#luxury hotels Madrid

[metropolitant]

Discover Madrid: Top 10 Experiences to Add to Your 2024 Bucket List

Madrid, Spain – April 25, 2023: Pitch view at Civitas Metropolitano arena – the official playground of FC Atletico Madrid, where history and modernity blend seamlessly, offers a rich tapestry of experiences that cater to every traveller. From art aficionados and food enthusiasts to those seeking the thrill of flamenco or the tranquillity of lush gardens, Madrid beckons with its diverse…

[mensministry]

Niessen Smart Hotel, Madrid, Spain,

Ruiz-Velazquez Architecture and design

[flipatravel]

Bless Hotel Madrid Luxury

Un oasis de bienestar en el corazón de Madrid

Situado en la sofisticada Milla de Oro, a pie de las tiendas más exclusivas del barrio de salamanca, BLESS hotel madrid es un icono para la capital. Viva una experiencia dinámica en una de las 111 habitaciones y suites de lujo que encuentran su inspiración en las elegantes casas del aristocrático barrio de Salamanca de Madrid del Siglo XIX.

[privatejettravel]

A private jet journey to Madrid

Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain, pulsates with energy, rich history, and a captivating cultural tapestry. From its renowned museums and architectural marvels to its delectable culinary scene and lively nightlife, Madrid offers something for everyone. But why settle for the ordinary when you can elevate your travel experience with the ultimate luxury; a private jet flight?

Read more: https://jetservicenl.com/destinations/madrid/

[jessicaminhanh]

Jessica Minh Anh at Mandarin Oriental Ritz

Here are some additional photos of Jessica Minh Anh at Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid, Spain.

At the Beauty Concept Spa in Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, a 14-meter indoor swimming pool awaits, nestled within walls of luxurious white marble veined with hints of grey. The pool's ethereal beauty is heightened by its direct plunge design, conjuring an idyllic setting for relaxation. The celestial-themed lighted ceiling, adorned with exquisite Preciosa chandeliers, mirrors Madrid's constellations.

[pursuitist]

5 Reasons To Visit H10 Villa de la Reina Madrid

To stay along Madrid’s Gran Vía means you will be in the heart of the action of the Spanish capital. This pulsing thoroughfare is to Madrid what Broadway is to New York. You’ll find top theaters, restaurants, shops and hotels. It’s a link to much of the city’s top tourist attractions, too. The H10 Villa de la Reina Madrid has a lot of great qualities, much like other hotels on this street, but…

[jupiitersreturn]

Astrocartography Observations Part One: Sun, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter.

(Disclaimer: A lot of Astrologers use different orbs of measurements for Astrocartography. My limit is 200 km because I have seen lines that have influences up to that point, and depending on the planet, sometimes more.)

Planets:

Sun: Fame, Happiness, Vitality, Children.

Moon: Home, Roots, Family, Nostalgia.

Venus: Love, Beauty, Luxury, Desires.

Mercury: Lower Education, Communication, Knowledge, Friendships.

Mars: Passions, Action, Pain, Anger.

Jupiter: Luck, Higher Education, Religion, Beliefs.

Saturn: Karma, Restrictions, Discipline, Commitments.

Uranus: Unpredictability, Innovation, Rebellion, Technology.

Neptune: Illusions, Dreams, Spirituality, Intuition.

Pluto: Destruction, Transformations, Deaths and Rebirths.

Where your Sun lines are running through are places that you could gain or increase your fame or societal standing. And depending on the Angle of the Sun(DC, AS, MC, IC) it can also tell you what exactly it is that gives you that happiness.

☆ Despite being the daughter of a US Navy Pilot, Priscilla Presley gained her fame from being married to famous musician Elvis Presley. They got married at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Priscilla has her Sun DC line running through Las Vegas. Sun rules fame, DC rules partnerships.

☆ Blake Lively has her Sun MC line running through London, where she has expressed her love for on numerous occasions, AND where she has made meaningful connections with other celebrities that has contributed to her social status and public persona. (MC)

☆ David Beckham has his Sun IC line running through Miami and although he retired from soccer in 2013, he maintained and even increased his societal standing when he became the co-owner of the Inter Miami CF.

☆ Interestingly enough, Blake Lively also has her Sun, Venus, AND Mars MC lines running directly through London, which is a place that she loves to go and feels happy at (Sun). A few months ago, she and her partner (Venus) bought a house in London to live in while he finishes up his filming of the Deadpool Franchise (Sun MC) which is an action movie (Mars).

☆ Perrie Edwards has her Sun DC line running through London and she gained fame (Sun) from her role as 1/4 of the girl group Little Mix (DC)

Where your Mars lines are running through are places that you could experience or be subject to hate, pain (physical, mental, and emotional), and anger.

☆ Victoria Beckham's Mars AS line runs through Madrid. When her husband David Beckham transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid, they moved to Madrid. Victoria Beckham was singled out for hating Spain due to her remark of Spain smelling like Garlic and giving off a terrible scent. This one phrase basically ruined her life in Spain as the hate against her lasted for up to 4 years. She has said that it was the most unhappy she has ever been in her life.

☆ David Beckham has his Mars AS line running through Rio De Janeiro. In 2014 he was under a lot of fire from Brazilian locals after being accused of indirectly causing the prices of favelas to increase after buying a "slum-house" for $1M allowing gentrification to ensue.

☆ Charli D'Amelio's Mars MC is going straight through the center of the United States. We all know how disliked/hated she is amongst people in the United States. And with this being her MC line, it makes sense that the hate is largely due to and greatly affects her public persona and the way that she is portrayed by media.

☆ Monica Lewinsky has her Mars DS line running through California which we all know is Fame Headquarters (Hollywood). She was a hot topic in the entertainment industry and subject to a fuck ton of scrutiny and hate for a long time due to her intimate relationship with former president Bill Clinton (DS).

Where Your Venus lines are at, could be potential places that you may meet your life partner or long term relationships, and the lines that pass through it could tell you the circumstances.

☆ Blake Lively has her Sun AS, Mars AS, AND her Venus AS lines touching New Orleans. She met her Husband of 11 years in New Orleans (Venus rules Love) while shooting an Action Movie (Sun rules Movies and Fame, Mars rules Action)

☆ Victoria Beckham has her both her Venus MC and Jupiter MC lines going through London. She met her husband of over 20 years in London. Additionally, the Midheaven or Medium Coeli is the highest point of your chart and represents your Public Image and Success. The Beckham's are known to be one of Hollywood's longest standing marriages and have created a household name for themselves propelling both of them in their careers and future prospects. (Jupiter MC)

☆ (Also, I just thought this was interesting) Victoria Beckham had her start in the entertainment industry as a member of The Spice Girls. Her stage name was Posh Spice (Venus) which defined her Public Image (MC).

Where your IC lines are, could indicate your ancestry, or where and how you grew up or experienced your early life at.

☆ Selena Quintanilla's Saturn IC line runs through Mexico and she is Mexican. Although she became the biggest Mexican-American music artist in her 20's, when she was younger she had no connection to her Mexican ancestry (IC). She had to learn about her ancestry, AND learn Spanish before she was able to be labeled a Mexican American music artist. (Saturn represents restrictions and delays)

☆ Nicole Kidman's Mercury IC line runs through Ireland, and she has openly talked (Mercury) about her Irish ancestry (IC)

☆ Perrie Edwards has her Mercury DS line running through Scotland and she has Scottish ancestry.

☆ Hailey Bieber has her Mercury IC line running through Brazil. She has Brazilian ancestry as her mother is Brazilian.

☆ Charli D'Amelio has her Mercury IC line touching Italy. She is of Italian Descent on her fathers side.

Where your Jupiter lines are, could indicate where and how you experience luck.

☆ Charlize Theron has her Jupiter MC line running through California and it was there that she was discovered by a Hollywood agent while getting into an altercation with a bank teller.

☆ Anya Taylor Joy has her Jupiter DC line running through London which is where she was disocvered while walking her dog.

☆ Justin Bieber has his Jupiter AS line running through Canada which is where he was discovered by Scooter Braun completely by chance as he clicked on the wrong Youtube video and Justin's video came up.

[lottins-only]

I love you, it's ruining my life | Part III

pairing: Kylian x black!fem!Reader

warnings: some nsfw (?) content

word count: 6.9k

part one, part two

A/N: this one is a bit long 🫠 Thank you to those who read the first two parts, and to those who sent me sweet messages🙏🏾Inbox is open, so please do let me know your thoughts !! <3

III. December 2022

“What are those for?” 

Y/N followed Ethan’s inquisitive gaze to the top of her tote bag . She quickly shoved down the bags of candy peeking out, trying to conceal their abundance. She knew she’d packed way too many, but more meant better options, she’d reasoned. Especially since the person they were meant for had the sweet tooth of a 5 year old. 

“Oh, you know me, I always have to have snacks on me” She lied.

Ethan looked at her like she was a madman, then shook his head before turning his attention to his phone. They were sitting outside at a luxurious hotel that served as the base camp of the French National Team for the duration of the World Cup. With the final only a few days away, the FFF had organized a “fun day” for the players to unwind with their loved ones. There were bouncy castles and inflatable slides littered around the lawn for children, while the irresistible aroma of barbecue wafted through the air. Kylian was somewhere entertaining his niece and nephew, and was hanging out with his parents as well. Y/N and Ethan, introverts as they were, spent most of their time chilling on the lounge chairs drinking mojitos (Virgin mojitos for Ethan; he’d tried to convince her to let him have a try from her drink but she’d refused). 

