by Vi Carter
“Riley is everything all right?” I froze. I knew that voice. I turned and looked at Emmett. He wore a fresh suit, stiff as a poker, but still as serious.
“Are you following me?” I asked him while grabbing my tin of tuna off the reception desk protectively. It was my dinner, and I couldn’t afford to lose it.
“Miss Green is looking for a tin opener.” I didn’t glance at Riley. The mockery in her voice had my cheeks burning.
“You work here?” I ignored her and asked Emmett, narrowing my eyes.
“I’ll be just a moment.” Emmett didn’t answer my question, but left and I turned to Riley.
“He works here?” I asked her, and she gave me such an odd stare before giving me a fake smile.
“Something like that.”
“What does that mean? It’s either like that, or it isn’t.” I did a very abrupt head movement from left to right that flicked my hair, mimicking her Barbie-like ways.
“Are you mocking me?” No, I have a kink in my neck that just kicked in now for no reason.
“Excuse me?” I tried to do that really confused, dumb look that she had given me when I had booked into the hotel, as if I wasn’t good enough for this hotel. She glanced over my shoulder and her smile reappeared. Emmett must have been back. He was, and he had my tin opener. I smiled at him, genuinely happy. “You’re a lifesaver. Will you let the kitchen know I’ll have it back ASAP?”
“You can keep it.” He glanced down at my bare feet but didn’t say anything, so I didn’t either. I waved my tin opener at him.
“So, thanks again, Emmett. We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” I laughed. He just nodded with a quick tip of the head.
“Enjoy your stay, Miss Green.” This was getting a little too awkward.
“Yeah, well, thanks again.” I tried not to run across the lobby floor. The bellman held open the elevator door, and I thanked him as I got in. I turned to see Emmett walking towards us.
“Close the door,” I mouthed through the side of my mouth at elevator guy, who still held the door open for Emmett. My words fell on deaf ears. Once Emmett stepped in, the elevator doors closed.
“I’m not sure if you read our policy, Miss Green, about pets?” I stared at Emmett, confused as he fixed the cuffs of his shirt. His knuckles were coated in bandages. I wasn’t sure where this was going. I looked at elevator guy, who stared at the door like it played out a movie.
“No, I didn’t, and stop calling me Miss Green. It’s Amber, and what happened to your hands?” I clutched my tuna and tin opener. My stomach flipped when Emmett looked at me. It wasn’t the nice flip; his stare was heavy on my shoulders.
“Amber,” he said my name as if he was trying it out, and decided he didn’t like it. “I got attacked.”
“It looks like the attacker came out worse than you.” I thought he would smile, but he just stared at me until I had to glance away. I didn’t care about his hands, or if he got attacked. I just wanted to get back to my room and eat my tuna.
“Floor two, Matthew.” Matthew had been staring at the door but now he pressed for the second floor. I felt stupid that I had forgotten to press my floor, but I was on floor two as well. Great, we were on the same floor. I had no luck. “There are no pets allowed in the hotel.” Emmett randomly stated bringing us back to his original question.
I looked at Emmett now, feeling seriously confused.
“I don’t have a pet,” I said each word clearly. He glanced at the tuna, with an expressionless face. “What are you looking at my tuna for?”
“I thought perhaps you had a cat in your hotel room."
“Because I have a tin of tuna?” I had to clarify. Now I was starting to understand the confusion.
“Yes, Miss Green–” I narrowed my eyes at him. I could tell he didn’t appreciate it, but I didn’t care. “Yes, Amber,” he amended.
“That’s a stupid conclusion. I like tuna. I was just about to have it in my room when the tab broke.” I showed him the top of the tin. “Hence the tin opener. I hope that’s okay with you, Emmett. I mean, I get you work here, but you're acting like you own the place.” Matthew coughed as the elevator doors opened and I walked straight out, so done with being interrogated. My room was straight across from the elevator. Once I had my door open, I looked back at Emmett, who still stood in the elevator as I turned to close my hotel room door. Matthew smiled at me, but I was too hungry to smile back.
