Michael
Richard waves me to a seat. “All working out with the hotel then, Michael? How's my investment coming along?”
“It's all going pretty well. In fact, I was going to ask if you're free one day next week.”
“For?”
“For coming up to the hotel and meeting the new staff. I've been trialling them down at the City Centre, but I'm happy with them now.”
“All good?”
“Some.” I rock a hand. “I shed a couple who didn't come up to the mark but I'm left with a team I'm very happy with. They're all multifunctional but specialising in different areas.”
“Those areas being?”
“One is a qualified swimming instructor, which means among other things, that we can make visits a full family affair. The parents can bring the kids and there's someone to keep an eye on them in the pool.”
“Sounds good. And the others?”
“One is a chiropractor cum masseur…”
“Which frees up your time...”
“Exactly. She does aromatherapy too. And the third can take charge of the self-defense classes.”
“Which frees up Charlotte.”
“Quite. So, if you would like to, you and Beth can meet them all and maybe you'd like to use the facilities while you're there?”
“I'm sure Elizabeth would want to. Massage and aromatherapy would be just the sort of thing she’d enjoy. And of course afterwards, she can tell her friends about it.”
“I sort of had that in mind myself.”
*****
James
coffee for himself and Charlotte then passes the jug to me. “Charlotte, can you
She crunches toast. “What am I
You can talk him through what you've been doing and perhaps
his
active in the project, so I made a point of inviting
“No problem. What's he called?
“Charles.”
what kind of self-defence does he do?
that matter, he seems happy to teach it.” He reaches for the coffeepot. “Certainly the clients in the City have been very happy with him. But
her
“Something wrong?”
look like?
he's gay, so the women are comfortable with him when it has to get
puts down her toast and
???
along if
smile is sunny. “The more the merrier.
hotel lobby. Michael steps smartly, but
powerfully built. Michael strides forward, hand offered. “Charles, great to
a firm shake. “You too, Michael. I’ve been
me introduce you. This is my friend
James." He offers
Instantly likeable…
past me to settle on Charlotte and he
She looks down, then at me, then
his eyes wild,
Hi, Chad. You might like to know that your employer is my second
and Michael stand
book of etiquette is silent
The receptionist is staring…
teach you
Time to take charge…
we should go somewhere more
*****
for
Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic nod to Michael, then sweeps Charlotte into his arms, bear-hugging
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