Basic Summary:

Amanda finds herself far away from home, caring for her sick father and his medical bills. When she falls in with Jesse, the brilliant and attractive hotel lifeguard, she thinks she’s got it made. But when Jesse presents her with a daring opportunity, she finds herself in for more then she bargained for. After hours, the life guards of Julian Hotel set up a video camera in the change rooms and film each other in the act. Fox Darlington then sells the footage to an online site that claims to broadcast it live. None of the identities are revealed in the process, but it’s risky and dirty business. But the cash—5 grand a week each, is too good to pass up. But when one of the guards slips the secret and is found dead the next day, Amanda wonders if she’s gotten herself in too far and if it’s too late to escape the cunning claws of the Fox.

--

Chapter I.

My name is Amanda.

That’s it—boring, plain, simple, Amanda. I won’t bother telling you my last name or where I’m from because I’m sure you don’t care. I’ll spare you the boring details of my family, my childhood, the name of my first pet, the name of my first street, all that basic bullshit. What am I going to tell you however, is what happened to me last summer. I’m going to tell you what happened to me last summer because I need the world to know. I need the world to know the horrible things that happened in those two months. I need to expose the ugly, naked truth. I need the world to know what went down every Friday night after hours in the Julian Hotel pool change rooms. I need to avenge the deaths of two innocent people. I need to show the world that Fox Darlington is an evil, twisted, psycho, murdering bitch. And more importantly, I need her to be caught and locked up behind bars. Because if I’m not careful, she’s going to get me next.

--

I guess it all began on July 1st. I was living in a suite at the Julian Hotel in Long Beach, CA. This wasn’t a normal July 1st for me. A normal July first would be me, sitting at home in Philadelphia, PA with my Dad. Working at the café down the street and spending my days off snuggled up with a good book. I was on the other side of the USA this summer because Dad had a heart attack on a business trip. He was in rough condition, and the doctor’s kept on saying he wouldn’t be ready to move back home for at least a month, maybe more.

My mother died when I was six. I’m going to spare you the details. She got sick, she died. That’s life, and ours went on, like it has to. It was just Dad and I for the past 15 years. And now Dad was sick too, in a hospital a couple blocks away from the Julian Hotel, with a nice, hefty stack of medical bills piling up by the bedside table.

Dad worked construction. So he was always on contract to contract. Now, unable to work I realized it was up to me to supply income. So what was I supposed to do? I was a 21-year-old female, fresh out of university with a stack of my own student bills coming out my ears and a couple of bounced rent checks to boot. And to top it all off I was living all the way out in a strange city where I knew no one, and my dad was sick and probably dying.

Dad’s medical care was my top priority. So what if the loan collector came after my ass. I would deal with him when the time came. Meanwhile, I desperately needed a job. I had been getting fat off room service for the past week; my only exercise being my daily walks back and forth from the hospital. I had to take my mind off things. I had the constant image of Dad in my mind, breathing and being fed mushed up goo through tubes. Barley conscious and in a steady, drugged out haze. I had to trust that the doctor’s would take care of Dad the best they could. But it was hard with that picture firmly rooted in my brain.

I needed something close. Something with basic hours, that would allow me to visit Dad during the day. During my daily walks I scoured the streets for places of work, but lucked out every time. On my second week in, I was getting desperate. My hotel bills were getting bad enough, especially with all the added room service and pay per view movies. I had to get work fast, no matter what the job was, I would take it. I could always search for another one once I got on my feet.

