Authors: Amy Cross
“There's really not much more to it,” Mr. Rice explains as he leads me along the wood-paneled corridor that connects the hotel's dining room to the reception area. “A lot of your job will be common sense, really. I always say that in any walk of life, if you have common sense, you'll get along just fine.”
“I want to thank you again for the opportunity,” I tell him. “I know I don't have much experience, but -”
“We're a family-owned business,” he replies, putting a friendly hand on my shoulder. “Karen gave you a glowing recommendation, and you strike me as someone with the potential to really grow within our company. We prioritize promotions from within, so if you work hard and show some initiative, there's really no limit to what you might achieve. I have a sixth sense when it comes to new hires, Anna, and I can tell that you're going to be an excellent addition to our team.”
Spotting Karen at the reception desk, I can't help but smile. This whole situation feels so normal and ordinary, I'm almost ready to burst into tears.
“And now,” Mr. Rice adds, checking his watch, “if you'll excuse me, I must dash off to a meeting. Karen will show you the ropes, and I look forward to seeing you around the place.” Shaking my hand, he smiles. “Welcome onboard, Miss Marshall. Glad to have you with us!”
“Glad to be here,” I reply, but he's already turned and started hurrying back along the corridor. Feeling a little out-of-place, I head over to the reception desk, where Karen is tapping away at her phone. Ever since I arrived a little over an hour ago, I've barely had time to take a breath.
“Don't worry about Mr. Rice,” she mutters, with her eyes glued to the screen. “This place is pretty laid-back. As you can see, it's not exactly bustling. Some days we don't have any guests at all. Like,
none
! God knows how the place keeps going, but I think it's some kind of family honor thing.”
“Thank you again for swinging me this job,” I reply. “This last week has been pretty intense. I swear, another day sitting around my mother's house, trying to come up with ways to fill my time... I think I'd have gone stir-crazy.”
“I wasn't
just
being a good friend,” she continues. “It's also useful to have someone onboard who can cover my back a little. You know, if I have to step out some time for a few minutes.” She taps at her phone again, before biting her bottom lip as she smiles.
“A guy?” I ask.
“Maybe.”
“Something serious, or just a bit of fun?”
“A serious bit of fun,” she admits, blushing slightly. “You know how it is, right? He's so -”
“Hey!”
Turning, I'm shocked to see Matt making his way through, wearing one of the hotel's yellow-embroidered waistcoats.
“How's your first day going?” he asks, smiling at me as he checks the register on the counter.
“Um...” I stare at him for a moment. “You work here too?”
“Didn't I tell you?” Karen asks with a mischievous grin. “God, that must have completely slipped my mind. Wicked old me, huh?”
“I was actually thinking of getting in touch,” Matt continues. “It was fun meeting you last week.”
“You too,” I reply, making my way around to the other side of the desk. I feel I need to throw myself into my new job, and so far Karen seems to be treating the hotel more like a social club than a workplace. That's not going to be my approach; I'm going to buckle down and be the best employee this place has ever had. Glancing at Matt, I see that he's still looking at me, and by the time I look down at the paperwork I feel I might actually be turning red. “I'm really just learning the ropes,” I explain, shuffling through the pieces of paper. “Mr. Rice said it's better to learn on the job rather than going through some long training course, so...”
“You'll find it's pretty relaxed around here,” he replies. “We all help each other out from time to time.”
I glance at him again, and this time I can't help wondering whether he might have seen the video. After all, the leak has been mentioned in a few news articles recently, and I wouldn't be surprised if curiosity had driven him to seek out a copy. Then again, maybe I'm just getting full of myself. Most people probably have better things to be doing, and Matt seems like a genuinely nice guy. The last thing I need is to start thinking that everyone's paying attention to me. I don't want to become paranoid.
“I should get back to work,” he says after a moment. “I'm sure someone'll come in to the restaurant soon. Gotta keep that soup pot stirred.”
“He likes you,” Karen whispers, as he heads back along the corridor.
I can't help sighing. “I really don't think -”
“He
likes
you,” she adds, nudging my arm. “He's hot, too, and he's one of those slightly old-fashioned guys who holds doors open for ladies, stuff like that.” She taps at her phone again. “I mean, I prefer guys who are a bit more modern, but if you like the chivalrous angle, Matt's a good pick. He's got that kind of hot, slightly bohemian look going. Personally, I'm more into...” Muttering something, she seems lost in her conversation with the guy she's texting.
“I'm not looking for anything right now,” I tell her, as I log in to the hotel's computer system. “Believe me, the last thing I need is a boyfriend. I'd pity any guy who got involved with me while I'm in this state.”
“State?” Karen continues to tap at her screen for a moment, before turning to me. “What state?” She pauses. “Oh, right. Yeah, but still, if a guy kinda drops into your lap, you'd be crazy not to at least explore the opportunities. Besides, he's already seen your crazy nose, so that hurdle's already been jumped.”
“But has he seen the video?” I ask.
She pauses. “I have no idea. It's not the kind of thing that comes up in a conversation.”
“He probably has,” I mutter. “I'm sure it's everywhere by now. That's how the internet works, it brings out the worst in people.”
“You didn't used to be so cynical,” she says, getting to her feet and grabbing her coat. “Can you cover for me? I'm taking an early lunch, Daniel wants to meet up and I just can't ever say no to him.”
I flinch when I hear that name. “Daniel?”
“I'll introduce you to him some time,” she adds, hurrying around the desk and heading to the front door. “He's really cool, but he's kinda shy and I don't think he wants to meet my friends just yet. I think it's a language thing, his English is fine but he gets all worried. Cute, really.” She rolls her eyes. “Plus, I guess guys see it as some kinda huge, meaningful moment when they start meeting a girl's friends. Whatever. Back in two hours, okay?”
