AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As May rolled into June, Morgan switched from lavender to apricot with apricot coladas and apricot tea—hot or cold. With her probationary period behind her, and Après open for outdoor seating, she dug in deeper.
After formulating her ideas, she went to Nell.
She found her supervisor leaving her office.
“I guess you don’t have a minute.”
“I have a few of them if you can walk and talk. I need to check on the setup for an event in the Presidential.”
“Cocktail party for fifty. Loren’s working the bar. Marisol and Kevin serving.”
“You keep up. Wine, beer, soft drinks, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and a selection of mini desserts.” After pressing the button for the elevator, Nell signaled for Morgan to come ahead, stepped in, tapped her card on the pad to access the Club Level. “What’s on your mind?”
“The seasonal hires are working out well. Opal whipped the new waitstaff into shape fast.”
“She would.”
“Starting there, I’d like to recommend her for a bonus. She put a lot of time and effort into training the new hires, and it’s paid off. I have a detailed report to send you.”
“Do that.” Nell stepped off, turned left.
“I love it up here. Rustic elegance. The high ceilings and beams, the warm colors, the use of American antiques and art. And the Lounge is really welcoming. The fireplace, the flowers, the sit-and-stay-awhile furnishings.”
“We think so, too.” At the end of the hall, she tapped her card on the pad on a set of double doors.
“Okay, wow. I’ve never been in here. Pretty presidential.”
The generous foyer, papered in a dreamy blue, held a rustic bench. A hunt table displayed flowers, candles, with two high-backed chairs flanking it. She saw a bedroom on the right with a bed floating under a fluffy white duvet, and pillows massed against the headboard upholstered in dull, classy gold.
The foyer opened into a living area spacious enough for a pair of sofas and a long dining table draped in white and holding several warming stations. The portable bar already nestled into the corner.
But the star of the show shined in the wall of windows and doors that opened to a terrace and the stunning view beyond.
The lake, dotted with kayaks and canoes, shined blue against the green of rising hills, the rounded peaks of the mountains.
“I’ve seen the photos online, but you can’t capture this.”
“Two bedrooms, two and a half baths. What we think of as a butler’s pantry we can stock with snacks and beverages at the guest’s request. Or when booked for a party, like this, a place for the catering staff to stow dishes and trays and so on.”
“It’s beautiful, and still doesn’t feel stiff and formal.”
“We battled the interior designer to get our way. We won. What else can I do for you?”
“Sorry, distracted and dazzled. I’d like to train one of the new hires as a bartender. Bailey Myerson, she’s a local, working her way through grad school. She’s an excellent server, and she’s expressed interest in learning. With the additional seasonal seating, we could use someone who’s willing to shift where and when necessary.”
“Did you ask Opal?”
“I wanted to run it by you first.”
“And you have a detailed report already written.”
“I do.”
“Send it. Tell Opal I’d like her input as we’re considering it.”
“All right. Last, I’d like to promote Nick to assistant manager with the appropriate raise in salary. He deserves it, Nell. It wouldn’t mean extra hours. He already stands in as assistant manager when I’m not there, and is ready, every shift change, to fill me in on any issues and ordering needs, and is always willing to pinch-hit when we need him.”
“In his quarterly evaluations, Don indicated Nick had an excellent work ethic, was a team player, handled his job with skill, but lacked managerial skill and abilities.”
