Page 44 of Room Service
“Fuck, does Hayley know about me and Dorien?” I ask.
“I don’t think so… she mentioned it was part of the new policies in regards to staff absence. But, between me and you, I think he’s just covering his arse so she doesn’t suspect anything.”
“She probably already does suspect. Oh great, can’t wait to get back there,” I say sarcastically.
“She doesn’t know anything, so don’t overthink it.”
Silence ensues for a few moments before I speak. “Derrick never got me anything when I was unwell, even when he was working and seemed to have his life together, he never did anything like this…” My voice fades off, unsure of how to process that. A man I’ve been sleeping with has shown more kindness than my husband ever did.
“Derrick is a dick,” Celeste remarks, but we already know this.
“He’s been blowing up my phone most of the day,” I tell her, and speak of the devil… my phone starts to flash on the side, the ringer set to silent but his name like a fucking beacon on the screen.
“So that’s why you didn’t answer my calls at lunch,” Celeste says.
“I didn’t even know you’d tried to phone, sorry.”
“Don’t be daft, you’re unwell, so I thought you were just asleep.”
“I was, but even when I noticed the phone flashing, I ignored it, because I presumed it was him every time.”
“Want me to rip him a new one?” she offers, but with a soft laugh, I shake my head.
“Thank you for the offer but I’ll deal with it when I feel more like myself.”
“Okay. So are you going to tell me exactly what was in that bag or am I going to go and have to hunt for it myself?” she says, and just like that, my best friend makes me feel a whole lot better with her easy going nature.
Chapter Thirty-Six
ELISE
It took me six days in total to return to work, and now I’m waiting outside of Hayley’s office for my back to work interview. As if being ill wasn’t bad enough, now I have to justify why I wasn’t in work and make the ice queen believe me.
I blow a strand of hair off my face as I watch the clock ticking by. I came in a little bit earlier to get this over and done with, but of course, Hayley only works to her time, and she will give no fucks about me having to rush around and make up for the time I’m losing here to get the rooms designated to me ready for the next guest’s arrival.
I’ve got a shitty evening ahead of me too, because I never called Derrick back and he’s been trying to reach me every day since the phone calls started. I’m dreading it, but I need to deal with whatever he has to say, until I have my meeting with the solicitor, and then they can deal with whatever he has to say.
“You can come in,” Hayley says from her doorway, disturbing my thoughts. I didn’t even realise she’d opened the door, I was so deep inside my own head.
With a fake smile, I stand, walking into her office and closing the door behind me, and I nearly fucking faint when I see that she isn’t alone. Dorien is sat in a seat behind hers, and as she resumes her position at her desk, I wonder why he’s here too. It’s the first time I’ve laid eyes on him in over a week, and fuck, he looks good. I haven’t yet had a chance to thank him for the ‘get well’ bag, but I will, when Hayley isn’t around, because I won’t be able to hide how much I have the hots for our boss.
“Sit down, Elise,” Hayley barks, and I see Dorien’s eyebrows pull together briefly before he schools his face, his eyes feeling like they’re burning into me.
I sit down and blow out a breath, ready to get this over with and get back to work.
“So, records show you’ve been off sick for the last six days,” Hayley starts, her eyes glued to a piece of paper in front of her.
“I apologise for being ill, but I couldn’t come to work whilst I was… um… being sick.” I want to face palm myself. I was going to say throwing up, but I didn’t want Dorien to have the image of me with my head down the toilet—I don’t even know why that matters, but when you’ve had his head between your legs and his dick inside of you, the last thing you want is for him to be picturing you chucking up. Which I’m sure he probably is now, anyway. I try to stop the flush from creeping up my neck and cheeks, but it’s useless, I can feel it happening, and when I chance a quick look at him, I don’t fail to notice the side of his mouth twitching into a smile.
“Did I ask you to speak?” Hayley chimes in, giving me a pointed look, her tone sounding more than a little pissed off.
“Sorry,” I say as I drop my head and wish that this was over already.
“Hayley,” Dorien barks, my head whipping back up as my eyes land on his furious face. “You can leave,” he tells her, and her mouth drops open as she stares at him aghast.
“What?” she asks, but even I can sense that there is no room for debate here.
“Leave.” One word, nothing else. I hold my breath as she rises and walks around the desk, giving me the side-eye as she goes past me.
