Page 72 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
Julie swallowed and sat down in one of the luxurious armchairs, which were surprisingly uncomfortable. This was proof once again that sometimes, expensive things were just terrible. A stern-looking man with rectangular glasses was standing behind the dark wood reception desk and he glared at her. Julie nodded and smiled at him, hoping that he wouldn’t kick her out.
She took out her phone. Only ten minutes late, which was pretty good for her, but a bit surprising for Zoe. She double-checked for a message she might have missed - a heads-up that she’d be late, maybe a room number? - but there was nothing. She decided to wait.
Five minutes went by, then another five. Julie was growing nervous. Zoe wouldn’t leave without saying a word like she did ten years ago, would she? Another ten minutes passed and Julie started getting restless. She had a bad feeling about all this. The man behind the desk was doing something on his computer, but his disapproving glances over to her were getting more and more frequent. Where was Zoe? Had she forgotten? Already left? Had something terrible happened to her? Had Julie done something terrible?. Julie couldn’t stand it any longer. She got up and approached the desk.
“Hello, sir,” she started in her most polite and friendly voice.
“Hello madam, what can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for someone who’s staying at your hotel.”
The man lifted a brow.
“She’s a friend of mine… She told me to meet her here, but she hasn’t arrived yet. Is it possible for you to call her room?”
“Her name, please?” The man looked back at his screen.
“It’s Zoe. Zoe Lang.”
Julie expected him to type the name into his computer, but he immediately stopped and folded his hands on the desk. “We have no client by that name here.”
Julie’s heart sank. How could this be happening? There was no way she’d gotten the wrong hotel. It was the only one around with that name.
“Are you sure? She told me to meet her here at noon.” Julie was holding onto the reception desk so tight she could feel her knuckles turn white.
“I am certain.”
Julie grimaced. “Do you mean that Zoe was never there or that she was there but not any more?”
“I’m sorry madam, this is not something I can tell you.”
“Come on.” Julie was getting frustrated. “I’m not some sort of weirdo, this is my friend.”
“Then I suggest you call your friend and settle this with her. Good day, madam.” The man turned around and went through the door behind him into a back office.
Julie shook her head. This was unbelievable. She looked at Zoe’s message once again hoping that maybe she’d gotten the wrong address and this was all a big misunderstanding. Unfortunately, she’d made no mistake. Julie had to admit that she’d been stood up.
She walked out of the hotel and stood on the cobblestoned street, trying to collect her thoughts. A million possibilities spun through her mind for how she could have gotten here, each more painful than the last. It was the not-knowing that was the worst, she realised. She took a deep breath and tried to steel her resolve. She wouldn’t let Zoe leave her in the dark again. Juliepulled out her phone to dial Zoe’s number. She’d call a hundred times if she had to. She had all day, and she wasn’t going to let up until she got the answers she needed.
Zoe picked up on the first ring.
“Zoe?” Julie was a little thrown.
“Julie!” Zoe almost shouted on the phone. “Sorry, I know what you’re probably thinking but please let me explain. I wanted to text you or call you but I barely had time, I had to leave and-”
“Zoe, stop.” Julie’s voice was trembling. “Please, just stop.”
“Ju-”
She didn’t let Zoe continue. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. I don’t know why you’re doing this.”
“I can explain.” Zoe’s voice suddenly sounded small. Julie relented, just for a moment.
“OK. Go on then.”
“I… I can’t talk right now. I’m in public.” Zoe almost whispered. “I have to go back to London to deal with some things but as soon as I’m home I can call you and explain everything.”
Julie was speechless.
