Page 87 of Tito

I’d never taken an impulsive trip in my life. As far as I was concerned, going to Vegas for two days in the middle of the week was the epitome of excitement.

“Let’s do it,” I said.

* * *

The Uber driverstopped in front of the hotel and rushed to open my door. I stepped onto the sidewalk and gawked at the sight of the hotel, a curved structure that reached for the cloudless sky above.

“This is amazing,” I murmured. “I’ve never seen a hotel like this.”

“Wait until you see the inside,” he said.

The hotel’s lobby was an architectural masterpiece. A combination of contemporary sculptures fashioned of polished stainless-steel, wooden structures, and fresh floral arrangements tickled my senses of sight and smell.

In the background, slot machines, the shouts of gamblers winning, and techno music from a distant club satisfied my ears.

A graceful man in a tailored suit approached us. His skin was tan, and his dark hair was gelled to sculpted perfection.

“Good morning Mister Silva,” he said. “Welcome back.”

Mister Silva?

“This is Reggie,” Tito said.

The man shook my hand while offering a toothy smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Reggie. I hope you enjoy your stay at Aria.”

“Thank you.”

He handed Tito a small envelope. “We have you in Sky Suite 62101. Let me get someone to help you with your bags.”

“That’s quite alright,” Tito said.

The man gave a sharp nod. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

“Thank you,” Tito said.

The man offered a smile and then disappeared through the sea of people gathered around the reception desk.

I faced Tito. “Mister Silva?”

“We come here quite a bit,” he said with a laugh. “One of the guys in the MC has a little bit of a gambling problem.”

“Oh. Well, I guess spending money here has its benefits, huh?”

He reached for our bags. “I suppose so.”

After taking a sixty-two-story ride on an elevator so fast that my ears popped, we arrived in our room. He handed me the key card and nodded toward the door.

“After you.”

I swiped the card and eagerly opened the door.

I was met by a travertine tile floor, lengthy corridor, and a beautiful view of the distant mountains. The aroma of fresh flowers lingered in the air. I wandered into the room taking one thing in at a time.

The bathroom was larger than my living room, and included a separate shower, tub, and jacuzzi. The closets were large enough to sleep in. A living room with two sofas, a big screen television, and ample room for guests was next, followed by a large master bedroom with a view of the mountainous horizon. Beyond the bedroom, another living room, situated at the corner of the room.

With a breathtaking view of the mountains through one of the walls of glass and clear sight of the infamous Las Vegas strip through the other, the room was staggeringly large.

I gawked out the windows for a moment before facing Tito. “This. Is. Incredible.”