Page 18 of Grand Love

Nina

My hand palmsmy forehead as I try to attach the booking form to the email for the one hundredth time. Why is this so difficult?

Ashley disappeared.

She went to assist a lady in the pool and hasn’t been back since. Guaranteed she’s stuck talking to Hadley. He’s a charmer, and she’s putty in his hands.

“Nina.” My eyes shoot wide as my manager, Rochelle, calls to me from the elevators.

Balls. Where the hell is Ashley?

I force a smile onto my face. “Hi.”

“Did you process the payment for the gentleman in 156?” she questions with a frown.

“Uhhh.” Did I? I might have. “I think so.”

“You think so?” she repeats in a condescending tone. “Nina, he had a tab of nearly two thousand pounds. How was this missed?”

“I’m still learning the system, I’m sorry.” God, I suck at this. How mortifying.

“You’ll need to call him. Ask for payment and apologise profusely for the mistake.”

“Of course,” I tell her, annoyed. As if he didn’t know he missed a two-grand tab. He’s the one who should be apologising. Cheeky bastard.

Rochelle’s eyes survey the reception until they land back on me. I swallow as I watch her, wondering what else I could’ve screwed up.

“Where’s Ashley?”

“Helping a lady in the pool.” Why is she so scary? She’s only a couple years older than me, but she’s disarming in her authority.

Without a word, she shakes her head and walks towards the back offices.

I drop to my seat, puffing out a breath. That could have gone worse. Although, I need to scrub up on this system before I really screw something up. I can’t afford to lose this job, and Rochelle doesn’t tolerate lackadaisical staff. Those are the exact words she used during my interview.

I wonder how I ever got the job at all.

The rest of the day goes by without a hitch. I called the guy from 156 and had him pay the tab. Ashley had to show me how to add it to the invoice for future reference and then we fixed the issue with the email.

Glancing at the clock, I notice I still have two hours left of my shift. They always seem to drag. Ashley leaves at six, and the reception always quietens down around five, so it doesn’t bother me being left on my own. I usually practice on the training system to help master the bookings, but today I’m staring into space, trying to figure out how I can approach Mason. I don’t necessarily feel ready to have him come to the apartment, but I know I need to let it happen.

Rip off the Band-Aid.

Lucy would speak to him for me, but maybe it’s something I need to do? I know before I face him again, I need to speak to him. A text or something to find the dynamic. It’s currently nonexistent.

Pulling up his name, I click the message icon and start to write.

Nina: Hi.

Ugh. No. That’s not right.

Nina: Mason, I have been thinking. I think it would be better for everyone (but me)

Bitter Nina, you are bitter!

I delete the message and try again.

Nina: I think you should go with Scarlet to my apartment this evening. It might help having you there for bedtime. Nina.

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