Charlotte walked into one of the local bars; the cab driver said this was the most low-key bar in the city, so it was a good place to have fun without drawing attention, just the perfect spot for her. She noticed the young manly handsome bartender at the counter who smiled at her the moment she stepped in and she most certainly lost her breath.

She was frozen at the spot for a few seconds, her breath taken by his sparkling white teeth, his one sided dimple which she found oddly attractive and his Finnish black hair. She slowly took a seat with her eyes locked on him; Tiana was right, Rovaniemi had really sexy bartenders and men in general.

She wasn’t that kind of girl but she wouldn’t mind taking Olivia’s advice tonight, this charming bartender seemed to be prospective, she will keep an eye on him as the night progresses.

Charlotte tapped her neatly trimmed and polished fingers on the table, she had gone for manicure the very day her life fell apart. Well, she wanted to look good for Josh, but it didn't exactly go as planned. She even painted his favorite colors, she wasn’t a big fan of the lemon as she found it odd, but since it was his favorite color, she had it on her fingers.

Less than two minutes after Charlotte slipped into the chair, crossing her legs in the most feminine position with a beautiful smile. Her pouted pretty lips stuck out admirably and her gorgeous cat eyes looked adorable. The handsome waiter walked to her, Charlotte found the apron tied around his waist attractive and she wondered what he would look like without shirts.

He would definitely have a chiseled body that could make any lady wet, his large eyebrows were perfect and the way he smiled would melt any heart. Maybe this was her just trying to picture any other guy but Josh as perfect, perhaps as a strategy to make herself feel better, she was trying to prove to herself that there were guys better than her ex. But even then, she was still thinking of him in comparison.

“I didn’t know an angel would be visiting the village of Santa Claus this year, what brings you down from the heavens, my lady?” he spoke with such class and esteem.

Charlotte blushed. “I am looking for something hot and strong, something to pass the night with, preferably with a happy ending, you know, leave me in ecstasy.” she replied and winked at him, she regretted the winking part the next moment.

Okay, maybe she wasn’t as good at this as she thought she was, she didn’t even have good pickup lines. Perhaps that is why her man left her.

“Alright, something hot and strong coming your way, my lady… if there is something else you want, just give the word. Your satisfaction is my concern,” the hot waiter said with a smirk and then he turned to leave.

Charlotte turned around awkwardly and groaned within her. Maybe she will get inspiration after a few bottles, with alcohol, she wouldn’t even need pickup lines; the words will come on their own. One thing was certain, she was taking a hot man home tonight.

** * * * * *

Charlotte had gulped down four full glasses of whatever alcohol the waiter had served her and it was already having its effect on her. She could still count five fingers as seven, which means there was still hope for her to go home sober if she changed her mind about getting drunk tonight.

She was already soliloquizing and laughing out loud, the bar had gotten noisier than when she first arrived but that didn’t seem to bother her. The bar had strippers performing and it took a lot of resistance to not join them on the dance floor. She wouldn’t mind getting rocked or smacked in the ass by those half naked hot men.

She felt so free and happy, she knew she was under the influence but that was the whole plan. She didn’t want to hold back, she wanted to let it all out, all the pent up emotions, her self-control, she wanted to do what she really desired, and it was to open up to someone, to confess how she really felt.

Just then, a man walked up to her. He wore casual outfits like he was a gardener or something, he seemed intoxicated as well, but he had better control over it.

“Hey,” she screamed out to him like he was kilometers away, but he was just on the other side of the table.

“Having a good time, huh? Who are you here with, my lady?” he asked back as he dropped the bottle of Budweiser on the table.

She giggled. “Gentleman huh? I am here all alone!!” she yelled again and laughed while dancing offbeat.

“I guessed so. You look like you can do with a little company, tell me why a pretty lady is out here drinking all alone, I am seeing you here for the first time so I guess you are not from around.” He uttered. “I am Williams by the way,” he added.

“Ughh!! Party pooper, boo!!” she groaned drunkenly. “What do you care about?” she asked.

“Oh, I don’t. I believe people only get drunk to escape from their painful reality, so tell me what you are running from?”

“It is no big deal, my asshole boyfriend dumped me, probably because I wasn’t fun, so this is me being fun, Hahaha!!” she laughed and filled her cup again.

“I see, so you are dealing with emotional trauma and pain and you thought getting drunk would help you escape from it. You are right, maybe the pain would go away for a few hours, but when you wake up in the morning, you will be back to square one, the pain will be back all over again. Is that what you really want?”

“Oh come on, don’t kill the fun… I thought you said you didn’t care, what do you want me to do, stay indoors and cry? I won't cry for no asshole!!” Charlotte retorted.

“Well, everyone has their way of dealing with grief and loss, but maybe you should talk about it. Tell me about this asshole ex of yours over another bottle.” Williams requested and then sent for the waiter.

“That sounds like a good deal, but let's talk about you, MR. Williams… you said people use alcohol to escape their painful reality, so what painful reality are you trying to escape, my handsome drink mate,” she uttered with a broad smile on her face.

