Vanilla's Fade: A Bitter Sweet Goodbye

Andrea and Gabriel had recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. When they were first married, their sex life was an explosion of vibrancy and color. However, over time, the excitement had waned into dull and beige. The ‘I do this, and you do that’ routine lacked the flare that the infancy of their romance had started with.

They still loved each other very much. They both still felt the love, fire, and desire, but life’s mundane routine had taken over. Gabriel wished they could return to a time when they would lie in each other’s arms, their bodies a tangle of sweaty limbs, frantic kisses, passionate looks, and incredible sex.

Their work consumed so much of their time that they rarely spent any together. Gabriel travelled often, and he knew Andrea spent a lot of time with her friends. When Gabriel’s work escalated, he realised that Andrea had begun going out with them two or three evenings a week. Often she didn’t come home until he had gone to bed.

Andrea said there was no problem with their marriage. However, he was sure there was a need to put more effort into the relationship or this could become a make-or-break crossroads for them as a couple. Gabriel knew he needed to return his attention to Andrea and rekindle the flame before the fire went out.

Andrea was working in her office when the receptionist entered with a giant floral bouquet in a vase. “This arrived for you.”

“Oh, my!” Andrea’s face lit up. “They’re beautiful.” The flowers were a mix of her favourites: pink and white lilies.

“There’s a card, too,” the receptionist added.

Andrea picked the small envelope from between the stems and looked at the front. She smiled at his crooked writing on the outside of the envelope.

‘I am so sorry we fought. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day, Mon Amour. Gabriel.’

“Ooh! They’re from Gabriel!” the receptionist grinned. “Lucky you.”

Andrea beamed, happy. “We had a small désaccord. This is his way to apologise. I can’t stay mad, and I’m a lucky girl.”

“Well, enjoy your flowers, Andrea.”

“Thank you, Linda. I will.”

Andrea placed the flowers on her desk and proceeded to open the envelope. Pulling out the inner card, she heard a plastic clatter as a key card slipped out of an inner fold and landed on the desk. When she read Gabriel’s second message, she gave a surprisedOhh.

“18:00 Le Grand, InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane. Room 818”

Andrea felt a little confused and a little embarrassed as her cheeks flushed red. She wondered what Gabriel was up to. He had not been spontaneous like this in years.

The afternoon clock-watching was painful as the day slipped by slowly. All the sensations in her head were made worse when her phone dinged twice, and she received a text from Gabriel.

“Do you remember that day in Marrakesh you said yes to my every request?”

Her fingers quickly typed back.

“Oui”

Once more, her phone binged twice.

“Will you say yes to me tonight? Will you do as I ask?”

Again, she typed back a simple “Oui.”

“Merci, mon amour.”

For the rest of the day, Andrea was in agony. The day dragged slowly by as Andrea’s excitement grew. She could not escape the mystery of what Gabriel may be planning, and her fantasies grew. When the digital display on her laptop showed 17:00, Andrea hustled her things into her bag and rushed out the door.

“Linda, I’m away early today. Have a lovely evening!”

“You too, Andrea,” Linda smiled back, then watched her rush out the door.

Andrea avoided the rush hour as she jumped onto the Metro and hurtled under Paris. The InterContinental was close to work, just two stops on the Metro, so the journey took less than 15 minutes. It gave her even more time to create beautiful scenarios in her mind’s eye.

The hotel was as grand and expensive as its name. Le Grand, Paris. Andrea crossed the lobby and saw the grand salon and the beautiful chandeliers. The concierge offered to escort her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she smiled, waving her key card.

Andrea’s heels clicked on the floor as she approached the elevator. She entered with a few other guests. Andrea selected the eighth floor, and the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it rose through the hotel. The doors opened on the conference rooms on the second floor, and everyone but her filed out. Andrea’s heart began beating faster as she started to feel more and more excited.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental's name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental's name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental's name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Andrea took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a lavish suite. A dark sofa and chair accented the neutral tones of the walls, and a large window looked out onto the Paris skyline. On the wall over the desk was a large ornate antique-style mirror. Positioned against the other wall opposite the mirror was a large double bed with a rich, plump white duvet and six firm pillows.

“Hello.” She called out. There was no answer from the still and quiet room.

Andrea realised that she was alone as she stepped into the room. She had anticipated the moment for weeks, and now the anticipation felt electric. She dropped her handbag on the sofa and looked out the window onto a cold yet sunny afternoon in Paris.