The tuna tasted like a five-course meal. I ate all two tins; I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
CHAPTER FOUR
AMBER
I PICKED UP the leather-bound welcome pack and stared at the golden name spiraled across it, Harrington. I froze, an embarrassed flush turning my face pink as I realized what a fool I had made of myself.
How the hell had I missed that? Emmett Harrington, this was his hotel. I picked up my phone and texted Grace.
You never said you were rich? What are you hiding girl?
I tidied up my empty tins of tuna, feeling like a right ass every time I thought of the conversation I just had with Emmett in the elevator. He must have laughed the whole way down. Actually, I highly doubted that. The man had no facial muscles.
Hi to you too. You’re welcome for me sending my brother to bail you out. And I am not rich. Emmett is. Hope all is okay? I read Grace’s message.
Girl, what’s with the attitude? And thank you for saving my ass, AGAIN. I owe you. Your brother is really stuck up, by the way. Thank God you aren’t like him. :) Actually, we wouldn’t be friends. Full stop. Show over. I just couldn’t. Any who how are you? Any news? :)
I opened the newspaper again and got started circling jobs. I had found five by the time Grace texted me back.
LOL he isn’t that bad, it just takes time and patience. LOTS of patience. God love the girl he ends up with. What’s with the smiley face after the word news? I feel it in my bones, like you know something.
I felt disappointed when I read Grace’s text and she didn’t tell me about getting engaged. Unless she said no. It didn't seem likely, but I decided to tread lightly.
You don’t need to worry about any girl ending up with him. I think he will die a bachelor, a really rich one. I was just wondering if you had any news. Don’t get all suspicious and start acting like a psycho, and girl you feel nothing in your bones, it’s your soul. We are soul sisters. I smiled as I hit send. God, I missed her so much.
My phone let me know it was dying; how I hated the sound it made. I plugged it into the wall and continued my search through the paper. In total, I found eight jobs. Feeling happy and optimistic, I decided to celebrate. I got on my tennis shoes and grabbed my handbag and newspaper before heading downstairs. I was going to treat myself to a cup of tea and something nice.
Matthew gave me a smile when I got into the Elevator. “Matthew,” I greeted him, and his smile widened.
“Miss Green.”
I let it go. I wanted to correct him, but he did that for shits and giggles. I read it as clear as day on his face. “So, this is Emmett’s hotel?” Matthew didn’t look at me, he faced the door like he had the last time, but I could see his face in the shiny reflection of the door as his eyes met mine. “Yes, Mr. Harrington owns the hotel. Which floor Miss Green?”
“Lobby, please. And it’s Amber. Seriously, you people and your MISS this, MR that.”
Now Matthew looked at me. “YOU people?”
Was he really waving a discrimination or racist card at me, and since when did staff correct guests? “Customer’s always right, Matthew,” I told him with a smile, and he faced the door again. I caught his smile in the reflection.
The doors opened, and I stepped out into an empty lobby. Small tables and chairs sat off to the right. The area was carpeted, giving it a warm and cozy sensation, away from the dark marble. Riley was still behind the desk, and I greeted her with a large, fake smile.
“How may I help you, Miss Green?” she asked through her own fake smile.
“
I would love a tea and–” I drummed my fingers on the desk. “I need the dessert menu to make my decision.”
“Will I send it to your room?” She raised a perfect black eyebrow high. HD brows, definitely.
“No, Riley, I’ll have it here.”
She stiffened at her name. “In the lobby?” she asked, looking around. No, here at the reception desk, sure I’ll stand here for the craic.
“Yes. I assume the table and chairs over there are not for show?” I tried to keep my voice level, but she shuffled in her seat with annoyance.
“Someone will be with you soon, take a seat.” Each word she bit out. I had taken two steps when she spoke again. “Oh, and Miss Green, the kitchen would very much appreciate it if you returned the tin opener."
Bitch. “Yeah, no problem.” I smiled, and that seemed to piss her off.
