by J. D. Chase
‘Slick,’ muttered Xander, sarcastically.
‘Dick!’ she corrected. ‘I looked him squarely in the eye and asked whether msbigtits liked football and beer.’
Xander burst out laughing. ‘You didn’t? God, I love your style! What did he say?’
She grinned. ‘He tried to make out that he didn’t know what I meant. But I told him to cut the crap . . . oh, and the whole office was listening to our exchange by that point . . . and I told him that he’d have to cancel seeing his bit on the side because he’d be moving his stuff out of our flat.’
‘Oh Red, that must’ve been awful. That’s the thing – people who cheat don’t think they’ll get caught or they get carried away with the intoxication of being with someone new and take stupid risks. We all know that the novelty of a new relationship doesn’t last forever, but during that first phase, I think the brain malfunctions or something. I know when I first saw you on Monday, I was instantly attracted to you. Then, when you showed me your sassy personality by standing up to me and challenging me, I was hooked. I told myself I shouldn’t. I vowed to stay away. And look how well that went!’
‘But I thought we’d gone from the novelty of newness to something more special, more solid. I couldn’t understand how he’d still managed to be my Jamie – loving, funny and attentive – when he was shagging her. I thought that once I’d got him out of the flat and out of my life, it would be easier. But no. I couldn’t stand to work in the office with him and he said that since he’d moved out of the flat, I’d have to move jobs if I wasn’t happy. The office gossip was vile but the looks of pity were worse still, and then I’d go home to an empty flat – that was like a slap in the face. Most of our friends were friends of us both and they all kept away. My parents had moved back to Scotland the year before when they took early retirement, having moved down to Oxford because of my dad’s work before I was born. So I found myself alone, night after night.’
‘I thought I could hear a trace of an accent! Oh Red, no wonder you’re so beautiful, sexy and as hard as nails . . . you’re a Scot!’
‘I was born in Berkshire to Scottish parents, yes, but I’m surprised you can hear anything but my Home Counties accent. I learned the hard way at school that anything that singled you out as different was a red rag to bullies – not that I couldn’t take care of myself, most of the time. But then, as a teen, the snobbery about accents was dreadful. I’m ashamed to say that I worked hard to lose the one I’d learned from my parents and acquire the local one as I grew up in order to fit in with the expected stereotype for university, and it’s something I deeply regret. I’m proud of my Scottish heritage and I adore my parents’ Edinburgh accent but it’s too late for me now.
‘Anyway, we’re getting off track . . . So one day I couldn’t stand it any more. I resigned from my job and took any old job, not caring about the drop in salary. But then Jamie decided to turn the knife a little more. I received a letter out of the blue from a solicitor, telling me that Jamie would force the sale of the flat if I didn’t buy him out. I couldn’t face losing my home too. My world as I knew it had flipped on its head and my home was my sanctuary, although it took some getting used to being there alone. But, apart from the memory of that night, I love that little flat. So I used up all my savings to buy him out. The downside was that I then had to take over the whole mortgage repayment on the pitiful wage I was earning here but thankfully, I got promoted shortly afterwards and the extra salary keeps the roof over my head – just – although I don’t have much left over each month, even though I’ve cut out any unnecessary spending. So I can’t buy new shoes or clothes, never mind luxuries like holidays, and I had to sell my car. The lifestyle changes and financial consequences are worse than the emotional ones in a way, because they last way beyond the initial hurt and upset and make it harder to get on with your life. It’s been like a constant reminder at times.’
He muttered something under his breath.
‘Hmm? What was that?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing. Anyway, you’re rid of that scumbag and you’ll own your flat outright one day, plus you’ve learned to fuck properly so it’s not all bad, now, is it?’
Isla scowled and playfully slapped his arm. ‘Remind me never to come to you when I need sympathy!’
‘You don’t need my sympathy, Red. You’re an amazing woman – intelligent, beautiful, sexy as fuck, though a little too sassy for my liking.’ He winked, making her laugh. ‘Just because Jamie was too stupid to hang on to you, doesn’t mean it isn’t true.’
