I walked out of the bedroom, dressed in my suit, prim and proper ready for the day ahead as Chrissie shoved a bacon sandwich with hash browns ladened on it and a green liquid concoction at me.
“Eat that first, hold your nose and drink that. Hangover will be gone within thirty minutes or I owe you…” Chrissie tapped her chin deep in thought as she debated. “I know… I owe you a week of shift changes whenever you get yourself into such a bad state again.”
“Or out with lover boy.” Isobel winked.
“Come on, less with that.” I took a bite of the sandwich and groaned as the grease melted when the bacon and potato combination hit my tastebuds in my mouth. “I need this every week Isobel. This is delicious.” I demolished the sandwich within a few mouthfuls before I scrunched my face at the drink I was faced with next and gazed at Chrissie’s gleam in her eye. “Okay, here it goes.”
I took a small sniff and tried to figure out the mixture of ingredients she could have thrown into it that I had left in my cupboards, which wouldn’t result in me collapsing in being poisoned. I mean, it couldn’t be that bad, surely?
“Come on Fred, we both have had ours. Just drink up,” Chrissie announced. “We really do need to go or you’re paying the cab fare.”
“Fair enough.” I grabbed the bridge of my nose and allowed the mixture to slide down my throat as the girls just nodded. I licked my lips and placed the cup in the sink before I headed to the sofa and grabbed the bags and coats. “Shall we go?”
“Okay. That was too easy. Did you enjoy it?” Chrissie pushed for an answer as Isobel nudged me in the ribs, grabbing her coat and bag from me as she opened the door.
“Well… I wasn’t sick again.” I chuckled.
“Fred, what are we going to do with you?” Chrissie chimed, as she pushed me out the door and closed it behind her.
* * *
Iheld my head high as I walked through the doors of The Wilden and made my way directly towards the back rooms to dispose of my coat and check in. I was going to go straight to work and keep my head down. It’s what I was paid to do; be the face of the company and welcome and greet all who arrived. It was after all, a normal working day.
“Mr. Petterson, just the man I was looking for.” I turned around to be faced by Del Granbler. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”
“I’m just finishing this file off…” I started.
“It wasn’t a request.” Mr. Granbler started to walk off away from the desk and toward the direction of the lift.
I stood up quickly and threw the file at Isobel, mouthing a sorry before pointing at Mr. Granbler and letting her know where I was off to. I hurried to catch up with him, but made it just as he clicked the button for the elevator and the doors opened.
“After you,” he said as I nodded, taking a stand at the front of the elevator, flexing my fingers in and out by my side. “I’ve got a staffing issue today, Mr. Petterson.”
“Call me Freddie, please?” I asked.
“Freddie. I’ve been told you’re a fast learner who’s good with people and can greet people with finesse,” Mr. Granbler announced as I watched the numbers light up, signifying the move of floors we traveled. “I know you do that every day downstairs, make everyone feel welcome, but today I’ve an exclusive event and, shall we say, the hired team has decided to get food poisoning.”
“Okay…” I let the word slip quietly. “Where do I fit into all this? I mean, I work at the reception desk.”
“I was suggested you would be a great fit to help in The Wilden Bar with greeting everyone and helping them get settled. I mean, you would need to ensure the smooth running of the full event, Freddie,” Mr. Granbler announced as the floor stopped at The Wilden Bar. “It would be the perfect addition to your resume. I mean, leadership in a well-renowned hotel chain.”
“I know, but can I ask who suggested me to you?” I asked as the doors opened wide and we stepped out into the extravagant hallway.
“I did,” Luke replied as he handed over a uniform to me and nodded. “It’s the perfect opportunity for you to enhance your skills. I mean, understanding and listening to your team’s emotions must be very important, Mr. Granbler.”
“Absolutely, they are,” Mr. Granbler replied. “Meeting in an hour once you’ve got yourself acquainted with everyone.”
“I’m sure I’ll see to that,” Luke uttered as he winked at me when Del turned his head away. I was seriously fucked.
CHAPTERSEVEN
LUKE
Looking at Freddie, I could see the panic in his eyes. If he wanted to get away from me or hide from whatever had happened during the night—or what he thought had happened, I guess—then I was determined to make it difficult for him. I didn’t normally get this hung up on a guy, but there was something about Freddie that got under my skin.
Looks like it was time to show Freddie that what I wanted, I usually got. I wanted him. He just didn’t know it yet.
Stepping behind the bar, I grinned as I watched him disappear to the back to change into his uniform. I looked around, making sure there wasn’t a lot going on before I turned to my colleague, Robert.