see that Ryan already had ordered for her, and the waiter was walking away.

"You're all right over there?" Ryan asked, concerned.

"Yes. Sorry, mind on a million," Mona responds with a shaky voice. "But I am back now." Bringing herself back to the table's attention, she was so focused on John and what he would do if he knew she was on a date. Ryan could tell that she was uncomfortable, but he tried to brush it off. He could still feel the physical attraction that they both shared.

Her phone vibrated as a text from John came in. She knew that if he called the room and she wasn't there, he would text or call her cell phone.

See, you aren't answering the phone in your room. Might have fallen asleep on me. Call me in the AM. Love you.

To Be Continue...