It would be arduous to remember all the details that went into those weeks of planning. More than once I wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew. I must have been crazy, thinking I was ready for this kind of position, I thought. After all, it had been years since I had hosted anything more complicated than a foursome in a hotel room. And here I was, suddenly pressuring myself to host a gala for the world's elites in hospitality!
But the weeks passed, and with the efficiency of Lawrence and the warmth of Henri to see me through, the details fell into place. I spent much of that time establishing a reputation with the staff in the main house. I placed myself amongst them during their preparations and daily chores, showing them that I had experience walking in their shoes and therefore would never demand an action that I wasn't willing to do myself.
With the staff schedule arrangements I made to accommodate for the gala's demands, I had a few staff switch between the main estate and mountain estate. To my growing delight this meant the mischievous but hard-working Francine was restored to my side, and over time I found her to be invaluable. Francine had a particular talent for finding loose lips and lending a good ear. Whenever she heard rumors of confusion or trouble, she would relay them confidentially to me, and I could find a way to soothe everyone's worries without the staff being aware.
By the time the day of the gala arrived, I was feeling much more confident. There was an hour or more before we expected the first guest to arrive, and nothing was out of place. Catering had arrived and were prepped, staff were in their assigned festive uniforms and attending to their stations, every chilled bottle of Riesling was at perfect temperature. I admired myself in my perfectly crisp uniform in the mirror as I enjoyed a final quiet moment in my room. It was reserved black-and-white, just like the suits of the wait staff, but due to my status as housekeeper I stood apart in my uniform's design. I admired how the black dress, although conservative in coverage, hugged my hips and thighs in a tailored pencil skirt. A simple white blouse underneath with a Peter Pan collar prevented this outfit from being inappropriately sexy, but I knew I could flaunt it, especially with those killer black heels. Smoothing my hair into a perfect bun and applying just a touch of makeup, I figured all I needed was glasses and I would perfectly fit the sexy librarian type in this outfit. Hey, I valued lingerie as much as the next person, but outfits that play with your imagination would forever be a guilty pleasure of mine.
The most important part of the outfit, though, was the smart watch I had been assigned. Sleek and simple, it drew no particular attention, but the slightest buzz on my wrist would alert me of any messages from Lawrence, Henri, or my assigned staff. Each of the three of us had whole teams of employees under us, with teams assigned to each of them, and we needed an easy way to communicate from across the vast distances in this mansion. I twisted my wrist to check the time and reassured myself that I was early. I turned to the mirror one last time to check for loose ends.
Satisfied with my clean and orderly appearance, I left my room intending to take up my own post with the rest of my staff. I was already going over a checklist of tasks in my mind and was so preoccupied I wouldn't have noticed Andrew sitting on the stairs if he hadn't been right in my path.
He glanced behind himself as he heard me start stepping down. "Claire," he said brightly, but his voice sounded restrained. "You look stunning."
"So do you," I said. Andrew was looking smart in a burgundy velvet three-piece suit. In his silky black tie and sharply-ironed white shirt, all impeccably tailored... When he stood to greet me, he looked the picture of handsome luxury. "What are you doing here?" I asked him as he reached for my hand, accompanying me down the stairs. "Shouldn't you be preparing for your guests?"
I had expected his usual charm in response and was a bit taken aback by his silence. His eyes stared off into the distance, and he heaved a sigh. "Marisol is so excited for her sleepover," he finally told me. "She and Tarak. They might eat all the marshmallows before they can make s'mores in the fireplace."
"I'm so happy for them," I said sincerely, but I put my arm on his elbow and prompted him to halt as we reached the last step. "But what about you? You don't look like you're looking forward to a party yourself."
"I am," he reassured me, turning to face me. "I am, I just... It's been so long. And I have never been the host alone. I always had my father and mother or Elaine with me. There are going to be people here today I haven't seen since her passing. People who may have questions, who might try to get closer to us--me--again. And...Claire, I don't know if I'm ready."
I resisted the urge to pet his jaw with my fingertips. "I don't know if you will ever feel ready," I told him honestly. "Until you just jump in and do it, all you'll ever know is what it was like to do this before. You won't know what it's going to be like now until you take that step."
"You're right." He smiled ruefully at himself. "It would be so much easier if we could skip to the after part, when I already know what to expect."
"Well that would be cheating," I laughed. "What were you thinking about on the stairs just a moment ago? About all the questions people might ask you?"
"Well, a little. Mostly I was thinking about how to just be a good host. I've been so business-focused for the past two years, I don't know if I remember how to make a space seem fun and relaxing anymore." He chuckled. "I'm afraid I may just be a stuffy, boring man now."
"Perish the thought," I retorted. "You? Dashing, handsome, with charm to spare? You could never be." He smiled appreciatively, but I pressed on. "No one expects you to do stand-up comedy tonight, you know. You don't have to think of this as a performance. You're going to be talking with people, people you haven't been in touch with outside of business. Start with questions! Ask about what adventures they've had, what's changed in their lives since you last spoke. You're very attentive and attuned to detail. Once you show how interested you are, your guests will do all the talking for you. All you need to do is listen and ask questions, and they'll be eating out of your hand. Just like I do," I murmured, glancing him up and down. What can I say, the man looked great in that suit. Between that and the snug fit of the dress around me, I was starting to get ideas I could not get out of my head.
Andrew seemed to catch the look in my eye, and he started looking me over with renewed appreciation. "I suppose you're right. I forgot to consider how eager the guests will be to share their own stories. It just feels like there's eyes on my family and our personal business at all times... It can be quite intimidating."
"Understandably. But it's a position you carry well. I think all you need," I said, stepping toe-to-toe with him, "is a confidence boost. Just to remind you how it feels to be king of the world."
"You look like you have something specific in mind," he muttered back. His hands were starting to inch up my arms.