“Today,” she added, and I had to keep walking. I wasn’t a violent person, but her face was asking to be smacked.
The young waiter brought me a dessert menu. I ordered apple tart with cream and a cup of tea. No one was around, so I slipped off my shoes and took out my paper, turning to the star signs. I read the Scorpio star sign. You may not have exercised perfect judgment exactly when it came to making a recent financial decision, but now you can rest easy. The stars are on your side. Well, that put a smile on my face. I just needed a job, and I would be sorted.
The waiter arrived, and I ate my fifteen-dollar tea and dessert—just scandalous—but it was delicious. I read through the paper, completely relaxed for the first time in a while. I had been here a while, and the lobby was bustling with people checking in and out. An elderly couple sat across from me, enjoying a drink.
“I want to speak to him now.” The man’s voice was raised, and the emotion in it had everyone looking at him. He didn’t look threatening if you took in his denim jeans, and beige jumper. With a small frame and greying hair, he didn’t look as if he would hurt a fly.
Riley was standing now. “I told you he isn’t here, now if you don’t keep your voice down, I will be forced to ring security.”
“You’re a liar! I know he’s here. Get him now.” The man took a threating step towards Riley, and she squealed before picking up the phone. I glanced around the lobby; everyone was watching, but no one was interfering. I didn’t know Riley, but her hands shook with fear. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but Riley put the phone down after a few moments and shook her head. She quickly looked at the elevator doors that opened, and two large men dressed in suits moved towards the man, who had swung around at Riley’s relieved expression and was now looking at them.
“Where is your boss?” They didn’t answer but approached him. “If you touch me, I will sue you bastards.” There was an intake of breath from several guests at the word ‘bastards,’ and I rolled my eyes. People with money sometimes just sickened me.
They moved either side of the man and he looked from left to right, moving away from them but closer to Riley, who had now abandoned her station and went through a set of double doors that had a sign saying Restaurant over them.
“Get me Harrington and I’ll leave. Otherwise, I’m going to start talking about your boss, and these guests aren’t going to like what I have to say.” The poor man hadn’t a chance. One of the security men rugby tackled him, taking him to the ground. The man was small, but he was resilient and he wriggled and twisted, making it hard for the other security man to hold him down.
“Get the fuck off me!” His roars were loud in the lobby, as everyone looked at him in disgust. I felt sorry for him; he seemed seriously distressed. “You bastards are an infestation that needs to be destroyed!” Both of the security men now held him down. His face was red from screaming, and he continued to kick. “I lost my baby because of him.” The man’s shouts held his pain, and my heart recognized it. “Get off me,” his cries now twisted at my stomach, and I was moving across the lobby.
“Let him go,” I told the security, who looked at me as if I had materialized from the marble. The man was now just crying pathetically on the floor. My stomach tightened. “Can’t you see he’s hurting?” I said, getting a blank stare from both of them before they glanced at each other. The blond-haired guy was the first to speak.
“Ma’am just sit down. We have it under control.”
“My baby...” The man’s cries had me digging my nails into my palms.
“Look, I know him, let me walk him out. I promise I will walk him through those doors.” I wasn’t sure how I felt when they lifted the man off the ground. Please don’t freak out on me, I thought. The blond-haired security man moved towards me.
“Anything happens and you’re out, too.” I nodded and swallowed before taking the man’s arm and moving us towards the door slowly. He seemed so deflated and broken. It wasn’t until we were outside on the walkway and I felt the concrete under my feet that I realized I had no shoes on. I moved us away from the front of the hotel and into the service area along the side. The man lit a cigarette. “Are you okay?” I spoke, and the man looked at me. He had stopped crying, but his soul hadn’t. I could still see the pain screaming within his eyes.
“Thank you for helping me.” He looked away now, and I chewed my lip. The wise thing to do would be to go back to the hotel, but I just couldn’t.
“I’m sorry about your baby.” I touched his arm briefly before letting it hang at my side.
