Chapter 2 Xavian Night
Lily
The elevator car is already there when I meet Chelsie. I select the “O” button for the office floor. The elevator is roomy, with mirrors along three sides. Chelsie adjusts her bun and smooths the folds of her skirt.
“Do I look ok?” she asks breathlessly.
“You look fine,” I reply. “But it doesn’t matter what you-”
“I’ve met her a couple of times,” Chelsie interrupts. “She’s just so…glamorous. If I had known, I would have worn something nicer.”
To my embarrassment, I feel a slight flush crossing my cheeks. But luckily, Chelsie is too preoccupied by her reflection to notice.
Then the elevator doors shut, and the familiar feeling of dread washes over my chest. I have claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces.
It was never much of a problem before I used to work at a hotel, but now it always gets triggered when I take the elevators.
If I had more time, I would take the stairs, but let’s be real, I never have time to take the stairs.
I was hoping my claustrophobia would go away with time, but it only seems to be getting worse. And I’m already a little on edge because of the busy start to my shift, so I inhale and exhale deeply to steady myself.
Then the elevator doors open with a chime, and the tension in my chest releases.
The office floor is anything but cramped.
It’s modern and elegant, with soft lighting and a generous reception desk stretching across its expansive entrance.
The walls are a warm cream colour, with leafy potted plants in marble holders providing a natural ambiance to balance out the sleek decor.
“Evening, Lily,” says the receptionist with a smile. “Ten minutes!”
“Thank you, I’ll set the donor up,” I reply, ushering Chelsie down the hallway.
“I don’t come down here often,” she notes. “It’s so nice, I’m jealous you get to work here!”
“You wouldn’t be so jealous if you saw my email inbox,” I reply with a chuckle.
The executive offices are at the end of the main hallway, adjacent to the boardroom.
I have a wraparound oak desk outside the CEO’s office.
Even though I emptied it before the end of my last shift, my wooden physical inbox is piled high with active files and paperwork, but I’ll have to deal with that later.
I leave my purse on my desk chair and turn toward the office door.
It’s solid mahogany, with a gold name plate.
“Chief Executive Officer - Renata Espina.” I press my fingerprint to the keypad beside the door and it beeps, then the latch opens.
Chelsie gasps softly as we step inside.
By now, I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that the CEO’s office is an architectural masterpiece.
Floor-to-ceiling windows look over the courtyard and lakeview in the distance.
The last rays of light are disappearing as the sun sinks into the dark blue water.
Stars and the dim outline of the moon are already present in the sky.
I’m hesitant, as I am each night, to turn on the lights.
When I do, the view disappears, but the rest of the office comes clearly into focus. The sleek mahogany desk, devoid of any untidy papers or pens. The soft, cream-coloured leather chair perched perfectly behind it. The line of hotel awards gleaming proudly on the shelf.
And, most importantly for Chelsie, a full leather couch at the back of the office. I gesture for her to sit, which she does.
“I’ll send you all of the paperwork and instructions,” I tell her, aware of the quickly setting sun in the distance. “Please read through them. I know we don’t have much time, but it’s important for you to know all of the…”
“I’ll be fine,” she says with a wide grin. Then she takes her hands to her hair. “Oh! Hair up or down, what do you think?”
“Whatever you prefer,” I reply. “She’ll be in momentarily. If you have any questions at all, just buzz for me on the speaker phone on the desk.”
“Thank you so much, Lily,” she squeals.
I give her a nod, before exiting the office and taking my seat at my desk.
My phone chimes. Five minutes, says the bright notification screen.
I put on my headset and turn on my desktop computer. I start to review my calendar and email inbox, scanning for urgent messages.
A few minutes later, there’s a chime on my headset. “Sunset,” whispers the voice of the receptionist. “She’s up.”
The click-click sound of high heels on the marble floor confirms it. I turn my chair slightly out toward the hallway, and find myself unconsciously tucking my hair behind my ear and arranging my face into an expression of professional efficiency and deference.
“Good evening, Lily,” says a crisp, commanding voice.
A year and a half of working here, but that strange flutter in my stomach hasn’t gone away.