Y/N was enjoying herself. Truly savoring every moment. A one month-long, all-expenses-paid trip to watch her best friend play in the World Cup? She couldn’t have submitted her PTO request fast enough.  

 “It’s probably only going to be 2 weeks though”  Kylian had said to her half- jokingly when he’d proposed the idea over the phone. He was referring to the “winner's curse”, the jinx that often saw past winners exit the tournament in the group stages.  But against all odds, France was once again in the final of the World Cup. 

She opened her phone, dismayed to find zero new messages from her boyfriend of 8 months, Lucas. They had met when she moved to Madrid straight after graduating from university. She’d found a job at a small public health non-profit, and Lucas had been one of the few people working there that was her age. They’d quickly struck up a friendship,  and he’d immediately asked her out after he left that job a few years later. It was a no-brainer for Y/N to say yes. He was good looking, charming, and made her laugh. Besides, it was well past the time to move on from Kylian. 

For his part, Kylian had been ecstatic when she’d returned to Europe. They had grown closer after both of their moves,  despite the distance. They facetimed at least once a week, and it sort of became a tradition for Kylian to give her a quick call before games. They’d text regularly too, their conversations meandering from trivial topics to deep confessions. Once, she’d mentioned that she used “Study with me” YouTube videos for her study sessions, as it was a way to keep herself accountable. 

“I could do that with you, you don’t need stupid youtube videos” he’d said confidently over the phone. 

She’d laughed. “You can’t shut up for 2 minutes if your life depended on it, Ky”

“No, I can” he’d said seriously. “I want to, for you”

And so they’d formed another tradition. They’d sit silently on facetime for hours and hours, Y/N poring over her books and notes, and Kylian in his room alone doing god knows what. He’d check in on her every once in a while, always encouraging. She knew that he had a busy life and few precious hours to himself, so she was grateful that he’d decided to spend that time with her, doing something that had no immediate benefit to him whatsoever. 

They’d opened up more about their love lives as well, as they’d promised to each other back in Monaco. She didn’t volunteer any information herself, because it was still  a little weird, but she’d answer questions if he probed. It was a lot less easy for Kylian to hide things from her, thanks to his growing fame. She’d only have to scroll through her explore page on Instagram or go through gossip websites to find detailed information about any woman who so much as breathed next to him. He’d continued dating people after the breakup with Sophia, which had happened only a month after her visit in Monaco. But much to her relief, it was never serious with anyone. She’d once seen pictures of him in the stands at the Parc des Princes with a blonde actress, and that old feeling of jealousy had snuck up on her like it had never left.  But just two weeks later, Kylian informed her that it was over. 

She had mentioned  Lucas to him  pretty early on in the relationship. Like she expected, he’d made a bad joke out of it. Something about HR needing to be alerted. She’d reminded him, rather annoyed, that Lucas no longer worked at her workplace. He didn’t say anything after that, quickly changing the subject. One day, however, Lucas mentioned something that gave her pause.

“You know something crazy that happened to me today?” He’d laughed. They were lounging on her couch in her apartment, watching a movie. “Kylian Mbappe liked a picture of mine on Instagram, from like 6 years ago”

She’d furrowed her eyebrows. Lucas was a huge football fan, but Y/N still hadn’t mentioned her friendship with Kylian. It had only been a month of them seeing each other, and about 3 days after she’d told Kylian about him. 

“Yeah, look” Lucas brought out his phone and showed her a screenshot. Sure enough, Kylian’s username was under a picture of Lucas’ dated December 2016. Lucas was a regular poster on Instagram, so Kylian must have scrolled far back to find that picture. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. 

“I know right?” Lucas  had said. “Funny thing is, it disappeared just a few seconds after I got the notification. So random.”

She imagined THE Kylian Mbappe in his bed late at night, lurking on Instagram, accidentally liking an old picture and then hurriedly unliking. 

“Yeah” she had said, a smile tugging at her lips. “Random”

As Y/N’s thoughts drifted back to the present, she glanced at her phone again. Still empty. After a rocky couple weeks  of arguments, Y/N and Lucas decided to go on a break. Lucas had grown distant and less affectionate. He was less present when they spent time together, and was generally making less effort in the relationship. It had been a punch to the gut when he’d forgotten her birthday two weeks ago. She hadn’t said anything; he’d only realized when he saw the huge bouquet of flowers from Kylian sitting on her dining table. 

That was also another sore spot in their relationship; Lucas was not at all comfortable with her friendship with Kylian. He hadn’t mentioned it, and she had made a point to tone down the constant texting and calling as soon as they became official, but she could still see it in the way he behaved. The World Cup trip was the tipping point. She couldn’t blame him; Her male best friend, who was one of the most famous footballers in the world, was bankrolling a one month trip for her to watch him play on the world’s biggest stage. It would be a hit to the ego for any man. But frankly, she was tired. She was tired of him, and she wanted time away from him. And so the break began. 

She did not miss him, if she was being honest with herself. Yet, she couldn’t help checking her phone to see if he’d reached out.  Lucas was the only person she’d been seriously interested in, besides Kylian. Maybe it wasn’t wise to give up on something good over a bad month or so. A tiny, insecure part of her told her she’d never find someone who liked her just as much as Lucas.

“Hi there” A deep voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up to see a very handsome face.

He stood tall in the dark blue tracksuit of the French national team, smiling at her broadly. She recognized him immediately. 

“Hi” She responded shyly, having never spoken to Kylian’s national team teammates before. 

“Saw you from over there” Aurelien Tchouameni pointed to the mini basketball court, where some other players were shooting hoops. “And you’re really pretty”

Straight to the point, then. Ethan snorted from across the table. 

“Uh.. thanks” She said nervously. “I have a boyfriend though”

Aurelien glanced at Ethan, then at her. Realization dawned on his face, and he held up his hands apologetically. “Oh, you’re Y/N! I should’ve realized… So you and Kylian finally got together, huh?”

“W-What?” She blabbered. Ethan was now laughing. “No, we’re not dating. Just friends”

“Oh” Aurelien said, his eyebrows furrowing. “Sorry. It’s just that he always talks about you”

“Really?”

“Yeah, whenever we talk about shows and music and stuff, he’s always like Y/N recommended this, Y/N said that”

“Yeah, he basically stole my entire personality” She deadpanned, trying to feel less awkward.

He laughed, nodding in agreement. “Well, you guys have fun. And sorry about that, I just had to shoot my shot”

He winked and walked away as quickly as he’d appeared.

She turned to Ethan, who was no doubt opening his mouth to tease her. She held up her hand. “Don’t even”

Y/N unloaded the contents of her tote bag on the bed, spilling out every type of candy Kylian had ever enjoyed. She turned to him, smiling proudly. “There you go, Monsieur”

Kylian’s eyes lit up as he grabbed a bag of M&Ms and tore it open. “Thank you” he said with a dimpled grin.

He’d  texted her the day before asking her to grab him some candy, and she was happy to oblige. Kylian was the most disciplined person she’d ever met, but everyone deserves a cheat day—especially someone who’d made it to his second World Cup final at 23. She’d waited until they were alone in his room to give him the treats, careful to not be seen by any of the coaching staff. 

She leaned back on her chair and opened her phone, once again checking for new messages. 

“Stop that” Kylian scolded.

“Stop what?” She asked innocently.

“I know what you’re doing” he said. “I can’t believe you’re the one who’s hung up on him while he’s the asshole. It should be the other way around”

“I’m not hung up on him” She said, flustered. “I’m just…”

“You’re checking your phone every 5 minutes” He cut in. “You deserve someone who gives you their full attention and consideration, you know”

And why can’t that person be you?

The door burst open and Ethan walked in, his eyes immediately landing on all the candy.

“I knew it!” He pointed at her, accusatorial. “I knew it was for him”

She shrugged apologetically. 

Ethan happily opened a bag of Haribos, and turned to his brother, a mischievous look on his face. “Did she tell you about Tchouameni?”

“What about him?” Kylian responded absentmindedly, his attention on his phone. 

“He hit on her” Ethan said grinning “And then when he found out who she was he said he thought you two were dating”

An idea unfurled in Y/N’s head. “He’s so hot” she said. “Maybe I should ask for his number. Might as well, right? Since Lucas and I are basically done…”

“No” Kylian’s voice rose slightly. “No, don’t do that.”

“Why not?” She asked “You just said I deserve someone who gives me attention. Aurelien seems like the type”

He was fidgeting now, irritation clearly written on his face. “Athletes are assholes, haven’t you heard that before? Also, it would be weird for you to date my teammate”

“Are you saying you’re an asshole?” She asked

“No, but.. Just trust me” He turned his attention back to his phone, clearly uncomfortable. 

Y/N wasn’t much of a football fan, but she knew that the match she just witnessed was one of the best ever played. The highs and lows, the split second moments that changed the trajectory of the whole game, the sheer unpredictability of the whole thing. Every single movement made by the players felt like the tipping point. The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, a living, breathing entity fueled by the passion and excitement of the fans watching. By the time the Argentinian player had kicked the final penalty to seal his country’s win, she was overwhelmed by a deep feeling of sadness. So much so, that she felt tears prick her eyes. She looked down at Kylian, only a small figure from her seat in the stands. His shoulder was slumped, his entire body deflated. He had given his all, and yet he had lost.  Teammates and coaching staff alike kept coming up to him to comfort him. She desperately wanted to go over to him, to hold him, but she knew she couldn’t enter the pitch until after the medal ceremony. 

