Page 17 of Hotel Mallois

Katherine arches an eyebrow and tilts a smile that melts the cleaner.

"Are you going to make me rephrase the question?" Katherine asks, leaning slightly forward.

Jodie slowly shakes her head.

"I'm not seeing anyone, I don't have time or desire for that," she responds, expressing more than she should.

Katherine puts a couple of french fries in her mouth while processing the response.

"I can believe the part about not having time," Katherine responds, "but about not wanting to... I don't know..." she adds, shaking her head. "Do you really not want to be with anyone?"

Jodie coughs several times trying to buy time, but Katherine doesn't grant it.

"Come on, be honest, Jodie, I just was with you and I deserve the same from you."

The cleaner drinks some water and takes a few seconds while deciding.

"Fine, you want honesty?"

Katherine nods, expectant.

"Of course I want to be with someone. I've been alone for so long that sometimes I feel the silence crushing me in my own home. I come home exhausted from work and have no one to share anything with. I can't explain how myday went or have someone to unwind with while listening to what they tell me. I go to bed alone and wake up alone, sometimes the silence is so scary that I have to turn on the TV to not feel so alone. And as for sex," Jodie continues speaking, "I'm not like you in that aspect," she says, slightly blushing.

"Like me?" Katherine raises an eyebrow, though there's nothing in her expression indicating she's offended.

"I mean what you have with Annie or with any other woman you might spend time with. I don't work that way. I can't sleep with a woman if there aren't at least some feelings involved, casual sex isn't for me, so I've gone a very long time without feeling physical contact from another person."

Katherine doesn't know what to say, she just observes her while thinking about how much she'd like to hug her.

"What happened with your family, Jodie? What put you in this situation?" she asks, increasingly interested in her life.

Jodie feels a knot forming in her stomach. No matter how much time passes, it's very hard for her to talk about everything that happened even though she'd love to tell her story to Katherine Taylor. She tries to do it, but when she looks up to speak to her, her eyes well up.

"It's okay," Katherine says extending her hand across the table to take Jodie's. "Another day," she adds giving an affectionate squeeze that sends a current through the cleaner's body. "If we don't hear from the construction manager at the hotel tomorrow, I want you to call him.You have to stay on top of these people or they'll take advantage," Katherine says, completely changing the subject.

Jodie smiles and nods, grateful for the truce and understanding from the woman in front of her.

Chapter 11

Jodie Sinclair startles when she hears the penthouse door open. She's been cleaning for a couple of hours and today she's tackled the kitchen which, although fairly clean, had disorganized drawers. She's pleased with her work, having arranged everything her boss frequently uses within easy reach so she won't have to search through cabinets for a cup or tray.

"Good afternoon, Jodie," Katherine greets as she enters and stops in front of the fridge. She opens it, looks for a few seconds, and closes it again.

"Hi, how was your day?" asks the cleaner who, for some reason, senses a different energy in Katherine.

Katherine focuses on Jodie and feels, automatically, that her day has improved at least a little. She's used to everyone greeting her, but very few people genuinely care about how she's doing. She's felt such overwhelming sincerity from Jodie that her chest swells with pure pleasure.

"A shit day," she fires with total honesty while walking toward a cabinet right next to the terrace door, perfectly stocked with all Katherine's favorite drinks.

"Well! I hope it's just today," Jodie responds.

"What do you mean?" asks the businesswoman, not understanding the comment.

"I hope it's just a one-time thing, having a day like this, and not something that happens too often," explains the cleaner.

Katherine tilts her head with that smile that so destabilizes Jodie Sinclair.

"It happens more often than I'd like, but this is the life I chose," she answers, picking up a crystal glass. "Why don't you join me for a while?" she suddenly asks and gestures with her head toward the terrace.

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