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
crunches toast. “What am I making
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 and perhaps give him an overview of the clients. Richard and Beth are coming too to
his investment?”
I made a point of inviting them. Give her the opportunity
over more toast. “No problem. What's he called?
“Charles.”
marmalade over the butter. “And what kind of self-defence does
herself, or a man for that matter, he
chews on her toast, her
“Something wrong?”
look like? This Charles the
eye-candy. Big, blond, blue-eyed strapping guy but I'm almost certain he's gay, so the women are comfortable
her toast and her gaze travels
???
if that's okay,”
more the merrier.
hotel lobby. Michael steps smartly,
waiting, tall, blond, powerfully built. Michael strides forward, hand offered. “Charles, great
with a firm shake. “You too,
is my friend
to meet you, James." He
Instantly likeable…
his gaze travels past me to settle on
me. “Hello, Chad.” She looks down, then
his eyes
on his shoulder. “Yes, husband. Hi, Chad. You might like to know that
Michael
etiquette is silent
The receptionist is staring…
no-one teach
Time to take charge…
“Charlotte… Perhaps we should go
*****
head for
Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic nod to Michael, then sweeps Charlotte into his arms,
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