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

passes the jug to me. “Charlotte, can you make yourself available after

I can.” She crunches toast. “What am I

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

up on his investment?” I

wants Beth to be active in the project, so I made a point of inviting them. Give her

over more toast. “No problem. What's he called? This

“Charles.”

kind of self-defence does

seems to cover the field. If it’s something a woman can use to defend herself, or a man for that matter, he seems happy to teach it.” He reaches for the coffeepot. “Certainly the

on her toast,

“Something wrong?”

like? This Charles the

great thing. Given 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

???

I'll tag along if that's okay,”

Michael’s smile is sunny. “The more the merrier. Let's make

lobby. Michael steps smartly, but Charlotte hangs

man stands waiting, tall, blond, powerfully built. Michael strides forward, hand offered. “Charles,

shake. “You too, Michael. I’ve

This is my friend James and

to meet you, James." He

Instantly likeable…

then his gaze travels past me to

down, then at me, then

his eyes

Hi, Chad. You might like to know that your employer

and Michael stand

etiquette is silent

The receptionist is staring…

no-one teach

Time to take charge…

Perhaps we should go somewhere more

*****

head for

Michael and Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic

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