by Oliver Rill
The shuttle was much as I had expected, a sprinter. It bought us to the terminal. After an uneventful check-in we sat in the economy section of the 737 and the business section for the return flight. The seat was unremarkable. Made from cloth with a fresh check pattern. The Stewardesses had matching kerchiefs in their simple blue uniforms. The Purser had the pattern on his tie with a white shirt over blue pants with a narrow waist pleat.
I asked Marie to note the uniform or take a photo. There were no snacks on the flight, only drinks, which was ok for a flight of an hour and ten minutes. The staff were nice, but I wasn’t left with a lasting impression. Everything was ok, no complaints, but neither did I have the feeling that I must fly with them again. It all seemed terribly ordinary. However, I held my tongue for a while. I wanted to see what Marie thought. She felt much the same. She also thought the blue check was quite sweet but it didn’t really go with the male uniform’s white shirt. We were in agreement. Matt summed it up with the words “It’s a flight.”
We treated ourselves to a small limousine to the hotel. JB Homes had even given Matt a junior suite. I thought that was nice. I had thought about paying for an upgrade for him, myself. Marie and I went up to our suites and we agreed to meet Matt by the pool later.
Marie and I lay on the deck chairs and regarded the beautiful Cosmopolitan Hotel. Although it looks like a black glass box from the outside, the rooms were very comfortable and modern. Our room had a corridor with a guest bathroom and luggage room. It even had an open plan kitchen with a bar and dining table. The living room joined on to it, with a spacious balcony coming off it at the other end and there was a master bedroom too. Everything was in light grey and beige as it so often is in the USA.
Marie was browsing the information pack that we were given by the reception on arrival. Matt strolled out of the building in swimming shorts and a tank top. I lowered my head to the side and breathed to Marie “OMFG!”
I had had an idea of his physique from the way he wore the T-Shirt, but now as he stood before me, threw down his towel on the chair and discarded the tank top, grinning all the while. I couldn’t look away.
“I heard what you said, that’s sexual harassment at work!” He continued to grin unashamedly at me. “And I love it!”
I was caught red-handed. “You are not at work here and unfortunately, I am going to have to let you go again. I can’t work if what is under your shirt is constantly on my mind.”
All three of us laughed. Matt came closer and posed even more provocatively in front of me. “You like what you see, then? My pleasure. I do a lot of sport. If you like I will get you just as fit. I have a diet plan and we can hit the gym together. I’ll be your trainer.”
I studied Matt’s six-pack properly. The arms; the shoulders; his wonderfully sculpted breast and well-formed legs.
“Wow, Oli. That is an offer worth taking up!” Marie encouraged me.
“Okay, it’s a deal!” I didn’t need that much encouragement.
Matt stretched out on the chair next to me observing the activities in the pool, while Marie continued her investigation of the hotel literature, giving a running commentary. There was a card from the Las Vegas Strip; various local entertainment flyers, …
“Oh we have ticket for Celine Dion tomorrow night!” she cried.
“What? Really! That is fantastic! I wanted to see her last time, but she wasn’t there. Do you remember?”
“Its tickets and limo with all the bells and whistles!”
“Ok, Matt, you get us all something to drink and we’ll stay no longer than four hours, we’ll take a late lunch then we will go shopping. At least Matt and I will. If you fancy coming along Marie, you are welcome, otherwise we will go alone. You know what I have brought with me and that won’t even stretch to a casino and certainly won’t’ do for the Dion.”
Marie preferred to stay by the pool and eat there too. We would eat with her, but doing some shopping was a must now.
“Ok Marie, we are off. Come on Matt, you ask reception about where the best outlets are. We’ll meet at reception in 15.
I got a bit card happy at the mall and bought two smart jackets and a suit. For Matt I got three blazers and two suits because I really couldn’t look at his old suit any more. I also let him know that he didn’t have to wear a tie, an open-necked shirt would cover most occasions. Then we looked at shoes and shirts and even for a bag and luggage shop. I bought two hand luggage cases with wheels and a big travelling bag that could also be taken as hand luggage.
“Wow, if only every work day could be like that. I really have landed on my feet here with you! Thank you, Oliver. That is really generous of you.” Matt said on the way back as we got in the taxi. I smiled, a bit embarrassed.
“Not every work day is going to be like that, Matt, I am sure. And it wasn’t me being generous. I was being a bit egotistical. Firstly, you now think you owe me and secondly, I want my assistant to look good.”
“I could always give you a massage to pay you back. You could do with one, I saw that at the pool. Come to my room later. I am good at massages.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I looked at him and wondered. Could I? Should I?
“No really, no strings attached. I like doing it.”
I had to laugh. “I think it’s probably better if I don’t take up your offer.”
“You’re the boss. But the offer stands.” He shrugged.
Marie would have said the same I am sure, but naturally, I was sorely tempted. But it would also put me in a difficult position and I didn’t want that. I was generally a little bit insecure about how I should react to him and I wondered if we weren’t a bit too familiar. The idea of this weekend wasn’t so much about work as getting to know each other. Maybe we should leave it at that and on Monday things would cool a little when we had to buckle down and work.
