I took a deep breath. ‘You may remember that I went to a fashion show on Friday . . .’
‘Yes, I remember trying to stop you and you not listening and then getting in loads of trouble. Like I predicted.’ He folded his arms.
‘That’s the one.’ I nodded. ‘Well, Mum is now saying I can’t go to the Christmas Ball.’
‘Woe is you.’
‘I know, right? Mum doesn’t think I’m responsible. I have to persuade her that I am. Then she’ll let me go.’
‘And you think I can help you with that?’
‘Yes.’
‘Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not the right person to persuade her otherwise. I happen to completely agree with her.’
‘I don’t want you to talk to her. I want you to show me the ropes of the hotel.’
He blinked at me. ‘What?’
‘The hotel. I need you to show me how it all works. Who does what and when. What makes the hotel tick, blah blah blah. You know, all the boring stuff.’
‘I’m sorry –’ he shook his head – ‘I’m confused.’
‘OK, it’s really not that hard to understand. Mum thinks that I don’t care about responsibilities and the hotel and –’
‘You don’t,’ he interrupted.
‘Right, because I’m anormalteenager.’ I was beginning to get impatient. This had better be worth all the hard work. ‘But I’m going to learn to. Audrey is too busy to help me and she said you’re the next best person to ask. You know how the hotel works and you know everyone, and she said you’d make sure we didn’t get in anyone’s way. Plus, you have nothing better to do.’
‘What makes you think that?’ he said defensively.
‘Because you have no friends and you just sit around with your dad all day.’
‘That’s it.’ He went to push open the door of the cupboard.
‘Wait, wait, I’m sorry!’ I said hurriedly, stopping him. ‘That sounded bad. What I meant was, you’re . . . uh . . . passionate about the hotel. Look, you even read books about its architecture and stuff.’
‘I can’t believe I’m bothering to listen to you.’
‘Cal, I wouldn’t ask for your help if I wasn’t desperate,’ I whined. ‘All you have to do is spend a few evenings and weekends teaching me how it all works.’
‘No small task with your attention span.’
‘I know you love a challenge,’ I said hopefully. ‘And in return, you’ll get an interview with Skylar Chase. Most proper journalists don’t get that opportunity. And I have to prove to Mum that I’ve made the effort to learn about the hotel.’
‘Why are you so desperate to go to the Christmas Ball?’
‘It’s my favourite time of year. You know I love it.’
‘Yeah, but right now you’re telling me you’re willing to actually do some work around the hotel and spend your free time learning things, which isn’t really your style. So why are youthisdesperate to go?’
I shuffled my feet, knocking over a basket of bleach bottles.
‘Ethan Duke asked me to go with him. You know. Like a date. And I can’t cancel onEthan Duke.?’ I bit my lip. ‘So? Will you help me?’
I gripped his arm gently as he didn’t respond. ‘Cal? Pleeeeeeeeease?’
I gave him the biggest puppy eyes I could muster.
