Page 22 of Abraxas

“Don't get too nosy, or everyone will notice.”

“Demons are curious. Now that I know there's something to look for, I won't be able to help myself. Maybe I should just ask Lu. He always knows everything that's going on.”

“I wish Dori could find someone special. She's such a sweetheart, and her romances always go wrong," Gloria observed.

“She has. Homer was supposed to return to Olympus six months ago, but he’s still hanging out here. Dori doesn't always have work here, but she's been staying.”

“Do you think those two got together?”

“That would explain a few things," Abe observed.

“That's so exciting. I love happy endings.”

“We'll just have to watch and see what happens.”

“I know that being here on the island has been a really good influence on Kiki, and I have enjoyed it too," Gloria offered.

“Demons can be a lot of fun. We're really good guys once you get to know us.”

Now that they had figured out what was happening with almost everyone on the island, he hoped they would get something going between them as well. He thought they made a very impressive couple, with Gloria being tall and blonde and him being slightly taller and blonde. When they were together away from the island, people watched them. Abe knew she was beautiful, and they would make beautiful children.

Maybe things would work out for the demons because it looked like many of them might be finding their mates. As happy as he was for his fellow demons, his attention was on Gloria right now.

“That's true. Is there any way that I can watch when the new doctor arrives and see what Cirrus’ reaction is?”

“I hope so because I want to see it too, and they're supposed to arrive around breakfast time," Abe admitted. “We have to work through supper, so I'll see you in the morning.”

“That's a date.”

He assumed that Gloria had gone back to her room, and he had gone back to the room where the demon management had made all their plans. Lu intended to shake things up and see if he could get a reaction out of Cirrus. He had told them he had a daughter with a goddess, but they could find no sign anywhere that that was true. Since nothing else was working to get information out of him, they would try to shake him up by bringing in other doctors who had worked at Origin with him and had not been as evil as he had been.

No one knew how that was going to work. It worried Abe because the guy was on edge, and anything was possible. The demons were plotting and planning in the management room, but not all the plans were about Origin's downfall. They were also planning their future and the resort they intended to put on this island so they would all have the best life possible.

“Zepar, bring us up to date on construction and security," Lu instructed.

“We've improved security but still have a way to go. Construction is ahead of target.”

“Very good," Lu approved. “Since none of the demons are interested in managing the restaurant, we've brought someone in. We have six demons who are training as chefs, over a dozen who are training to be waiters and four who are training to be bartenders. We also hired somebody to manage the hotel, twenty maids, and two demons who want to be janitors. Four more were hired outside for the same job. Four demons trainedas maintenance men, and six wanted to cover the front desk. We'll adjust as the staff is training.”

“Sounds like a good start," Abe offered.

“When is the training?” Zepar asked.

“Next week, we will be running a short number of guests. Demons will also be staying in the rooms and ordering into the restaurant to see how things go," Lu admitted. “Any suggestions?”

“I would suggest that we train some of our ladies to be waitresses if we run short. It would also be helpful to have a few ladies mixed in for those gentlemen that come and would prefer a lady waitress," Abe said.

“Would any of them be willing to do it?” Lu asked.

“I'm sure some of them would do it if you paid them. Gloria might, and there's always Kiki. You could ask your mate. I doubt that any of the doctors would want to do that, but a few others might. It wouldn't be a full-time job, just a day or two every week," Abe suggested.

“Everyone can ask those females that they are close to. If they are willing, let me know," Lu agreed.

Lu seemed to realize that extra help was never a bad thing. The hotel and restaurant were huge, and he wasn't sure Lu had enough help for when all the guests arrived. He also wasn't sure that a week was long enough to train people with no previous experience in anything like it. It would be an interesting week, and he hoped he didn't have to cook or be a waiter. Cooking was most likely where they would put him if they were short because he already had experience cooking.

It seemed like everything they tried, they always had to go about it the hard way. Abe had a feeling that next week would show them exactly how hard getting this going could be. Maybe the manager would give Lu some hints, and things would improve. Abe hoped the manager wasn't a single woman becauseshe might be too busy checking out the demons to finish her work. That would be bad, and then they would start over as far as the manager went. Lu had said the manager would arrive in two days and begin to take over. That was when they would know what kind of manager he had hired.

They continued to plan and plot until supper time, and then Lu had a meal brought in so they could continue to talk while they ate. Maybe it was a mistake for them to do so much all at once, but the restaurant and hotel really needed to start together. Without a hotel, there would be no place for guests to stay, and without a restaurant, there would be no place for them to eat. Abe remembered there was also going to be a spa.

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