Emily

Baggage. Everyone has their own baggage and Lord knows I have mine. The kind that is extremely heavy and sits hidden, deep inside my cupboard. Its been four years since the curtains of my life have drawn, now I am miles away from my past, living in a different country, having another name and a completely changed persona.

I stand in front of the floor to ceiling windows, on the 17th floor of my office, looking outside at the heavy rain that sweeps over the streets of Chicago. My office is cold and dull and the weather outside, doesn't help my mood either. It is late November, I take a sip of my coffee, which has turned cold as well and think about him. Only Lord knows how much I miss him, his sweet laugh, his light blue eyes. My broken heart twists so much in my chest, that suddenly I found myself unable to breathe.

I try to snap myself out of my reverie, letting out a deep breath. I lift myself up on my toes and discard the high heels I was wearing for this morning's meeting. I step bare foot out on to the cold wooden floor and turn to sit in my office chair.

I export the CAD file with the alterations I had to do for the central stair case and compose an email for the client and the developer, then hit send. I close my computer and slide into my winter boots, I grab my coat and my umbrella and rush to my appointment at the hair salon. We have a dinner party with a prospective client and his business partners.

After my hair got done, I take a taxi and head to my apartment. I change in my dress, look around to see if everything is in order and then grab my suitcase, which I have already packed last night. I switch off the lights and activate the alarm. I pop my suitcase in the boot of my new Range Rover and then climb in the driving seat. After the dinner party, I wanted to go ahead and make the two hour drive to Eastwood, a small town in Indiana, where me and Tim Blair, our contracted surveyor, have an appointment with the developer, for the new shopping center.

At the party, I do my usual socialising, I shake some hands with colleagues in the industry, property lords and investors while broadcasting the whole two hours, my signature subtile smile. I only drink the quantity of one glass of Champagne, although I have picked a fresh one every fifteen minutes from the trays of the waiters swarming around the crowd. I have to drive later this evening, so I don't want to be tired or tipsy considering its a late night drive out state.

After saying my goodbyes to the people I was interested in seing at this event, I leave our guests in the hands of Lucy and Mike, my business partners and head outside of the venue, towards my car. The chilli air outside hits my face in full force, giving me a boost of energy, but also its making me shiver in my beige trench coat. I find my self suddenly very awake, but I know as soon as I set my tush on that comfy leather seat and switch the heating function on, I'll get too comfortable and sleepy. Especially since I plan on hitting the ONLY Christmas 24 radio station, as soon as I start that engine. So I make a note to stop at a Starbucks to grab a coffee, oh and also a sandwich, as I am now fully aware of my grumbling stomach.

It's only 19:48 and if the traffic is good on this Thursday evening I should be there not long after 22:00.

Luckily, the traffic was good and I have arrived in Eastwood unscathed and still full of energy from my Starbucks coffee. I am sitting in front of the reception desk of the only hotel in town and waiting for the receptionist to find my reservation. Trying to kill to awkward silence, I ask.

"What is the best place to have a late night drink around here?"

"There is only one bar open at this hour, but it is also the best one in town. It's just a few blocks from here, a converted barn called Gateway!"

"That sounds like it is just up my street! Thank you very much!" The receptionist hands me the key card of my room and I head upstairs.

I go upstairs in my room and set the suitcase on the floor. I pull my backpack off my shoulder and throw it in the armchair. The room is quiet and cold, my breath suddenly envelopes the air in the room, and I am thinking if I should remove my coat and my shoes, or just keep them on.

The radiators are warming up slowly, making a water sloshing noise, through the pipes. I am standing in my heels, wrapped up in my designer coat and looking in the mirror across the room. A cocky smile pulls up on my lips, I look damn fine to just be sitting here alone. Under my coat, this black slim line dress, falling just bellow my knees, is hugging my curves beautifully. The boat neck detail, hides my chest but at the back, reveals just enough skin to make you wonder. The opening at the front displays my gorgeously toned skin and the black heels, create the illusion of long, slim, interminable legs.

My hair is pulled in an elegant bun at the nape of my head and a few strands of blonde hair are framing my now perfect face. I was beautiful before, but after getting under the knife, now I look different. I look like a magazine cover girl, with a loaded bank card and impressive career. Few know how hollow I am on the inside though, a shell of what I used to be, a body moving forward with no identity, or past.

I reapply the red bright lipstick, that I had in my purse, then swiftly turn on my heels and close the door behind me. I make my way downtown to this bar called Gateway. The music could be heard from a block away and as soon as I get up close, a row of trucks are lined up in front.

I make my way in through the double doors and look around at the crowd. A mix of people are enjoying themselves on the loud music with drinks in their hands. The vibe is cool and relaxed. Laughter and the sound of pool balls hitting each other, mix with the country music, that burst through the speakers. The bar is long and styled in a modern countryside design and a hot bartender, shakes a drink mixer in his strong muscular arms.

