Surprise gone wrong

“Why is she not here yet?” Mike muttered as he paced back and forth on the luxurious rooftop of a hotel. He walked towards the edge and gazed down at the city, wondering why Stella, his wife, hadn’t arrived at the address he sent her earlier.

For 6 months, Mike has been working day and night, saving to pay for this VIP rooftop for a night. He planned on surprising his wife. 

Mike grinned as he walked back to the table for two that were set in the middle of the rooftop with a big TV screen in front of it. He checked his wristwatch for the time and was surprised to see that it was already 15 minutes past 8.

“Why is she late? Did something happen?” He thought as he dialed her phone number. He sat on one of the chairs, waiting for her to answer, but she didn’t.

Mike’s heart suddenly began to beat rapidly. He couldn’t comprehend why she was late and still couldn’t answer her call. “Is everything all right?” He thought and dialed her number again but still got no answer. 

“I... I hope she’s safe,” He stuttered. His hands were trembling as he tapped the dial button again, hoping that this time she’d answer

“Hello?” Stella’s husky voice fell into Mike’s ear, causing him to heave a long sigh of relief.

“Honey, where are you? Is everything all right?” Mike asked, feeling concerned

“Yes, I’m fine.” She answered abruptly.

“Okay, where are you? I have been waiting for you for the past 30 minutes.” 

“I’m at an important meeting with my client and your calls have been disturbing me!” She hissed

“But... but honey, I told you earlier that I have a surprise for you....” 

“Hey, what are you suggesting I do? Leave my work and come meet you? Hell no, this is more important than any dumb thing you’ve planned.” She paused to catch her breath before adding, 

“Can’t you do something meaningful for once? Must it be these dumb surprises? The rich do these things and more every day as a lifestyle and you’re there surprising me with people’s lifestyle.” 

“Today is our wedding anniversary and we need to spend it together, you know how hard I worked for this to happen, you can still drive down here,” He said, hoping that she’d wrap up her work and quickly meet with him at the hotel.

“What’s the use of us celebrating a wedding anniversary? Isn’t that supposed to be for happy and wealthy couples? You can’t afford something like that Mike, stop fooling around?” She scoffed

Mike was dumbfounded. He sighed and said, “I simply wanted to make you happy. I wanted to show you how much I love you” 

“You want to show me how much you love me?” Stella laughed. 

“Yes, I worked nonstop to get the money for this,” He said

“Just hear yourself talk. Is this how your mate expresses their love to their wives? Come on Mike, my friends are driving Bugatti, Porsche, and even Ferrari.” She said, causing Mike to swallow hard. He instantly felt a sick feeling in his stomach.

“Get me good things Mike, do what your mates are doing for your wives. They take their wives on vacations to Paris, Maldives, and fine places.” She added 

“You know I’ll do those things if I have the money,” He said, trying to make her understand, but instead she hissed

“Then make money and don’t be a lazy man!” Before Mike could respond to her, she ended the call.

Mike slowly brought the phone down from his ear and gazed at his phone screen, stunned. He couldn’t believe that Stella could be so unreasonable.

A waiter walked towards him with a tray. On top of the tray was a glass cup and a bottle of wine. “Sir, your order.” The waiter said as he slowly placed it on the fancy table.

Mike quickly lifted his head and gazed at the waiter. “Ah-choo” He cleared his throat, snapping out of the feeling of disappointment. He stood from the chair and waved his hand, dismissing the waiter 

“Please, you can take that back,” Mike sighed and walked into the lift.

Beep! He received a message. Mike quickly checked his phone and saw that it was a message from Stella. “I’m at Brimsley Hotel, Room 103.” 

Mike furrowed his brows, confused. He couldn’t comprehend what she was doing at a hotel and why she sent him the hotel name and room number.

“It could be a surprise...” He thought as he got out of the elevator and moved out of the building. A smile instantly appeared on his face as he thought of the high chances of Stella planning a surprise for him.

Mike turned in the direction of Brimsley Hotel. It was just a few blocks from where he stood. He dipped his hand into his pocket and brought it out, empty. He had no money with him because he spent all his money on the surprise he planned for his wife. 

After taking a deep breath, he ran toward the hotel. This was the first time Stella had ever invited him to a hotel, a 5-star hotel better than the hotel he even paid for a movie night on their rooftop. “Maybe her attitude was to make me not suspect a thing,” he thought and smiled even more.

He stopped right in front of the hotel with beads of sweat on his forehead. Mike quickly wiped them off with his hand. Notable men in suits came in and out of the big entrance with a suitcase.

Mike squeezed himself into the lift and suddenly became cold feet. He straightens his suit tie and clears his throat, preparing a speech to express his love for Stella when he sees her surprise.

“100... 101... Huh uh, 103.” He muttered as his eyes went from one door to another.

Mike smiled as he hit the doorbell eagerly. “Hold on.” He heard a man’s voice from inside. He quickly checked the room number again to be sure he was in the right room.

Suddenly, the door opened, and his eyes fell on a man in a white bathrobe.