“What the hell? Am I really seeing this?”

I heard the astonishment in Mark’s voice and turned around to look. We were at a vogue downtown gallery that his firm had taken over for the night for an investors’ gala. I had hit my limit on hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and small talk, and had come up to the quieter rooftop patio. Mark, the dutiful boyfriend, had accompanied me.

First, I saw the wide-eyed look on his face, then I followed his line of sight. The gallery was a four-story glass structure. Opposite was a hotel. I peered into the night, seeking whatever had so captivated Mark. I saw the hotel’s windows — some dark, some with curtains drawn.

But one room’s draperies were open, with the lights inside burning bright. The room was — in use. I drew a... Read More