Author's Note: While this is a fantasy story I really did just return from a trip to Prague. While there, the manager at the hotel fit the description in the story to a 'T'. The rest is fantasy.
I recently made a one week business trip to Europe that was, in a word, memorable. My travel agent booked me on a first class ticket to the Czech Republic and said he would recommend I stay at a hotel near Prague that provided "world class" service. I've traveled quite a bit and stayed at a number of five star hotels but took his word for it and booked the trip. The cost was more than I was expecting but I rationalized it as just another business expense on my tax return. He did say it would be worth every penny.
I got to Prague at about 4 PM and rented a car for the drive to the hotel. It was located about ten miles outside of the city and I would have missed it had I not had my GPS with me. It was located about a half mile off the main road, a long tree-lined driveway that led to a four-story building.
I checked in and showed my passport and credit card to a rather severe but pretty blonde woman dressed in a blue business suit and her hair pulled into a bun. About 30, I thought, probably a great figure under that business suit. Her name tag read 'Anna.'
Anna checked me into my room rather professionally and gave me my door card, room 410. A porter took my bags and led me to my room. I noticed that the fourth floor of the hotel was secured; you needed to have a card for a fourth floor room to have access. Must be that world class lodging my travel agent told me about.
The room was nice but not especially opulent. As I tipped him, he remarked to me in rather good English, "I see you have purchased all of our services, enjoy." Okay, a room, TV, Wi-Fi; no big deal for today's travelers.