Grand Hotel (A Geek An Angel)

by J. A. JACKSON

  The other boy laughed.

  She recognized the young man doing the talking. She’d seen him earlier that day. She peeked around the column. She watched as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He put one in his mouth and lit it.

  He inhaled his cigarette and blew out smoke before he continued. “My oldest brother went to school with Jorge Manteau. Jorge told him Katrina was nothing but a whore.”

  The other boy just nodded and grinned wide. “Dude, I believe that. I like easy girls, but Katrina is too easy, so I hear.”

  “Yeah me too,” the boy with the cigarette said while puffing away. “You know, I heard Jorge caught Katrina sleeping with her cousin Delilah Deauville.”

  “Oh really,” the other boy said. “Now that’s a bonafide whore. I heard Delilah used to be Conrad Mondragon’s mistress. Did you know that?”

  “What?” the boy with the cigarette grunted. “Dude I bet she still is. I saw her going up to the Mondragon suite earlier. Then his wife Ming went up.”

  All at once Pauline cleared her throat making her presence known. “What did you say?” Her voice sliced the air coldly as she startled the two young men.

  “Pardon us Madam,” the young man with the cigarette threw it down then crushed it under his foot. He adjusted his jacket and stood at attention. “My apologies Madam. We were just taking our break. We didn’t know anyone was listening. We’re just shooting off at the mouth. Please forgive us. Please don’t report us Miss.”

  Pauline didn’t know which issue to deal with first. She shook out her thoughts and realized her daughter Katrina’s habits were greatly influenced by Delilah Deauville. And now they were just as notorious as she was. She shook her head. She had been aware of that fact for a very long time. She was starting to feel that Katrina needed to grow up and deal with the consequences of her actions. But Ming, sweet Ming didn’t deserve to be mistreated. She had to find her.

  Pauline looked hopeful as she stared back at the two young men and cleared her throat.

  “I understand you don’t want me to mention what you were talking about. Well, I’m willing to do that for you. If one of you can help me,” her eyes darted nervously between them. “You see, I need to get into the Mondragon’s suite.”

  One of the young men whistled loudly. “Lady, what you are asking could get us fired.”

  The moment was awkward. A strange silence hung in the air.

  “Please, my friend could be hurt,” she pleaded.

  All at once the atmosphere changed abruptly. The smell of roses played on the air. Then a sound drifted by, like the rushing of the wind as it blew through reeds.

  The woman seemed to have come out of thin air. “I can let you into the room. A red headed woman with large saucer-wide blue eyes stood there. She was dressed in the navy-blue blazer with the gold crest of the San Jose Hotel. There was strangeness about the young woman like she’d just stepped out of a dream.

  Startled, Pauline jumped. She breathed out. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t see you walk up,” she said in a shrill voice. She took a deep breath. “If you can help me, I would appreciate it. I’m just so worried,” she said feeling an odd fluttering in her stomach.

  The red headed woman had a dream like aura about her. But Pauline didn’t care. If she could help her, all the better.

  Minutes later Pauline got off of the elevator and the silent woman waved a key and opened the suite.

  The suite was dark. Pauline immediately made her way to the bedroom. Instantly her hand made contact with the light switch and turned it on.

  Ming lay naked ,sprawled across the bed. “Ming….Ming…What have they done to you?” she cried roughly shaking her.

  Pauline pressed her fingers into Ming’s neck to feel for a pulse. She felt her heart beating.

  “My God Ming, wake up!”

  Slowly Ming opened her eyes. Abruptly she closed them.

  “Ming look at me! Look at me!”

  Pauline looked at her side. The silent woman was still standing there.

  “Please help me. We need to get her into the shower.”

  They dragged Ming into the bathroom and put her in the shower. She ran the cold water on her.

  Ming’s shrill voice screamed.

  Pauline laughed out. “That’s right Ming scream for me baby. Welcome back to the land of the living.”

  Pauline turned to look back at the woman who had helped her carry Ming. The spot where the woman had stood was empty.

