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

to me. “Charlotte, can you make yourself available after breakfast

“What am I

introduce you 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

his

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

“No problem. What's

“Charles.”

the butter. “And what kind of self-defence does he

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 clients in the City have been very happy with him. But his forte is

on her toast, her

“Something wrong?”

does he look like? This Charles

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

and her gaze travels to

???

I'll tag along if that's okay,” I

sunny. “The more the merrier.

lobby. Michael steps smartly, but Charlotte hangs

Michael strides forward, hand

hand with a firm shake. “You too, Michael.

my friend James and my

to meet you, James." He offers his hand, smiling

Instantly likeable…

gaze travels past me to settle

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

eyes wild,

a hand on his shoulder. “Yes, husband. Hi, Chad. You might like to know that your employer is

and Michael stand

is silent on this

The receptionist is staring…

no-one teach you

Time to take charge…

I say. “Charlotte… Perhaps we should go somewhere

*****

head for the

Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives

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