“But -”
“You'll be fine!”
With that, she hurries out into the car park, leaving me alone at the reception desk.
“I'm sure I will,” I mutter, looking down at the nearest monitor. I have no idea how to use any of this equipment, but I guess I can probably pick it up fairly easily, provided there are no emergencies. Leaning back in my chair, I take a deep breath and try to compose myself. After a few seconds, I realize that the whole reception area is completely silent. Looking around, I wait for some hint of noise, maybe chatter from some guests or the clatter of plates in the restaurant, but there's nothing. Just silence. It's almost as if -
Suddenly the phone starts ringing, startling me a little. I sit up straight and take another deep breath, and then I answer.
“Maple Cornell Hotel,” I say, trying to sound professional and friendly. “My name is Anna. How can I help you today?”
***
“It's no problem at all,” I mutter as I close the panel on the air-conditioning unit in room 15. “I'm sorry it wasn't working when you arrived.”
“But it's fixed now?” Mrs. Buscombe asks skeptically.
“I think so. If you have any more trouble, just let me know at the front desk and I'll get the janitor to come and take a look. Hopefully it was just that setting, though.” I turn to her, and I can't deny that I'm a little proud of myself for dealing with my first real challenge here at the hotel. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.”
“I'm sure I will,” she replies. “Thank you.”
Turning, I head toward the door.
“Everyone's seen you, you know,” she adds with a sneer. “Everyone's seen you naked in that video, covered in blood while they
do
things to you. Goddamn whore.”
Stopping, I turn to her. “What did you say?”
She's already pulling things out of her suitcase. “I'm sorry?”
My heart is pounding. “What did you just say about the video?”
“Video?” She frowns. “I didn't say anything about a video.”
“But you -” Pausing, I realize that I must have just suffered some kind of brief, auditory hallucination. “Never mind,” I mutter, turning and hurrying out of the room.
By the time I get back to the reception desk a few minutes later, I've just about managed to convince myself that I suffered a temporary brain fart, something that almost certainly won't be repeated. To my surprise, I find that there's still no sign of Karen, which means her so-called 'quick' break with Daniel is stretching way beyond two hours. I guess I shouldn't be too annoyed, but when I take a seat behind the desk I see a flashing notification on one of the panels, and I have no idea what it means. I start fumbling with various buttons, but the light continues to blink despite my best efforts.
“Problem?” a familiar voice asks.
Turning, I see Matt coming over to the desk.
“Lunch is dead,” he mutters. “Two people came in the whole time, and they just wanted drinks. I swear, this place is slowly swirling down the sinkhole.” He pauses. “Sorry, that's probably not what you wanted to hear on your first day.”
“Do you know what this means?” I ask with a sigh, still trying to figure out the flashing light.
He leans over and takes a look. “No idea,” he says after a moment, before reaching down and flicking a switch, causing the light to stop blinking. “I'm sure it was nothing important. Isn't Karen here?”
“Still out for lunch.”
“She needs to be careful,” he replies. “Mr. Rice is pretty chilled about things, but she's been taking way too many liberties since she met that Daniel guy. It's like she's letting her relationship dominate her life.”
“Have you seen him?” I ask, once again unable to stifle a shiver at the mention of that name. Already, in my mind's eye I keep picturing Karen hanging out with the same Daniel who died at the cabin, even though I know that's impossible.
“Nah, he's pretty elusive,” he explains with a shrug. “She always has to go meet him at random places. Whenever she invites him out with the rest of us, he never shows. Never even bothers to make an excuse, either. Apparently he just tells her flat-out that he doesn't want to come. I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but he doesn't sound like the coolest guy on the planet.”
“Like that night at the club,” I reply.
“Exactly.” Sighing, he checks his watch. “I guess I'd better go shut off the hot-plates.”
“Thanks again for helping me back then,” I add. “I mean, on the walkway and then in the cafe. You didn't have to do any of that, but I really appreciate it.”
He frowns. “The where and the where?”
“When you found me on the walkway,” I continue. “I hope you don't think I'm completely insane. I know I probably seemed kind of weird.”
He stares at me for a moment. “Are you sure you're not mixing me up with someone else?”
“You came looking for me after I left the club,” I remind him. “You found me on the walkway, then you took me to some late-night cafe and we had tea, then you punched a guy and walked me home.”
He pauses.
“Didn't you?” I add cautiously.
“You ran out of the club,” he replies, “and Karen went after you, but... The rest of us just stayed and listened to that awful band.”
Feeling a shiver run through my chest, I think back to that night. I distinctly remember Matt finding me on the walkway, and sitting with me in the cafe. In fact, it's one of my main memories from the past week, something I've thought about several times.
“Anna -”
“It's fine,” I tell him, trying to stay calm. The last thing I want is to admit that I'm confused. “I was just joking. I wanted to mess with your head, that's all.”
“You did?”
I nod. “Sorry, my sense of humor can be a little off sometimes.” My heart is racing and I feel as if I'm about to faint, but I know I just have to hold myself together. “Ignore me,” I add. “I was going to set you up for some dumb joke, but it wouldn't have been funny, so just pretend I never said anything.”
“Okay,” he says cautiously, clearly a little weirded out. “Sure, I... I should go check on those hot-plates.”
“Do it,” I reply, and as he heads back along the corridor I hear the front door opening. Turning, I see Karen hurrying in, but I can immediately tell that something's wrong. She's deliberately keeping her face turned to one side, and as she hurries to the desk she tosses her bag onto the vacant chair, mutters something about the bathroom, and runs toward the door in the corner.
I wait, and a few minutes later she emerges again with a forced smile and a noticeable cut on her cheek, along with what looks like a nasty bruise starting to show through.