AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you ready to order?”
“I’m just going to have the chicken and avocado salad,” Amberley responds, holding the menu out for the waitress to take.
“I’ll have the same, thank you.” The waitress leaves us, and I load my coffee with sugar because the pressure around my nose is making me feel sluggish. I’m feeling a little lightheaded, but I refrain from admitting that to my friend.
“Where’s your interview?” Amberley asks, checking her phone.
“At The Grande Morvelo.” I give her an awkward smile, and she looks up slowly from her phone.
“You sneaky bugger.” She spits. “Do they know you worked for CI?”
“I think that’s why they agreed to the interview.” I laugh.
“He’s in the office today, by the way,” she informs me.
Good.
Shrugging, I lift my coffee and take a sip. I’m glad he is. I just hope I get to see him before I walk out of there, and I hope I get the job at The Grande, because that really would piss him off. No employer wants to lose someone to their competitor.
Our salads arrive, and Amberley and I make plans to go out this weekend—that’s if I’m not rotated into work should I get the job. It’s a short walk back to the hotel, and when we arrive, Amberley comes through the main entrance with me and not through the service entrance like usual. The lobby is a two-storey high extravagance. Its Olympic-length and gleaming marble floors glint underneath dripping chandeliers. No expense has been spared, and the hotel is brimming with the richest people in the world. Its owner included. Felicity, Beryl, and Marcus are all behind the reception desk, and as soon as Felicity spots me, she comes walking quickly towards me, her legs restricted in her pencil skirt.
“Lauren, a word, please?” She purses her mouth, and my friend gives me a sympathetic look over her shoulder as she heads towards the staff area.
“Of course.” I smile. “As soon as I’ve collected my belongings.” I walk past her and hear her tut in annoyance.
Amberley is in the staff room and pokes her head around her locker. “What did she want?”
“Don’t know,” I shrug, “told her I was getting my things first.”
She laughs. Neither of us likes Felicity. She's hard work and is more than happy to tread on any one of us to achieve a higher status. The door bumps open, and she walks in, her nose thrust upward and her mouth stuck in her usual pout.
“I won’t be a minute,” I say and look back at Amberley, rolling my eyes.
“Actually, I was asked by Mr Carson-Ivory to send you straight up to his office when you arrived.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I turn my back on her, and Amberley swallows a laugh. Her head is shoved deep into her locker to stop herself from giggling.
“Shut up,” I mutter, and she wheezes. She’s crying with laughter. When I look back, Felicity is gone, and I sigh gratefully. “She’s gone.”
“Lauren, you bitch!” She spits, full of laughter. “I thought she was going to have a fit when you turned your back on her. Her eyes twitched!”
“Well, she has always been so rude to me. Wish me luck.” I widen my eyes and clip the lock shut.
“He’s going to need it more than you.” Amberley gives me a once-over, and I grin. “Oh my god, you dressed like that on purpose! Lauren, you’re a bloody dark horse. You’re always so quiet,” she muses, surprised.
My cheeks heat, but I don’t avert my gaze. “I just refuse to be this worthless speck to him. If I’m leaving, it will be with my head high.”
“I think someone else’s head will be high too.” Amberley chortles, pointing to her groin area, and I gasp loudly, knocking her hands away.
“Give over. Anyway, I’ll call you later and let you know how my interview goes.” She pecks my cheek, and I leave her to straighten up. I walk back past the main desk, and a businessman walking towards me does a double take and gives me a sexy grin. Okay, so maybe I do look super hot in this dress. I smile back, feeling full of confidence. Too pale, my ass. I take the elevator up with an older couple and assist them to their room before I double back and go in the direction of Cain’s office. He can bloody well wait.
It’s located below the penthouse suite and, from what I’m told, has an incredible view over London. I give the door a loud rap and stand back to wait for it to open. A poised woman with greying blond hair in a grey skirt suit opens the door. “Miss Lindel?” she asks, giving me a once over. I’m tempted to lift my fringe as proof of identity.
“Lauren’s fine.” I smile and breeze in.
“That’ll be all, Justine.” The sound of Cain’s voice brings my head up, so I affix my front-of-house smile in place. He is wearing another three-piece suit in dark blue. I can’t deny how good he looks, but I do prefer the charcoal grey. It really sets off the silver in his eye colour. They're bright blue, crisp and cool, silvery in certain lights. Those eyes drop down the length of me, and he shifts in his chair. “Have a seat.” He points with his hand to the low-back leather chair.
“I don’t mind standing,” I respond quickly.
