Chapter 33
My phone beeps with a WhatsApp message but Xavier’s visit is imminent and I don’t want to be caught using my phone again.
I do the only adult thing and drop to my knees under the safety of the counter and swipe open WhatsApp to see a message from Lily with a photo attached.
I internally groan as it takes an age to load.
Lily
Have a look at this! Tia just posted this across all her socials. What the actual…!
I stare furiously at the screen, but nothing appears.
There’s a rustle at the door and I fling the phone under the counter like it’s on fire.
‘Xavier! Bonzour!’ I have to stifle a stream of unnecessary words that threaten to spill, as my guilty conscience takes over.
Then I remember my shift hasn’t officially started so I’m quite within my rights to use my phone. I stand up and pull my shoulders back.
‘Bonzour.’ He hands me a coffee and takes a sip of his bright green smoothie, which probably has a name like Gym Junkie, or Green God Fuel.
‘Early morning meetings weren’t discussed in my contract,’ I say. ‘Does that mean I get an hour in lieu somewhere along the line?’
A frown mars his brow. ‘Wi. Just let me know and I’ll cover you for an hour whenever you want.’
I’d expected a little parrying at least. A bit of sizzle to start the day off. ‘Oh, great. So what’s this in aid of? What am I doing wrong?’
‘Why do you always go to worst-case scenarios?’
‘I’m a “bad news first” kind of person.’
‘There’s nothing wrong at all. Well, not that I know if, unless there’s something you’d like to share with me?’
I brighten.
‘No more complaints about how staff are suffering at my hands.’
My smile drops. ‘Oh.’
‘What drama have you inserted yourself into this time?’
I send a glare his way. ‘I haven’t inserted myself into any drama, I’ll have you know, but I may have overheard a thing or two…’
‘Like…?’
‘Why aren’t staff allowed to use the streaming platforms? I get that there might be a small additional cost, but even supplying one for the staff lounge would be nice. Good for morale. Encourage staff friendships, that sort of thing.’
‘Did you work for a union in your previous life?’
‘Did you work against a union in yours?’
We stare off in an impasse. The tension! It’s fraught. Just like in the books. He lets out a world-weary sigh. ‘I’m not sure why I have to constantly explain myself to you, but here we are again.’
‘And…? That’s not much of an explanation, Xavier.’
He rolls his eyes. Not very professional but I let it pass.
‘We did have streaming available for staff in the lounge and the casual dining area. As with most things given freely around here, some staff chose to take advantage of the situation and were escaping during their shifts to watch the next season as soon as it dropped.’
‘Let me guess, The Last of Us?’
‘What?’
‘Were they watching The Last of Us? Pedro Pascal?’ I’d have been tempted to duck off too.
‘I have no idea. It doesn’t matter what they were watching, it matters that they were shirking their duties.’
He does have a very valid point. ‘Why would they risk doing that though?’ From what I’ve seen, apart from a few tiny things, like logging into the guest Wi-Fi and using their streaming service, the resort staff work hard and don’t take advantage.
And yes, they broke the rules but they do live here too, and it would be in his best interests to look after their needs with small incentives like a streaming service.
He runs a hand through his hair – time slows for me. It’s like watching a commercial with some gorgeous male model gazing wistfully at the lens.
‘Things were a lot more relaxed before I took over so the change in direction is jarring for some of the staff, but the resort has to maintain a level of service and them ducking off to watch the latest episode of Bridgerton isn’t going to fly.’
‘Bridgerton, eh?’
He blushes. So the man is human after all. ‘Fine. It was Bridgerton. It’s all they talked about.’ Xavier fidgets with his watch while he tries to weasel out of this one. ‘An addictive show, allegedly.’
I cooly assess him. ‘You give off a bit of Bridgerton vibe, man of the ton, that sort of thing.’
He observes me with the same unflinching gaze. ‘I’d say you’re very Daphne-like yourself, always interfering and plotting behind the scenes.’
I reel backwards. ‘I hardly think so.’
Triumph flashes in his eyes. ‘Point in case. Daphne would never agree on principle.’
I scoff. ‘And you’d argue just for the sake of arguing, just like the Duke of Hastings.’
‘Never.’ He says the word with a guttural inflection, playing the part of the Duke of Hastings perfectly. His fun side popping out for a moment.
I bite back a laugh. And this means the man is a Bridgerton fan, just like the staff.
