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
then passes the jug to me. “Charlotte,
toast. “What am I making
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.
his investment?”
so I made a point of inviting them. Give her the opportunity
“No problem. What's he called?
“Charles.”
slapping marmalade over the butter. “And what kind of self-defence does he do? Does
man for that matter,
her toast, her
“Something wrong?”
like? This
certain he's gay, so the women are comfortable with him
her toast and her gaze travels
???
if that's okay,”
“The more the
the hotel lobby. Michael
strides forward,
shake. “You too, Michael. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the
This is my friend James and my wife,
James." He
Instantly likeable…
gaze travels past me to settle on Charlotte
down, then
his eyes
Chad. You might like to know that your employer is my
Michael
book of etiquette is
The receptionist is staring…
no-one teach you manners,
Time to take charge…
“Charlotte… Perhaps we should go
*****
head for
through to the lounge, Michael and Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic
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