  Chapter 27

  And the winner is…..

  Later that same night, the pageant finale´ commenced. The small close knit group watched as the reigning queen Sabrina St. Andre took her final march across the stage. She pivoted, spun around, and walked over and took her final seat on her thrown.

  After a round of applause, Louis La Cour introduced the final three contestants. “Ladies and gentleman may I introduce to you the final three contestants for tonight’s Grand Isles Christmas Ball.

  Louis called their names. “Claire Marie Champagne, Katrina Baptiste and Prosperina Maeve Pascal,” his voice announced boisterously.

  The audience clapped thunderously as each name was called.

  As each name was called, each one strutted confidently across the stage and took their place beside Louis.

  An envelope was handed to Louis. His eyes gazed back at the audience.

  Complete silence.

  “And now folks, the moment we’ve all been wanting for,” Louis struggled with the envelope. He opened it. “And the winner is……”

  Louis’ face didn’t show emotion. “Prosperina Maeve Pascal!”

  The audience went wild.

  At that very moment, Katrina Baptiste scolded angrily watching former queen Sabrina relinquish her crown. She felt her stomach twist into knots as she looked on the new queen. Angry tears fell out of the corners of her eyes and streamed down her face. She kept her eyes on the crown.

  Former queen Sabrina St. Andre closed the distance between her and Prosperina. She slowly took the crown off of her head and crowned Prosperina.”

  Prosperina Maeve Pascal’s smile was wide as she took her walk as reigning queen. Her sleek long legs moved gracefully as she walked across the stage. She reached the end of the cat walk, pivoted and returned to center stage.

  Angry and defeated Katrina Baptiste didn’t take her defeat lightly. She stepped in front of Prosperina. “This isn’t fair!” her voice spit out with rage. “Bitch! That’s my crown. I paid for that crown. It’s mine,” she yelled, pulling it off of her head.

  “Girl fight!” Someone yelled from the audience.

  Prosperina Maeve Pascal tilted back on her heels, her arms flapping. Instantly she grabbed Katrina’s bodice of her dress. It ripped in their struggle.

  “Look what you did you whore!” Katrina yelled.

  Claire Marie Champagne pointed. “Damn, Katrina! What a liar you are. You’re the whore. I heard you bragging you were going to sleep with one of the judges to ensure you won that crown. Well it looks like whoever it was you slept with played you for a fool!”

  Chaos and laughter broke out in the audience.

  “Bring the curtain down!” Louis yelled, taking control of the situation. “Ladies and gentlemen please return to the main ballroom. A Late-Night Buffet Dinner is now served.”

  “I want my mommy!” Katrina yelled, rushing off of the stage. She ran heading for the exit door and slammed it shut behind her.

  “This entire night has been ruined,” someone yelled.

  An elderly lady with a purple hair rinse laughed out. “No it wasn’t! This was the best drama spectacle I’ve ever seen!”

  Chapter 28

  When your lies catch up with you

  Pauline heard the door of the suite open and slam abruptly. Then she heard the loud sobs and knew.

  “Mommy!”

  She heard the tinge of sadness and regret laced in her daughter’s voice. She knew without ever being told. Katrina’s wild scheming and lies had caught
up to her.

  “Katrina baby I’m in the bedroom,” she said warily, as she called out. She suppressed a sigh and braced herself for what she knew was coming. It was a mother’s duty.

  “Oh mom….Mom!” Katrina’s face quivered and crumpled as she openly sobbed, rushing forward.

  Pauline held out her arms as Katrina walked into their embrace and cried like a baby against her chest.

  After a half-hour of tear wrenching soul searching that she finally realized had been totally self inflicted, Katrina hiccupped and finally spoke. “Mom, I’m not angry with you. I’m angry at myself. I wanted to be the Royal Queen so bad that I was willing to do something stupid just to try and win.”

  Pauline listened to Katrina recant what had happened without comment. She nodded her head understandingly, as she reached and handed her a tissue.