He looked at me again, taking a deep drag on his fag. “Are you staying at that hotel?” His mind had sharpened, I could see it in his eyes, and I nodded my response.
“You seem like a decent person, so I’ll give you a bit of advice. Pack your bag and get out of it."
“Why?” I asked.
“The Harringtons are drug dealers. I’m not talking petty, small-time ones; these people are the kings of the streets." His eyes had widened, a vein bulged in the side of his head. “My wife liked crack. She was pregnant, and she lost the baby. Every fucking corner has a supplier on it, and who controls it?” He flicked his fag at the building. “The fucking Harringtons. I never had a real chance at saving her…at saving them because of these bastards.” His anger was returning in spades, and I was second-guessing my judgment of standing here with this very upset and angry stranger.
“Look, I think if what you are saying is true, you should ring the police. Going in there all guns blazing will only get you in trouble.” I tried to reason, praying to God he didn’t go back in. I seriously couldn’t afford to be kicked out and lose all the money I had paid.
He laughed before lighting up another fag. Once he had it lit, he looked at me. “They own the police, judges, mayors. You name it and they own it.” What the hell could I say to that?
“Name’s Amber.” I stuck out my hand, and he took it.
“Mikael Thimes.” He shook it three times and let it go.
“I’m sorry again, Mikael.” I told him, not sure what to say. I was starting to get cold, and my body shivered in the chilled night air. I really needed to get my shoes back on. He nodded to me and the sadness entered his eyes again.
“Me too, Amber.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Me too,” he said as he walked back towards the hotel. I was relieved when he walked past the hotel, and I remained and watched as he disappeared around the corner. Crisis diverted. I entered the hotel. The security men were waiting for me by the table, and the blond one held all my belongings.
“A quick word, Miss Green." His serious tone had me folding my arms.
I just couldn’t catch a break.
CHAPTER FIVE
AMBER
THE SECURITY HAD escorted me back to my room, where they questioned me like a suspect.
“Look, guys, I don’t think this is necessary and I need to wash my feet.” I pointed at my dirty and cold feet for emphasis. Blondie looked at the other guy, who stood with his hands held together in front of himself, like a bouncer. They exchanged a look, before looking back at me.
“We can wait, Miss Green.”
I didn’t wait for them to answer but went to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I took off my jeans and sat in the bath while running the water. Once the temperature became lukewarm, I put my feet under it and cleaned them with a bar of soap that had the word ‘Harrington’ embedded in it. I dried my feet off and noticed the name stitched in gold on the towel, also. Everything was personalized. How was all this paid for? Was Mikael right? Was this the result of drug money? Blood Money?
“Miss Green.” I froze at the sound of Emmett’s voice through the hotel room door. Clutching the towel, I watched as the door handle wiggled, and my heart jumped. “Miss Green.”
“One moment.” I pulled my jeans on and opened the bathroom door to find Emmett standing near the window. I was relieved to see that the two security men had vacated my room, but the newest intrusion wasn’t welcome, either.
“I hear we had an incident in the lobby, and that you were involved in it.” He hadn’t looked at me yet. Instead, he was straightening the cups and saucers supplied by the hotel, making the handles parallel, before moving to my nightstand, where the paper and a pencil sat. He straightened the pencil, and it pissed me off.
“I wasn’t involved, I defused it,” I told him as I moved to my nightstand and deliberately shuffled the pencil and paper out of sync.
He looked at me now. I couldn’t read him, but he paused briefly before speaking. “You knew Mikael?”
I stood way too close to Emmett for comfort, close enough that I could smell his cologne. He towered over me, so I moved away and sat down on my bed pulling one of my bare feet into my hands. “No, I didn’t know him.” Emmett moved around the room, straightening things, touching things. But then, when he fixed my blue dress strap that had come off the hanger, I just couldn’t stay quiet. “Could you stop doing that, please?” I said. He paused again before standing in front of me and placing his hands behind his back. Nice to know he was a fidget and had OCD—more things to add to his charming list of characteristics.
