by Suzanne Hart
“Stevens!” he exclaimed; he called me by my last name these days. He was trying to keep me at as much a distance from him as was possible.
“Hi Jackson,” I said, trying to be as cordial to him as I could.
“Dry off here, we need to talk,” he said firmly. I quickly dried my hands on a dishcloth.
“Walk with me,” he added as he turned and started walking out of the kitchen. I mouthed a quick sorry to Pedro and followed Jackson out of the kitchen. He always walked too quickly for me to keep up.
“There’s been a change of plan,” he said, looking around him as he walked, keeping an eye on things…like he was in the Secret Service.
“Change of plan?” I asked, with my heart sinking. Here it comes…here come the words I’d been dreading to hear. They were going to fire me. I was sure that Felix himself had made the decision. After last night, he had decided that I should no longer work here. After all, he had sex with an employee…it was against every rule in the book.
“Yeah, you’re going to Hawaii,” Jackson said and stopped in his tracks.
His words hit me like a rock. I had no idea what he was talking about. I stopped too, staring at him with my brows crossed.
“Hawaii? I am? Why?” I asked, and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Beats me. I’ve been trying to switch to that hotel for months now…and they decide to send you!” he said, and I could see he was displeased with the news.
“At the hotel…you mean, I’m going to the Stone Hotel in Hawaii?” I asked, feeling a slight bit relieved. So, I wasn’t losing my job?
“Yeah, what did you think? They’ve decided to send you to the Hawaii hotel to get trained there, for some reason,” he said and continued walking again. I followed him, trying to keep up. I had so many questions!
“They? Who they?” I asked.
“Upper Management. I don’t know. I’m not privy to that kind of information. All I know is that you have to pack your bags and get on a flight to Hawaii tonight. The tickets have already been booked for you. You’ll be given accommodation at the staff quarters at the hotel,” Jackson continued, and the more he spoke, the angrier he got. I could hear it in his voice.
I gulped, confused and afraid of asking him any more questions.
“Have they told you how long I’m going for?” I asked, and he stopped again, facing me with an angry red face.
“I don’t know, okay? Feel free to go barrage Upper Management with these questions!” he barked.
“No, that’s okay, I’ll go. I’ll pack,” I said, stammering a little.
“You can go home now. The tickets will be emailed to you. You have the rest of the day off,” he said.
“Jackson…I just want to thank you for your mentorship these past few days,” I said quickly before he could turn away and go. He glared at me, and then his eyes softened.
“Okay, I know I haven’t been easy on you, Stevens,” he snapped.
I just looked at him blankly.
“But you’re a good kid, I guess. Just inexperienced for this job,” he added. Then he turned and walked away from me, and I knew better than to follow him.
What was happening? I was going to Hawaii? I had never been to Hawaii before. Why, and who had made this decision?
I rushed to my locker at the back of the hotel to get my things, while my heart was racing in my chest. I had no idea how long I was going to be gone. What was I supposed to do with the apartment? Was I moving there permanently or only for a short while? What was I supposed to tell Katie?
On my way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Felix and what he had said to me…that he took full responsibility for what had happened between us. Was this a part of him taking responsibility? He felt too guilty to fire me, so he was just sending me away? Was it that uncomfortable for him to see me again?
The apartment was empty when I got home. Katie was still at work. I checked my emails and saw that the flights had been booked for that evening, four hours from now.
I packed hurriedly…I didn’t even know how long I was packing for. I just stuffed everything I could think of into two bags. For Katie, I left a note on the fridge.
Katie, I’m so sorry, but something came up at work and I have to go to Hawaii. I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ll call you tomorrow, with as much information as I have. I’ll miss you and I hope I’ll see you soon. Take care — Nora
Chapter 26
Felix
Cici was elated. Hawaii was paradise and she had never seen anything like it before. When we arrived at the hotel, she ran up and down the lobby, squealing with joy, running out of the back and heading straight for the pools. It wasn’t just me who chased after her; some of the staff ran after us too. Cici was out of control with happiness, and though every nerve in my body wanted to snap at her and tell her to sit quietly and behave herself — I didn’t. I wanted to give Cici one vacation where she could do anything she pleased.
Cici hurled herself into the kid’s pool, in all her clothes, and I ran to the edge, watching her float up, spurting water from her mouth.
“Did you see me, Daddy? I learned to do that at swim class!” She giggled and I laughed.
“That was amazing, Cici, but maybe you should change into a bathing suit,” I suggested, as a member of the staff brought me a tray of cocktails to choose from. I waved him away, too distracted by my daughter.
“Okay, Daddy, but who will help me put it on? There’s no Anne or nanny with us.” Cici pouted her lips, and I looked around.
“Okay, I’ll find someone,” I told her. “In the meantime, you get out of the pool and wait for me.”