My lips curve into a sexy smile, I spot an empty seat by the bar and I'm slowly approaching it, while I adopt a mysterious and seductive attitude. Planing my next move in my head, I gently lift myself up on to the bar stool.

My hazel eyes lock on to the bartender's body and wait with anticipation, for him to notice me. Only two seconds later, he lifts his eyes looking up straight at me and absorbs my entire body. His smile turns into a cocky grin and he gets closer.

"Evenin' beautiful, what can I get you?"

My eyes run all over his body, making him aware that I am definitely checking him up.

"Well I don't know... what do you think I should have?" I say, in a sleek seductive voice. His grin turns wider and lust starts to form into his eyes. He is wearing a pair of dark jeans and a tucked black shirt. The top three buttons are undone, revealing a little of his chest hair, with the sleeves rolled up his arms.

He lets out a soft chuckle and says "You look sweet like a strawberry... so what about a strawberry daiquiri then?"

I smile, blinking my long eyelashes slowly at him, parting my full red lips I say.

"That sounds perfect!" He pulls another satisfied grin on his lips and starts preparing my cocktail. I watch him closely until, he turns and leaves the bar, to get something.

Dean

I had just finished work, took a quick shower, changed and headed straight to my brothers bar for a relaxing evening. I park my truck in the same, reserved for staff, spot and make my way inside through the back door. The northern wind is blowing strong this evening, if the temperature continues to drop, we might get some snow later in the week. Wrapping my leather jacket closer to my body, I push the double metal doors of Gateway and make my way inside. Memories of when we were refurbishing this old barn, start flooding my brain. Heck! These very two cast iron doors, have proven to be quite the task back in those days, but we all have agreed that Gateway would not have looked the same without them.

I spot at a table in the far corner of the bar, a few of my team members, so I give them a quick nod and head straight towards the bar. I can already feel the glares of the women in the room burning through my skin. Some with anger, some with envy and others with lust. I might have been involved with some of them... those are definitely the ones that are giving me the angry stares and some that are off limits, married or too crazy to touch. They look so hungry, like they wanna eat me alive and then... there are the envy glares, the ones that they think they are too good for me. Heh! What do they know ah?! I chuckle under my breath and lift my head up, when suddenly my eyes catch a slim female figure, sitting with her back at me, on a stool by the bar.

She is wearing a backless black dress, that reveals her soft skin and hugs beautifully her curves. Her blonde hair is gathered low in a bun and I have this eagerness to get it undone and run my fingers through it. I notice my younger brother Jacob, giving her his signature wink and immediately think, this dirty bastard, is yet to change his ways.

I make my way through the crowd and slide next to her, setting my right arm on the bar. I run my eyes shamelessly all over her body, until the waitress comes and interrupts my thoughts.

"Hey Dean! Nice to see you could make it, shall I get you your usual?" Lili's soft voice rings in my ears, I turn around and look at her pretty face, my lips pull into a sexy smile, thinking about the intimate night we've spent together and nod in agreement. Lily, the youngest waitress in my brother's bar, steps away to prepare my drink and now I can plan my next move. An idea crosses my mind, so I jump into action.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" I turn to look at her and act surprised, like I haven't noticed her already. "Were you here before me? I can call her back, to serve you first!"

"I wasn't!" She gives me a clipped answer, without even looking at me. I think my farce has been discovered.

"Can I offer you a drink?" I ask hoping she won't refuse me.

"It has already been taken care of!" She rejects me sweetly turning her head towards me, her beautiful hazel eyes, priercing through mine. God this girl is so gorgeous. My heart hammers into my chest and I set my mind in taking her home tonight. She is looking up at me with a sparkle in her eyes, that I have never seen before. I breather her in her sweet strawberry scent, her beautiful round face with pouty, sexy red full lips and a tiny nose. My eyes drop down to her chest and although its fully covered by this velvety black fabric, her curves and long toned legs, makes me think, God has finally created perfection.

Fully aware that I am checking her up, her lips pull into an amazing smile that creates ripples through my body. Her attention is now diverted from me, when her drink is set on the counter and I suddenly find myself unable to breathe, like I had my oxygen mask, violently ripped off of my face.

"I don't believe I've seen you before, are you passing through town?" I ask, trying to create a conversation, while my eyes are carefully analysing her every movement. Her lips part slowly touching the rim of the martini glass, while she takes a sip of her drink. I suddenly find my self jealous over that martini glass and wishing my lips were parting hers, in a heated kiss. I gulp down the knot forming in my throat and inch my body closer to hers.

"I am here on business!" She replies, her gaze focused on the movement behind the bar. She suddenly turns her head, looking at me again.

"Are you coming here often?" She asks and my heart stops beating in my chest.

"Yes! My brother owns the bar!" I reply with a cocky smirk. "The guy in the black shirt is Jacob, the youngest sibling of our family!"

"Oh! that explains" She says quietly under her breath intending for me not to hear her.