It was on July 1st that the solution presented itself. After living like a hermit in suite 313 for two weeks, I figured it was time to get some sun on my pale skin. There were three pools in the vicinity. The main pool was outdoors. I rummaged through one of my suitcases until I pulled out a ratty brown bikini from two summers past. I sighed. I wouldn’t even have money to invest in a new one. Shrugging, I changed anyways and threw my long blond hair into a messy bun, not giving a shit about how I looked. It’s not like I was planning on making friends here anyways. I was going to do my best to take care of Dad, make sure he was well enough to travel and then book two plane tickets out of here the moment the doctor’s gave the head’s up. Finishing my hair, I put on a pair of frayed jean shorts over my bottoms and a loose white shirt on top. I grabbed my sunglasses and my book and then glanced into the mirror on my way out. Wavy blonde hair already flying out of place from the heat, nose burnt from the sun and legs looking ghostly pale as though I’d never seen the sun. I sighed. It was as good as it was going to get.

I presented my hotel key at the gates to gain free access to the large, bustling pool. Kids were splashing and screaming in the water while rich mothers lounged in chairs, pretending not to notice while the nannies all dashed and scurried about after the children. Tall, bleach blonde and overly tanned girls were sipping margaritas by the hot tub and giggling to each other. I glanced at my watch. I could spend a good two hours working on a tan I knew would never come and people watch while I did so. Then I could grab a coffee at Starbucks, have a visit with Dad before visiting hours were over, order another cheesy pay per view movie and call it a night.

Grabbing a fuzzy white towel from the towel boy, I made my way through the crowd until I happened upon one free beach chair, half blocked from the sun by the lifeguard’s chair. I sighed and sat down, knowing I would never get a tan anyways. Opening my book, I prepared to settle down for a nice afternoon read.

Boink. That’s when I was unceremoniously knocked in the head with a massive beach ball. The water from the ball splashed all over me and soaked the pages of my book. A kid from the pool began shrieking loudly to his nanny’s dismay.

“That lady stole my ball!” He whined, as the nanny rushed over, trying to quiet him down.

“Excuse me!” Said a woman two chairs down from me. “That is my son’s beach ball you have there.”
”Now wait a minute—“ I began. “I didn’t—“

Nearby me, a whistle blew.

“Hey! No throwing balls out of the pool.” Came a reprimanding voice.

I groaned. This could not possibly get any worse.

“Sorry miss. That kid’s been at it all day. This is about the sixth time I’ve warned him.”

I looked up from my book to see a tall, muscular guy blocking the rest of my sun. I squinted up at him.

“That’s okay.” I grumbled. “I don’t think I’m cut out for this whole pool thing anyways.”

He grinned, and as my eyes adjusted I got a good look at him. My mouth dropped a little. He was, undeniably, the most attractive guy I had ever seen. He was tall and built with what could only be a swimmer’s body. His brown hair perfectly complimented his tan skin, soft dimples and sun kissed freckles. He positively screamed “Abercrombie and Fitch model” only he had a hint of ruggedness that made him all the more attractive. I suddenly realized that I was staring at him with my mouth open and immediately snapped it shut. He hadn’t seemed to notice however, because his sharp blue eyes were now peering down inquisitively at my book.

“Wow.” He said.

I suddenly felt a wave of self-consciousness spread over me, realizing I had left my hotel room in a huff looking like a sloppy tourist.

“What?” I asked. Silently praying that I didn’t have something stuck between my teeth.

“Oh nothing.” He laughed. “It’s just not every day you find a girl your age reading Burgess.”

I frowned, looking down at my rat eared and now water damaged copy of A Clockwork Orange. I was suddenly interested in this guy beyond his looks.

“Oh really.” I said. “Well, it’s not every day you find a guy your age and with your profession who knows who Burgess is.”

“Touché.” He grinned, lopsided, which caused my stomach to do somersaults.

“But really now. Don’t you think your being a little judgmental?”

“How so?” I asked, sitting up a little in my chair so I wasn’t slouching, and the rolls of two weeks worth of room service weren’t as noticeable.

“Just because I’m a lifeguard, you naturally assume I don’t have brains?”

“I never said that.” I replied indignantly. “I was simply stating that I never met a lifeguard who was familiar with literature.”

“Well now you have.” He smirked, folding his arms as if he had proven a point of some sort. I rolled my eyes. I could already tell he was brimming with arrogance. Never the less, I continued the conversation.

