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

pours coffee for himself and Charlotte then passes the jug to me. “Charlotte, can you make

toast. “What am I making myself available

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?”

Beth to be active in the project, so I made a point

scrapes butter over more toast. “No problem. What's he

“Charles.”

“And what kind of self-defence does he do? Does he specialise in anything particular?

to defend herself, or a man for that matter, he seems happy to teach it.” He reaches for the coffeepot. “Certainly the clients in the City have been very happy with

her

“Something wrong?”

he look like? This

that the clientele here is mainly female, he's real eye-candy. Big, blond, blue-eyed strapping guy but I'm almost certain he's gay, so the women are comfortable with him when it has to get physical.” His phone beeps and he checks

her toast and her gaze travels

???

if that's okay,” I

smile is sunny. “The more the merrier.

the hotel lobby. Michael steps smartly, but Charlotte hangs

forward, hand offered. “Charles, great to see

takes the hand with a firm shake. “You too,

introduce you. This is my friend James and my wife,

to meet you, James." He offers

Instantly likeable…

past me to settle on Charlotte and

behind me. “Hello, Chad.” She looks down, then at me, then at

his eyes

Chad. You might like to know that your employer is

Michael stand

is silent on this

The receptionist is staring…

no-one teach you manners,

Time to take charge…

“Charlotte… Perhaps we should go somewhere

*****

for

says nothing, but as I gesture him through to the lounge, Michael and Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic nod to Michael,

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