‘Yeah but if I was all that, he would have, wouldn’t he? I spent days thinking that he’d cheated because I wasn’t good enough. I was too fat, too ugly, not able to orgasm easily . . . you name it, I tortured myself with it.’
‘That’s total bollocks!’ he roared, making Isla jump. ‘He cheated because he’s a cheat. It has no reflection on you. He wasn’t going out to find something better, he just took an opportunity that presented itself because he’s weak.’ His expression was venomous.
‘Okay, okay. I get it – calm down,’ she cried, patting his leg. ‘Yeah, I’ve pretty much figured that out now. Anyway, now it’s my turn to ask you questions. We had a deal, remember?’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Questions? Oh no, the deal was that you asked me something. That’s one question, Red.’
‘Okay,’ she said slowly. ‘First, promise me that you won’t fob me off, that you’ll answer properly and fully.’
He pursed his lips shrewdly. ‘Ah but Red, you reserved the right to refuse to answer any questions so surely the same is only fair for me too. I won’t lie to you but I reserve the right to keep anything private should I feel so inclined.’
That was more than she was hoping for so she went for it. ‘I know something’s bothering you – there have been solicitor’s calls – and you’ve sold your car for quick, untraceable cash. I’ve opened up to you at your insistence that offloading may help. So I’m asking the same of you, what’s going on, Xander?’
He regarded her coolly, without showing any response to her question, until she began to think that he wasn’t going to answer.
‘Okay, Miss Nothing-Gets-Past-You-Does-It, I’m having a few cash flow issues. That doesn’t mean that I’m having financial problems, so don’t worry about this place. It’s a simple, short-term issue that’s all.’
Her expression showed what she thought of his answer. ‘So why did you turn up at my place last night looking like a man on the edge . . . rather than a man having a simple, short-term cash flow issue? You said you wouldn’t lie or fob me off.’
He closed his eyes and sighed. ‘You don’t give up easily, do you? I didn’t lie to you. I sold my car because I did need to get my hands on cash quickly with no questions. It’s part of a bigger problem that I’m trying to sort out but I can’t talk about it. Okay?’
‘You’re not in any trouble are you?’ she whispered.
‘No, Red. I know it sounds bad, but my needing untraceable cash was for personal reasons. I’m not involved in any dodgy deals or anything like that. And please, what I’ve told you, keep to yourself. If this place is anywhere near as bad as you say for gossip mongers, they’ll be shouting from the rooftops that I’m money laundering or something.’
She laughed but she knew that he probably wasn’t far off the mark. ‘You have nothing to fear. Even if you hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have told a soul. I’d be grateful if you didn’t pass on what I’ve told you either. Nobody here knows a thing about it.’
‘Of course I won’t. And why am I not surprised that you’ve kept it quiet and dealt with it on your own?’ he replied.
She raised an eyebrow. ‘Because that’s exactly what you do? What you’re doing now?’
He nodded and raised his coffee cup. ‘Touché.’
She smiled, thinking they were similar in more ways than she’d initially realised. ‘Right, so back to the hotel . . . I meant what I said, Xander, and yes, my objection is grounded in
personal reasons but it’s a very valid point. And do you want to be seen to be promoting cheating and promiscuity? Surely that’s totally the wrong image for a luxury hotel to project.’
He pursed his lips. ‘Of course not, but like I say, people having extra marital affairs will use any hotel that’s convenient for their needs, the same with promiscuous people . . . but you have a point there, Red. I’m sure budget hotels would be the first choice for cheaters for an illicit afternoon fumble. Our market will mostly be couples seeking a romantic getaway in the city, but I have no objection to affluent men making a booking and bringing someone back for the night – whether it’s someone they’ve picked up in a bar, or a high-class escort. It’s none of my business. The ambience of the hotel will need to be altered somewhat. Do you think the businessmen and women who stay here pay any attention to their surroundings? No, they want a comfortable bed, good service and reliable Wi-Fi because they’ve perused the late-deals websites and booked a room for half the going rate. Do they leave here vowing to return? No. They return if they can get another good deal. There’s no wow factor, no amazing experience, no loyalty . . . and for a hotel of this size in this location, that’s almost criminal.’
