Page 24 of Room Service
There are mutterings all around as the maids contemplate what she has said.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear, but this is not up for debate. If you want to keep your jobs then you will stay and do what is required,” Hayley adds on, making more than one of us look at her with a scowl on our faces.
“Is the owner coming too?” a girl at the back asks.
“And that is of your concern because?” Hayley replies, one eyebrow arched. I turn and see the girl shrink back, her face heating with embarrassment. She’s new, and she has no idea how acidic Hayley’s tongue is.
“Now, if there are no more musings, get to work,” Hayley finishes before turning and leaving, the door closing loudly behind her. The room descends into chatter as we all get ready to work extra today, even though I’m pretty sure it’s against the fucking law to tell us we have to stay and do extra, but then she dangled that bonus in front of us to make sure we were persuaded to stay without her even trying to convince us. We’re all scraping to get by, and the more prestigious staff here know that and take full advantage of it.
“Has anyone ever seen the owner?” I ask Celeste as we make our way to the floor we’re working on today, both of us sharing the top floor suites and the penthouse, which requires two people as opposed to one to make sure everything is immaculate.
“Hunter Ryley… I’ve seen him once. He’s pretty easy on the eye for a silver fox. But from what I gather, he’s more of a silent owner, preferring to let his board visit and make decisions,” Celeste says as we get in the lift and make our way up.
I’ve only ever asked about the owner once, making the mistake of asking Hayley like the new girl just did, and I’ve never shown enough interest to ask again. Whenever anyone asks Hayley about the owner, she shuts it down. I have no idea why, and I’ve never really cared, because as long as I get paid, what business is it of mine?
We reach the designated floor and begin our shift, scouring every nook and cranny to make sure Hayley has no reason to deduct anything from the ‘generous bonus’ she mentioned. She’d take it away in a heartbeat because she has no soul.
Celeste and I work quickly and efficiently, the time flying by as we finish up the suites and head to the penthouse. We don’t even break for lunch, and by the time we’ve finished, we’re both starving and ready to go home and rest our weary feet.
But I guess Hayley has other ideas as she marches up to us just as we’re about to enter the staff area. “You two,” she says with a click of her fingers. “Come with me.” She walks on by us without waiting for an answer, and we both groan quietly as we rush to catch up with her marching across the reception area. She leads us into the dining hall, which is bustling with activity, ready for tonight’s guests who will be spending an extortionate amount of money on a plate that contains no more than three bites of food. I’ve never understood why people pay so much money for so little, but then, I guess being broke as fuck for most of my life means I can’t comprehend spending so much money on meaningless shit.
Hayley stops abruptly, and I come to halt just before I smack into the back of her.
“Now,” she says as she turns around to face us. “I’m short on staff again tonight, and after seeing how well you worked previously, Elise, I am expecting you to work to the same standard again.”
“Um… it’s been a really long day and I’m exhausted—” I begin to say, but Hayley cuts me off.
“I understand that, but as before, you’ll be rewarded generously.” She has a smug smile on her face because she knows she’s just sealed the deal. Bitch. Another thing I hate is people who use money to get what they want, and they prey on those who desperately need it.
“And, of course, you will be allocated a room again for when you’re done,” she adds on, and even as I roll my eyes at her, I know I’ll do it because it’s too good to pass up. I received my paycheck this morning, and when I saw that I was compensated three-hundred pounds for working a few hours extra the other night, I was surprised and actually fucking grateful for her picking me. Another extra three-hundred pounds will go a long way, and it means I’ll be able to put down a deposit on my own place sooner rather than later, until I’ve seen my divorce through, and then I can get the hell out of here. I know I could leave now, run away and never look back like I was going to do before, but actually, I want to get all my ducks in a row before I hightail it out of here. I want to know that I never have to deal with Derrick again, and make sure I get what I’m owed.
“Celeste,” Hayley barks, turning to my best friend stood beside me. “Elise will fill you in on what is expected of you. You can both make your way to the staff room, where you will find extra uniforms for you to wear that arrived this morning, and I’ll be there shortly.”
“Are we working in here?” I ask, looking around the dining area.
“Of course not. I just didn’t have time to waste by telling you this out there,” she replies, nodding towards the direction we came from. And with that, her attention shifts, and she sees something over my shoulder and goes marching towards a waiter who is probably about to be ripped a new arsehole. I grab Celeste’s hand and pull her along behind me, filling her in on what we’ll be expected to do as I lead her to the staff room.
“What the hell is happening right now?” Celeste says as I push open the staff room door and spot the uniforms hanging on a portable rail in front of some lockers.
“I have no idea, but I know that the bonus of three-hundred pounds is totally worth it,” I tell her as I shuffle through the uniforms, finding the sizes we’ll need. “And wearing nicer clothes than a maid’s outfit is another reason to just suck it up and do the job.”
“But why is Hayley asking us to do it? Don’t they have an agency for this kind of thing?” Celeste questions.
“Yes, but I’m guessing that they’re running on too short notice, like the last time she asked me to do this.” I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, and neither is Celeste.
“Three-hundred pounds extra… wow… it takes me just over a week to earn that amount of money,” Celeste says quietly, and I nod.
“Yep, so even though we’re exhausted, take it as a win. And also, if this goes well again, maybe we’ll get asked more and more. I guess it beats using an agency and having to give whoever shows up a rundown of what to do and what is expected of them. This way, we already know the standards set by the hotel, and she doesn’t have to clue us up.”
We quickly get changed, freshening up and using Celeste’s minimal make-up to hide the bags under our eyes and give us a natural glow despite both being tired from a full day of work already. When we’re done, we wait outside the staff room for Hayley to arrive and lead us up to the penthouse.
The lift pings at the end of the corridor, and my eyes drift to the doors opening, my heart racing as they connect with his. Dorien. He smirks as the lift closes, and I get that familiar feeling of my heart trying to beat out of my chest whenever he’s around. He’s here? But his note this morning was so final. A goodbye. So why the hell is he in the lift?
“Who was that?” Celeste asks, and I rip my eyes away from the lift to look at her.
“That was him,” I whisper.
“Him?” she questions.
