Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 7

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 yourself available

She crunches toast. “What am I making myself

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

up on his

I made a point of inviting them. Give her the opportunity to

“No problem. What's he

“Charles.”

slapping marmalade over the butter. “And what kind of self-defence does he do? Does he specialise

can use 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

her toast, her

“Something wrong?”

look like?

but I'm almost certain he's gay, so the women are comfortable with him when it has to get

her toast and her

???

along if that's

“The more the merrier. Let's make him

for the hotel lobby. Michael steps smartly, but Charlotte

blond, powerfully built. Michael strides forward, hand offered. “Charles, great to see you. Thanks for

“You too, Michael. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the

is my friend James

you, James." He offers his hand, smiling

Instantly likeable…

then his gaze travels past me to settle on Charlotte and he gapes.

from where she has been lurking behind me. “Hello, Chad.” She looks down, then

his eyes wild,

shoulder. “Yes, husband. Hi, Chad. You might like to know that your employer is my

and Michael

book of etiquette is silent on this

The receptionist is staring…

no-one teach you manners,

Time to take charge…

say. “Charlotte… Perhaps we should go somewhere more

*****

head for

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

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