“Good evening, Ms. Espina,” I reply, turning to meet her gaze.
The woman standing before my desk is the epitome of glamour and professionalism.
She towers on pointed violet heels, wearing an immaculate pant suit of rich aubergine, its plunging neckline revealing a soft silk blouse beneath it.
Her black hair is cut in a perfect line at her jaw, angling subtly downward to accentuate her sharp, angular features.
Two pearl earrings dangle from her ears.
Her olive skin is completely flawless, and her dark brown eyes are beautifully complemented by the aubergine shade of her suit, so they appear even more rich than they usually are.
How does she possibly get herself ready so quickly after sunset? It took me at least an hour to get out the door today, and I’m sure I look considerably less put-together in my baby blue pencil skirt and cardigan.
“Lily, how often do I have to ask you to call me Renata?” she says, in a tone balanced exactly between playful and professional.
As always, I err on the side of professional.
“Oh, I couldn’t, Ms. Espina,” I reply, although there’s a fuzzy feeling in my chest every time she asks me.
“Well, whatever you’re comfortable with,” she responds primly.
“I’ve arranged a donor for tonight,” I tell her. “She’s waiting inside. Her name is Chelsie, blood type O negative.”
“Excellent, thank you,” says the CEO, taking a step toward my desk. “In the meantime, I’d like you to prepare the agenda for my first meeting, with Xavian Night.”
“It’s already done, Ms. Espina,” I reply, reaching for the shining black file in my drawer.
“I’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of his past legal business dealings, and I consulted with Damien Cross and Amrita Vyas regarding his…
other affiliations. I included a summary of their responses in the appendix, as I thought that would be prudent. ”
Renata takes the file in her manicured hand and flips through it, her eyes moving with supernatural speed and intensity.
“Very helpful, Lily,” she says. “I have my own reservations about Xavian, and it appears I’m not alone in my opinion. I appreciate your foresight to include Damien and Amrita’s comments.”
“My pleasure,” I reply, my cheeks flushing warmly at her compliment. “Is there anything else I can do, Ms. Espina?”
She sighs deeply. “We’ve had another wedding reservation, it’s last-minute, but the budget is too high to pass on. Review the details on the reservation. It’s July 18th.”
“July?” I reply, before I can stop myself. That’s only a month away. “I…I mean, of course, I’ll take a look at the details and will ensure that everything’s being taken care of.”
“It’s tight,” she says with a knowing frown. “And it’s terrible timing. We’re understaffed as it is and everyone takes vacation in the summer.”
“We’ll take care of it,” I respond optimistically. “Don’t worry about a thing, Ms. Espina.”
“What would I do without you, Lily?” she flashes me a smile, and my stomach does another flip. Then she disappears into her office.
My eyes linger on the closed door for a moment.
I keep picturing Chelsie, perched eagerly on the edge of the couch in the office.
I can’t help thinking that my blood type is also O negative, although of course I would never volunteer myself in such a way.
Chelsie is a concierge, and she doesn’t interact very much with the C-suite executive of the hotel.
Obviously, as the executive assistant, it would be completely unprofessional for me to volunteer myself.
I’m glad that Chelsie was willing to step in (more than willing, it seems).
But there’s still a strange twist in my stomach at the thought.
I try to shake it off as I turn back to my computer screen.
There’s far too much to do, and I’m behind as it is.
I need to find someone to cover Chelsie at the concierge, then I need to confirm the other blood donor was compensated, not to mention double-checking the arrangements for Mrs. Harrigan and the couple she displaced…
I lose myself in work, until the door opens again and Chelsie steps out. She has a goofy, dazed expression of pleasure on her face.
“How are you doing?” I ask her. “I’ll order a driver to send you home. But first, you’re welcome to eat something at the lounge.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she says in a sing-song voice. “More than fine! I’ll head home right away, if you know what I mean.”
She winks at me. I try not to think about what she means, and I click my headset to order the driver.
“They’ll meet you at the hotel entrance,” I tell her. “Do you need me to walk you up?”
“No, I’ll be all right,” she says. “Thanks again, Lily! If you ever need another donor, please let me know.”
She grins at me one final time, then practically floats down the hallway to the elevators.