---May 2024---
Walden Resort had been open for just a few weeks, and business was booming! Public facing individuals and their friends from all over the world and across all industries flowed in and out, filling almost all of the suites at any given time. I welcomed actors, musicians, politicians, Fortune 500 CEOs, writers, and all sorts of other creatives that were prone to public prying into their personal matters. While I didn't tolerate every kind of personal matter, being comfortable in your body in nature and consensual sex were nobody's prudish concerns, and I facilitated that handily at Walden Resort.
My goal was to only spend half the day connecting with prospective guests and necessary vendors, and spend the other half around the resort connecting with current guests. That has not been the case for the first few weeks. The list of prospective guests was long and it was my personal mandate to interact with each of them personally to determine both if they would be a good fit and developing a specific working relationship with them. The clientele wanted the personal touch and I wanted to provide it. I've barely been able to make it around the resort for an hour each day. 'The backlog will blow over soon and then I can maintain a consistent schedule,' I thought.
On one of these days, I'd put in close to 10 hours already, and I wanted to check out the beaches before the sun set. As I was shutting my computer down, one last email notification popped up. I figured I ought to look so I can mull over how to respond the next day and only spend a couple minutes on it. What popped up caught my full attention.
It was an email from Natalie Portman, the eternal beauty I'd been attracted to from my youth to now, that read:
Dear Walden Manager,
Your new resort has come highly recommended from some close acquaintances, and I desperately need some time to myself. I am sure there is a waiting list for rooms, but I must ask, just in case. It would mean the world to me if something could work.
Sincerely,
Natalie Portman
I'd heard some of the details around her divorce a couple months ago, rumours of infidelity. I'm all for free love and flexible arrangements in marriages and partnerships, but the impression was that Natalie was not in the loop. How someone could do that behind a partner's back was beyond me; it was such a betrayal. I felt for her.
I answered immediately, hoping she would still be at her computer, offering to hop on a video call right away if she was available. 30 seconds later, an incoming call bubble popped up on my desktop. Natalie Portman appeared on my screen, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe and hair up in a towel. She looked like she was barely holding herself together.
Normally I'd let the other person start, but I had to leap in first. "Ms. Portman, are you all right?"
"Not really," she said as her voice trembled.
"I wont pry into any of the details, I'm only concerned with how I and the resort can help," I offered gently.
"I just need a place to be away for a bit. I have a press tours starting soon and I am in no place for it right now." She paused for a moment, a confused look crossing her face. "Are you shirtless?"
"A little more than that," I said with a smirk. I realized with a start that she might not know enough about the nature of the resort. "Oh dear, you don't know much about Walden Resort, do you? I usually send reading material before meeting with a prospective guest. I am so sorry. This is a clothing optional, nudity encouraged resort."
Natalie was completely taken by surprise, shaking her briefly out of the doldrums. "Really? I heard about this from Reese, and I didn't think..."
I interrupted, "Reese Witherspoon? Oh she's lovely, one of our first guests. She came with her family, and had a great time. I'll note that on her account, she'll get a discount next time." I pulled up my account list to make that note, spacing out that I was still on the call.
"I never would have thought that about her. She actually went naked?" She startled me, and I jumped a bit in surprise. Natalie stifled a snorting laugh by covering her mouth.
I stuttered for a moment while I recollected myself. "It's been a long day, my apologies. What was it that you asked? Oh yes, about Reese. Yeah, didn't see her with a stitch on once she settled into her suite till the moment she left."
Natalie sat back in amazement. "Huh, learn something new every day." She snapped out of her daze as she refocused. "Now, about my potential stay? Do you have anything open right now?"
I grimaced. "I am sorry to say we don't. We're full for the next couple of months."
She sat back, dejected. "Oh."
An idea popped into my head. "I have an alternative suggestion. We have a few permanent residences, but haven't filled any apart from myself. I don't expect all of them will get snapped up and moved into in the next couple of weeks, so why don't you come stay at one of those? You mentioned in your email you wanted some space, so this would be pretty good for it."
She leaned in, considering the proposal.
I added, "It would be OK to bring your kids if you wanted..."
She interrupted, "They're with their father for a while." Her chin started to quiver as a wave of melancholy washed over her.
Seeing confirmation it was related to the divorce cinched another consideration. "It would be on the house. I want to get some feedback about staying in the permanent residences anyway," I said with a smile. Her eyes faced down and away from the screen, her chin still quivering. After a moment, I said, "Why don't you think about it for a bit and get back to me. I'll send you some reading material about the resort."
A look of determination crossed Natalie's face as she turned fully towards the camera. "No, I want to do this. I've spent too much time being indecisive."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Happy to oblige. When can we expect you?"
"Could I show up tomorrow?"
"Of course. I assume you'll fly into LAX? A car will be sent to pick you up."
She slumped back in her chair, exhausted but relieved. "That sounds perfect."