Page 37 of Hotel Mallois

"Alright," Katherine smiles, leaning against the marble counter with a casual air while eating a cookie.

Jodie can't find her more sexy.

"Stop eating, you'll leave half your breakfast later," she says, snatching the package from her hands.

Katherine wants to tear her clothes off, but she contains herself.

"I do need you this afternoon," she says when she finishes chewing. "Yesterday I asked Lamir Kumar to send me the names of the hotel cleaners he thinks would be suitable for Marjorie's position."

Jodie's eyebrows shoot up.

"I thought you were going to hire someone from outside the hotel."

"That was my intention. But a week has passed and according to Lamir, we're not getting good profiles, and it occurred to me that I could look within the hotel to fill the position, after all, you all know better than anyone what needs to be done."

Jodie nods.

"And what do you need from me?"

"Your opinion. You know all the staff, I don't want to rely solely on Lamir's opinion, and let's be honest, while the man is efficient as a director, I think he lacks judgment with personnel. Otherwise, he would have dealt with Marjorie long ago."

Hours later, Jodie goes down to reception to deliver a couple of items she found in one of the rooms she cleaned when something catches her attention near the elevators. Her eyes immediately drift while a silent alarm activates inside her body without knowing why, until she notices the person waiting in front of one of the elevators: Annie Cohen.

A strange heat begins to flood Jodie, turning into sudden fury. She knows Katherine hasn't left yet because she can see Mike in the hotel lobby, talking distractedly with one of the bellboys. With her pulse racing and a fixed gaze, she watches as Annie enters the elevator and stands still like a statue when the doors close. Then her gaze rises to the numbers right above, and although she's sure she knows which floor she's heading to, she doesn't blink onceuntil she confirms that, indeed, the elevator stops on the top floor, right where Katherine's penthouse is.

Irritated, she climbs the stairs to the third floor, where she knows Sarah is, and not even the physical effort of having climbed in record time manages to diminish her discomfort.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asks when she notices her colleague's presence.

"Annie is in Katherine's penthouse, she just went in," Jodie pants.

Sarah makes a face while placing Annie in her memory.

"The woman Mrs. Taylor was sleeping with?" she asks, squinting.

"That's the one."

Sarah scratches the tip of her nose.

"But she told you she has nothing with her anymore, you should give her the benefit of the doubt," Sarah opines.

"She also told me she was having a meeting with her at the bank today, not in the penthouse," Jodie counters.

"Aaah," Sarah replies, not knowing what to say.

"I want you to help me keep track of her, I can't be watching all the time and I want to know how long she spends in the penthouse," Jodie asks her.

"Count me in," Sarah joins the mission, raising the disinfectant bottle she has in her hand.

Katherine is about to open her penthouse door to meet Mike in the lobby when the doorbell nearly bursts her eardrum. Despite being inside her home, she instinctivelyclutches her purse tightly because of the fright, and when it passes, she opens the door.

"Annie," she says surprised, "I thought we were meeting at the bank."

The look of confusion in Katherine's expression causes a small amused laugh from Annie, who approaches and kisses her cheek before passing by her and entering the penthouse.

"Yes, we agreed on that, but since lately we always meet there and haven't had time to talk about anything but business, I thought we could have it here and relax a bit," she says, and pulls out a wine bottle from a bag while showing a seductive smile that Katherine knows very well.

With the bottle in hand and before the Mallois owner can open her mouth, Annie takes two steps toward her and corners her against the wall while her free hand slides down her waist.

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