Chapter 7 Make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble
Lily
My phone buzzes insistently. I take it out of my pocket with one hand, as the other hand shovels cereal into my mouth.
I know, I know. Cereal for dinner. Again. But I had a long nap on the couch with Eli before my shift, so I’m calling this breakfast.
It’s an email from Chelsie. I realize I probably shouldn’t have work email on my phone, but there’s always so much going on at the hotel at all hours, so it’s hard not to stay plugged in.
Lily, do you have the number for that company that removes bloodstains? Thanks in advance! Chels
That could mean a lot of different things. But it’s the daytime, so it’s probably not a party of vampire guests. I wonder if that’s better, or worse.
I type back, as quickly as I can with one hand.
I’ll forward you the email. Ask for Geri, she’s excellent, and very fast. Cheers, Lily.
“Mama!” Eli says, from underneath the table. “I lost the loop-loops!”
“Fruit loops,” I correct, putting my phone down and checking on him. He’s underneath the table, collecting dusty fruit loops from the ground. I really need to vacuum more often. “Honey, don’t eat food off the ground.”
“Five second rule!” he declares.
“Who told you about the five second rule?”
My phone buzzes again. It’s Xia.
Hey Lily, at sunset, could you make sure Damien reads the shift report I left for him? I’m clocking out, and I want to make sure he gets it when he starts. X
I type with one hand, while peeling Eli off the floor with the other.
Yes, of course Xia! Have a nice evening. Warmly, Lily
With a sigh, I deposit my phone in my pocket and my five-year-old back in his chair. He face-plants himself into his cereal bowl.
“Look, mama!” he says. “I’m a pony!”
I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s a quarter past. I’m already late.
With a final, frustrated sigh, I pull my phone out of my pocket. The first call goes to voicemail. I try again. After the third ring, I hear my mother’s voice crackling through.
“Hello?”
“Hi, mom, it’s me…”
“Lily?”
“Yes, mom. I just called-”
“Did you call just now?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Sorry, honey. I thought you were a telemarketer. You know, there are so many of them now. I heard on the radio that they like to take advantage of older people…”
“I’m not a telemarketer, mom. I’m calling because I’m already fifteen minutes late. Are you close by? You know I can’t leave Eli alone, and I need to get to work…”
“Oh! Shoot, is it Tuesday?”
Anxiety and annoyance twist together in my stomach. “Yes, mom, it’s Tuesday. You’re supposed to come and watch Eli. How fast can you get here?”
“Oh that’s right…well, honey, my hip has been really bothering me today, and I just don’t know if I can make it on the bus…”
I inhale deeply. Somehow, her hip always seems to be acting up when there’s a marathon of Days of Our Lives on TV.
“That’s ok, mom, I can bring Eli over to you.”
“Um, I don’t think that’s such a good idea, sweetheart. You know, I’m not really supposed to have kids in my apartment on the new floor of the residence. There’s only older people here. It’s not really a proper place for a child.”
Eli is back on the ground, slipping around under the table in a pile of fruit loops.
“What am I supposed to do, mom? I’m already late for work, and I can’t just leave Eli here.”
There’s a pregnant pause on the line. “Well…you could trying calling Dylan. I’m sure he would love to see Eli.”
“I’m not calling Dylan, mom. I’m perfectly capable of looking after Eli on my own.”
“Are you, honey?” she says, an I-told-you-so apparent in her tone. “You know, it’s much easier to parent with two. Sometimes your father and I would have disagreements, bless his soul, but we always made it work for you and your sister. Dylan is a sweet boy, I don’t know why you-”
I take the phone from my ear and end the call. I can’t bear to listen to one more second of her talking about how wonderful Dylan is.
“Mama, I’m a loop-loop!” Eli says. He gazes up proudly from his spot under the table. Tiny pieces of colourful cereal are stuck in his hair.
I bend down to pull them out.
“You’ve got to look presentable, Eli,” I say, resigned. “You’re coming to the hotel with me today.”
I’ve never brought Eli to work with me, and I’m not very happy to be starting now. This summer has been the busiest I’ve ever experienced at the hotel, and I’m completely buried with work.