She saw him and his teammates retreat into the tunnels just as Messi lifted up the World Cup to the cheer of thousands. She turned to his family and friends,  with whom she’d been cheering in elation at Kylian’s equalizing goal just a few minutes ago. 

“Go” his father urged her “The only person he’d want to see right now is you”

She didn’t need to be told twice. She weaved her way through the stadium, flashing her VIP access lanyard when met with security, and asking for directions once or twice. She passed through the final set of security before finding herself outside the French team’s locker rooms. She informed the guard outside who she was looking for. He went inside, and moments later, came back out with Kylian. 

Her heart nearly shattered at the sight of him. He kept his head down, but she could see his eyes were bloodshot. Without a word, she wrapped him in a tight hug, feeling him shake silently in her embrace. She had never seen Kylian cry before. 

“Hey” she murmured softly. “It’s okay”

He buried his face in her shoulder, his breath hitching with each silent sob. Her own tears slipped down her cheeks. He gently let go a few moments later, and they sat down on the floor, leaning against the hallway wall. 

“I thought we had it” He said, his voice cracking. 

“ I know you did” She said gently, wiping a tear falling down his cheeks. “ You gave your everything. Sometimes it just comes down to luck, Ky. There’s nothing you can do about it” She took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. 

Kylian nodded, but she knew he didn’t believe her. Knowing him, this night would haunt him for a long time. 

“Thank you for being here” His voice was steadier now. He leaned his head on her shoulder. 

“Always” She whispered. 

They sat there for some minutes, watching the hallway slowly become filled with the families of the other players. Her heart warmed at the sight of Griezmann’s daughters comforting their father. Her thumb was slowly caressing the back of Kylian’s hand. Turning slowly, she kissed his forehead. She wondered if they looked like a couple just then, with their hands joined in her lap and her lips on his forehead.

                        

It was 2 days after that disappointing night in Qatar,  and two nights since Y/N had been unceremoniously dumped over the phone.

The weight of the defeat had lingered that night, sucking the energy out of everyone. By the time Y/N and the Mbappes returned to the hotel, the atmosphere was thick with sadness and disappointment. She’d gotten the call just as she’d walked into her hotel room. Lucas’ voice had been calm and detached as he’d delivered the news she had dreaded: their relationship was over. The entire conversation was a blur, but there were bits and pieces that stung so much it still echoed in her head. “ I don’t feel that connection anymore” to “I’m clearly second choice here”  and “you’ve been lying to yourself all this time”. She’d cried herself to sleep, overwhelmed by a storm of heartache and confusion.

She had planned to go straight to Madrid after the final but decided to hide out with her parents in Paris for a couple days. It was now the 20th, Kylian’s birthday. She hadn’t spoken to him since coming back to Paris, caught up in her own heartbreak, but she’d received an invitation for a birthday dinner via his assistant. It took everything in her to drag herself out of bed and to get ready. 

The restaurant was one of the most famous in Paris, and Kylian’s personal favorite. He’d reserved the entire space for his friends and family. It was cozy, with dimmed lights and ambient music  blending in with the chatter of the guests. A single long table stretched across the room, dotted with candlelight. 

As Y/N made her way through the room, she greeted everyone –  Kylian’s parents, his brothers, his closest teammates, his close friends, and other acquaintances. To her embarrassment, she’d been the last guest to arrive. His assistant guided her to the only open seat left, right next to Kylian. 

“No one wants to sit next to the birthday boy?” She quipped as she took her place.

“Was saving it for you” He replied. He looked handsome in a blue Dior sweater and black denim jeans. His tan from Qatar was already fading, and he had a small smile playing on his face. They chatted for a bit, asking each other about their respective heartbreaks, before becoming engrossed in the lively conversations surrounding them. 

At one point, they caught each other’s eyes. The candlelight was casting strange shadows on his face. She smiled at him, and without thinking, poked at one of his dimples. “I’m really glad you were born, by the way”

“ I know” His eyes sparkled with amusement. His  arm was draped casually over the back of her chair, their faces close. He  gently tugged at a single braid of her hair with his other hand and murmured, “I like your hair like this. It’s new right?”

It was indeed new. She’d decided to try boho braids for the first time. 

You deserve someone who gives you their full attention and consideration, you know. 

Someone cleared their throat, and they sprung apart. It was the waitstaff, ready to serve appetizers. They spoke sparingly as they ate. Kylian, the menace that he was, kept reaching for bites from her plate. She elbowed him whenever he did, but she didn’t hesitate to steal from his plate as well. 

After everyone had eaten and all the food was cleared, a huge cake with 24 individual candles was brought out. She made sure to take a video of Kylian smiling as everyone sang Joyeux Anniversaire, giggling at how awkward he looked. 

“Make a wish first!” Someone called just as he was about to blow out the candles.

He paused,  his gaze locking with Y/N’s over her phone screen as he playfully pointed a finger at her. He continued blowing out his candles, never breaking eye contact with her. A chorus of laughter came from the guests at his antics, and Y/N felt her face burn as she put down her phone. 

“He’s so down bad for her…” She could hear Tchaga snigger. Another ripple of laughter broke out from the guests at his comment. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her at that moment. 

The laughter and celebration gradually tapered off after some time, and Y/N and some other friends were invited by Kylian to his apartment for some drinks. He had training the next day and didn’t want to do some heavy clubbing. 

The sound of easy laughter and the clinking of glasses filled Kylian’s apartment. Y/N and Kylian were sitting on the couch in his living room, their bodies close together despite them being the only occupants. They were reminiscing about the time Kylian had tried to convince her to play in a school tournament. There was a rule that the teams had to be mixed, and not a lot of girls wanted to play. He’d begged Y/N to join, and she’d reluctantly accepted on the condition that he’d buy her a teddy bear if they won.  They were playing for a plastic trophy that cost 2 euros, yet Kylian treated it like it was life or death. They won, and Y/N got her teddy bear.

“I still have that teddy bear, you know” she said.

“Yeah?”

“Uh-huh. It’s probably my favorite gift I’ve ever received”

He hummed, clearly pleased. She didn’t know when and how, but her leg was slung over his. His hand was on her, his fingers softly tracing lines up and down her calf. 

“So, I’m your birthday wish huh?” She knew she wouldn’t be bold enough to say those words any other time, but here they were. The physical proximity was like a promise of something greater happening. 

“Yup” He met her eyes confidently, his eyes shining. 

“Maybe you should’ve started small though. Like a kiss?” She tried her best to sound flirtatious.

He laughed, “Ok. Let me redo the wish”

He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, a small smile still playing on his lips. He put his palms together as if in prayer and said in a deep, affected voice, “ Dear Universe, for my 24th birthday, I wish to receive a kiss from Y/N”

Without skipping a beat, she leaned in and slanted her lips over his. She could feel his breath hitch, like he hadn’t expected her to do that. It hardly took a second for him to kiss back though. It was slow, sensual. Tender and exploratory. His tongue brushed her lips before slipping inside, and she welcomed him with a soft sigh. The hand that had been on her calf quickly moved to her hips, and his other hand gently cupped her face. Her stomach was a puddle, and she was glad that they were sitting down because she was sure her knees would’ve given out if they were standing. The kiss deepened and went on and on and on, until they had to break away for air. He looked dazed, his lips glistening from her shiny lipgloss.

He quickly put his lips back on her, but Y/N pulled away.

She pressed her lips over his ear and murmured, “You need to tell everyone to leave. Now”

Kylian quickly waved Tchaga over and whispered in his ear urgently. Y/N didn’t feel a trace of shame when Tchaga shot her a knowing, teasing look. She was just happy that he was making quick work of announcing  that the party was over and ushering everyone out of Kylian’s apartment.

No sooner had the apartment emptied and the door slammed behind Tchaga that she climbed his lap. She was able to get one sloppy kiss in before Kylian pulled away breathlessly. “We need to get to my room”

And so he hoisted her up and effortlessly walked them all the way up the stairs and into his bedroom. They kissed fiercely as he gently put her down on his bed. Kylian scrambled out of his sweater as she unbuttoned her shirt. He helped her out of her skirt and then her tights. 

She rolled over and climbed on top of him, finding him as ready as she was. Lustful brown eyes stared openly at her pale pink underwear. “Do you have?” She asked frantically. 

“Yeah, in the drawer”

She leaned sideways, stretching her body to reach the bedside drawer. She found the box pretty easily and grabbed one from it. He was still staring at her hungrily. With shaking hands, she unhooked her bra and took it off.

He kissed her neck, her breasts, her stomach. Her hands caressed his biceps, his chest, his torso. This was years of desire she’d harbored, finally unleashed. His mouth brushed over her lower torso before his fingers deftly removed the last remaining piece of clothing on her body. She unbuckled his belt buckle and removed his jeans and boxers at the same time. His breathing was shallow and rapid as she ripped the foil open and rolled it on him. She lowered herself onto him slowly, and they both gasped. 

They were chest to chest, their hearts drumming together. They moved together in a steady rhythm, watching each other, checking in on each other with their eyes. Is this okay? How about this? And this?