  Katrina stared blankly and thought. Everything was gone. All of her plans, she felt humiliated. “I guess if anything I should be glad you haven’t passed judgment or told me you told me so,” she quietly said and then blew her nose.

  A serene expression clouded Pauline’s eyes as she said. “At times we have all fallen from a high place we’ve put ourselves in of our own doing. But with strength we get back up again and move on.”

  “I know you’re right.”

  Pauline’s eyes locked with her daughter’s, thoughtfully. She said a quick prayer. “It will be a great scandal when all of this reaches the news. I feel sorry for your father. He will feel the shame of it. He and his business,” she muttered under her breath.

  “Oh, what do you mean?”

  She shrugged. “Oh, I can hide myself away at home, I don’t work outside the house,” Pauline said solemnly. “But your father has to take care of his business. Meet people, see his clients. He will bear a huge embarrassment in the community with his business,” she sighed and continued.

  It was a sad moment.

  Katrina tilted her head and stared back in understanding.

  Pauline nodded and continued. “Your father and I bare responsibility for having spoiled you without regarding the consequence,” she said tenderly caressing her daughter’s brow. She sighed heavily. “But your acknowledgment to me of your short comings and being adult enough to admit your guilt in this whole thing tells me we’d done a better job than we knew, raising you. I’m proud of you Katrina.”

  She hugged her.

  Katrina listened to her mother attentively. Slowly she came to the realization of what her deeds had subjected her family to. Abruptly, she pulled out of her mother’s embrace.

  “Do you really think the news people will care about what happened at this event?” she frowned. “And what do you mean this will be a scandal for father’s business?”

  “Oh yes. News is news, they will care. The more tantalizing and smutty it is, the better,” she paused. “Yes Katrina, you will probably make the front page of the Valley News. And yes it could affect you father’s business. You can never know how some people will take the news.”

  A horrible thought entered Katrina’s mind as she thought about the huge mistake she had made. She blinked rapidly trying to think of what to do to make things right. “I need to go to the bathroom,” she said trying to get a hold of her thoughts.

  At the bathroom door she stopped abruptly and stared. Ming Mondragon sat at the vanity in a dream like state. She jerked her head around and glanced back at her mother. That was the moment she noticed her mother’s suitcases packed.

  “Mom,” she frowned. “Why is Ming sitting at the Vanity mirror staring into space and why are your bags packed?”

  Pauline rose off of the bed and closed the distance between them. “I forgot I left Ming sitting there while I packed.”

  She delicately took Ming’s hand. “Ming darling, please come sit on the bed and wait for me,” Pauline said in a soft voice.

  Katrina stared mouth-wide as Ming walked from the bathroom as if held in a fog.

  “Mom, what happened to Ming?”

  Pauline’s facial expression grew tense. “I’m not prepared to say, as I don’t know the full truth yet,” she said in a voice that seemed far away. “Don’t worry about Ming. I’m going to take her home with me. I’ll take care of her and I’ll ask Mother Kahina Laveau to let Lucy and Mimi stay at her home a few days.

  Katrina studied Ming. “But I bet you have your suspicions,” she muttered under her breath. She thought about her cousin. Delilah Deauville, she could see her hand in this.

  “Mom, you take care of Ming. Don’t worry about me. Take Ming home and do whatever you need to take care of her. I’ll take care of things here for you,” she said assuredly. “Don’t worry about your luggage. I’ll make sure the bellboy comes and gets it. I’ll make sure everything gets taken care of.”

  Pauline’s eyes lit up. “Oh would you? Then I’ll take Ming to the car now.”

  A few minutes later, Katrina stood under the grand portico and closed the car door soundly.

  She watched as her mother started the car and pulled away.

  All at once the wind howled and blew a chill.

  Out of the corner of her eye Katrina thought she saw something. She jerked her head around and looked back through the front door of the hotel and shivered.

  Chapter 29

  An Embarrassing Situation

  Louis couldn’t remember the last time he’d encountered such an embarrassing situation. It was time he tried to get all the sordid details of this disaster cleared up, he thought.