Instead of going through the main entrance, I go around the alleyway behind the hotel. There’s an emergency staircase that reaches every floor. My claustrophobia isn’t as bad in the staircase as on the elevator, and there’s less of a chance that someone will spot Eli.
“Lotsa stairs!” he comments, hopping up each one. “One, two, three…”
“Let’s hurry up, honey,” I say, taking him by the hand. “Mama’s already very late to work.”
But everything takes twice as long with a little kid.
Eli insists on counting each stair, and starting again when he forgets.
We’re already forty-five minutes late, since I had to change his clothes and pack a bag for him before leaving, and we had already missed our bus. Finally, I just pick him up.
“Hey!” he shouts. “No fair!”
Panting, I carry him as quickly as I can up the stairs. He wriggles defiantly in my arms. Finally, we get to the office floor, and I push the door open.
“Lily?”
Shit. It’s the Head of Human Resources, Mel.
She stands in the hallway with a mug of steaming water in one hand.
Her bright green hair is piled haphazardly on top of her head, with several pencils sticking out of it in different directions.
Her eyes, a vibrant shade of magenta today, immediately find the squirming Eli. I put him down quickly.
“Who’s this?” she asks, a clear note of disapproval in her voice.
“Oh, this is my son, Elijah,” I explain, plastering what I hope is an appeasing smile on my face. I can feel the bright red flush across my cheeks, worse now because of the sprint I just did up the stairs. “Say hi, Eli.”
He looks up at Mel with a pout. “Are you a Princess Pony? You look like a Princess Pony.”
Mel gives me an offended look.
“Princess Pony is his favourite toy,” I tell her. I have to admit, she does have the colour palette nailed.
“A workplace isn’t an appropriate setting for children,” Mel says. “And our daycare closed at six p.m., Lily.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” I say, a nervous twinge in my stomach. “My mother was supposed to watch him, but…”
“Just make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble,” Mel says, taking a sip of whatever’s in her mug. “And that Renata doesn’t see him.”
“Um, ok,” I reply, as she passes me to go down the hallway toward the HR office. “Thanks, Mel!”
Her office door slams shut.
“Let’s walk quickly, Eli,” I say, speed-walking down the office hallway.
His feet are like little bricks as I pull him along. “Where are we going?”
“Um…” I check my phone quickly. I missed sunset. If I’ve got the timing right, Renata will be in her office with the donor for at least another ten minutes.
We hurry past the CEO’s office door, and my desk.
After talking to Mel, I’ve realized that I can’t bring Eli to my desk with me.
I don’t know exactly what she meant when she said not to let Renata see him, but I don’t get the sense that Renata would be happy about him being here.
She’s always so focused on work, and I don’t want her to think I’m being unprofessional.
I’ve spent so long building up a good reputation with her.
And…I’ve never told her about Eli. Or Dylan. I don’t know why. I just wanted to keep my two worlds separate.
I guess that’s over, now.
“Orange!” Eli shouts.
“Actually, it’s coral.”
I look up to see Lexi coming down the hallway, wearing a brightly coloured tube dress with matching platform heels. Her hair falls in long, platinum waves around her. Her office is right beside Renata’s. She must be just coming in to work.
Luckily, her tone is chipper and she does a little spin for Eli. “I got it vintage, do you like?”
He giggles at her attention, then hides behind my legs.
“He can be a little shy sometimes,” I explain.
“He’s adorable,” she says, as though complimenting an accessory. “Is he your’s?”
“Yes,” I answer. “My mother usually watches him, but her hip was bothering her tonight.”
“You should bring him in all the time!” Lexi says, giving Eli a bright smile. “Kids are great. It’s too bad Renata’s so weird about them.”
“She is?” Anxiety tightens in my chest again. She’ll be finished with her donor any minute. I think quickly. “Ms. Price, do you know if Amara is working the lounge or the club tonight?”
“The lounge, I think.”
Relief washes over me. I’m glad I don’t need to bring Eli to a vampire nightclub.
“Thanks!” I take Eli by the hand and hurry to the elevators.