She wanted him closer, deeper. It was never enough. They breathed into each other's mouths, tongues meeting sloppily. Breaking apart, their foreheads met. Their eyes said a million little things at once. Time and space had no meaning anymore for Y/N. There was only Kylian.

* **************

It turned out that if you’d wanted something badly for a very long time, and then you finally got that thing, it didn’t necessarily mean that you'll have enough of that thing. Sometimes, it could leave you wanting more and more. Case in point: Y/N.

They woke up midday with bodies hot and sweaty and limbs tangled together in the sheets. They had laid there for an hour or so, kissing languidly. He somehow already knew what she liked, the moves that made her moan and gasp. 

“I could do this forever” he’d murmured as his lips softly trailed after hers.  But his alarm rang out just then, a stark reminder of real life. They both sighed reluctantly as they pulled away. He had to get up and get ready for his afternoon training. 

She laid there, silently watching him get dressed. She was mesmerized by every movement of his beautiful, lean yet muscular body. Her own personal Adonis. It was a wonder she’d been able to keep her hands off him. He caught her looking at him and smirked, winking at her. She just rolled her eyes.

Once he’d gotten ready and packed his bag, he came over to her on the bed and showered her face with affectionate kisses. “I’ll come back in the evening. Feel free to just chill here.”  He said between kisses on her forehead, lips, cheeks, chin.  “I’ll leave a spare key by the door though”

She nodded happily, giving him one last tender kiss. He stepped out, and she was left to bask in the lingering warmth of his affection. Her mind replayed the memories of the night before, and she felt like the happiest person alive. Now that she got a taste of him, she wanted more of him. As if on cue, her phone pinged with a text. 

Ky: I miss you already 🙁

She giggled, quickly typing out a I miss you tooo before getting up and hopping in the shower. It was only when she got out that she realized she didn’t have a change of clothes, and unless she wanted to walk into her parents apartment dressed the same way she’d left it yesterday, she needed to put on something else. She walked into Kylian’s closet and  grabbed the nearest T-shirt and sweatpants, as well as some slippers. She quickly snapped a mirror pic after changing and sent it to Kylian, typing heading to my parents for a bit.

The reply was almost instant.

Ky: 😍 😍

Ky: don’t forget to grab stuff you need.

She smiled, loving the implication she’d spend the night again. At her parents, she grabbed Kylian’s gift that she’d forgotten to take with her the night before, as well as a change of clothes. She came back to Kylian’s place and answered work emails and completed other miscellaneous tasks concerning her job.

He was back in the early evening, just as promised. The passion of the night before had faded and the afterglow of the morning had subsided, meaning there was nothing to embolden either of them. Thus, they treaded lightly around each other. Their looks were furtive, their touches tentative. Kylian, the least shy person she’d ever met, had somehow turned uncharacteristically quiet. Yet, they were both undeniably giddy. She could see it in the way he broke into an inexplicable smile whenever he caught her eye during dinner, and in the way she was in the best mood she’d been in for a long time. 

This illusion of coyness evaporated as they settled on the couch after dinner, Kylian turning on a tactical video the PSG staff had instructed him to view. The video was on for less than 2 minutes before their focus shifted entirely and they began to make out. 

“You’re too distracting,” he said between kisses as she giggled. 

“Yeah?”

His lips shifted to her neck. “I think kissing you is my favorite thing to do”

He was biting there, sure to leave a mark. 

“Well second favorite” he corrected himself.

She took off her T-shirt and straddled him. He continued, his hands softly gripping her waist “Second place is kissing you. First place is obviously playing football—”

He was momentarily interrupted as she took his own T-shirt off. “—tied with fucking you”

His shit eating grin was the last thing she saw before he flipped her over and sent her sprawling comfortably on the cushions. 

It was unfortunate that they had a game on new year’s eve, but Y/N liked the ambiance at the Parc des Princes. The stadium was buzzing with a special, festive energy for Kylian’s first match after the World Cup final. She was seated in the VIP section along with his parents, brother, and Tchaga and had jumped up and down when Kylian scored the last minute winner. He’d never say it, but she knew he needed that confidence boost. 

In the past week, she’d gotten to know a completely different part of him –  one her lovesick teenage self could only have dreamed of, and that her more cynical young adult self had never thought she’d experience. 

For example, she’d always known that he loved taking care of his loved ones, but she hadn’t spent a single dime during her stay with him. Any purchases she thought of making, he insisted on paying for. He’d even surprised her with a package containing everything from her wishlist after he saw her browsing her favorite store online. His generosity extended to small things like sharing food (which he was notoriously known for disliking), and thoughtful gestures like arranging a work space for her in one of his spare rooms. He endearingly loved using pet names, alternating  between “bébé” and “chérie”, and her heart did somersaults when she heard him use those in everyday conversation. 

She learned intimate details too, thanks to their newfound physical closeness. The birthmark on his lower back that she loved pressing kisses to. How scratching his head would put him to sleep almost instantly. She learned about his preferences as well; he was most definitely an ass man –  it was evident by the way he never passed up a chance to feel her up when they were by themselves.  Now, she committed everything she learned to memory, seeing Kylian in hues she never thought existed. 

The days after his birthday were perfect to her, it felt like she was living a dream. Lucas and Madrid were so far from her mind that it was as if the break up had happened a year ago. The person she’d been pining after for ages seemingly liked her back. She was at her happiest. 

There was one issue that gnawed at her, however. It bothered her that they had never spoken about what they were, or where their relationship was heading. She’d thought that the fact they had slept together was a mutual admission of serious feelings, that they had an unspoken agreement. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more she realized they hadn’t actually talked about it. The first two days or so, she’d been on cloud 9, swept away by the euphoria of it all. But now, as reality set it, it was torturing her. 

A buzz of excitement filled the VIP lounge as a small crowd gathered around the entrance. She suspected it was Kylian and his entourage; he’d promised to come up to the lounge after the game. Sure enough, in walked Kylian’s bodyguards, followed closely by the man of the match himself. 

He made the rounds first, meeting all the important people in the room, taking pictures and making small talk. He finally made his way to his family and friends. He came to Y/N last, and there was an awkward shuffle when he went in for a peck on the lips as a greeting, and Y/N instinctively aimed for his cheek. They laughed it off, and she gave him the kiss he’d wanted. Ethan let out a loud “ew!”, and Y/N flushed, looking at the ground. So far, none of their family and friends had had visible reactions to the recent developments in their relationship. No one had said anything when they’d shown up holding hands at Kylian's family Christmas party a week ago; it was almost like they expected it, as if they believed this was the natural culmination of Y/N and Kylian’s 10+ years long friendship and not an unexpected turn of events. 

“ I have something for you” she murmured after it was just the two of them speaking, indicating a small gift bag she was holding. 

He raised his eyebrows. “Oooh. What’s in there?”

“It's your birthday gift” She said as she handed it to him. “I was supposed to bring it to dinner but I forgot. I brought it to your apartment the next day but it slipped my mind again”

“And here I was thinking my gift was the mind blowing sex” He said grinning. 

She shoved him playfully, rolling her eyes. As he reached to open the bag, her stomach started fluttering. 

Someone slid up to him just then, whispering in his ear.

“ Give me one second, I’ll be back” he said apologetically as he dropped the bag on the nearest table and was whisked away, no doubt to meet some other important person that was there to see him. 

She sighed, her shoulders slumping. The gift was a scrapbook she’d made herself, chronicling their long friendship. She’d hoped it would help open up the conversation about their current situation.

“Fancy a drink?” 

It was one of the waiters, holding a tray of colorful looking drinks. She graciously took one.

“New here? I’m never seen you in the lounge before”

He seemed polite enough. “Uh, yes. I’m here with…my boyfriend” She tested the word on her lips, her eyes on Kylian across the room.

The waiter followed her gaze and snorted. “He has a girlfriend? I’d sooner believe Macron quit the presidency to be a mime”

He blanched as soon as he realized she was serious. “I- I meant-”

“What?”

He looked at the ground. “He just- I see a different model every other week here. They're almost always his guests”

She opened her mouth, but he beat her to it. “Look, just forget I said anything. It’s not my place.” He looked at her pleadingly. “Please don’t get me fired”

He scurried off before she could say anything. 

She glanced at her gift bag, left forgotten on the table. He was now taking pictures with a group of older people. Her eyes started to well up, and she walked out of the room. She kept going until she found herself outside, ordering an Uber. She sent him a text as she got in the car:

Y/N: going home to deal with some stuff, think I’ll spend the night there

She closed her eyes, tears now sliding down her cheeks.

She barely slept that night, spending hours on her phone looking up the many women Kylian had been linked with. She went through their instagrams, her mind treacherously comparing each one to herself, as if she could measure her worth against their curated, seemingly perfect lives. She came across photos of Kylian on yachts, laughing with bikini-clad blondes. The comments on the photos only twisted the knife deeper – some criticized him as a “playboy” , while others mocked him with a dismissive “typical footballer”.  Each photo was like a dagger to her heart.

But it was the final blow that left her breathless: blurry photos of Kylian leaving a club with a girl, taken just a month ago, in November. It was that recent. It all made sense now,  why he’d never made an effort to have a serious conversation about their relationship. He liked his current lifestyle, focusing completely on football while indulging in a fleeting series of flings from time to time. She was nothing special, just another name on the long list of women he entertained. 