“Well thank you for proving me wrong.” I opened my book and looked back down at the page, waiting to see if he’d make the next move.

“So, do you read much?” He asked casually.

“Well I would,” I smiled. “If I wasn’t being interrupted by life guards who also seem to be stealing my sun.”

He stepped a little closer, blocking my light.

“I don’t know. Looks to me like you’ve got more then enough sun today.”

I flushed scarlet, immediately wanting to cover my white legs with the equally as white towel.

“I’m just teasing.” He laughed. “I’m guessing you aren’t from here.”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “Pennsylvania.”

“You on holiday?”

“Not really. It’s hard to explain.”
”Hmm.” He said, cocking his head as though he was trying to figure me out.

“So, Miss Not On Holiday From Pennsylvania. You got a name?”

I smiled.

“Amanda.”
”Amanda.” He mused. “I was going to guess that.”

“I just bet you were.” I said wryly.

His mouth spread into a sly smile and he leaned in a little closer, leaving me slightly breathless.

“Well Amanda. I’m Jesse. Jesse James.”

It turned out that Jesse James had a half hour break coming up within the next ten minutes. I went back up to my hotel room to change, hurriedly brushing my hair and putting on make up, but only a little so it didn’t look like I was trying too hard. I went back downstairs and met him by the pool entrance. He smiled that lopsided smile when he saw me and nodded his head. He had thrown a black t-shirt on along with a pair of board shorts and some sunglasses. He looked just how a California boy should look. We wandered around the hotel gardens for a while and bought some ice tea out of a vending machine.

“So,” he asked, sauntering down the walkway beside me. “Amanda from Pennsylvania. What brings you to LB?”

“My Dad.” I said grimly. “He’s sick. Had a bad heart attack. The doctors won’t let him leave until he’s fully recovered.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He said, sounding concerned. “My Dad died from a heart attack when was only 8. Roughest year of my life.”

“I know what you mean. My mom died when I was six.” I replied.

A wave of seeming understanding passed between us, and we were quiet for the next few minutes of our stroll.

“So you’re living in the hotel?” He asked.

“Yeah. I haven’t started looking for a place yet. Just in case, you know, Dad get’s better soon.”

“You got a job?” He asked, never taking his eyes off me. I felt like I was being studied. And instead of feeling my usual uncomfortable self when guys were watching me, I actually found myself liking the attention. For once someone actually wanted to know about me.

“No.” I sighed. “I’ve been looking for the past week but so far no luck.”

“Really?”

“Really.” I nodded glumly.

“Well believe it or not, meeting me this afternoon just might have been your lucky break.”

I laughed. “And why is that?”
”Because,” he grinned. “It just so happens our rookie life guard decided to run off with her much older boyfriend. We doubt she’ll be back for the rest of the summer. So technically, there is an opening…”

“You’re serious?” I exclaimed. It was too perfect. A job right in the very place I was staying at.

“Yeah. You would have to apply of course. I’ll run it by my supervisor, but since I just got promoted to senior life guard this year, I’m actually in charge of hiring.”

“No way.” I laughed. “I have my red cross and everything. I could get someone back home to fax it, along with a resume within the next day or so.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Your right today must be my lucky day.”

“Well I’m a lucky guy.” He grinned.

“So tell me,” I asked coyly. “Is Jesse James your real name?”

“Guilty.” He winked.

“God that must have given you such an ego during high school.” I groaned.

“Try since the 4th grade.”

He took off his sunglasses and I got another look at his striking blue eyes. I felt like such a, well, like a girl. It was like I was sixteen all over again and getting to hang out with the captain of the football team and all the other girls were jealous of me.

“So, you want to get a twisted berry smoothie at the best place in town? My treat.” He asked, eyes twinkling.

Yepp, this definitely felt like high school. And the truth was, I was completely enjoying every minute of it.

Thanks for reading, now please drop me a review!