The rest of the guests were looking at us, amazed by Cici’s activities, and I passed around smiles as I walked back to the hotel lobby.
I stopped one of the pool waiters on my way in. “Hey, keep an eye on my daughter, make sure she goes nowhere.”
“Yes, Mr. Stone,” he said.
I walked up to the reception desk, where everyone was standing at attention, trying to be on their best behavior.
“Mr. Stone, I’m Naomi. Joan called me to give me the brief on your meeting. I’ll be assisting you during your stay here.” The woman had appeared out of nowhere beside me. I didn’t remember hiring her, but then again, I didn’t remember hiring anyone on my management team. I interacted with too many people on a daily basis to remember faces.
“Yeah, okay, good. Naomi, has Nora Stevens arrived yet?” I asked her.
Naomi had a chart in her hand and she quickly flipped through it, narrowing her eyes at the names down the list.
“No, sir, there is no Nora Stevens on the guest list,” she said, and I smiled.
“I don’t mean the guest list. She’s one of our employees. She’s been transferred here from San Francisco for training,” I told her and Naomi nodded her head.
“Oh yes, of course! She arrived late last night. We’ve put her up in the staff quarters. She’s already at work. Jackson, from the San Francisco hotel, sent us a training schedule for her. It seems she has no experience working in a five-star hotel.” Naomi was walking with me as I walked down the lobby. Just like the rest of the staff, she too was pushing to impress.
“Yes, I know. Could you please find her and send her out to me? I’ll be with my daughter at the pool,” I told her.
“Oh…okay, sir. Is there anything I can assist you with?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“No, that’s all for now. Thank you, Naomi,” I said and walked back towards the pool.
Cici was dragging herself out of the water when she saw me. The staff at the pool area were fussing over her, offering her towels and lemonade. Cici ignored all of them and ran towards me.
“Daddy! I’m having so much fun!” she cried, throwing her arms wide, and before I could stop her, she had thrown herself at me. Water splashed everywhere, wetting my suit and shoes and she gasped and jumped away. I saw the look of fear in Cici’s eyes. She was afraid that I would scold her. Was my daugh
ter afraid of me?
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said in a meek, apologetic voice. I looked into her glittering green eyes and gulped. I knew I would have to work very hard to mend what was broken between us.
“That’s okay, baby girl. It’s a vacation!” I said with a laugh, and a smile spread on Cici’s face again.
“Nora!” she shrieked, looking past me. I hadn’t realized that Nora had appeared by the pool. I whipped around to see her standing some distance away. She was dressed in the hotel’s uniform, an aquamarine-blue, tight t-shirt and white pants. She had left her long blond hair down today, and it blew in the breeze as she stood, staring at us. She had a tray of drinks in her hand; she looked frozen to the spot.
Cici went running to her.
“Can I hug you? I’m all wet! I’ve ruined daddy’s clothes already!” she said, laughing and panting. Nora was staring at me; she hadn’t really looked at Cici yet, and I knew something was wrong. She wasn’t as happy to see us as I hoped she would be…as Cici was to see her.
“Nora?” Cici waved a hand in front of her, trying to get her attention. I walked towards her, taking slow steps. She followed my every movement with her clear blue eyes. There was a storm raging behind them, and she had her lips tightly pressed together like she was trying to keep her anger down.
“Nora? It’s me!” Cici continued trying to get her attention.
I stopped when I came close enough to her, holding her gaze.
“Hello, Nora,” I said, and I watched as she gritted her teeth.
“Why have you brought me here?” she hissed.
There was genuine wrath in her voice as she spoke. Enough to silence Cici. She whipped around, without waiting for my response, and stormed back towards the hotel lobby.
“Cici, stay right here!” I barked at her, before I ran after Nora.
Chapter 27
Nora
I could hear Felix’s shoes squeaking on the marble floor as he followed me. He was keeping his distance, presumably because he didn’t want to make a scene — it was a five-star hotel after all.
“Nora!” I heard him hiss as I rushed down one of the corridors. I didn’t even know where I was going. I’d been at this hotel for less than twelve hours, and it was a huge place.
“Nora! For fuck’s sake!” I heard him groan when I didn’t stop. I pushed through double glass doors at the end of the corridor and I burst out into a small leafy alcove. It was a garden surrounded by thick, tall hedges, with a canopy of trees shading us. The sound of waves gently crashing resounded from nearby. I had nowhere to go. I’d hit a dead end. Felix followed me into the alcove and I saw that we were all alone.
“What do you want from me?” I snapped, turning to him.
Felix stopped several feet from me, and he sighed and stuck his hands in the pockets of his pants. He was in a suit as always; it was a steel-gray color, and he was wearing a white shirt and a silver tie. He was dressed to the nines, as usual, and I felt stupid in the bright, silly colors of the hotel uniform.
“Okay, you need to calm down,” Felix said, and I watched as his eyes darkened. I gulped, keeping my head held high.