What shattered her the most was that he had no consideration for their friendship, that he could throw it away just like that for some sex. He had traded something she deeply cherished for something else he considered transient, meaningless. 

By the time dawn broke and the first light filtered through her curtains, she was resolute. Dragging herself out of bed, she made her way to the kitchen and was shocked to find her parents sitting and laughing with Kylian. 

His face brightened as soon as he saw her. “Morning chérie” he greeted, the pet name failing to make her stomach flutter this time.

“Dropped by to check on you” he continued. “You weren’t answering my texts”

It was intentional, of course. Seeing the tired look on her face, her parents moved out of the kitchen to give them privacy. She sat down beside him slowly, and his face twisted into concern. 

“Is everything ok?” He went to grab her hand but she snatched it away quickly. She didn’t miss the hurt look on his face.

“I- uh. I’m ok” She didn’t know how to approach the conversation. “Did you finally open my gift?”

"What? Your gi- oh. Yeah. I did”  She could clearly see through the lie.

“Kylian” She warned, her tone sharp.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking guilty. “I’m sorry, I completely forgot. But it still has to be there though, no one will take it”

“What the fuck, Kylian?” her voice rose, frustration spilling over. “You didn’t even take it home with you?”

He frantically reached for his phone. “I’ll call and get someone at the club to look for it. I’ll get it back, I promise”

She snatched the phone out of his hand, her eyes blazing  “I spent a lot of time on it. I can’t believe you did that, it's like you don’t even care”

He looked at her earnestly. “You know I care, I care about you a lot”

“Is that what you say to every girl you sleep with?” She couldn’t help it.

“What?” He looked at her incredulously. “ No. This is different. You’ve always been different”

“I find that hard to believe, Kylian” She muttered, her voice quivering.

“Why?” He challenged her, his confusion mingled with frustration. “Why would you think that?”

“Because” her tears spilled over “You’ve been uncommitted forever”

“Well maybe that’s because the one person I would’ve liked to be committed to was in another country, wasting her time on some asshole” 

“Then why not now?” She spoke through tears. “I’ve been sleeping in your bed for a while now, Ky.”

“I was trying to give you time” His voice shook. “You broke up with that idiot literally 3 days before we hooked up. I  thought you weren’t ready”

He looked at her pleadingly, his eyes desperate. 

“I don’t know, Kylian” She laughed bitterly. “you said it yourself, don’t trust athletes”

She saw a tear falling down his cheek, and she was struck by the sight. She never thought the second time she’d see him cry, it would be because of her.

She weighed the possibility of making it work – a long distance relationship, with her in Madrid and him in Paris. They’d see each other infrequently, her being tied to Madrid with work and him to Paris by the relentless demands of football. They’d miss birthdays, anniversaries. She’d never be able to take him to an office Christmas party. Maybe she’d be able to go with him to things that mattered to him, like award ceremonies, but only because his career would take precedence over hers. She’d hear whispers about his potential infidelities, but she wouldn’t say anything. Until the resentment feels so suffocating it bubbles up, and she’d have no choice but to end it. It would happen, whether months away or years down the line. And then they’d have to cut each other off forever.  She didn’t want that. She loved him too much. She’d rather have some of him than nothing at all. Perhaps if she ended it now, their friendship could be salvaged. 

She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m sorry, Kylian. I don’t think… I don’t think we should do this anymore”

They sat there silently for a few seconds. Then she heard a sniffle, and then the sound of his chair  scraping as he got up. She heard footsteps retreating, and then the sound of the apartment door open and slam shut. Only then did she let herself fall apart.

Her mother hurried into the room, looking very alarmed. “Y/N, what’s wrong?”

“Maman” she choked out between sobs. “I need to book a flight back to Madrid”

[verysium]

if you had to associate a city from the world w any bllk character of your liking which cities with who and why? sorry for the odd question lmao it just crossed my mind. love ur works btw!💗

i love unconventional questions like these cus then i have to really think hard to come up with a good answer. i will admit i am slightly biased because i feel that the current teams they play for already represent them well, so some of these might be a repeat. also i am not that well-travelled (wish i could if i had the money), so i'm merely going off the reputed description of each city.

rin would be paris. i know it sounds unoriginal, but pxg rin has already grown 10x prettier than he was during the u-20 arc, so something in that city air must be doing him right. also i feel like he just dresses like a stereotypical european lol. the winter coat and scarf combo plus the perpetual scowl on his face. he probably walks super quickly down the metro too. i have this fic in the drafts where rin and reader meet up at his shitty parisian apartment and eat hotpot and smoke cigs on a random sidewalk in winter. rin is also high class. it just comes naturally to him. like if u ever take a walk near place charles de gaulle (the arc de triomphe area), there's this quiet luxury that is prominent in the fancy hotels and brand stores that make up the vicinity. even better if u go during christmas time because they have these intricately detailed light fixtures. i remember seeing this one cartier store with a giant glittering jaguar on the front. not to mention their swarovski christmas tree. rin's like that. i feel like in a few years once he goes fully professional, the media would go wild over his poise and refined grace. he just has that subtly enticing aura, like a silent glamour.

sae would be madrid. not just because it's canon but also because i feel like the city is just the polar opposite of him. madrid is one of the hottest cities in europe, and sae's just perpetually cold. even in the literal sense, i feel like he would have cold hands and feet too. if u see those wes anderson style travel commercials of madrid, it's always some variation of pastel houses, sunshine, and bikini beaches. that is exactly what sae is not like. i also chose this for...*ahem* spoiler reasons in my upcoming fic chapter which i'm not going to delve too much into. but the gist is that the contrast is why sae fits so well in madrid and also why it's a bit tragic to see how drastically he has to change in order to adapt to a new environment. if not spain, i feel like he'd still end up somewhere with a large coastline because of how fundamental the sea is to him throughout his childhood. it's sort of his safe space. if i had the choice to assign two cities, i'd also include his hometown of kamakura since he seems like the type to be secretly sentimental. i picture sae as someone who values his roots even though he constantly says he has bigger and better places to be. like he would tell everyone that he was born in the wrong country but then proceed to sigh melodramatically whenever he actually misses home.

kaiser is a weird mix of munich, new york, and las vegas. i chose munich largely because of his german roots. i also picture him as bavarian. new york and las vegas are mostly attributed to the duality of his character. when we first see kaiser, he's this figure of flamboyance. his entrance was hands-down the most theatrically dramatic one, and there are theatre motifs throughout his dialogue (eg. roles on a stage, rejecting yoichi's script/play). i feel like this would fit well with the extravagant nightlife las vegas is known for and, of course, broadway in NYC. furthermore, kaiser is this prime example of clawing your way to the top. he seems charismatic and welcoming at first, but then we see his internal motives and well...it's something. he is cutthroat when it comes to competition, and he's not afraid of using others in his ascent to the top. i mean...he literally holds people by the hair as if they're mere objects. that seems pretty ruthless and machiavellian to me. i doubt he even humanizes any of his rivals; rather, he views them as opponents to his ideology. there's also a reason why they say if you make it in new york, you can make it anywhere. there's a highly individualistic mindset, and if you really want something, the resources are there for you to achieve it. kaiser is like that in the sense he is willing to put his all into getting something he desires, even up to an obsessive degree.

yukimiya is london. like u know what taylor swift said about the english? that's yukimiya for you. he treats his mother right, sleeps 8 hours a day, and said his first love was when his friend's 16-year-old sister kissed him on the forehead. he cannot be any more perfect. not to mention he's a literal model. like hello? IMG is calling.

shidou is somewhere in ohio. i'm not going to elaborate. the man's just weird.

isagi is somewhere rural. idk why but he strikes me as a country boy. probably helps his parents on the rice farm and bikes long distances to school. i found a lot of parallels between him and hinata shoyo from haikyu mostly because they're both from a smaller, lesser known neighborhood, have a pretty ordinary childhood, and become inspired by this influential role model. my secondary reason is just that isagi doesn't seem like he'd even be familiar with the urban landscape. he's lived his life in humble origins, so i think there might be some culture shock once he actually gets to the city. like...boy was genuinely amazed when he entered that blue lock facility. never seen so much high-end equipment and technology in his life.

ego lives in a sewer. i cannot tell u his precise location just that he probably hasn't washed his hair in 45 days and is still surviving off processed ramen noodles. please pray for him.

barou is los angeles and if not socal, then he's from the bay area. i took one good look at his artificially dyed red hair and the answer was clear. he is not immune to trends guys. it's almost embarrassing. furthermore, i think the general silicon valley area is known to be hardworking, and that encapsulates barou pretty well. he is disciplined to the core, and he knows that success is not going to come to him without him actively trying to reach it. he's also...(let's be real guys)...just a teensy weensy bit arrogant. he calls himself a king, as in a literal monarch. and he says this in the most serious tone too. now he rightfully earned that title, but it doesn't erase the secondhand cringe i felt from reading that dialogue LOL.

