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The banquet hall was bare, unlike the last time I had been here. Dust particles danced in the sunlight coming through the windows. Some of the cleaning staff were on a ladder cleaning the glass already.
Clair was on the stage with the rest of the managers talking to each other over the loud buzzing noise of the employees in the room. I couldn’t help but look at the man in glasses behind them who was removing the piano action from its case. And my mind wandered to Matthew, who I realized was not present.
“All hands are on deck right now, people!” Clair said in the microphone. The redhead was stunning in her green sleeveless turtleneck and trousers. The light from the room highlighted her red hair like it was a halo. It looked like she was used to the hotel bustling with this much activity. “Housekeeping will be lending their time to help with the waitstaff and ushers. Susana is currently choosing the best in her team to help us with this need.”
I knew that I wasn’t the best of the employees at the hotel, so there was zero chance for me to work here tonight, even though I really, really wanted to. I have to say, I missed being at formal events and galas. And I thought that it would be good to see the glamour of it all again.
“All the housekeeping staff,” she continued. “Are expected to work at a hundred and ten percent, especially the team members working with the VIP and luxury suites. All rooms will be booked tonight and we want everything in perfect condition.”
The meeting went on for another ten minutes where Clair instructed each department about how they were going to help pull off this event with so little time. Thankfully for me, I wasn’t assigned to any of the luxury rooms, and I wasn’t chosen to be one of the waitstaff either. That meant I had a little room for my usual mistakes.
When the Chief of Human Resources said we were dismissed and were expected to get to work immediately, everyone went towards the exit, cramping up the space. I took a step back, afraid to be caught in the middle of the stampede, and waited until the crowd was gone.
As I stepped aside from the stage, I looked at the man still tuning the piano, wanting to be there beside him to see what he was doing. We had learned basic piano maintenance back in Juilliard but I was still curious about what the man was doing.
“Ah,” Clair called. She stepped down from the stage, holding an iPad against her chest. “Ms. St. James, just the girl I wanted to see.”
The Chief of HR and I had never really met formally before. All I could remember about her was that she couldn’t stop herself from laughing at the interview at what I was telling Matthew. I guess I should probably thank her and Susana for giving me a chance to work here.
“Mr. Parker wants to see you in his office right now,” She said, her tone stern and her eyes filled with disinterest.
“Why?”
“Something about the gala tonight.”
My cheeks burned as my thoughts went to Matthew telling Clair about how he would keep me under control and make sure that I didn’t fight with the VIP guests. That must be why he wanted to see me, right? And that must be the reason why I wasn’t assigned to any jobs related to the party.
I nodded my understanding and Clair took off as she answered a call. Thankfully, she didn’t stay and chat because I didn’t know what to say to her. At least I knew from the way she talked to me that she didn’t have a clue about what was going on with me and her boss.
As the crowd finally thinned out at the door, I walked towards Matthew’s office, knocked once and turned the knob.
Matthew’s face was clean shaven this morning. He had shaved off the 5 o’clock shadow that usually peppered his face. I knew it shouldn’t be the first thing I noticed, but it was attractive. It made him look years younger.
He wasn’t wearing a suit today but rather a cream-colored ribbed polo that emphasized his biceps. Today might just be the first for many things. He was on the phone with someone, writing notes down on a piece of paper, and when I walked in, he looked up at me and motioned for me to sit on the chair in front of his desk.
“I’m going to have to call you back,” Matthew said as he hung up his phone and tossed his pen aside.
The energy in the air immediately intensified around us, and it zapped me when Matthew leaned back against his chair and started fucking me with his eyes. I locked mine with his, and he smirked.
“Good morning, Reagan.”
“Morning, boss,” I greeted him casually. The thing between Matthew and I was that we knew which lines not to cross. We could say whatever we wanted to each other when we were alone, but when we were not, we remained professional. I couldn’t complain to him then, couldn’t make fun of him. And in return, he respected me as his employee. Maybe it was the reason why he allowed things to continue.
Matthew slid a venti-sized iced coffee my way. The Starbucks logo was pebbled with condensation. “For you.”
“You called me here for an iced coffee?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. Since Matthew and I had started hooking up, neither of us typically made any effort to intentionally do something considerate towards the other. Which was why Matthew offering me coffee was new.
“It’s Starbucks.”
“I can see that,” I pointed out. I wasn’t going to complain that I could finally drink Starbucks again after months. It was like a reward—a delayed one, but a reward nonetheless. The first sip almost made me melt with ecstasy, the sweet and cool liquid hitting the back of my throat.
“I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got what the barista suggested. I hope it’s to your liking.”
“I can’t complain.” I continued sipping the drink as I relaxed on my chair like I didn’t have a single care about what was going on. It was just me and this coffee. And for a quick moment, I longed for the days when I didn’t have to worry about other things aside from what I wanted to buy next. I knew those days were gone now, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if I had stayed in California.
I heard Matthew’s phone ringing and vibrating on his desk, and I saw him switch off his ringer without looking at the screen. It was weird, given that Matthew was a busy man. He was probably the busiest one I knew. He was always on his phone, always in a meeting, always talking to investors and his staff.
“Aren’t you gonna get that?” I asked, shaking the ice in my coffee, the sound rattling around the room.