My cell phone rang as the car jostled through the Vegas traffic. It was Ad. Oh God, I had forgotten! How could I?
“Ad, I am so sorry, I completely forgot to get back to you. Right, I will give you my impressions …” and I gave a candid account of what I had observed and thought. I added that I was looking forward to the business class trip – and also to seeing Celine Dion tomorrow. Ad laughed and wished us a fun time, he would see us in the office on Monday.
Matt and I went to our rooms. Marie was lying on the bed studying the brochures. I gave a quick fashion show of the items I had bought and she agreed.
“They are all Oli-style. You have my approval.” Then she stood up, took my arm and said “Please stay just as you are. Don’t change. Promise.” I was a little hurt.
“Have I changed then?”
“You are more energetic, assertive. Not rude, but very emphatic in what you want. That's a good thing - but you have to be careful that you do not become too authoritarian.” Ouch. I plumpsed down on the bed.
“Am I a bit of a dictator then already? After a couple of days?”
“No, you are just the same. It’s just … it’s just that you tend to ask things of people. Before you always let them offer what they could. They tended to come to you of their own accord.”
“Marie, I feel under pressure to be a bit demanding although I know no-one is putting me under any. I really want the airline to be a good one and I haven’t got the time, let alone patience, to wait for it to come of its own accord.”
“I just don’t want you to turn into one of those bossy-I’ve-got-it-all assholes. Up to now everything is ok and understandable. I just want you to know that the danger is there. You have always been so easy going and friendly and that has to stay as it is. And it is, so don’t worry about it, but just keep it in the back of your mind.”
“Ok. Now I understand you. I will keep it in mind. On another note: I bought Matt a few bits too. Hey, I mean, he was a student and then had a period without work. His suit looked grim and, well, I don’t want him running around like a gofer. Just a jacket and so on for the job. And he wanted to thank me with a ma
ssage! Can you imagine that?”
“Noooo, really? And, did you take him up on it?”
“Are you mad?” I asked. “Like hell I did!”
“You like him! They can even see that at Bellagio’s” In banter Marie named the hotel next door exaggerating as usual. The guests at Bellagio’s would be hard pressed to even see us, let alone observe our body language in detail and interpret the findings.
“Of course he’s good looking, but he bats for the other team and since he isn’t gay, he has to stay my assistant and nothing else.”
“Oh well, I’ve got nothing against a massage. But you are right, better to go somewhere and pay up front for it. I don’t know if I would have said no though. There again, it wouldn’t have mattered, I don’t have the same relationship with him.”
We went out in the evening together for a meal and then to the Casino. Marie and I had no idea how to play any of the casino tables, but luckily Matt did. He explained the rules and I gave each $100 to play. We sank a few beers, well Matt and I did. Marie stuck to G&T and the evening got quite riotous. Marie and I ran out of stamina a long time before Matt did and in the early hours of the morning just wanted to sink into our super luxurious beds. All three of us decided to turn in.
“Any time you are ready.” whispered Matt in my ear on the way to the elevator.
The next day we walked along the Strip and looked at the elegant hotels. We even went into some of them. We strolled in the sun eating ice cream and absorbing this exciting, artificial environment.
As Marie disappeared into a boutique, Matt asked me about his duties, and I explained that he would be responsible for various aspects. His most important qualities for me were analytics and research and I had every expectation of using them fully. There would, however, be many more mundane tasks as well. He shouldn’t worry, it would certainly be very varied.
“About last night. If I went too far, I apologize.” He said, sincerely.
“Matt, I don’t know how to say this to you. I like you and we have to work together with complete trust.”
“Ha ha! And you are my favorite boss of all time. But if you speak of trust – You don’t trust me, otherwise you wouldn’t have said no.”
At that moment, Marie returned.
“Matt, we will finish this conversation another time.” I said.
Marie had also bought herself new clothes and so as we climbed in the limousine to the Celine Dion Show, we looked the business. We sat in the first row, with a wonderful view of Celine’s fantastic performance. Afterwards we decided to just go back to the hotel and have a drink on the balcony in our suite.
“You are both really cool. I would have almost certainly gone to a casino or something after, but you are right. The apartment is so beautiful and the view is fantastic. You really know how to enjoy life.”
Marie said we were simply to lazy and tomorrow we had another full day ahead of us. We had to move house, even if it was only a few bags and a suitcase for me. There is certain to be a lot of setting up to do in the house.
“Oliver, I would like to help you if I can?”
“You certainly can – we will start with a little white wine!” I rejoined and held out my glass. Matt stood up, went inside and returned with both bottles. He filled my glass and filled Marie’s with champagne and returned the bottles. Then he stood behind my chair and massaged my shoulders.
“Really, I would really like to help. I want to go to the gym first and then I could come and help out.”
“It’s Sunday, Matt. My God, you really do have a magic touch. Tomorrow is Sunday. You don’t have to. You can go see your family or meet friends.”
“No, I want to go to the gym tomorrow and then I will run by and help you.” He said firmly as he moved over to Marie to massage her neck.