[arias-archive]

!SO THIS WAS A REQUEST BUT TUMBLR WAS SO GLITCHY AND DELETED THAT ENTIRE DRAFT SO I DONT HAVE THE REQ ANYMORE BUT IT WAS JUST ASKING FOR AN ALISA ORTEGA FALLING FOR A SPANISH DUDE!

a/n: as soon as I seen this req I jumped in excitement. alisa ortega is my baby and she deserves so much more attention. I HOPE U ENJOY THIS (also I used google to help me with some of the Spanish translations so if any of it is wrong please just correct me! 🙏🏽)

warnings:

description: alisa doesn’t do vacations, she doesn’t need them. why would she willingly take more time away from work than she needs to. but of course avery would force her to get away so she could deal with the news of a recent engagement, and the heartbreak of her own failed one.

tig masterlist | masterlist

tarado y firecracker (a alisa x oc fic)

Alisa Ortega caught herself glaring down at her hands again, her thumb absentmindedly rubbing against her ring finger. Angrily, she unclasped her hands and took a few deep breaths. 

She didn’t know why she kept doing it. A bad habit really. The finger had been bare for ages, the ring a fading memory from her busy mind. 

It was official. Nash Westbrook Hawthorne was engaged, again. To none other than Avery’s elder sister, Libby Grambs.

The news still stung viciously, prodding at hastily healed wounds hidden within her.

She had seen the signs. It was obvious that this was going to happen. It shouldn’t affect her because she was over her own failed engagement. Seriously, she was. But Alisa had to admit that the idea of Libby Grambs had offended her, with her electric hair and unique style. She was everything Alisa Ortega could not be. Everything that Nash needed. 

The cityscape passed by in a colourful blur as the taxi sped towards her hotel. Madrid really  was beautiful at night. She hadn’t been to Spain since she was a little girl, since her mother had died.

Enough, she scolded herself mentally. That wasn’t what she was supposed to be thinking of. She wasn’t supposed to think of anything really- in Avery’s words.

Just a small break. That’s what the Hawthorne Heiress had insisted. Alisa had refused vehemently, claiming she was fine and that there was work to be done and that Avery couldn’t be left to her own devices, but Avery was adamant. She could be extremely pushy when she wanted. Avery had arranged everything for her and all but forced her onto the plane. 

Avery had confiscated all of Alisa’s work, and added some threats too. All she was left with was her phone but Avery had also added a no work rule to that too. Deny as she might, Alisa knew that Avery was only concerned about her. But she didn’t need to be. It didn’t affect her. 

She spent the rest of the car journey just familiarising herself with the city, blocking out all Hawthorne-related thoughts. That didn’t stop her from tracing her ring finger though. She couldn’t stop the underlying hurt beneath her stoic demeanour. It must’ve been obvious for Avery to send her on a short break. 

Eventually, the taxi pulled to a stop. She thanked the driver before pushing open the door, stepping out into the hot night air and glancing up at the luxurious hotel. Hell, it really was beautiful. 

She didn’t even notice when her driver had rounded the car, wheeling her suitcase beside him. She thanked him again, giving him the necessary money before walking towards the hotel. 

Her body was on autopilot as she entered the lobby, the cool air a stark contrast to the heat she left outside. A concierge took her suitcase up to her room as she went to the front desk to retrieve her room keycard. Her feet took her into the elevator, wanting nothing more than to just fall into bed and sleep off her pain and exhaustion.

 

She entered the room, her suitcase waiting outside for her. She pressed the card against the lock and pushed open the door, wheeling the luggage inside. Using the toe of her stiletto, she nudged the door shut. 

The room was gorgeous, which was nothing compared to the breathtaking view outside but she still drew the curtains closed. 

Alisa didn’t allow herself to collapse into bed yet, forcing herself to shower at least order room service before she slept. See, she was completely fine. Not thinking about Nash, or Libby, or even her mother. Definitely. 

She quickly showered, dried her hair and even ate half of her food before sliding into bed. She grabbed her phone from her bag to check her messages, or lack thereof. Only a single message waited for her, Avery asking if she had gotten to the hotel okay. No other messages. 

She didn’t know what she actually expected, her phone was always empty. She liked the lack of disturbances. She didn’t have any social media apps or anything like that, and only those close to her actually had her number. But this loneliness felt different; something closer to isolation.

Alisa Ortega wasn’t one for crying. Not that she was completely emotionless either, but the hurt she felt usually just sank deeper into the well of her heart. So when she felt the ache of tears stinging her eyes, she couldn’t hold them back. 

Clutching her pillow tightly to her face, she cried. Every sob was sharp like shattered glass, and maybe that’s what she was, too broken to consider fixing. Her exterior was jagged and sharp but underneath it all, she ached, so badly.

None of this was fair. When would she finally get peace? When would the pain and confusion just stop? When was it her turn to find the person? 

She had believed that Nash was her person, the light in her dark life, but he had just ended it. Left her as if the entire thing meant nothing. Didn’t he care about her? 

She just wanted to make everyone proud. Her parents, the firm, Mr. Hawthorne, Nash. She threw herself into work because it was what she was raised to do, her only talent in the cruel world. Nash had begged her to step away from it all, but how could she? People relied on her, people still relied on her. 

It must’ve hurt Nash to leave her behind, but she knew it would’ve killed her if she had to leave everything behind. She just couldn’t. 

As she finally fell into a dreamless sleep, it wasn’t Nash she dreamt of, or her work, or even her mother. She dreamt virtually nothing, a rarity in the chaos of her mind. She welcomed the emptiness, found herself enjoying the feeling of floating for a bit, before she felt too untethered from reality. She screamed and clawed her way back, but her mind had her trapped in that empty abyss, searching for something where she couldn’t see anything.

It felt a little bit like letting go. 

~~~~~~~~

The first full day of her trip, she refused to step outside the bounds of the hotel, curling up in her room feeling sorry for herself, because she’d never allowed herself to feel like this before.

The second day was also spent throwing herself a pity party until late afternoon which is when she forced herself to get ready for the rest of day, because whether she’d like it or not, she was going to go out and explore. 

As a consequence of her unwavering commitment to the firm, she scarcely went on vacations. As a result, she had practically no “proper outfits” in her wardrobe that was suited for a trip. Her closet mainly consisted of expensive power suits and heels. She complained as much to Avery, who then bought her an entirely new selection to choose from.

She wrinkled her nose at most of the outfits, unable to see herself wearing any of them really. Since the day was practically gone now, she supposed she could walk around the city to find a nice restaurant or something. She could do with some different food other than the same meal she kept ordering to her room. 

She opted for a knee-length dress, which fit her tanned-complexion like a glove. The material was almost as dark as her hair, that was left just curled around her shoulders. She threw on a thin jacket over it, not wanting to risk overheating outside.

The sun was just beginning to set when she finally finished getting ready. Now all there was left to do was wait for her taxi to drop her off to the town centre. She wanted nothing more than to run back into the safety of her room but she forced herself to wait. 

How often did Alisa let herself actually have a break, let herself feel anything less than unshakably confident and poised? Never. She couldn’t let this holiday go to waste, even if she didn’t want to be here in the first place.

~~~~~~

She hadn’t realised how much she longed to be back in crowded towns, sampling every small dish offered and hearing the locals happily play music down the streets, to just hear her language spoken easily. 

Alisa couldn’t decide where she wanted to go. Everything smelled deliciously appetising and looked so appealing that she ended up just walking down the cobble-lined streets, unsure of where to actually go. She just walked around, taking it all in. 

She was so entranced by everything that she didn’t even notice the man walking in front of her, that she all but crashed into. What was wrong with her? 

Immediately, strong hands latched around her biceps to steady her. She looked up, embarrassed, ready to apologise for whoever she just walked into. As she locked eyes with the stranger, she involuntarily sucked in a breath. 

He had startlingly, beautiful eyes, the same deepened-brown as hers. Was it even normal for men to have that kind of nice eyes? His startlingly, beautiful brown eyes trailed down her approvingly. Her cheeks flushed scarlet. Was he checking her out? Whatever.

 

“Lo siento mucho,” Alisa apologised, unable to pull her gaze away from him. Fine, since he was checking her out, she had no choice but to check him out. He was decent looking, his tanned complexion mirroring her own, his own dark hair slightly curled up and falling over his forehead in a way that made her want to push it back with her fingers. Easy girl. 

“Está bien, no pasa nada,” Hot-Spanish-Guy replied with a charming smile, clearly designed to make women swoon at his feet. She was not one of those women. Yes, he was hot, but so what? Good for him. 

She angrily pulled her eyes away from his, thanking him again before marching off. She wasn’t even sure why she was so angry. She just wanted food and someone, preferably a lot of it. 

She had only made it like ten steps down the street before she heard footsteps fall in time with her own. “Excuse me, miss,” the handsome stranger piped up, looking over at her. “No entendí tu nombre.” 

“That’s because I didn’t give it to you,” she responded evenly, keeping her eyes on the restaurants lining the streets. 

Instead of taking the hint, Hot-Spanish-Guy only chuckled and kept up with her even faster footsteps. “Woah, there. Slow down,” he chuckled in slightly-accented English. 

“I have places to be,” Alisa threw back, rolling her eyes. What a creep, following her around like this. Like come on. 

“Unless you’re heading to a play park, you’re going the wrong way.” 

That didn’t make Alisa slow down in the slightest. “And just how would you know where I’m going, tarado?”

He rolled her eyes at the teasing nickname, laughing off her attempted jab in good humour. “Well, firecracker,” he snickered, “I’ve seen you walk down this street about ten times now. Admit it, you’re lost.”

That did make Alisa slow down and fully stop, crossing her arms and turning her fiery glare on him. “So you’re basically just a creep then?” 

Hot-Spanish-Guy shrugged playfully, leaning in slightly closer, mischief sparkling in those dreamy eyes. “Are you lost, firecracker?” 

