Room 702 (2 page)

 
Closing the closet door and continuing to walk down the short corridor, you reach the lounge area.
 
Given this is Los Angeles, a year round desert environment, the Travertine floor from the bathroom extends into the rest of the space.
 
The overall color scheme is a series of silver and blue tones, suitably cool and crisp and clean.
 
Large windows, shaded in sheer beige floor to ceiling curtains, of which the designer has cleverly hidden the track the fabrics are connected to under a faux ceiling moulding, create a seamless line with the ceiling.
 

 
On the far left wall of the lounge is a large repurposed armoire, which can be closed to hide the television (a fifty-inch HD Samsung).
 
With your back to the television, to the immediate left sits the desk, a distinctive piece which looks like something directly out of the West Elm catalogue.
 
Placing your laptop upon the desk, you will be pleased to note there is free Wi-Fi throughout the room.
 
While the Winchester does neatly extort guests who choose to park at the hotel or use the valet services, they do keep wireless internet free to guests.
 
Behind the desk is the sliding glass door which leads onto a balcony.
 
As the majority of the hotel room faces west, beautiful hues seep into the room every afternoon.
 

Moving out from behind the desk, directly across from the television sits a chicly designed coffee table.
 
The glass surface reveals the following periodicals (replaced monthly, weekly, or as necessary) stacked inside:
Los Angeles Magazine
,
Los Angeles Confidential
, and
LA Weekly
.
 
Small brochures can be found on a variety of tourist options including Disneyland, Universal CityWalk, and Hollywood and Highland.
 
On the surface of the coffee table, next to the remote control for the television, resting neatly on top is an informational book about the Winchester, including in-room dining selections and available spa treatments.
 
Rounding out the room is an L shaped settee, upholstered in a light taupe colored suede material.
 
The small couch comfortably seats two, but can be used to seat more.
 
Next to the settee, there is an additional chair, upholstered in leather.

Weaving through the furniture, you pull back the curtains to reveal a large sliding glass door that leads out onto an intimate terrace.
 
The deck is small, but large enough for a charming French bistro set, complete with a mosaic tile inlay.
 
In a nod to the inevitable wants and needs of their guests, even though this is a non-smoking hotel, there is an ashtray with cleverly marked matchbox, should you need to indulge your nicotine habit.
 
Covered by the overhang of the floor above and facing a small side street, the patio is a nearly perfect quiet place to collect your thoughts in the busy city.
 
In this small corner of Los Angeles, it’s a nice respite from traffic and smog – a small postcard worthy of an Instagram shot.

Stepping back inside, you stop in front of a set of French doors, curtained in pale blue, which can be closed to separate the living space from the bedroom area.
 
Matching the curtains in the lounge, the large swathes of khaki and dark turquoise extend to block out any light that might come through and disrupt the slumber for you or any other guest.
 
Directly across from the windows, and taking up the better part of the right wall of the bedroom rests an oversize black framed mirror, leaning against a set in portion of the wall.
   

Flush against the back wall, a California King dominates a large part of the bedroom.
 
The bed itself is everything you could wish for – a soft haven made with no less than six pillows.
 
Below a soft white duvet, beneath a deep mattress pad, the mattress itself is a Sealy Posturepedic Reserve Ultra Plush.
 
The bed sits against a unique wall of painted white brick – a façade – which gives the space a luxurious loft feel to it.
 
Rather than use a traditional headboard, the interior designer has found a James Bond movie poster from the classic,
You Only Live Twice
.
 
Mr. Connery cavorts with a number of half naked women and seems to smile down on you, approving whatever activity is taking place in the bed.

The mini bar sits to the immediate left of the large bed.
 
The SmartCube, a state of the art device which knows exactly when you’ve opened it and what you’ve taken, is stocked with a variety of treats and snacks to tempt almost anyone’s palate.
 
To consume the entire lot would cost the guest close to $1,000 USD.
 

Above the mini bar is a large mirror, framed in silver and gray mosaic tiles. Below the mirror is a marble surface which sits above the minibar and acts as a natural table, holding various accoutrements including: a brushed silver ice bucket, a wine bottle opener branded with the hotel’s logo, and a Krups coffee machine.
 
There are also two sets of stemmed glasses (one set for wine, the other for champagne), four glass tumblers and a pair of thin china cups and saucers designed by Kate Spade.
 

Back on the marble, there is also a rectangular tray, lined in black felt.
 
In case you were feeling peckish (and the Winchester certainly hopes you are) there is a selection of overpriced and exclusive snacks.
 
Two bottles of Fiji water are complimentary to the thirsty guest.
 
Finally, tucked discreetly in the back behind the goodies, understanding some of the guests might be consenting adults, there is an ‘intimacy kit’ nestled among the snacks.
 

On the side table next to the bed is a small set of Bose speakers, which adapt to any mp3 device.
 
The appliance also acts as an alarm clock and displays the time.
 
Finally, at the base of the bed is a large padded bench, with an extra blanket, should you get cold, or need a place to slip in (or out) of your shoes.

In the bed, luxuriating under the 350 hundred count sheets by Italian Fili D’oro, with the press of a button, the 42-inch digital flat screen suspended on the opposite wall is activated.
 
A guest has their choice of music, network television, recent releases, and, of course, a variety of soft-core pornography (including a mixture of hetero and homosexual selections).
 
Should you choose to view one of the adult films, it will only show on your bill as an ‘entertainment fee’.
 
As you sink further into the bedding, you think you could learn to like it here.
 
A gentle cough from the living room reminds you that you’re not alone.
 