Isla had been nodding her head. ‘I agree. If you recall, that’s basically what I said to you on Monday, minus the sex element.’
His grey eyes smouldered as he looked at her, ‘Never forget the sex element. If I took you away for a weekend, would you want to arrive at a hotel similar to this one?’
She shrugged. ‘I doubt that we’d leave the hotel room so I probably wouldn’t see that much of it.’
‘Fair enough,’ he chuckled. ‘Okay, forget you and I . . . imagine your average long-term couple looking for a night out in London without the kids, if they have any. Would this place be their first choice?’
‘God no!’ she exclaimed. ‘Not unless they found it on a late-booking-deals website and got a five-star room for a three-star price.’
‘Exactly! So we’re running a five-star hotel and charging a three-star tariff . . . it doesn’t take a genius to come to the conclusion that the business model is all fucked up. So we need to figure out why we aren’t charging a five-star tariff – and there’d be no point in simply taking the hotel off the late-booking websites and charging the rate. We aren’t full at the cheap rate so we’d only end up with even lower occupancy. So you and I are going to do another tour this afternoon, but we’re going to pretend that we’re a couple, seeing the hotel as a potential venue for a romantic getaway and deciding what works and what doesn’t.’
Isla nodded. ‘I’m much happier now that you’ve clarified your ideas. I think we can make the hotel work as a luxury, romantic retreat with a seductive ambience that has a lasting impression on guests, making them want to return and to recommend us. I think promoting it as a secret rendezvous would be a gamble that could badly backfire. I couldn’t work here for a start. But I accept your point that there will be guests who use it for that purpose, just as there are in any hotel – we just don’t have to go looking for them.’
Xander grinned lasciviously, ‘Sorry, you lost me at seductive ambience. I’m not sure I could keep my hands off you in such an environment – I have enough trouble now! And that takes me back to our original conversation. I love fucking you, Red, I can’t get enough, but I think we should keep it private and be a little more careful from now on. We’re going to have to make some staffing changes as this place takes off. We’ll need to take on more staff and maybe have to let some go if they can’t adapt to the changes. Your duties may well change – I have no doubt that you’re more than capable of stepping up to the mark and you’ll be rewarded financially as well as sexually.’ He smirked. ‘But all of that could alienate you from the staff, and if they know you’re fucking the boss it could get very unpleasant . . . hell, the guests would probably all know too! That’s not the professional image we want to project now, is it?’
‘I agree entirely,’ she replied, her ears pricking up at the mention of financial recompense – not to mention the thought of ongoing sexual rewards. Money for little treats and Xander for big treats!
‘So, because we’re going to be very busy from now on and we’re going to be utter professionals, I think we should refrain from giving in to our desires at work by putting some distance between ourselves in the office.’
‘Oh, okay,’ she said, trying not to sound too disappointed.
‘We can still flirt when we’re alone, but just imagine how horny we’ll be for one another when we can finally meet up. All of that lust building until we can snatch some time alone . . . it will keep things interesting. It will be hard.’
Oh I hope so. She looked pointedly at his crotch. ‘It’s always hard!’
He gave her a mildly exasperated look. ‘It might be harder . . . as we try desperately not to let anyone know that we’re fucking . . . trying to keep our libidos in line in the office . . .’
‘You make it sound like we’re having an affair!’ Isla muttered, wryly.
‘No,’ he snapped. ‘I’m asking you to be a professional about it, that’s all.’
Sheesh! Keep your hair on! ‘A professional . . . sexual rewards . . . are you calling me a prostitute, Mr Rhodes?’
She’d meant it as a joke but he glared at her. ‘Don’t call me that! And you know I’m not.’ Then his voice softened. ‘Sorry, Red. I didn’t mean to snap. I guess my sense of humour is temporarily fucked.’
‘It’s okay, I know you have a lot on your mind right now. And, for what it’s worth, I think you’re right. As I’ve said before, I like to keep my personal life private. It’ll be a breeze and at least I won’t have to worry about you slipping your hand in my knickers or bending me over the desk without warning.’