She was literally spelling out her words, while her head bobbled from one end to the other. Her eyes closed more times than they were open.

“Hmm, let's just say… I have no control over my life, everyone expects me to behave in one way or the other, the want me to live my life with codes, rules and regulations that they make, they want me to be like one person or the other, but I don’t want to be that person, I just want to be me.” He complained.

“Oh, Williams… then just be you, why all the drama? You are a full grown man, you can choose to be whoever you want.” She said half soberly

He smiled and poured her a drink from his bottle, she had emptied hers. “Well, my dear… it is not as easy as you think. That is why I always come here, the only place I don’t need to act in the way they expect me to act, the only place I can be free to be whoever I want to be.”

Charlotte sighed as she emptied the glass again; she was getting tipsier by the seconds. “Umm… I don’t know what it feels like, but I believe you are trying to please everyone and in the process displeasing yourself. I think it is high time you be your real self, because life is too… life is too short, you know. Don’t let other people tell you how to live your life, you should do what you want, not what they want you to do, else you will never find true happiness.” She advised me.

“But what if people are disappointed in me, people who I care about?” he asked, sounding genuinely worried.

“Ugh!! Stupid humans, you can’t please everyone Williams, believe me… I have been there.” She muttered. “But… if you learn to be yourself, the people who care about you would… they would also learn to love you for who you choose to be, for who you really are. So just see this as a way to know people who really care about you, and as for those who don’t, tell them to get the fuck away from you. Life is so much better that way.” Charlotte blurted without a second thought.

Williams smiled and stared at her pretty face, she sounded intelligent even with so much alcohol in her system, he was impressed. “I will think about it, Princess.”

“I am not Princess you hunk of a man, my name is Charlotte… now if you will excuse me… I… I…, okay I should just rest a bit,” she spoke sluggishly and lay her head on the table.

Williams chuckled and shook his head. “Women, always taking more than they can handle.” He muttered and stood up.

He took a step away and then he paused and stared back at her, she looked so innocent in her sleep. Maybe if this was the middle of the year, he wouldn’t bother leaving her here, but it was the holiday season and there were a lot of tourists in town. Williams walked back to her and then he sent for the waiter.

“Alright Cinderella, maybe I should take you home. You don’t want to spend Christmas eve in the wrong hands,” he said with a light chuckle as he helped her sit up.

“Ugh, what? Just let me sleep… go away bad man,” she grumbled under the influence.

“Not yet… The bad man hasn’t come yet, and it isn’t time to sleep either.” He replied teasingly. “You should try not to get drunk next time, Cinderella.” He added

“It is Charlotte!! How many times do I need to tell you!” she interrupted drowsily.

He laughed and helped her get up. “Tell me Charlotte, which hotel do you stay at? Maybe I can do you one tiny little favor in return for your time, tonight?” He asked as he crossed her arm over his neck. He staggered but regained his balance quickly and they both burst into laughter.

** * * * *

“One more step, Charlotte… almost there,” Williams muttered as he helped her climb the stairs. Why would such a big hotel not have an elevator?

They were back at her hotel, making their way to her room. It had been difficult getting the address from her as she was completely wasted on alcohol but Williams knew he had to do it or some useless dude might take advantage of her drunken state.

She wouldn’t stop giggling on the way back and the receptionist had given them a suspicious glance as they walked in. Williams used his shoulder to support her as they headed down the hallway, they finally got to the room number that was inscribed on her keys and he opened it.

“Alright Cinderella, here you go. Merry Christmas in advance,” he said with a tipsy smile as he left her to walk in.

“Come on… inside,” she stuttered excitedly and drew him in with her, closing the door behind them.

“Oh, I need to get out of this gown, it is so uncomfortable,” she grumbled amidst curses and began to undress.

“Okay, calm down, you realize I am still here right?” Williams tried to protest but she wasn’t even concerned by his presence. Before he could do anything about it, she had stripped down to her underwear and then fell face flat on the bed.

Williams cringed with a clenched fist, he was confused on what to do. He couldn’t leave her lying half naked there, he stared to the left and noticed the wardrobe. Maybe she brought night wear with her. He rushed to the wardrobe and without searching for long, he found a pink night gown in one of the hangers.

Williams got the gown out and quickly got her dressed up. It wasn’t difficult to get her in it, the difficult part was trying not to touch her boobs or ass. He made her sit up and like a baby, he put the gown on her.

After that, he gently lay her on the bed and carried her legs up, he adjusted her pillow to prevent her hurting her neck and then he sighed in relief.

“Phew!! I can't believe I am doing this, good thing she is never going to know how it happened,” he muttered to himself.

Williams turned to leave but suddenly he felt her grab his wrist, his heart flipped and he turned back to stare at her. Her eyes were still closed but she was muttering some inaudible words. He listened carefully and realized that she was asking him to stay.

“Oh man, remind me to mind my business next time.” He muttered and then he sat by her side on the bed. Williams sat there for minutes, caressing her hair as he watched her sleep. She looked so beautifully innocent in her sleep and that left him wondering why her man would dump her.

