Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

"We're here," he excitingly says. I look around. I open the window and lavish my eyes with these colorful lively town in front of me. It only took him less than an hour to get here. Then I gaze back to D and says,

"I can't believe I'm in Germany right now," my eyes still shimmer as they reflect these colorful Christmas lights and neon signs from across town.

"The beauty of Europe, that is. Willkommen im Paradies meine Dame," he starts speaking in Germany. So I was right. He is half-German after all. He continues driving at the cozy narrow streets filled with houses, establishments, people eating al fresco, and young people partying on the streets. My heart trembles at excitement. My feet slightly stamp inside the car as I giggle.

D probably notices my reaction so he initiates on our itinerary, "How would you care for a walk here later?"

I quickly nod at his invitation. I won't say no for a million reasons. He laughs at me, then suggests another thing, "But first, let's eat because I'm famished."

He slowly drives in Ludwigstrasse- a pedestrian street and weakly honks whenever drunk and wasted people try to cross without looking. I am still in awe about how a narrow street like this can be beautiful and cozy. At the end of the street, he makes a turn, and a single road appears on the rightmost part, there's a sign in German but I couldn't read it. The road is narrow and it is quite long and a little bit isolated part of town. But as you pass by the second right curve, a huge European manor will be seen from a distance.

Elegance and sophistication are the words that best describe this three-story manor. I wonder who owns that place. It would be great if I featured it as a scenic destination here in Germany. D makes another turn and another turn, and now I can clearly see that this road only leads to one place, the manor.

"Are we going there?", I state the obvious. What a nutshell I am.

"Yup," D only focuses his eyes on the road.

A few minutes later, we've arrived in front of an old arch with carved letters on it, 'Herrenhaus Sullivan'. D drives past it. A little round fountain reveals in front of my eyes with a statue of an eagle spreading its wings. As we come nearer I notice the heavy structure of this manor. He continues driving across from the fountain, and there, the grand main door appears.

As the car makes its full stop, people who I believe are servants wearing their chic uniforms form two parallel lines in the middle of the main door. What great service this hotel has, I thought, assuming this manor is like an old-style high-end hotel.

Then a valet boy and someone who looks superior to the others open D and mine's car door, simultaneously. D, without any hesitation, gets off his Bugatti, tosses his key, and taps the valet boy's back. The valet boy widely smiles. As I am watching D's natural charisma, a hand extends and reaches to me, "Guten Abend, junge Dame," he speaks to me, probably in German. I smile awkwardly since I can't understand a thing. Then D comes to my rescue and informs the man of my lack of knowledge, "He doesn't speak German, Hoffman."

Then, the man he called Hoffman bows to me and politely says with his husky old voice, "My apologies, young lady."

I laugh upon hearing the word young that brings temporary silence, "Oh, Mr. Hoffman, I am not young, I am thirty-three years old."

D looks at me sternly, so does Hoffman, so do the servants. So I thought maybe I did something wrong, like not stating a woman's age. But then Hoffman yet again throws a jest, "Oh, I thought you are only twenty-five. My apologies, my lady. You and the young master are almost of the same age," he scoffs and looks at D.

Young master, he said? Here I thought he's just a regular customer here. A while ago, he's just a rich man with a Bugatti, now he's super-duper rich.

D walks towards me and puts his hand on my shoulder, "Hoffman, this young lady here is already famished from our ride, an introduction follows later," again with his way with words emphasizing the word young and famished.

Hoffman, then, instructs all the servants while D and I finally feel the warmth inside this palace-inspired grand entrance, twin-twisted staircases that meet in the middle, and a huge chandelier. This manor seems quite old from the outside, but they preserve it well, the history, the smell, the structure, everything will bring you back to the past, and yet, they make it so stunning that will make you fall in love with it in just a second.

"So how do you like my humble home?", D jests again while observing me from the overview of the second floor, "Come quick, I'll show you something," he calls to me.

I excitedly run like Cinderalla to the staircase. The only difference is that I am running towards the party and not running away from it. I don't even understand myself right now.

I know nothing about this man, D, and yet, not only did I ride his Bugatti, but I even let him bring me here.

My own thoughts appeal to me, "But he is so trustworthy, and charming, and alluring."

I follow D's movement with my eyes, double my pace to keep up with his long strides. After struggling to the staircases while wearing these heels, I pant and rant to him, "I love everything here but the stairs." He laughs at my jokes and patiently waits for me before he opens the door.

A big king bed, literally for the kings, fills my eyes. With hangover probably from the first-night-sex, I speak unthinkingly,

"Is this where we're going to have sex? I would definitely say yes to that."

____________________

Willkommen im Paradies meine Dame - Welcome to paradise, my lady.

Herrenhaus Sullivan - Manor Sullivan

Guten Abend, junge Dame - Good evening, young lady