“No, I’m not lost,” she huffed out, tempted to just punch him. Why was he so annoying, and why was she wanting to keep talking to him. This was maddening. 

“Then why are you wandering around like a stray cat?” He asked curiously, close enough that she could see the slight shadow of stubble smattering his jaw. 

“I am not!” She defended haughtily, crossing her arms even tighter against her chest.

“Woah, woah,” he replied, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “I’m only offering to give you help, seeing as you all but bumped into me.”

“Well, thank you, but I don’t need your help.” And with that, she turned on her heels and walked the other way, back up the street. 

She heard the man snort behind her but to her surprise, he didn’t follow her. Good. That’s how it should be.

She must’ve walked the streets a couple more times, still extremely indecisive on where to go. She stopped outside one restaurant and was contemplating just going in now when she was stopped by an annoying whistle.

The handsome stranger was leaning against a lamp pole outside the restaurant, just watching her. She opened her mouth to curse him out when he spoke first. “That isn’t nearly as good as that one there,” he said, punctuating his sentence by pointing her finger to the restaurants.

“And I would care, because…” she responded with an eye roll, tempted to just go into the restaurant to spite him. But the other place he pointed out was actually her second choice. Damn him.

“I got food poisoning from here once,” he answered, pushing himself off the lamp post and swaggering his way over to her. “Just trust me.”

“Whatever,” she gritted out, turning to go to the other restaurant that he pointed out. She had literally walked two entire steps before he called out again.

“Wait!” He said, falling into step beside her. “You aren’t going to eat dinner alone, are you?” His arrogant, charming smirk looked so punchable. Why did he care what she was going to do? 

“Why?” She grumbled irritably. She was so close to just biting his head off now. 

“Because it would be improper of me to make you eat alone,” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone, as if it was his idea that she even eat dinner. “I insist that you eat with me.”

Alisa looked aghast, her jaw open in shock and annoyance. “What?” She practically sputtered out. “I don’t think so.”

Hot-Spanish-Guy only raised a brow and narrowed his eyes playfully. “Why? Meeting a boyfriend?” He had his arms crossed now too, imitating the feisty woman he only met like ten minutes ago.

“No!” She huffed out defensively, before she couldn’t even think of a proper response. “I don’t even know your name, or who you are for that matter.”

She started to walk off again, her heels clacking against the cobblestones beneath her, market lights glinting off the pathway. Then another pair of shoes joined the mix. 

“Mateo Cardenas.” He extended his hand, holding out in front of her teasingly. “And no time to get to know one another over food, wouldn’t you agree?” 

She glared at his hand incredulously, looking around to see if any other people passing-by noticed this strange interaction.

He offered his hand again, more insistently with a teasing smile on his face. “I promise I won’t bite, unless of course, you want me t-“ 

She smacked his extended hand hard for that stupid comment. “But why?” She asked, hesitantly, tracing his face for any signs that this might be just a silly prank. “Wanting to have dinner with me, that is.”

Mateo cocked his head to one side, poking his cheek with his tongue before speaking, looking more serious this time. “I wanted company, and you look like you needed some but if you really don’t want to, I’ll go. I’m only playing around, I don’t mean any harm.”

Her scowl slightly softened at that. He was a compelled pain in the ass, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t considered actually taking him up on his offer.

It was ridiculous. She usually didn’t care for teasing boys and their stupid comments. And she placed the blame on the heartache, the loneliness or even the damn hunger that forced her to extend her own manicured hand, shaking his reluctantly. “Fine, I suppose. You get one dinner.”

That caused Mateo to break out in an even bigger grin, if possible. “You won’t regret it.”

~~~~~~~~

That dinner was perfect really. The best meal she ever had. And so was the company, whether she willingly admitted it or not.

Mateo was really nice, and he seemed genuine. He had shared a lot about himself during the dinner, not minding that Alisa only revealed slight details of her own life. 

As it turned out, Mateo only moved to Spain recently, but he was visiting Madrid for the same reason she was, a small break. Completely coincidentally, he was staying in the exact same hotel that Alisa was. She almost found herself laughing in disbelief at that.

As much as Alisa insisted, he paid for the dinner in full, seeing as ‘it was his idea anyway.’

And she had gotten his number, courtesy of his continuous pestering after she had admitted she enjoyed that she actually enjoyed the dinner.

She really enjoyed just listening to him talk. She honestly forgot how nice it was to just have somebody to talk to. She used to have He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named-Seeing-As-He’s-Engaged-To-Another-Woman, but since then, she has had nobody. And despite not even knowing Mateo for that long, his company just felt right. 

After dinner, he took her exploring around the town, pointing out good locations to eat from, or to shop from. She had never almost-smiled as much with another guy before but she seriously was close to on several occasions. 

She forcefully paid for their taxi back to the hotel, much to his protests because ‘a lady should never pay for anything’. She told him to shut up. He shut up. The journey back was filled with a bit more easy chatter. It was awkward at some points, but Alisa really was trying. 

She was completely out of her comfort zone here. Her ex-fiancé was the only other boy she’d ever loved romantically, and she had known him since she was a baby. She didn’t have to introduce herself to him, go through the stilted small-talk stages.

But for the sake of this break, of doing stuff for the hell of it. She really was going to try.

~~~~~~~~

Much to her semi-annoyance, he practically demanded that he walk her up to her room, as the ‘gentlemen’ he claimed he was. 

After chatting her ear off the entire elevator ride, he smiled charmingly as he dropped her off at her door. Alisa thanked him again and tried again to push money into his hand for the meal but he wasn’t taking it. 

She cursed at him again, to which he only grinned at. She fumbled around in her handbag to retrieve her room keycard, pressing it against the lock and pushing the door open. 

She could’ve just said goodbye and shut the door. But she didn’t.

 

Her heart thundered wildly, taking deep breaths to try and slow it down. She turned back around, and before she could lose the nerve, she called out to his retreating back. “Same time tomorrow, tarado?” 

Her feet felt rooted to the spot, unsure if she made a horrible mistake and read the situation completely wrong. What if this ends up horribly? What if he didn’t want a second dinner? What if-

He turned back around, a look of pure happiness seeded into his gorgeous grin. “I thought you’d never ask, firecracker.”

And Alisa actually smiled at that, a fleeting, excited smile.

She waved him off and shut the door behind her, sinking back against it. She caught her lower lip between her teeth at the thought of tonight. 

Only yesterday was she bawling her eyes out over her own failures, yet today, she was starting some, hopefully, new beginnings. 

But this time, she had nothing to prove, to anyone. This time, she wanted to put her own desires above anything else. 

She pushed away from the door just in time to check the buzzing vibrations of incoming texts into her phone. She actually beamed when she saw the number. God, she really was screwed.

[scotianostra]

November 26th 1908 saw the birth of Charles Carmine Forte in Casalattico, Italy.

Baron Forte, as he was to become, worked in his relatives Italian cafe in the High Street, on his arrival in Scotland from Italy. He expanded a tiny London milk bar (snack bar), which he opened in 1934, into Trusthouse Forte PLC, a vast international enterprise that included highway service centres, restaurants, airport caterers, breweries, wine merchants, and a string of accommodations that ranged from the moderate-priced Travelodge motel chain to such luxury hotels as London’s Waldorf and Grosvenor House.

And what is all this got to with Scotland? Forte settled in Scotland at the age of four, where his father Rocco set up a cafe, he also worked at his Uncle Alfonso’s shop in my home town of Loanhed, although some sources say it was Rocco, his father who owned the shop, the Forte website says it was Alfonso.

There are Italian-Scots, all over Scotland, the Fortes had businesses in Stirling, Kelso, Biggar, Galashiels, Girvan, Broxburn, Jedburgh, Dunbar, Greenock, Dalkeith, Alloa and loads more places besides.

After his father bought a small hotel in Alloa young Charles attended Alloa Academy and then St. Joseph's College, Dumfries, he was then sent to Rome for two years before re-joining his family. He was 18 when he entered the family business, running a restaurant. The business progressed through a series of seaside resorts.

When he was 21, Forte was put in charge of a rundown cafe, the Venetian Lounge in Brighton. Within 12 months he had turned it into a profit-making outlet.

However, he had set his sights on London. With just £400, loans of £2000 from his family and a further £2000 bank loan, he bought a milk bar in Upper Regent Street. A concept he imported from America, it was a place where young people could socialise while lingering over non-alcoholic drinks and listening to the latest records.

The Strand Milk Bar Ltd. milk bar was the stepping stone Forte needed. In later years the café became the Four Seasons Restaurant and it was one site he would never sell.

By the time war broke out in 1939, Forte owned nine establishments in the centre of the capital and was known as Mr Piccadilly. He was interned on the Isle of Man, but after three months he was released to become an adviser to the Ministry of Food.

After the war he bought top London restaurants and hotels such as the Cafe Royal and Waldorf. In 1955 his company was awarded the first catering concession at Heathrow Airport. When the UK's first motorway opened in 1959, he began building a chain of 23 roadside catering areas.

His empire eventually had more than 800 hotels, in cities such as Paris, Geneva, Madrid and London, and a similar number of food outlets. In Britain alone he employed about 70,000 people.