His eyes widened and he gave her body a smouldering look before pinning her with his hungry eyes. ‘Don’t tempt me, Red, because I tell you now, keeping my hands off you in here is not going to be easy.’
She swallowed. He’s projecting that power aura thing again . . . doesn’t he know how much that turns me on? She tore her eyes away from his. ‘Well, it’s a good job that one of us has the strength to resist then, isn’t it?’
A smile toyed with the corners of his mouth but the heated stare remained. ‘Look at me.’
Without thinking, she obeyed and he leaned closer. ‘Tell me again that you can resist me, Red.’
His lips were just inches from hers and she felt herself weakening and beginning to lean in to meet him.
A brusque knock on the door made her sit back sharply. He grinned a lazy, self-satisfied grin. ‘I’m not so easy to resist, am I, Red? You’re going to find this just as difficult and frustrating as I am.’
‘Are we finished here?’ she whispered, as the realisation that he was right sank in.
He double pumped his eyebrows. ‘I haven’t even started.’
Chapter Eight
She shot out of his office and back into hers as she heard him shout ‘enter’ to whoever it was that had disturbed them. Sitting at her desk, she found it very difficult to focus on work; there were too many things swirling around her head. She tried to put their new rules of engagement (as she’d begun to think of them) and the issue of what was on Xander’s mind to one side and concentrate on how they could turn the hotel into a passionate getaway for committed couples . . . well, that’s who she was going to aim for, although she accepted she could never be sure they weren’t cheats – even if she was, she couldn’t refuse them a booking; more’s the pity.
Isla made a few notes, then braced herself to tackle her email inbox. She was halfway through when the fire alarm sounded and she groaned. She was a fire warden so she grabbed the fluorescent vest that announced her as such and her mobile phone, then banged on Xander’s door. He appeared looking less than impressed, and together they dashed to the lobby. The reception desk was unmanned so Isla raced outside but couldn’t find Belinda or Nadine. She shouted to Derek, who had stopped the revolvi
ng door and opened the emergency exit but he said he hadn’t seen either of them for a while.
‘What’s the procedure here?’ Xander called to her, raising his voice over the alarm. ‘I’m sorry, I know I should’ve looked it up but I really didn’t expect to be doing this yet.’
Isla made a face. ‘This isn’t a planned drill, Xander. I’d have given you notice.’
She saw his tanned skin pale as he absorbed this information. ‘So there’s an actual fire?’ He looked totally panic-stricken.
‘There could be but more often than not it’s a false alarm. Have you seen Barbie One or Two? I need the occupancy print out. It should be printed at the start of each shift and, if there’s time and it’s safe, there should be another printed as soon as the alarm sounds.’
‘Barbie? Oh you mean our receptionists! No, I haven’t,’ he replied.
Normally Isla would have berated herself for her brain-to-mouth filter’s lack of professionalism but right at that moment, she could cheerfully strangle both of them.
‘For fuck’s sake,’ she cried as she searched the reception desk for the missing print out. ‘If they’ve printed one today, I can’t find it.’
Just then, Bobbi and her small team of guest room attendants came dashing into the lobby. ‘All accounted for, Isla . . . we’ll be in the car park.’
‘Thank you, Bobbi,’ she called back. ‘Oh, have you seen Charlie?’
Derek shouted over, ‘He went over to the boiler room to see Martha. I’ll go and check he’s heard the alarm.’
‘Thank you, Derek,’ she called and then said, half under her breath, ‘At least some members of staff can be relied upon.’
‘Hey, just tell me what to do and I’ll do it,’ Xander snapped.
‘I didn’t mean you,’ she said, distractedly. ‘Right, there we go.’
Two copies of the current occupancy list spewed out of the printer. She grabbed one and flew outside. There were no residents in the car park at the signposted fire assembly point so she had to assume that any residents who hadn’t checked out could be in the building. She saw Dean getting out of his car with a worried look on his face. ‘Dean, can you come with me to check the rooms please?’