“Why did you bring me here? Like I’m some puppet on strings that you’re constantly pulling. You kicked me out of your house the other night, and now you bring me here? Out of the blue? With no warning? You have a nanny! Why didn’t you bring her to babysit for you?” I knew my voice was raised, but I couldn’t control it. I felt ashamed of myself, for falling for his tricks over and over again.
“Watch your tone, Nora, I’m still your boss,” Felix said calmly. I put the tray of drinks down on the grass and crossed my arms over my heaving breasts.
“Well, you know what? Not anymore. I quit!” I said. I could hear the sizzle in my own voice. Felix’s brows were crossed like he couldn’t believe that anyone would want to quit this job.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, looking confused.
“It’s very simple. I quit. I’ve had enough of you pushing me around, bossing me and getting me involved in your life, and then pushing me away. Why did nobody tell me why I was being sent to Hawaii? I thought it was my job. I thought I was being sent here for training…and now…and now I see that you transferred me here so that I could babysit for you on your little fake vacation!” my voice was strained. I could barely hold the tears back.
This was not what I’d signed up for. This was not the life I’d hoped for when I moved to the big city. I didn’t expect my heart to be tossed about and played with. Now, more than ever, I longed for my simple life in Minnesota.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Felix said and took a step towards me.
I stepped away from him, and he stopped.
“I took up this job, at your hotel, hoping that it would be a start to a new life. I spent all my life looking after my granddad. I just wanted to have some time to myself. I wanted to learn something new, see the world a little…and now, I’m nothing more than my boss’s babysitter, whenever he wants me to be. Is that why you didn’t fire me that first day? Because you saw potential in me as a babysitter?” I asked, tightening my arms on my breasts. My nostrils were flared, and I knew that my cheeks were flushed too, and that Felix could see exactly how I was feeling.
“Nora, you’re here because you need the training and because Jackson isn't an impartial mentor. Everyone at that hotel has opinions on your lack of experience. I thought that if you spent some weeks here in Hawaii, learned the ropes here, you’d be better prepared to handle the heavy-duty stuff back home,” Felix said. He was searching my eyes; his voice had softened.
Despite how much I wanted to hate him, and everything he said…I also wanted to throw myself at him. I wanted to feel his arms around me; I wished I knew what the comfort of being held by him was.
“And you picked Hawaii because you and Cici were coming here,” I said softly.
Felix gulped but said nothing.
“You’ve been using me, since the first day we met. At first, I thought it was just one day, one chance incident…and you were my boss, and it was my duty to do what I could to help. But now, it just seems like you’ve found yourself the perfect punching bag,” I continued.
Felix’s eyes narrowed at me, he had his jaw clenched, but still he said nothing. How could he say nothing? This man was turning out to be truly someone without a heart. It was no surprise that Cici was such a sad child, that she tried so hard to get her father’s attention.
“I’m going to go check on Cici and make sure she’s fine. You have one day to find someone else to babysit Cici on this trip. Tomorrow, I’m going back to San Francisco, and I’m quitting this darn job,” I said.
I bent down to pick up the tray again, and I walked past him. Felix didn’t stop me or run after me this time. He just let me walk back to the hotel. My heels clicked on the marble floor as I tried to keep my head held high. I had already made up my mind; I wasn’t going to cry over Felix Stone anymore.
Chapter 28
Felix
I was fuming at the same time as feeling shocked. Nobody, except my mother, spoke to me that way. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been reprimanded for my actions. I walked slowly back to the poolside, where I saw Nora patting Cici dry with a large towel.
When I walked up to them, I noticed that she was refusing to meet my eyes.
“Daddy, Nora says that she will take me to our room and get me properly changed for the pool.” Cici smiled. I stroked her hair and nodded.
“That’s good,” I told her. She caught Nora’s hand, and they began to walk away.
“I have a meeting,” I called after them. I didn’t know what else to say. Nora half-turned to me, narrowing her eyes proudly at me.
“Of course you do,” she replied. I clenched my jaw, trying not to give away the tumult of emotions rushing through my body.
“I’ll be done with it in a few hours,” I added, and I saw Nora grip Cici’s hand tighter.
“But Dad
dy…” Cici began to complain.
“We’ll have dinner together, baby girl,” I told her with a smile and that seemed to satisfy Cici. She looked more interested in spending time with Nora anyway.
“I’ll watch her till then,” was all Nora said, and then they turned and walked away from me. I couldn’t take my eyes off Nora’s ass in the tight white pants she was wearing. I gulped and forced myself to look away. Was she really going to quit the job?
I asked for Naomi to be sent to me again, and when she arrived, I told her to arrange an office space for me in the hotel. I needed a quiet spot where I could work for a bit and prepare for the upcoming meeting. In the past few days, I hadn’t been able to get any work done.