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
me. “Charlotte, can you make
can.” She crunches toast. “What
introduce you to the new self-defence trainer. The other new staff too when they arrive this afternoon, but him in particular. You can talk him through what you've been doing
up on his investment?” I
be active in the project, so I made a point of inviting them. Give her the opportunity to
toast. “No problem. What's he called?
“Charles.”
what kind of self-defence
can use to defend herself, or a man for that matter, he seems happy to teach it.” He reaches for the coffeepot. “Certainly
on her toast,
“Something wrong?”
he look like?
I'm almost certain he's gay, so the women are comfortable with him when it has to get
and her gaze travels to
???
if that's okay,”
sunny. “The more the merrier. Let's make him
for the hotel lobby. Michael steps
stands waiting, tall, blond, powerfully built. Michael strides forward, hand offered. “Charles, great to see you. Thanks for
the hand with a firm shake. “You too, Michael. I’ve been looking forward
my friend James and my
He offers his hand,
Instantly likeable…
past me to settle
down, then
his eyes
Hi, Chad. You might like to know
Michael
book of etiquette is silent on
The receptionist is staring…
no-one teach you manners,
Time to take charge…
“Charlotte… Perhaps we should go somewhere more
*****
for the
as I gesture him through to the lounge, Michael and Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!