Page 47 of Another Lucky Number

I high-tail it back to my suite where I quickly throw on my original clothes, apply some mascara and lip gloss, and attempt to tame my humidity ravaged hair. Once I’m happy that I look more presentable, I send a WhatsApp message to Amber asking where they are, and she replies almost instantly with their location – on the beach.

‘Why are you not on reception?’ she asks when I approach them several minutes later.

‘I had to finish up early.’

‘Because?’

‘Because James is here. I spoke to him.’

‘James is here?’ Cat’s voice rises an octave. ‘I thought he—’

‘Hold on.’ Amber cuts her off. ‘That was a reason to duck out of your interview prep because…?’

‘Amber, did you not hear what I said?’ I’m incredulous at her reaction.

She tips up her sunglasses and surveys me with irritation. ‘I heard you. But it doesn’t sound like a reason to skive off and make a bad impression. You do remember that some resort employees will be at your presentation and feeding back to Sébastien. And that will probably include Charnice.’

‘It’s fine. I told her I had to see to something urgently – and itisurgent. Even she could see that.’ I’m now dancing around with impatience, willing Amber to move beyond the fact that I left my posting early.

‘And that something urgent is getting in James’s undies?’

‘No.Will you let me explain?’

‘What is it, honey?’ Cat sits up and pats the space next to her on her lounger. ‘Come and tell me everything.’

‘Thank you, Cat.’ I perch myself beside her. ‘What’surgentis that James was so shocked to see me behind reception that the focus was all on that. So, now he thinks I’ve hooked up with Sébastien and I’m about to move half-way across the world to work for him. Plus, I don’t even know what James is doing here, and—’

‘Whoa, back up a bit, will you?’ Amber sits up as well, finally interested. ‘How do you know he thinks that, and why didn’t youaskhim what he’s doing here?’

‘He thinks I’m with Sébastien because it obviouslywashim in the doorway last night. He saw us up close and personal – James knows who Sébastien is. And I told him about the role because he quite understandably wanted to know why I was “playing hotel” when I’m not five years old. He caught me off guard so I didn’t get a chance to say that I wasn’twithSébastien, or that the job location is flexible. Now he thinks I’m a terrible person.’

‘Did he say that to you?’ asks Cat.

‘No. But he was weird and formal and kind of cold with me. He said “he’d see me around”. I know exactly what that means.’

‘Hmm, OK.’ She grimaces. ‘Makes sense based on what you’ve told us.’

‘Yeah – for once,’ says Amber.

‘Do you have my bag with you so I can message him?’ I ask Cat.

‘No, sorry,’ she says. ‘I left it in my room. Your phone is locked in my safe.’

‘I’ll message him,’ says Amber. ‘See where he is and then you can go sort it out.’

‘OK, sure.’ I chew my lip anxiously. ‘Hopefully he has his phone with him. And hopefully he replies.’

‘We’ll find out soon enough.’ She taps out a message and sets her phone down beside her. ‘So, as much as that’s a bit of a cock up, I’m still not convinced you should have done a runner half-way through your slot on reception.’

‘Sorry, I panicked. I already nearly messed things up with James before. Don’t want to risk doing that again. He’ll only give me so many chances, Amber.’

‘Fair enough. What did you learn on reception?’

With nothing else to do but wait, I angle my face to the sun and consider her question. ‘I learnt a lot about how the resort is run. And that Charnice is a superstar. She really connects with the guests and sheoozesthe company values. She’s also so calm and unflappable. Didn’t even flinch when this horrible man who’s a regular guest was ripping into us.’

‘That sounds awful.’ Cat’s eyes widen.

‘It was. I saw the same man the other day. He’s rich and entitled. Treats the staff like shit.’

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