Staff who have to sneak off and use guest Wi-Fi to watch their favourite shows after a long day in the blazing sun.
‘Wouldn’t it be great if your staff could unwind with an episode of Bridgerton, like you clearly have? ’
He gives me a brief nod. ‘My mother watched Bridgerton and I was in the vicinity.’
‘Your masculinity is still intact, Xavier. You can just admit you watched it and that it’s a great show.’
He grins. ‘What a relief.’
I push on. ‘So can staff access the streaming services again?’
He scrubs his face with a hand as if talking to me takes it out of him. I get that a lot. ‘I’ll consider reinstating it, but if they start skipping out on their shifts again, I’ll cancel it.’
‘Consider?’ I scrunch up my nose. ‘Consider reinstating it. Or will?’
He lets out a frustrated sigh. ‘Have you been fired a lot?’
I nod eagerly. ‘Yes, too many times to count.’
‘Thought so. Look, Harper, I’m not the monster I’m being made out to be.
Staff have taken certain liberties and I understand that’s because of the laid-back way the resort has been run since its inception.
It just can’t continue that way. Yes, I’ve given them rules to follow and new uniforms. But I’ve also given them pay increases, and that’s because I’m asking for more from them.
There has been some railing against the rules, and it can’t continue.
I need everyone on board and I’m more than happy to cater to staff needs too, as long as they don’t take advantage when my back is turned. Now, can we get down to business?’
I’m duly told and grateful to hear Xavier’s side of things.
I do understand that all these changes must have come as a shock to staff after working for Mrs Bastille in a more relaxed way.
It gives me hope that Xavier isn’t quite as unreasonable as I first thought he was.
It’s more that he wants the Last Chance Resort to uphold standards the same way any five-star establishment would.
‘You’re not such a bad guy,’ I blurt.
‘Thanks?’
He moves to the counter and takes a seat on the stool.
‘No, hear me out.’ I sit next to him. ‘Permission to speak freely?’
‘Since when do you ever ask?’
I laugh. ‘You’re right. But I’ve figured it out.
There’s a divide between you and the staff, especially with the ones who are breaking the rules.
You’ve come back, all guns blazing, removing privileges, giving them a list of rules to follow, speaking in pretentious acronyms a lot like some big bad CEO, all while making huge changes around the resort as well.
They’re bound to feel a bit displaced, especially after working for your mum for so long where, if they skipped off for an hour here and there, it was perfectly acceptable.
You might feel the pressure, you’re the owner and that’s part and parcel of it, but they shouldn’t feel it – they should feel safe that you’re on their side and have their best interests at heart and then they will go the extra mile for you. ’
‘And you know this how?’
‘From working for a lot of terrible bosses. Yes, I’ve been fired a lot in my short thirty-one years earthside, but I’ve also quit a lot, because I have boundaries and I know my worth.
The staff here are fabulous. Michel and his cousin Joji could win gold medals for flirting, but they immediately put guests at ease.
They seem to know exactly which persona to use to make them laugh, and that kind of behaviour takes a lot of energy when they could just stay silent and smile, you know?
Mariola is supposed to be in charge of staff relations, but has a deep insight of everything happening around the resort, as she efficiently fixes anything that crops up.
They’re all like this, in their own unique way, which makes me believe that they all want to be here, but in return, you have to show them that you want them to be here.
Or you’ll find more of them will leave to work on cruise ships. ’
‘Staff shouldn’t be flirting.’ His face darkens.
‘Oh come on! Guests love it! It’s harmless. Or do you mean Michel, more specifically? What are you two beefing about anyway?’
‘We’re not… beefing. I don’t always trust his motivations, that’s all, and I won’t be drawn on it any further.’
That’s me told.
‘Maybe there’s some truth in your other suggestions. I haven’t been the easiest to work with but you’re right in that the pressure I’m feeling is not a staff problem. I need to rethink the way I handle things, and whatever initiatives I introduce.’
‘You can’t do everything. Why not run staff changes past Mariola? She’s got her head screwed on straight and can also be frank and tell you when it won’t work.’
He considers it. ‘OK. I’ll chat with her and see if she’s amenable.’
‘So down to the real reason for this god-awful early morning meeting?’
‘You emailed me about hosting a book club event with a local author. Did you know that our very own Khalil wrote a book called Where the Waves Keep Time?’
Why does that title sound familiar? ‘Khalil, who can be found by the Cabana Bar with the Seychelles flag tattoo on his huge bicep?’