Page 8 of Peaked Desires

“How was lunch?” Tracy calls out as I sink back in my chair, holding my full stomach.

“So good,” I breathe, puffing out my cheeks.

Yawning, I contemplate how nice it would be to take a long walk up one of the trails. With Huxton. We could dip our toes in the lake by the waterfall, listen to the leaves rustling and the birds chirping softly as we talk for hours.

I try to ignore the tightness in my chest, the thought of Huxton weighing down on me. So I do what I’ve done all week and distract myself with my work.

With the phone quiet, I take a moment to review the reservations from this morning. And then I see it.

“Shit,” I mutter to myself, eyes glued to the mistakes before my eyes.

With a sinking feeling in my gut, I realize I’ve caused a big problem.

Double bookings.

Everywhere. Each and every reservation I’ve made today is wrong. My heart starts to race as I click through the screen, each confirmation revealing overlapping reservations for the same rooms. Panic sets in and my palm is sweating all over the mouse as I click frantically around the screen.

How could this have happened? I’ve been so careful, making damn sure I’m not distracted by the inappropriate thoughts of my boss.

I chew nervously on my lip, shaky fingers tapping on the keyboard trying to fix the situation. But no matter what I try, nothing works. It’s done. I’ve made a mistake. A big fucking mistake.

And then, a deeper regret sinks in.

“Oh, no… Please. No. No! NO!”

I jump from my chair, fists scrunching my hair.

“What’s wrong?” Tracy calls out. “Elise? What’s happened?”

“Gone…” I mumble, chest pounding. Tears sting the corners of my eyes as I stare at the blank screen. “Everything is gone.”

Tracy rushes over, placing a hand on my back as she looks at the screen. Without a word, she bends down and takes the mouse, clicking through the computer program, willing the files to magically reappear.

“I don’t know what happened,” I say, panic burning my throat. “I had a few double bookings, so I was re-allocating them, and then…” I squeeze my fists, pulling my hair so it pains my scalp. “It’s all gone.”

Tracy tries to work her magic, but nothing works. The grand opening is in one week and I’ve lost all the bookings. Everything is gone, and we have no way of retrieving contact details for all the guests.

I’ve ruined everything.

“Get Huxton.” Tracy’s voice cuts through the chaos of my mind. “Go up the mountain and get Huxton.”

I shake my head, brows creasing with confusion. “What? Why?”

I can’t be fired. I can’t go back to the city.

Tracy stands back from the computer, shaking her head. “I can’t get it back. You’re right… everything is gone. The database is completely wiped.”

A few silent seconds pass and my stomach clenches together. I’m biting my nails as Tracy looks at me, her expression unchanged.

“We need Huxton,” she says firmly. “Follow the path opposite the Gym, it will take you right up to his cabin.”

Scared for my job, I grab my jacket and head out, the chilly mountain air instantly hitting my flushed cheeks. My mind is racing as I walk up the steep path, the damp earth giving way with each heavy step I take.

I go through everything I’ve done as I walk, winding around dense forest trying to work out exactly how I’ve managed to ruin the entire grand opening.

The scent of pine and wood smoke wafts towards me. It reminds me of Huxton. Fuck. This retreat meant everything to him. He’s going to be so pissed. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

FUCK!

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