“What a wonderfully capricious evening,” she thought to herself.

It was unlike Andrea to feel this nervous about Gabriel’s plans. Today, he had managed to stir up all sorts of sensations in her. A text message suddenly pinged as Andrea looked at her phone to check the time.

“Do you remember that day in Marrakesh you said yes to my every request?”

Her fingers quickly typed back.

“Oui”

Once more, her phone binged twice.

“Will you say yes to me tonight? Will you do as I ask?”

Again, she typed back a simple “Oui.”

“Merci, mon amour.”

For the rest of the day, Andrea was in agony. The day dragged slowly by as Andrea’s excitement grew. She could not escape the mystery of what Gabriel may be planning, and her fantasies grew. When the digital display on her laptop showed 17:00, Andrea hustled her things into her bag and rushed out the door.

“Linda, I’m away early today. Have a lovely evening!”

“You too, Andrea,” Linda smiled back, then watched her rush out the door.

Andrea avoided the rush hour as she jumped onto the Metro and hurtled under Paris. The InterContinental was close to work, just two stops on the Metro, so the journey took less than 15 minutes. It gave her even more time to create beautiful scenarios in her mind’s eye.

The hotel was as grand and expensive as its name. Le Grand, Paris. Andrea crossed the lobby and saw the grand salon and the beautiful chandeliers. The concierge offered to escort her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she smiled, waving her key card.

Andrea’s heels clicked on the floor as she approached the elevator. She entered with a few other guests. Andrea selected the eighth floor, and the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it rose through the hotel. The doors opened on the conference rooms on the second floor, and everyone but her filed out. Andrea’s heart began beating faster as she started to feel more and more excited.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental’s name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Andrea took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a lavish suite. A dark sofa and chair accented the neutral tones of the walls, and a large window looked out onto the Paris skyline. On the wall over the desk was a large ornate antique-style mirror. Positioned against the other wall opposite the mirror was a large double bed with a rich, plump white duvet and six firm pillows.

“Hello.” She called out. There was no answer from the still and quiet room.

Andrea realised that she was alone as she stepped into the room. She had anticipated the moment for weeks, and now the anticipation felt electric. She dropped her handbag on the sofa and looked out the window onto a cold yet sunny afternoon in Paris.

“What a wonderfully capricious evening,” she thought to herself.

It was unlike Andrea to feel this nervous about Gabriel’s plans. Today, he had managed to stir up all sorts of sensations in her. A text message suddenly pinged as Andrea looked at her phone to check the time.

“Do you remember that day in Marrakesh you said yes to my every request?”

Her fingers quickly typed back.

“Oui”

Once more, her phone binged twice.

“Will you say yes to me tonight? Will you do as I ask?”

Again, she typed back a simple “Oui.”

“Merci, mon amour.”

For the rest of the day, Andrea was in agony. The day dragged slowly by as Andrea’s excitement grew. She could not escape the mystery of what Gabriel may be planning, and her fantasies grew. When the digital display on her laptop showed 17:00, Andrea hustled her things into her bag and rushed out the door.

“Linda, I’m away early today. Have a lovely evening!”

“You too, Andrea,” Linda smiled back, then watched her rush out the door.

Andrea avoided the rush hour as she jumped onto the Metro and hurtled under Paris. The InterContinental was close to work, just two stops on the Metro, so the journey took less than 15 minutes. It gave her even more time to create beautiful scenarios in her mind’s eye.

The hotel was as grand and expensive as its name. Le Grand, Paris. Andrea crossed the lobby and saw the grand salon and the beautiful chandeliers. The concierge offered to escort her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she smiled, waving her key card.

Andrea’s heels clicked on the floor as she approached the elevator. She entered with a few other guests. Andrea selected the eighth floor, and the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it rose through the hotel. The doors opened on the conference rooms on the second floor, and everyone but her filed out. Andrea’s heart began beating faster as she started to feel more and more excited.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental’s name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Andrea took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a lavish suite. A dark sofa and chair accented the neutral tones of the walls, and a large window looked out onto the Paris skyline. On the wall over the desk was a large ornate antique-style mirror. Positioned against the other wall opposite the mirror was a large double bed with a rich, plump white duvet and six firm pillows.

“Hello.” She called out. There was no answer from the still and quiet room.

