AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know, but it was good while it lasted. This was only a bit of fun,” I stated softly as I removed my hand and grabbed the phone, looking into his eyes.
“Was it?” Tye whispered. His eyes dropped from the screen.
“Yes, Tye. I'm sorry, it was. I won't let anyone break me again,” I admitted quietly. “A guy once destroyed my heart, and I won't open up to anyone now.”
“I'm sorry…” he replied with unshed tears behind his eyes. “Can we stay in touch?”
“Of course… you're my boss, Tye,” I joked. “I would love to stay friends.”
“Thank you, Everleigh.” He forced out the choked words.
“Night, Tye,” I whispered.
I put down the cell and blew out a deep breath as I tangled my fingers in my dark brown hair. I let it splay out on the pillows around me before hitting my balled-up fists into the mattress in frustration. Why do they become attached? We agreed on no strings sex and then they always decide they want more. I thought he was different and now I had to work for his sorry ass. Luckily, I had his partner this time pulling the reins. He couldn't be any worse than Tye, surely? I laid back and looked at the ceiling, wondering why this mystery owner had been sent this time instead and why we hadn't met him before now? Let alone heard of him.
* * *
I walked into The Dalston ready for the day ahead, unable to hide away the massive grin on my face. I was greeted with Chrissie, Freddie and Isobel running across the reception floor, with Isobel jumping through a trolley holder, straight into my arms.
“Isobel, you're back.” I smirked at the other two as I grabbed her shoulders so I could look her up and down before spinning her around. She had been training in one of our other branches across in Brooklyn the last four weeks and I'd missed her sorry ass around here.
“Sure am. Missed you, girl,” she replied. “Them two as well.” She pointed over her shoulder as Chrissie and Freddie bounded into the pair of us and wrapped their arms around us.
“What's with the welcoming committee? Who's on the desk?” I questioned as Shona, from the nightshift, waved across at me as I glanced at my watch before flitting my eyes between them all.
“Have you not heard? HR announcements have come through. Office, now,” Chrissie stated cheekily with her hands poised on her hips as she pouted her bottom lip at me.
“Have they?” I tried to act surprised, ignoring Chrissie's childish demeanor as I bounded ahead. “And?”
“We waited for you of course, silly!” Freddie smirked as he rolled his eyes at me before he ruffled my hair with his hand.
“Hey. Watch it, not the hair.” He shrugged his shoulders and laughed out loud as I attempted to flatten it quickly down.Always the comedian.
I loaded up the internal email system, waiting for the notifications to appear from HR. I knew my name should be on the recruitment list. If Tye had been honest with me. He could have been a twat, I suppose and requested the offer to be withdrawn, but I would have loved to know how he would have explained that to whoever was issuing the confirmations. Nope, he wouldn't be that spineless, would he?
I silently let the thoughts trail through my head as I felt the shiver take over in my hand as I used the mouse. The list loaded and I scoured the names. It was a struggle to decipher the letters before me. The guys around me grasped the top of my shoulders before they spun my chair around to face them. They shouted with joy before Freddie pulled me into his arms.He didn't go back on his word.
“You did it!” I nodded, trying to register the fact that this wasn't a dream but an actual reality. I gazed back at the screen and finally my name stood out, bright as day. It wasn't just my name, though. As I gazed at the guys, I saw the unshed tears and huge smiles across their faces, and I realized this was a group celebration.
“Guys, we all did!” I stated with excitement. “It may be a different role than before for some of us, but we’re all moving forward.”
Chrissie grabbed my hand and twirled me around as Freddie dived for Isobel. Lifting her up in the air, he spun her around in a circle before placing her back down on the ground.
“The gang all together… again.” Isobel cheered with glee as she fluttered her eyelashes at me. “You know what this calls for, don't you?”
“Time to partyyy!” Freddie bounced up and down on his toes as he rubbed his hands together. “Let’s head to that new swanky nightclub tonight, Keyo?”
“Deal,” I replied as I called halt to their geared-up excitement and ushered them to relieve Shona from the front desk and get to work.
I wasn’t taking any prisoners on my watch, no matter what that screen said in front of me. Until I started at The Wilden and had that name badge firmly fixed in place on my chest, anything could change. I had to keep running a tight ship and prove how capable I was of the opportunity they had given me. After all, clients still required a room for the night, and we had our jobs to do until we hit the exclusive rooftop bar later tonight.
5
Dawson
Bright and early, I shuddered as I checked my appearance in the mirror and last night's anger flashed back before my eyes.A job to sort today,I chastised myself.I'd cleared the majority up, but my temper had taken over and I couldn't let that happen again, especially in front of others.
Everleigh Acton was my kryptonite, the one woman who I'd do anything for – the mere thought of what I did all those years ago still tore me apart. But I had to protect her because she didn't know him like I did. So, I buried the pain deep down within my heart even though I knew our life was a clusterfuck held together by promises. Ones in which I had broken. The hotel would have to be my sanctuary. The less of the streets of New York I saw, the less memories I'd be forced to relive.