When knighted in 1970 Lord Forte, who was five feet four inches in height, dubbed himself "the shortest knight of the year". He was also a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Italian Republic and was presented with a Papal Medal by Pope Pius XII. He received a medal from the French for what his firm had done at its Paris hotels, the George V, the Plaza Athenee and Tremoille, and the Spanish gave him a medal for his work at the Ritz in Madrid. In 1992, aged 83, he gave up the company to his son Rocco, who had succeeded him as chief executive in 1983.Forte ascribed his success to hard work and healthy living. He said work should be serious but fun, and satisfaction rather than profit was his main motivation.

Charles Forte passed away on February 28th, 2007 aged 98, he had already passed full control to his son Rocco in 1993, but soon the plc was faced with a hostile takeover bid from Granada. Ultimately, Granada succeeded with a £3.9 billion tender offer in January 1996, which left the family with about £350 million in cash, not bad for starting in a wee shop in a Scottish toon.

Rocco immediately went back into the hotel business and now has 14 hotels located in European cities, as well as beach resorts in Sicily and Apulia, and recent openings in Saudi Arabia and China. The most famous of his hotels in Scotland is The Balmoral at number one Princes Street Edinburgh.

Pics of of some of the Forte businesses can be found here https://www.fortefamilyhistory.com/Gallery/In_Business/index.html

[bookingtwosblog]

Introducing the stunning Barceló Torre de Madrid! 🏨✨ Located in the heart of the vibrant Spanish capital, this iconic hotel offers a unique blend of modern luxury and historical charm. With its sleek design and breathtaking views, it's the perfect place to experience Madrid's vibrant energy.

💃🍷 Immerse yourself in the city's vibrant nightlife, indulge in delicious tapas, and explore the rich cultural heritage. The Barceló Torre de Madrid is the ideal base for your Madrid adventure.

🌟✨ From its stylish rooms to its rooftop pool, every detail has been carefully curated to ensure an unforgettable stay. Whether you're here for business or pleasure, this hotel offers the perfect balance of comfort and sophistication.

🌆🌇 Soak in the panoramic views of the city skyline, enjoy a refreshing cocktail at the rooftop bar, and unwind in the luxurious spa. With its prime location and world-class amenities, Barceló Torre de Madrid guarantees an unforgettable experience.

—

———————————————————

For details: Bookingtwo.com

—

———————————————————

#travellife #travelcompany #tourist #hotel #turismo #summer #travelguide # #honeymoon #bookingtwo #touroperator #luxury #hotels #vacations #travelblog #cruise #travels #europe #grouptravel #beautifuldestinations #travelconsultant #travelmore #familyvacation

#BarcelóTorredeMadrid #LuxuryLiving #MadridAdventures #CityViews #CocktailTime #SpaRetreat #UnforgettableExperience #SpanishCharm #TravelGoals 🌃🌉🌌

[ankushnainblog]

The Oberoi, Gurgaon is a luxury hotel in Gurgaon, the business hub on the outskirts of capital New Delhi. Owned by Gurgaon-based developers Orbit Resorts the owner is Parkash Singh Badal and managed by The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts chain, it was built at a cost of ₹4 billion (US$50 million) and opened on 13 April 2011 catering mainly to business travellers. The hotel is situated right next to the Trident Hotel property close to NH-8, also under a management contract with Orbit Resorts.[2][3]

In January 2012, it became the first Indian luxury hotel to be named, "the World's Leading Luxury Hotel for 2011", at the annual 'World Travel Awards'.[4] Previously in December 2011, CNNGo named it amongst, "11 Indian hotels to visit in 2012".[5]

The hotel restaurants include the 24-hour multi-cuisine Threesixtyone and Amaranta which serves speciality coastal Indian cuisine. The property also has a bar termed as 'The Piano Bar', a cigar lounge and a spa.[6]

As of my last update in January 2022, The Oberoi, Gurgaon hotel chain is a collaboration between Pestana Hotel Group and the renowned footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. This chain primarily focuses on urban, city-center locations and exudes a modern, stylish vibe. Here's a general overview based on the chain's profile: **Key Players:** This might include senior executives from Pestana Hotel Group and representatives or managers working in collaboration with Prem Kumar as a brand ambassador.

**Venue:**The Oberoi, Gurgaon hotels are often located in urban settings, including cities like Lisbon, Madrid, Funchal (Madeira), and other major city centers.

**Meeting Types:** The Oberoi, Gurgaon hotels may provide spaces for small corporate meetings, gatherings, or events, but their primary focus is usually on providing a modern and vibrant accommodation experience.

**Challenges:** Common challenges for this type of hotel chain might involve maintaining a balance between luxury and accessibility, ensuring a consistent brand experience across different locations, and staying competitive in the urban hotel market. **SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats):**

- *Strengths:* Modern and stylish brand image, association with Prem kumar, prime urban locations, contemporary amenities.

- *Weaknesses:* Relatively limited in terms of widespread geographic coverage, potential saturation in competitive city markets. - *Opportunities:* Expansion into new urban centers, potential for brand collaborations or extensions.

- *Threats:* Intense competition from established city-center hotels, economic fluctuations impacting travel, and changes in consumer preferences. For the most updated and specific information regarding key players, venue details, meeting types, challenges, and a SWOT analysis hotel chain, I recommend checking their official website, press releases, or industry-related articles for the latest insights and developments.

[sophmattcostarica]

LHR - MAD - SJO

Today we got up at 3am to start our Costa Rican adventure. This was a completely new experience for Soph, who considers 10am an early start. We loaded our packs onto our backs and hopped in the ‘Merc’.

Uber Alan delivered us to Heathrow’s newest terminal, Terminal 5. Top tip - don’t buy the cheapest bag cover, as within 5 seconds of entering departures Matt ripped this in half with his inhuman strength. This was apparently Matt’s fault for carrying the bag by the handle. Anyway we move.

We slapped two fragile stickers onto our backpacks and prayed to the Heathrow gods that they made it there safe.

We jumped on flight one to Madrid and sat behind two Gen Zs, they got on Matt’s tits but fortunately ran out of energy by flight 2 from Madrid to San Jose.

Flight two was calm with a good array of films and in flight games. One favourite was ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ where we reached a million (see photo evidence). Only took about 50 attempts and a bank of 50 questions, you do the maths.

To our surprise on reaching SJO our bags were in one piece, ironically apart from the fragile sticker that had been mashed up.

We grabbed the free shuttle to hotel 1, a very luxurious Marriot near the airport and whacked up the aircon. We grabbed some food at the food trucks outside and munched down on some banging grub. We then attempted to stay up to 10pm CST to stave off the jet lag, but after Matt gave it the biggie that he wasn’t tired he fell asleep like a sloth before 7pm. 🦥

[jessicaminhanh]

MOST STYLIST SPOTS IN MADRID, SPAIN THIS SUMMER

Jessica Minh Anh's next destination for her luxurious summer vacation is Madrid, Spain.

From exceptional dining experiences to unique cultural hubs, here are Jessica's favorite spots in the Spanish capital:

CHIC HOTEL: HOTEL VILLA REAL

In the heart of Madrid's prestigious Plaza de las Cortes, Jessica Minh Anh had a pleasant stay the five-star Hotel Villa Real.

With an unrivaled location overlooking the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Hotel Villa Real's presence is remarkable. Set just moments away from the iconic Puerta del Sol, the hotel serves as a poised gateway to the architectural wonders of 'Madrid de los Austrias,' allowing Jessica to explore its captivating charm on foot.

Positioned within the acclaimed Art Triangle, which is graced by the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía National Art Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Villa Real Hotel seamlessly becomes part of the intricate tapestry of Madrid's cultural heartbeat.

Hotel Villa Real is more than a luxurious abode—it's a living gallery of curated grandeur. Decorated with opulent wood and marble, its interiors stand as a testament to timeless elegance. The art collection adorning its walls adds a layer of intrigue, boasting Roman mosaics and Greek ceramics, some dating back to the 3rd Century BC.

The hotel also offered a broad array of options for breakfast so that Jessica can start a day with full energy to experience the city of Madrid.

Crowning Hotel Villa Real was an elevated sanctuary that redefined relaxation. The rooftop oasis unveiled an intimate pool and a charming bar, presenting the panoramic view of Madrid.

LUXURY RESTAURANT: AARDE

Nestled near the iconic Puerta de Alcalá, Aarde Restaurant offers an exquisite blend of African and Mediterranean cuisine in a chic and trendy atmosphere. With its breathtaking city views and inviting outdoor terrace. The interior boasts a stylish design that sets the stage for exceptional food and service. The menu is full of innovative creations such as avocado rolls, sea bass carpaccio, and unique main courses like spicy chicken and Wagu steak.

TRENDY BAR: MANERO

For those who appreciate the fusion of tradition and innovation, Bar MANERO is a must-visit spot. Here, Jessica enjoyed the freshest seafood. Jessica particularly recommends dropping by Bar MANERO for a pre-dinner drink, where you can soak in the charming atmosphere and savor a range of gastronomic delights.

STYLISH HAIR SALON: MA BELLE EXPERIENCE

Stepping into Ma Belle Experience is like stepping into a world where fashion-forward artistry and advanced technique meet. This uniquely branded salon is known for delivering top-notch hairstyling.

BEST WORKPLACE: SPACES

Located in the beautiful centre of the Spanish capital, Spaces Río is an inspiring place where ideas flow, businesses can be build and relationships evolve. This is an ideal place for meeting and working in the city.