Luckily, we don’t run into anyone else on our way to the lounge.
The lounge is a gorgeous, five-star restaurant/bar on the main floor of the hotel, off of the lobby.
It’s not too crowded this evening. There are a few couples sitting in intimate booths, their legs touching under the table, their faces illuminated by candlelight.
An unexpected pang of jealousy blooms in my stomach, but I push it away. I have to focus.
Thank god, Amara is working at the bar. She wears a dark green dress, with a gold bracelet wrapped around her upper arm.
Her long rope twists are pulled into a knot at the top of her head, complemented by a silk scarf.
She hums to herself pleasantly as she arranges a row of glass mugs along the shelf.
“Lily, hi!” she says when she spots me. Her eyes light up when she sees Eli. “Oh, and who do we have here?”
Eli immediately ducks behind my legs again.
“This is Elijah,” I tell her. I’m a little nervous, but Amara’s kind expression makes me feel more confident. “I have a big favour to ask you.”
“Ask away!” she says, leaning over the counter.
“My mother usually watches Eli during my shifts, but she hurt her hip. I couldn’t leave him alone all night. Is there any way you could watch him? I’m worried what Renata would say, and I’ve got so much to do…”
“Of course!” she says. She comes around the bar and crouches down so she’s face-to-face with Eli. “Hi, little man. Do you like hot chocolate?”
He can’t help but return her warm smile.
“And maybe a coffee for mom?” she says, giving me a wink.
“Oh, Amara, thank you so much!” I gush, handing her Eli’s backpack filled with his ponies and colouring books.
“Don’t mention it, we’ll have lots of fun!”
I catch a glance at the clock on the opposite wall.
“Oh my god, I’ve got to hurry,” I say. “I’ll get that coffee another time, Amara! Thanks again!”
I almost bang into a server as I run through the lounge and the lobby and catch the next elevator up to the office floor. I make it back to my desk as quickly as I can.
“Lily!” snaps Renata’s clear, crisp voice.
Her office door swings open and she stands framed in the doorway, the picture of grace and poise.
Meanwhile, my hair is a flyaway mess, and I’m panting heavily.
Renata’s nostrils flare slightly as she looks me up and down.
“Are you all right? Where have you been?”
Her tone isn’t angry, but it’s not quite understanding, either. As always, she hits the exact middle, so I err on the side of caution and keep my response professional. To be safe, I don’t mention any elderly parents, or small children.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Espina,” I say. “I…I had an unexpected disruption, and I was late today. It won’t happen again.”
My boss’s expression softens slightly for a moment, as if she’s about to speak. Then her smart watch buzzes, and she glances irritably down at its screen. “My god, it’s Damien. He says there was something odd in Xia’s shift report.”
“The shift report!” I gasp. Renata frowns at me. “I was supposed to tell him to read it right away after the sun set. But I was late, so…”
“Well, he says she noticed some odd figures leaving the hotel out of the emergency staircase, but she wasn’t able to catch them. It could have been nothing, but we should send some extra security to be safe.”
“I’m right on it,” I tell her, eagerly, trying to make up for my lateness. But I’m not sure exactly what ‘on it’ means. “Um…I suppose I’ll…check in with Ms. C?té?”
Renata tosses her hair back angrily. “Celine should be on top of this. She always handled security issues before. You shouldn’t be doing her work, Lily. I’ll speak with my sister. You get settled in,” her eyes travel over me. I smooth down my blouse self-consciously. “Take a minute if you need to…”
“No, no, I’m all right,” I reply. To prove that I’m operating at full capacity, I quickly hurry to my desk and log into my computer.
As always, a full email inbox is waiting for me.
I completely forgot about the bloodstain removal text from Chelsie, but I see a chain of emails regarding the extent of the damage and the cost it will take to repair.
I lose myself in work for the next hour, until there’s a soft click on my headset and Renata’s voice comes through.
“Lily, could you come into my office? I’ve got something to discuss with you.”
Worry bubbles up in my stomach. Is she angry with me for being late? She wouldn’t fire me for that, right? I can’t lose my job…
“Of course, Ms. Espina, I’ll be right in.”