Standing up, you join the Winchester staff member, waiting patiently by the door.
 
Sending the bellhop on his way with a generous tip, he closes the door softly behind him, and you are left with a feeling of security and relaxation.
 
 
Your mind starts to drift, and you wonder to yourself, who else has stayed in this room?

A few hours into the New Year, a young couple stumbles into the junior suite.
 
Married five years, the British nationals have only been living in Los Angeles for eight months or so – but tonight, in celebration and anticipation of the year ahead, they have splashed out and opted for the Winchester’s deluxe New Year’s

package (dinner, unlimited drinks, welcome gift, breakfast, and late check out).
 
After all, this is their first New Year away from the comforts of home, friends, and family.

“It was nice tonight,” Chelsea Pearson comments, removing delicate silver earrings, a gift from Shaun on their wedding day.

“Yesh,” Shaun agrees, more than a little tipsy from the unlimited champagne the waiters were pouring.
 
His wife, hesitant in case this is the month she sees the plus sign on the pregnancy test, refrained from drinking much past a celebratory glass at midnight.
 
Slipping his already untied bowtie off, he continues, “I can’t wait to put the picturesh online.”

Chelsea smiles indulgently at her spouse.
 
Since moving to Los Angeles from London, Shaun has been constantly posting pictures, videos, celebrity sightings and all of their latest updates.
 
Although they both came from humble beginnings, taking the risk to move thousands of kilometers from friends and family has paid off.
 
After a short time, Shaun, a talented real estate agent, pulled an excellent commission check – making nights like tonight possible.
 
Chelsea is optimistic that by the time they ring in the next New Year there will be three in their family.
 
Having been so careful for years, Chelsea went off birth control four long months ago.
 
She worries there is some issue why she hasn’t fallen pregnant yet, but Shaun assures her they will conceive when they are supposed to and that they should enjoy their time alone together while they still can.
 
In fact, using the concept of the ‘babymoon’ as an excuse, they’ve shared some romantic weekends exploring their new surroundings: Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Palm Springs, and a few days trying to get lucky in Las Vegas.

 
Amazed at how far technology has come, earlier in the day, Chelsea took an ovulation test to determine if tonight was, indeed, one of her more fertile occasions.
 
While these tests take some of the fun and mystery out of the experience, Chelsea’s New Year’s resolution is to get pregnant, and she’ll use whatever means necessary to ensure she accomplishes this goal.

“The Yanks were nice, don’t you think?” Shaun asks.

“Yes, they certainly know how to party.”
 

 
Shaun checks his phone – still beeping with texts from friends around the world celebrating the New Year.
 
Placing the device on the table, he asks, “Mind if I take shower quickly?”

“Be my guest.”

As usual when he’s had too much to drink, Shaun quickly shucks off all of his clothes, leaving them stranded on various pieces of furniture and walks into the bathroom.
 
Steam heats up the adjacent room and Chelsea hears her husband humming an off-key version of one of the last songs played during the evening.
 
On a whim, they decided to join some of his work mates at the hotel.
 
Having only flown in the day before from the U.K., Chelsea loves the spontaneity of her new home city.
 
Her level of comfort is part of the reason she has moved up her personal life plan.
 
Unexpectedly, she finds Los Angeles as the type of place she wants to raise children.
 
Chelsea loves the different and wonderful people you can meet at a sushi restaurant on Ventura or while shopping at Gelson’s – so different from the village she was brought up in.
 
She enjoys the nearly always pleasant weather and casual lifestyle.
 
 
Taking off her high silver heels, Chelsea luxuriates on the soft duvet, before rising to go through her nightly retinue.
 
Entering the bathroom, as she washes her face and removes her eye make up, she thinks back over the night.
 
The only issue from making the evening altogether perfect was the rather difficult scene Chelsea had to witness in the ladies room downstairs.
 
Prior to the countdown, Chelsea had excused herself to freshen her makeup and use the loo.
 
With the music too loud to have any sort of conversation, Chelsea had accidentally met another woman’s glance in the mirror and had immediately taken notice.
 
The young woman with sad blue eyes clearly appeared to be maudlin, even among the celebratory atmosphere.
 
Chelsea, more sober than those around her, caught the desperate glance.
 
She had mouthed the words ‘you okay?’ to the blonde, but the woman had looked away in response, coating her already blood red lips in even more gloss.
 
Going back to her table, Chelsea had thought to mention the woman to Shaun, but upon returning to the group had forgotten the incident.
 
Hearing her husband continue to sing behind her, she feels luckier than ever.
 
 
“Hurry up, darling,” she says, walking out of the bathroom.
 
Reaching into their luggage, she pulls out a special set of lingerie – purchased especially for this evening and pulls the silk over her naked body.
 
Although they have been together for eight years, married for five, she still likes to surprise her husband now and then.
 
It’s been months since she’s been off the pill and while she doesn’t want to worry yet, she grows concerned each month that she menstruates.
 
The gynecologist informed her that conception could take a while, but not to worry and let nature take its course.
 

Making herself comfortable in the bed, Chelsea lets her mind wander and wonders what their baby will look like.
 
Will he have blonde hair like hers, or dark hair like Shaun’s?
 
The distinctive Pearson nose?
 
Which ears?
 
Chelsea knows she’s letting her imagination get in front of her, but she cannot wait to see how genetics come together to create a new life.
 
Although she’s only briefly mentioned her ideas to Shaun, she’s already picked out the perfect names for their future son or daughter.
 
Helen Wendy Pearson or Philip Allan Pearson.