9. Mila
Oh, God.
Here we are again.
I can tell by his expression that this is a shock. I had hoped that maybe he saw the last two badges Raya was holding before she passed them over. She said Sebastian had gone to show the other three interns their rooms, so he had been right there with the ID cards.
But no, he’s figuring it out right now. Right in front of me.
His eyes hold mine for a moment. “Hey.”
I manage to swallow and echo back a quiet, “Hey.”
Ilsa, the intern from California who walked in with me, jerks her head our way, looking from Sebastian to me. Something in our tone has tipped her off.
I can’t do anything about that. I don’t know what he’s going to say or do.
But he grins, like this is the best thing ever. Like maybe he’s the fox, and he’s spotted me in the henhouse. “You’re an intern.”
My throat feels tight, and my voice is barely a squeak. “I am.”
Ilsa busies herself with her bags, but I can feel her attention. This is not good. I’m tempted to run.
Sebastian rocks back on his heels. “You didn’t mention this earlier.”
Ilsa is stock-still. I tilt my head in her direction.
Sebastian clears his throat. “Right. Welcome aboard. It’s good to see a friendly face.” He extends a hand, and I shake it. “And who is this?”
Ilsa straightens to greet him. “Ilsa Lopez.”
Sebastian gives her a nod. “Excellent. Do you have more to load?”
“I do,” I say.
“I do, too.” Ilsa’s eyes cut back to me.
“Why don’t you two keep at it? I’m going to check on the other three to see if they’re finding their way back. Raya will watch over your things.”
“Will I?” Raya calls.
Sebastian’s jaw clench is almost imperceptible, but I catch it. “I’ll call a bellboy. In fact, maybe we’ll have them move these young women’s carts to their rooms during the meeting.”
“Much better plan,” Raya says.
I grunt as I lift my bag onto the cart. When I push out the door, Ilsa follows close behind.
“So you know him?” Her legs move swiftly to keep up with me.
“We met once.”
“Where?”
Why is she being so nosy? I don’t even know her. “Here in town.”
“Were you already hired?”
I really don’t like her questions. “Yes. I bumped into him yesterday in town, that’s all.”
“He didn’t bring you on?”
Why does she care? “No.”
This mollifies her, and we separate for different parts of the parking lot.
When I get to my car, though, I sit in the driver’s seat, willing my heart to slow down.
Sebastian seemed awfully pleased I’m an intern. Did I sleep with a scoundrel? Will he dangle the job in exchange for sexual favors?
Or is he faking me out, all broad smiles but ready to kick me out? He’s the general manager. The big boss. Nobody is higher than him at the hotel other than the owner, Havannah.
I glance in my rear-view mirror at all the boxes. The studio apartments here come furnished with a complete kitchen, but I have all my books, my clothes, my electronics. If he’s going to ask me to leave, maybe I shouldn’t bother unloading anything else.
I close my eyes. Bertie said he was a good guy, but he doesn’t know what happened between me and Sebastian.
Seeing him again has filled me with yearning. I just got started on discovering what all the fuss was about.
I can picture him, rising from the edge of the bed, kissing his way up my thigh. And after that, the things he did. I’ve never felt anything like that.
He doesn’t have to pressure me for anything.
I want to do it again.
I won’t bleed this time. I won’t be so na?ve or uncertain.
A buzz comes alive in my belly. Thinking about it makes me a little crazy. And he was so happy to see me before he knew. He asked me to dinner.
Will he still try? Is that even possible? I’m sure there’s something in the HR documents about this. Most big companies have a policy.
Dating him in any capacity would be a huge mistake. If we broke up, that could be the end of my job. I’d be stuck starting over at the bottom of some crummy chain hotel, worse off than if I had no experience at all since I couldn’t use this as a reference.
A movement in my rear-view mirror catches my attention. It’s Ilsa, already heading back into the castle.
I lunge out of the seat, open the back door, and pull out one more small box. There’s nothing to be done but to see this through. Maybe I can find a moment to ask him what he plans to do about me before I move in completely.
When I return to the hall, it’s empty. I set down my box and check my phone. Five past the hour. I’m late.
The door to the kitchens is propped open. Amazing smells waft out as several chefs in white uniforms bustle about the stainless-steel counters.
On the opposite side, another open door leads to a room filled with washers and dryers. This team, all in light blue, folds towels and sheets on a long white table.
A young man, probably only a teen, steps out, bright in his red uniform against the white room. “I’m watching the carts. You want me to roll it to your room yet?”
“Not yet,” I tell him. “I have more.”
He shrugs and turns back to his conversation with a blue-haired woman folding hand towels. “Come on, Cristal, go out with me.”
“You wish,” she says. “Not just anybody gets a shot at a piece of this.”
I walk down the hall, past the door marked “Head of Housekeeping,” and another marked, “Assistant Manager.” That’s Raya, who interviewed us.
There’s two more for the CFO and head of maintenance.
Then I hear voices.
Ahead is a staff room with double doors, both propped open. I pause and smooth my pants and sweater, then lift my chin and enter.
Sebastian and Raya stand at the front. The other four interns are seated in the front row. I hurry to sit next to them, choosing the end next to Brooklyn rather than Ilsa. There’s only one intern I haven’t met, and he appraises me with a long, penetrating gaze like he’s undressing me and making a judgment. His legs are kicked out, and he’s sitting low on the chair like he’s comfortable at home.
Raya is talking. “Today is for unpacking and exploring. Each of you will get five meals a week comped in the dining room. There is a significant discount for anything else you do, including room service. All this is coded into your ID.”
