Page 27 of Grand Love

“It’s fine, everyone hates front of house, and there’s a quick turnaround down there. Other than Ash—she’s been here for years now.”

“I think that has more to do with—” I pause, would Ash mind me talking about this? I don’t even know Emily.

“Hadley?” She laughs. “’Cause you’re right if that’s what you were about to say.”

I relax, feeling like she is safe to rant to. “She is a saint!” I chuckle. “Rochelle is scary, Ashley puts up with A LOT.”

“Yeah, not many people click with her.”

“I get it. She’s the manager, but Jesus. Why be so mean? We call her the she-devil.”

“Nina—”

“It wouldn’t shock me if she grew actual horns.”

A throat clears behind me. I bring my eyes up to Emily, who is staring at me with wide eyes, giving me a barely noticeable shake of the head.

“She-devil?” Rochelle snaps.

I clench my teeth, cringing as my shoulders tense. Fuck.

“Please, at least get creative.” She looks me up and down as if I’m the filth on the bottom of her shoe. “You’re lucky to have the friends that you do. I’ve fired people for a lot less.”

“I’m really sorry, Roch—”

“No, you’re not.” She rolls her eyes and leaves the room.

“Oh my god!” Emily whispers, falling to the bed in laughter.

I can feel my cheeks burning, they must be bright red. “Stop! This is mortifying.”

She rolls to her belly and looks up at me in question. “Are you sleeping with one of the boys?”

“Who?”

“The boys? One of the sons?”

I lift the corner of the mattress and fold the sheet under. “I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“The notorious Arlelly brothers. You must have some pull here to not be out on your ass.”

“No! I’m not sleeping with anyone! You think she should have fired me?”

“No, of course not. But she would have normally. She said, ‘you’re lucky you know the people you do’,” she mimics.

No, she said I was lucky to have the friends I do… I instantly think about Elliot and how he told me about the job.

Fuckers.

“Come on, get this done and we can grab lunch. Before the she-devil comes back.” She chuckles.

“Shhh.” I giggle. “We’ll be out on our arses in a minute.”

We finish up the room and are halfway down the corridor with our trolley when a flash of blonde catches my eye. A woman squeezes herself past us as she rushes to her room. I push forward on the metal handles, but something in my gut gnaws at me to turn around.

She is swiping her key card, and I can only see the side of her face, but she looks upset.

I think I recognise her.

---