  “Hey Louis that was some show,” a little old man exclaimed. He was wearing white spats over his shoes. They made him look old-fashioned. He patted Louis on the back. “I wouldn’t have seen that much action if I had stayed at home and watched boxing on TV.”

  Louis focused ahead and kept walking. He was determined to reach the judges box before anyone had time to leave.

  The crush of the crowd seemed overwhelming as Louis pushed his way through.

  “Louis, we’ve got a big problem, a big problem!” Clare Palling said, rushing to catch up with him.

  “Yeah, I already know,” Louis grunted.

  “We’ve got to find out who the man was that Katrina slept with. He compromised his position. Not to mention the integrity of what this event stands for.”

  At that moment a stout man in a military jacket intercepted them. He heralded his voice like a hand grenade. “Louis, I’m Colonel Beauvoir ,” he drenched out through an alcoholic breathy mist, as his body swayed showing he had too much to drink. “And what are you going to do about this embarrassing situation?’

  Louis tilted his head and took a step back. The man’s breath was powerful. “Rest assured I’m working on it.”

  Louis quickly put some distance between him and the man.

  Clare Palling caught up with him and grabbed his arm. “Louis stop. We need to talk. What are you going to do?”

  Abruptly Louis stopped walking turned and gave her his attention. “I’m on my way to confront Nate Trent right now and make him come to an emergency meeting, immediately.”

  “It has to be a closed session,” she suggested.

  “I know, and it will be a closed session,” he nodded. “This is an embarrassing situation for everyone. The closed session will at least allow us to determine what public statement we will make,” he stopped abruptly. “And we can decide immediately if we will end the Royal Queen Pageant tonight and forever. We’ve got to do this so that this doesn’t tarnish the foundations reputation in the community.”

  “You’ll do no such thing,” a man’s voice barrelled out.

  “Ulysses," Louis said drily. “Didn’t you just witness what happened? One of our pageant contestants and one of our judging panel may have slept together.”

  Ulysses’ jowls quivered. “Yes…Yes…I heard. But Louis don’t be foolish,” he paused. “The attorney in me won’t have you running off and causing us any unnecessary lawsuits.”

  Louis and Clare slowly looked between each other.<
br />
  Clare breathed out slowly. “He’s right Louis. I wasn’t thinking about lawsuits. What do you propose that we should do Ulysses?”

  Ulysses rubbed his hands together. “Since this is an embarrassing situation, I think we should call a private closed session emergency meeting as soon as possible with the girl and her parents and see what they want done,” he said. “I just thank God the girl was eighteen.”

  “That’s not what you should be afraid of,” a man’s voice replied.

  The small party turned and stared as David Creek walked into the circle.

  He came and stood in front of them. “You three have been so worried about keeping this embarrassing situation hushed up that you forgot about our little Miss Victim Katrina.”

  “Okay, what do you mean,” Louis said.

  “I mean our little victim went straight to that TV news crew.”

  The moment was tense.

  “Really?” Louis piped in. “How do you know?”

  Clare whistled through her teeth. “Well hot damn, the drama fest will really begin now.”

  David shrugged. “I know, because I saw her in the lobby with him just minutes ago.”

  Ulysses threw his head back and laughed.

  It was an awkward moment.

  “Ulysses, what’s so funny?” David asked.

  He shrugged confidently. “I didn’t think the girl had the gumption. She’s a lot more intelligent than I thought. Or not.”

  Louis shot him a puzzled look. “Ulysses, you’re not worried?”

  “No,” Ulysses shook his head and his jowls moved.

  Clare nudged Louis. The two of them stared between each other. She leaned over and whispered. “Well, at least the girl can’t say the guy took her virtue. I’ve heard that Katrina has been a busy little girl when it comes to knowing about the birds and the bees.”

  Chapter 30

  Calm in the throngs of chaos

  Pearl found a quiet corner off in the romantic garden off of the ballroom.