Sebastian speaks up. “But tonight, room service is on us. Order something, settle in, and we’ll get started with orientation in the morning.”
I avoid looking him in the eye, instead fiddling with the edge of my sweater.
“We have plenty of paperwork for you to fill out,” Raya says, turning to retrieve a stack of clipboards from the table behind her. “Let’s get started on that while we wait for Havannah to come.”
Owen raises a hand.
“Yes, Owen?” Raya asks.
“Is it the standard practice here to call everyone by first names?”
Sebastian nods. “We do. Havannah thinks of us as family.”
He raises his hand again and the other male intern sighs loudly.
“What address do we use on these forms?”
“Good question,” Sebastian says. “The hotel address is at the top of the privacy form. Use that. There is no need for a room number. Your name is good enough for your mail to get to you through our internal sorting.”
Raya passes each of us a clipboard, and she and Sebastian talk quietly as the five of us get to work.
It’s all the usual things. Tax forms. Privacy agreements. Then the hotel policies. I glance up at Sebastian and Raya, then flip through the code of ethics. I pause when I spot “fraternization.”
Here we go.
No relationship between members of the hotel staff shall be permitted if there is the potential for preferential treatment or disruption of work tasks. Romantic partners must have no more than one level in the chain of command separating them to avoid the abuse of authority or the appearance of abuse.
All relationships between employees in the same department but at different levels in the organizational chart should be reported to human resources for evaluation. Failure to follow these policies will result in disciplinary action, including possible termination.
My face feels hot. Sebastian is a thousand levels above an intern. He could get fired. Or more likely, I will get fired. Anything between us is dead in the water if I’m going to work here.
I draw in a slow, easy breath to calm myself.
The other interns have plowed through the policy document, initialing all the way. I quickly flip back and start scribbling M.S. M.S. M.S. I hesitate at the fraternization clause, then again, M.S.
Now to copy my new address, or hopefully my new address, onto the tax documents.
The man with an attitude finishes first, smacking the clipboard against his thigh and looking around. He notices me, then shakes his head, eyes resting on Brooklyn instead.
I’m used to it. Frumpy girl. Average girl. Not the chosen one.
Except with Sebastian.
He made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room.
I sneak a peek at him. He’s talking with Raya.
Ilsa finishes her paperwork, carefully clipping the pen beneath the clamp on the board and turning it sideways in her lap. She sits ramrod straight, her ankles crossed, her long black hair curling over one shoulder.
I resume my initials, then glance over the privacy statement and nondisclosures. I scrawl my signatures, and by the time I’ve double checked everything, we’re all done.
Raya collects the clipboards.
Sebastian rubs his hands together. “Tomorrow, we will meet here, and each of you will be assigned your first rotation. You will spend time with each crew, and we’ll be assessing your strengths and interests for your long-term placement.”
“What are the rotations?” Brooklyn asks.
The male intern clasps his hands behind his head like he has no need for formality here. “Some of them suck.”
Everyone turns to him, except Raya, who looks to Sebastian.
He grins. “You might not fully enjoy some of the tasks, but it’s good to get a feel for everyone’s job here. Havannah firmly believes that the only way to know how to improve a segment of the hotel’s operation is to see exactly what happens in each of these roles.”
“Did I hear my name?”
Everyone sits up straighter as a blonde woman with a decent belly bump strides into the room. She wears all-white boots, pants, and a sweater. She doesn’t have an ID badge, but she doesn’t need to.
This is Havannah Boudreaux-McDonald, the owner.
Brooklyn and I exchange an excited glance. She’s why we’re here.
Havannah pauses to look at us. “I’m so thrilled to see you. I dreamed up this internship when I first learned about this little one.” She pats her belly.
I try to squelch my awe, but I’m sure it’s all over my face. I catch Sebastian looking at me with a knowing smile. He’s pleased with my excitement. I glance away.
“I have a surprise for you all that will surely help with motivation as you fight your way through some of the harder weeks ahead.” She glances at Sebastian. “And yes, I’m talking about the custodial shift.”
He laughs and nods at her.
“I’m very pleased to announce that I’ve created a new position at the hotel. It’s a role I’ve done since we opened, but if my second baby is even half as wild as the first, I’m going to have my hands full. So, in six months, one of you five will be named the event manager here at the Castle Hotel. It’s a fun job. You’ll love it.” She meets each one of our gazes. “I just know I’m looking at this person right now. I’ll be training you myself once we choose. I can’t wait to see who it will be.”
My heart hammers. She’s going to have one of us be the event manager? We get to come up with the amazing balls and parties, as well as handle the weddings and conferences?
Havannah gestures to the door. “I’m having catering bring in some drinks and snacks, so let’s get to know each other.”
The servers must have been waiting in the corridor, as they immediately come in and set trays on the long table lining the side wall.
We all stand to greet her, and I spot the fifth intern’s name on his badge. Maverick. Figures. That’s a hellion name if I’ve ever heard one.
Brooklyn approaches me, her cheeks pink with excitement. “Can you imagine it? Event manager? During our first year?”
I nod. “Now that’s a dream job.”
“It sure is.”
Maverick has already jumped in to meet Havannah with no hesitation. I steal a glance at Sebastian right as he looks my way. I immediately turn aside. We have to cut that out.
“I’m so nervous,” Brooklyn says. “Please stay with me when we meet her, so I won’t screw up.”
“I will.” But even as I say it, my anxiety gives way to despair. I already have a friend here with Brooklyn. Havannah is magical. And my dream job is possibly six months away.
But I had to go and accidentally sleep with the boss.