"The Normandie Hotel was designed by the renowned French architect Jacques Garcia. Personally, I quite admire this European aristocratic style..."
With a stunning beauty on each arm, both being impeccable in temperament and looks, Sean strolled down the corridor. One hand rested on Betty's slender waist, while the other draped over Gwen's exposed, snow-white shoulder...
Along the way, they drew envious or astonished glances from passersby.
When Sean escorted Betty out of the hall, General Ross who was mid-conversation with several dignitaries noticed them but merely chuckled to himself, thinking, 'These two are moving fast.'
Of course, the general hadn't spotted Gwen at Sean's side... Otherwise, he might have stormed over and drawn his sidearm on that greedy bastard.
Seemingly basking in his good fortune, the young man effortlessly steered the conversation, explaining the hotel's history and features while subtly maintaining control...
He observed the tension between Betty and Gwen, occasionally interjecting to preserve a delicate balance, all while feigning neutrality.
The trio stepped into the elevator in this strange atmosphere...
It was a VIP-exclusive lift that led directly to the off-limits observation deck. The plush carpet underfoot and the warm, dim lighting gave the enclosed space an old-world charm.
A sudden silence fell. The two women, each lost in their thoughts, kept stealing glances at the young man before quickly looking away.
As the elevator began its ascent, Sean deftly guided the conversation...
He had already discerned their contrasting personalities: beneath Betty's reserved and proper exterior lay a rebellious spirit thirsting for danger and excitement, while Gwen's cheerful and outgoing nature masked a sensitive vulnerable core...
Like a master conductor, Sean stoked Betty's emotions while soothing Gwen's nerves. The result? The former pressed closer to him, while the latter practically melted into his embrace.
Suddenly... the smoothly rising elevator jolted violently. A sudden weightlessness gripped them as if they were plummeting. The floor numbers flickered erratically, and the overhead lights dimmed intermittently.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here," Sean said calmly, pulling both women into his arms.
Still shaken from their recent kidnapping ordeal, Betty and Gwen were like startled birds. The claustrophobic space and the unknown threat instantly brought back terrible memories.
After a few seconds, the elevator stabilized. The flickering lights steadied, though the floor display remained dark. They were stuck... neither ascending nor descending, seemingly due to some malfunction.
"No need to worry. Hotel elevators have safety mechanisms," Sean reassured them, feeling Gwen tremble against him.
Though Betty appeared calmer, her darting eyes betrayed her unease.
He pressed the red emergency button. The elevator was equipped with an intercom, and after a brief exchange, the staff outside apologized profusely, promising to dispatch technicians immediately.
Yet ten minutes later, the intercom crackled again. The voice on the other end was tense and apologetic... the elevator was lodged between floors, and they needed to call 911 for specialized help. It would take thirty to forty minutes.
"This is absolutely ridiculous!" Betty snapped, her composure cracking.
Gwen clung tighter to Sean's arm. The enclosed space and fear of the unknown made her crave his reassurance even more.
"Can't they hurry? Are there cameras in here?" Betty leaned against the corner, arms crossed, clearly unsettled by the ordeal.
"To protect guests' privacy, the hotel doesn't install cameras," Sean replied softly, glancing upward.
"Don't they maintain these things? Unbelievable..." To Betty, being trapped for half an hour in this confined space was unbearable.
She was about to distract herself by talking to Sean when she noticed Gwen's pale arms sliding around his neck. The usually quiet Miss Stacy rose onto her tiptoes, pressing close to whisper in his ear.
"I was so scared in that warehouse... Part of me wanted you to come save me from those thugs, but I was terrified they'd hurt you..." Gwen murmured, her lips brushing his cheek, "We've been friends since college... but you've always kept me at arm's length... sometimes warm, sometimes cold. Just when I think I'm close to you, it's like I don't know you at all..."
"...Now I understand. You kept your distance... maybe to protect me. Sean, I can accept any version of you, even if it's not the bright and perfect one I imagined."
The enclosed space emboldened Gwen. Emotions bottled up for years erupted like a volcano, pouring out in a heated rush.
She tilted her head up, capturing his lips in a fervent kiss. The wet, tangled sounds of their embrace echoed in the confined elevator. Betty could only watch, stunned, as the two lost themselves in each other.
Surprisingly, Sean was the passive one this time. Pinned against the wall, his neck was encircled by pale arms as Gwen kissed him with desperate intensity. In the frenzy, her black backless gown slipped lower.
Perhaps it was the long-suppressed emotions finally breaking free, but Gwen was unusually bold and unrestrained. Betty, meanwhile, stood frozen, her cheeks flushed from both alcohol and the sight before her. She tried to turn away, but soft, breathy moans reached her ears regardless.
A strong arm hooked around Betty's waist, pulling her in. She instinctively resisted, but her feeble attempt was futile. What followed was like a sudden, all-consuming battle, with initial skirmishes giving way to full-blown passion.
From a tug-of-war to utter surrender, Betty melted into Sean's embrace, her eyes dazed. His warm, calloused hands roamed relentlessly, stoking the fire within until it consumed her entirely.
The elevator filled with the scent of sweat and arousal. Their entanglement lasted until the repair team finally arrived... though by then, the two women were far too lost in pleasure to care about sightseeing.
As the charity gala wound down, Tony Stark (his right arm bandaged from his fight with the Hulk) turned a corner toward his luxury suite.
Spotting Sean with two disheveled beauties in tow, the former playboy couldn't help but recall his own wilder days...
With a sour grimace, he muttered, "Ugh. Disgusting bastard."