Slowly, he started to feel nature calling. He was fighting to keep his eyes open. “Okay, maybe I should just rest here for a few minutes and then I will leave,” he muttered to himself as he lay his head against the head foam of the bed, with Charlotte’s hand in his.

Ten minutes, that was all he needed. After ten minutes, he would leave, or so he thought!!

Charlotte’s face beamed with a smile, her eyes were still shut and her head was spinning, but nevertheless, she felt this excitement bubbling inside of her, this renewed spirit and love. There was something different this morning, something had changed. Maybe it was the cool breeze coming in from the window, or the winter cold, maybe the festive spirit in the air.

But if it wasn’t any of that, then it would most definitely be the awesome and lovely cologne that she could smell in her sleep. Wait, Cologne? That makes no sense!! She didn’t remember using one, where was she? How did she get here?

Charlotte shot her eyes open immediately and heaved in relief when she recognized the ceiling. She was back in her hotel room, even though she had no idea how she got here. She tried to remember what happened but her head hurt.

She blew off hot air and then turned to lay on her side, but the moment she turned to the left side on the bed, a loud scream left her mouth. There was a man on her bed, lying so close to her and she looked straight into his sleeping face.

“Arhhh!!” her scream was returned by the handsome fellow on her bed as he jumped up, awoken by her scream.

“You!!” she yelled.

“You?” he yelled back in confusion.

She raised the blanket immediately and peeped under to see if everything was intact, and then she screamed again. “Arghhhh!! What happened to my clothes? How are you here? Did we…?”

“No, we didn’t!!” he replied immediately in a hurry. “This is a misunderstanding, we didn’t do anything!!” he protested in his defense.

Charlotte put her head under the blanket a second time just for confirmation, she rubbed her thighs together in order to feel the friction in the middle. If they had done anything the previous night, she would feel it, except he was a two minute man.

After confirming that nothing had happened, she looked up to him again with a confusing and questioning glare. So if we didn’t do it, then what happened? Tell me the truth, how did we get here, why am I in a nightgown? I know I would never wear this, it isn’t even mine!!” she queried and pointed a finger at him.

“Really? Then why do you have it? And what do you sleep in?” Williams asked as wore a less anxious face.

“I prefer sleeping naked, and Olivia must have sneaked it into my bag because she doesn’t approve of sleeping naked, but that isn’t the bone of contention, so why don’t you explain why I wake up on a bed next to you and I can't remember anything,” she requested.

“Because you were a mess last night,” he began and spread his arms. “You had a lot to drink and like I said, you were pretty messed up.”

“I was?” she asked.

“Yeah, you don’t remember? You were tipsy and were going to sleep in the bar if I hadn’t brought you home. I asked you for your address and when you weren’t responsive, I opened your phone and found out what I needed. So I got a cab and brought you back. I figured you wouldn’t be comfortable in that gown, so I got you changed into a nightie. I was going to leave, but you asked me not to.” He explained.

“I did?” she asked with a crinkled nose.

“Yeah, so I decided to sit down till you fell asleep, then I would leave. I don’t know what happened, I guess I fell asleep. Does that make any sense to you?” he asked, with a funny look in his eyes. Well, he was just hoping that she accepted his story without further questions because it sounded weird even for him.

“No, it doesn’t!! I mean, wait… let me get this straight… you bring a drunk woman to her hotel room, you get her undressed…”

“Oh, that part was actually all you,” he interrupted and raised his arm in the air.

“Okay, so then you got me dressed in this night gown which I hate by the way, and then you sleep next to me all night, but you didn’t touch me? That is… um… What is the word? Should I say unlikely?”

Williams sighed and shook his head. “Look, I don’t know what type of me you have in your life, but we are not all assholes, okay?” he argued.

“Yeah, I have heard that one too." Charlotte said and burst into laughter. She lays her head against the head-foam of the mattress while Williams stares at her in confusion.

“What is so funny?” he asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Everything!! Anyway, thanks for last night, I must have had a lot to drink, I don’t even remember what happened after our little talk. What did we talk about again?” she asked curiously.

Williams smiled and shook his head. “You don’t remember what we talked about? But do you remember when we had that beautiful kiss?” he asked with a smirk.

Charlotte froze immediately, her face turned red and her cheeks flushed. She felt her throat go dry and itchy and that awkward feeling gripped her entire being.

“Oh chill, I am just kidding!!” he said and burst into laughter. She sighed in relief and collapsed on the bed.

“Okay, you got me there. Phew, got my mind skipping beats, it was very embarrassing!” She confessed and heaved.

“Don’t worry, okay, as much as I wanted to, I would never do it without your permission, my lady.” He said.

Once again her face flushed red and she gulped. So he actually wished to kiss her? She panicked and then blushed, trying hard to cover it with a smile.

“Thanks again for last night, if you will excuse me, I really need to shower. I can't believe I slept with all that sweat from last night,” she said softly, while trying to avoid eye contact with him.

“Oh, would you have preferred I took you to the shower?” he asked.

“What? No!!!” she screamed and looked away in laughter.