Page 38 of Tasty Cherry

Aisha slides over. “Yeah, there are the early birds around eight, the wild rush in the hour before the eleven o’clock deadline, then another group at one.”

“When do you all eat lunch?” Brooklyn asks right as her stomach lets out a loud growl. She presses her hand to her belly. “Asking for a friend.”

We all laugh.

“Normally we take turns around now,” Aisha says. “If you’re alone on the desk, you wear a headset so you can call for backup if there’s a rush.” She opens a drawer and pulls it out. “You can easily summon a floater, or Raya or Sebastian.”

Jessica takes the headset. “How about you take Brooklyn around to see her lunch options, and I’ll stay here with Mila?”

“Cool beanio,” Aisha says. “I recommend bringing your lunch, but there’s a sandwich cart as well as the deli. I wouldn’t go for any of the restaurants. They take too long.”

“How many restaurants are there?” Brooklyn asks.

“Three. The bistro is that way.” Jessica points across the lobby. “It’s a sit-down place mainly for burgers and pizza, family friendly, you know. Then there’s the primary restaurant that has the breakfast buffet in the morning.” She points to the back of the lobby. “Right there.”

“The deli is the third, right?” I ask. I studied the options before coming.

“No, I wasn’t counting that. There is a private restaurant in the main tower,” Aisha says. “It’s super fancy. Regular employees aren’t even allowed in there unless that’s your area. It has its own security.”

“I hear eating there is over a thousand,” Jessica says.

“Dang,” Brooklyn says. “And of course I want to see it right now.”

Aisha shrugs. “You all will probably be allowed.”

“You’re not?” Brooklyn asks.

“I told my man he better take me there for my birthday this year.” Aisha examines her nails.

“Is he going to?” Brooklyn asks.

“He says he’ll have to eat Mickey D’s for a month to save up.” Aisha laughs. “He better.”

“I hope we get to see the secret restaurant,” Brooklyn says. “Don’t you, Mila?”

“Definitely,” I say. “There are lots of secret things at this hotel.”

“You know about the secret suite, right?” Aisha asks. “We can’t talk about it with anyone who hasn’t signed a nondisclosure, but the front desk does get asked about it, so we’re told what to say. There was a blogger who tried to write about it, but Havannah got it taken down. She likes it to be a rumor.”

“Have you seen it?” Jessica asks Aisha.

“No way. I don’t even know what wing it’s in. Everyone is so hush-hush about it. I hear only two people from housekeeping and a couple from maintenance even know where it is.”

The words pop out of my mouth before I can think of the wisdom of saying them. “I bet Sebastian knows.”

Everyone turns to me. “You got an in with the big boss to find out?” Aisha asks. “You knew him before.”

Oh, no. I should have kept my mouth shut. And I should have gotten my story straight with Sebastian before anyone could ask me. “Not really.” The less said, the better.

“I bet you’ve got a lot to say about our Mr. Sebastian.” Aisha has caught a whiff of secrets. Her eyes have gotten bright. “Do tell.”

The three of them look at me. Why is this happening? I don’t want to be the subject of rumors!

“How long have you known him?” Brooklyn asks.

Aisha leans her elbows on the counter. “Yeah, how long?”

“I only just got here,” I say, my mouth dry. “I drove in Saturday. I didn’t know a soul in Boulder before that.”

---