Andrea realised that she was alone as she stepped into the room. She had anticipated the moment for weeks, and now the anticipation felt electric. She dropped her handbag on the sofa and looked out the window onto a cold yet sunny afternoon in Paris.

“What a wonderfully capricious evening,” she thought to herself.

It was unlike Andrea to feel this nervous about Gabriel’s plans. Today, he had managed to stir up all sorts of sensations in her. A text message suddenly pinged as Andrea looked at her phone to check the time.

“Do you remember that day in Marrakesh you said yes to my every request?”

Her fingers quickly typed back.

“Oui”

Once more, her phone binged twice.

“Will you say yes to me tonight? Will you do as I ask?”

Again, she typed back a simple “Oui.”

“Merci, mon amour.”

For the rest of the day, Andrea was in agony. The day dragged slowly by as Andrea’s excitement grew. She could not escape the mystery of what Gabriel may be planning, and her fantasies grew. When the digital display on her laptop showed 17:00, Andrea hustled her things into her bag and rushed out the door.

“Linda, I’m away early today. Have a lovely evening!”

“You too, Andrea,” Linda smiled back, then watched her rush out the door.

Andrea avoided the rush hour as she jumped onto the Metro and hurtled under Paris. The InterContinental was close to work, just two stops on the Metro, so the journey took less than 15 minutes. It gave her even more time to create beautiful scenarios in her mind’s eye.

The hotel was as grand and expensive as its name. Le Grand, Paris. Andrea crossed the lobby and saw the grand salon and the beautiful chandeliers. The concierge offered to escort her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she smiled, waving her key card.

Andrea’s heels clicked on the floor as she approached the elevator. She entered with a few other guests. Andrea selected the eighth floor, and the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it rose through the hotel. The doors opened on the conference rooms on the second floor, and everyone but her filed out. Andrea’s heart began beating faster as she started to feel more and more excited.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental’s name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Andrea took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a lavish suite. A dark sofa and chair accented the neutral tones of the walls, and a large window looked out onto the Paris skyline. On the wall over the desk was a large ornate antique-style mirror. Positioned against the other wall opposite the mirror was a large double bed with a rich, plump white duvet and six firm pillows.

“Hello.” She called out. There was no answer from the still and quiet room.

Andrea realised that she was alone as she stepped into the room. She had anticipated the moment for weeks, and now the anticipation felt electric. She dropped her handbag on the sofa and looked out the window onto a cold yet sunny afternoon in Paris.

“What a wonderfully capricious evening,” she thought to herself.

It was unlike Andrea to feel this nervous about Gabriel’s plans. Today, he had managed to stir up all sorts of sensations in her. A text message suddenly pinged as Andrea looked at her phone to check the time.

“Do you remember that day in Marrakesh you said yes to my every request?”

Her fingers quickly typed back.

“Oui”

Once more, her phone binged twice.

“Will you say yes to me tonight? Will you do as I ask?”

Again, she typed back a simple “Oui.”

“Merci, mon amour.”

For the rest of the day, Andrea was in agony. The day dragged slowly by as Andrea’s excitement grew. She could not escape the mystery of what Gabriel may be planning, and her fantasies grew. When the digital display on her laptop showed 17:00, Andrea hustled her things into her bag and rushed out the door.

“Linda, I’m away early today. Have a lovely evening!”

“You too, Andrea,” Linda smiled back, then watched her rush out the door.

Andrea avoided the rush hour as she jumped onto the Metro and hurtled under Paris. The InterContinental was close to work, just two stops on the Metro, so the journey took less than 15 minutes. It gave her even more time to create beautiful scenarios in her mind’s eye.

The hotel was as grand and expensive as its name. Le Grand, Paris. Andrea crossed the lobby and saw the grand salon and the beautiful chandeliers. The concierge offered to escort her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she smiled, waving her key card.

Andrea’s heels clicked on the floor as she approached the elevator. She entered with a few other guests. Andrea selected the eighth floor, and the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it rose through the hotel. The doors opened on the conference rooms on the second floor, and everyone but her filed out. Andrea’s heart began beating faster as she started to feel more and more excited.

Gabriel had not created this much exhilaration and adrenaline in such a long time. She felt a rush, and she loved every minute of it. The hotel was as opulent as the InterContinental’s name suggested. Andrea took the stairs to the eighth floor. The elevator doors opened onto a plush, red carpet hallway. She followed the hallway until she reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. It was room 818.

Andrea took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a lavish suite. A dark sofa and chair accented the neutral

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