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The thought depressed me. While I didn’t want to leave my baby, I wasn’t thrilled about being resigned to three more years of stagnancy.
Lunchtime rolled around quickly, and as was my way, I forgot to take my coffee break. I enjoyed my work and often got lost in the details. If I loved it so much, why was I chomping at the bit for change?
Maeve tapped on my doorframe, asking me to join her and Eloise for lunch at Giovanni’s.
Eloise started at Anton’s a couple of years ago. Pleasant and efficient, I’d worried Maeve was training her to take my place. Now I wondered if she was training her to be my assistant.
At Giovanni’s, I reminded myself repeatedly not to scarf down the delicious panini like a teenage boy while I entertained them with tales from my business trip a few weeks before.
“I had a bit of a misunderstanding with the head bell-boy.”
Maeve covered her eyes briefly. “Why am I only hearing about this now? What did you do?”
I laughed and waved my hands as I hurried to reassure her. “It all worked out! I saw him as soon as I walked in. He had this air of authority about him. Impossible to ignore. So, I approached him and asked if he would mind helping me up to my room with my luggage.” I tapped the bow of my lip. “Now that I think about it, he was abnormally chatty in the elevator.” I erased that statement with my hand and continued. “He opened the luggage rack and placed my suitcase on it, then asked to take my coat and hung it up for me.” I arched my brows. “Are we agreed that this is excellent service?”
Both Maeve and Eloise nodded, equally impressed.
“But when I offered him a tip, he requested a date instead.” I snorted out a laugh thinking back to my reaction.
Maeve drew back, her lips pursed.
Eloise’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”
My chest shook. “I told him I was flattered but didn’t find it very professional of him. He was young, maybe mid-twenties so I decided to help him out.” I guffawed at Maeve’s obvious disapproval. “I advised him that most single women who are traveling would feel uncomfortable if a male employee indicated interest while alone in their room.”
“Excellent,” Maeve clipped. “You should have reported him.”
“Wait,” I winced. “It gets better.”
“Oh no,” Maeve muttered.
“Tell me,” Eloise breathed with anticipation.
“He smiled, and I’ll remind you he had this aura about him,” I waved my arms around my body, “that drew you in. He asked me if I would go out with him if he wasn’t an employee.” I shrugged. “I didn’t see the harm in throwing him a bone, so I said ‘sure’.”
I leaned forward and placed my palms on the table. “He was a guest! I walked up to another guest, a complete stranger, and asked him to help me with my bags!”
“No…” Maeve’s facial expression flitted back and forth between horrified and amused. “How could you mistake him for a bell boy?
“It’s not my fault!” I exclaimed. “He was dressed almost exactly the same as the bellboys.”
“Don’t bellboys wear like a waistcoat or something?” Eloise looked doubtful.
“They do, and he was.” I held my hands out. “Okay, I’ll allow his was different, but I just assumed he was like, head bell boy or something.”
Maeve barked out a laugh, while Eloise stared at me like I’d grown a second head.
Eloise obviously lacked a funny bone, I noted.
“Did you go out with him?” She asked, her head cocked to the side.
“I met him for a drink after dinner then sent him on his way. Too young, and by far, too handsome.” I held up a finger. “And apparently richer than Midas.” I shook my head. “Not sure what he wanted with me, but I can’t say I wasn’t flattered.”
Eloise looked thoughtful. “Some men like older women. You’re in your sexual prime, don’t you know that?”
I swallowed a bite of my chocolate croissant. “Tell that to my coochie. I swear it’s sealed shut.”
Maeve laughed then brightened as something over my head caught her attention.