“Oh you have to set that up in the office calendar, Matt. A wellness day! You really are good – please don’t stop!”
The next morning, on the way to the airport, I explained why I had bought another three bags for hand luggage. Firstly, I didn’t have a decent one and secondly now we each had two pieces of hand luggage and I wanted to know what they were going to do about it. Whether they really were going to make us give them up at the check-in or if they let us bring them onto the plane ourselves. Matt betted that they would make us give it up at the check-in as hold luggage.
We agreed to check in separately, Matt as a lone traveler and Marie and I as a couple. We went to different desks. Matt was right. They made us give up the second bag and check it into the hold, despite our pleas that we needed it on board.
The seats in the business class were well upholstered and of grey leather. On the top section was a kitschy type of doily or serviette of the same check pattern as the uniforms. Breakfast was small, almost mean and not really worth mentioning. Coffee was bland and we didn’t want any alcohol. In summary, much the same as the economy flight – nothing really grabbed our attention.
As we climbed out of the shuttle, which we had taken back to the hotel, we parted from Matt, who thanked us again for a great weekend. He would be in Hollywood to help us with the move around two or three that afternoon. I gave him the address and reiterated in vain that he needn’t.
After packing our stuff, I went to the reception to get the Jag brought out of the garage.
“This is how the other half live.” I said smugly on the way to Hollywood.
“How much did you spend in Vegas?” Marie wanted to know.
“Actually, only around $3000 on the shopping. The company had paid for most of it already” I replied.
“Oli, if you spend $3000 each day, you are going to go bust very quickly.”
“I need a few bits and pieces here, just to start up. I only have the stuff we brought for the ten days. But this month I am going to be broke anyway, when the bill for the furniture hits my paycheck.”
“Yes, you’re going to have to tighten your belt a bit.” Marie laughed.
Ad called and asked how the business class flight went. He also let me know that he was unfortunately not going to be in the office in the next week and only contactable by phone or email intermittently. Doug would take me to my office tomorrow and do a handover. He suggested I should use the week to make a business plan that I could show him on his return.
I drove forwards into the driveway at Hollywood, impatient and curious to see what it looked like with the furniture.
Inside the door I was faced with two white couches, a chair and an upholstered stool. The dining table was in the appropriate niche between the kitchen and lounge. Looking around where I stood, I saw pictures, lamps, a TV …
“Let me ring Debbie.”
“Oliver, you do know it’s Sunday, don’t you? Even interior designers are allowed a weekend.” Debbie chided me on the phone. I held my tongue. “Ok, Oliver. I will be there in 20 minutes. But don’t expect me to be dressed for a meeting, I am coming as I am!” It worked!
I dragged my suitcase down to the master bedroom and looked into the wardrobe. There were plenty of hangers, all in white wood as I had requested and all hanging still in their packaging. Good. That will take a while longer than expected.
“And which room is mine?” asked Marie.
“Come on, darling. Let’s have a look.” I pushed Marie out of my room gently and we climbed the stairs to the first room. Then the second one. She preferred the first. Everything was ready for occupation – the bed was made, pictures on the wall, TV, telephone – everything was there!
“Good. Then I’ll unpack.”
I went into the kitchen. The cutlery was still in its wrapping. The plates and glasses were, too and I started to unpack, inspect them and filled the dishwasher. A little later Debbie rang the doorbell. I would have to get used to that sound. It reminded me of a telephone. Once inside, Debbie slammed her purse down on the dining table and started the tour straight away.
“See, I even managed to get your pool furniture in the same style as the house. You would a
lmost certainly have forgotten that if you’d done it yourself. But that’s why I am the professional. Do you like them?”
There were some beautiful patio sun beds and a small table and chairs that just invited you to take a seat and spend the day at the (still empty) pool.
“Ok. Moving on. Have you tried out the sofa?”
I hadn’t, but made immediate amends, sinking into a soft cloud of whiteness. “Oh God, Debbie – I will never be able to get out of this sofa! It’s wonderful!”
“Let’s move on, Oliver. I’ve hung these pictures that I had delivered. If you don’t like them, or if you want to replace them, please return these to me. Is that ok? The TVs are all connected, but you’ll have to decide on a service provider and adjust the sets accordingly.”
I nodded obediently as I glanced at the pictures that didn’t quite fit the bill and we moved on to the kitchen past the dining area.
“All the equipment is in the kitchen – oh I see you’ve started to unwrap the crockery and wash it. The pantry and laundry are still empty. That is, the white goods are there, but you’ll still need an iron and groceries. Have you hired any help?”
I shrugged.
“Not yet, Debbie. But I think I’m going to have to change that fast.”
“Yes you should. There’s a lot of dust in the air in the house. It will have to have a good clean. Don’t worry it will settle though. You just get a lot of dirt with all the deliveries and unpacking, but, like I said, that’ll settle in a week or so.”
Debbie showed me around the two guest bedrooms and my area.
“Obviously you’ll have to get your own toiletries like soap, creams, and hairdryers and so on. Is that all to your satisfaction, Oliver?”