"The manager's assistant left a note saying that she wanted a quick word with you before you left" the check-out clerk said. "I will just let her know you are here."
A short, curvy women wearing heels, a white blouse and black button down pencil skirt appeared shortly. In a very business-like manner the woman extended her hand..." Hi, I'm Rachael" she said.
"I work for the owner's and take care of them and liaise with the managers. I usually deal with one of them at a time but last night the three of us had a get together, something we do at the beginning of each month, and your name came up. "
"How was room service this morning Mrs. Smith? May I call you Christine?"
"Yes, Christine is fine, and the food was wonderful and the coffee very much needed"... she replied nervously.
"Don't worry, nothing to be alarmed about Christine, but I meant the service. I hired Hamid myself after interviewing a number of possible candidates. Mr. Ross, one of the owner's, suggested I do it outside the normal method to ensure their requirements were met.
Taken a bit aback, Christine, blushed then hesitated for a second before replying. "Yes thank you, he went to great lengths to ensure I was happy."
"Wonderful" Rachael replied. "I am so glad it worked out. I had been tutoring him myself. Mr. Ross told me that using Craigslist with certain key words would find who we were looking for. He is always right it seems. I screened about 100 candidates electronically, then personally interviewed and tried out a dozen or so until Hamid was selected. So glad you were satisfied."
Turning to the check-out clerk, Rachael quietly advised, "100% comp for Mrs. Smith."
Then taking Christine's elbow, "Don't worry about the bill, it is taken care of. Could we perhaps speak more privately in Mr. Ross' office?"
Turning back to the clerk, she added loud enough for Christine to hear "Please find Hamid and have him bring coffee to Mr. Ross' office in about 10 minutes, thanks"
Walking down the short carpeted corridor to the private elevator and while waiting for it to arrive, Rachel looked her guest up and down before offering, "I love your outfit. That looks like a very comfy top. The three button front is unique and the skirt really suits you. Do you wear skirts a lot? I like them, but so many women don't these days."
Taken a bit aback with the personal nature of the question, Christine hesitated before replying, "Thank you. I wear skirts a lot. I love the feminine look."
"Me too. In your case I can see why. You have great legs. You must turn a lot of heads?" Rachael replied before she leaned in conspiratorially to whisper in her ear. "You know we call him Ross the boss, that's whose office we are going to. His cousin, Maxwell Black, is the other owner. We call him Max. All the staff think it is just a short form of his name, but to me it is something else entirely."
After a brief ride during which they engaged in small talk, they step out into a luxurious corridor then enter a large room with two large oak desks, assorted cabinets, chairs and other furniture. Beyond the sliding glass door was a large roof terrace.
"They own this, along with three other hotels, and work out of here. They try to stay out of the day to day running of the business and rely on the duty managers who they meet with regularly. That is the reason Mr. Ross asked me to meet with you and have you come up." Rachael continued to describe the organization, "They both have secretaries down the hall. I'm from Kansas, Max and Ross are actually my uncles, my dad's brothers. My dad suggested I come here so they can teach me everything in hopes that I can one day take over the business. It turns out that part of my duties, while I am here, has been to look after their more personal and intimate needs, if you get my meaning"
"It looks like a lovely day, perhaps we should have our little chat and coffee outside" she said as she glided toward the door and opened it to let in the sounds of the city wafting up from below.
Christine looked beyond the ivied walls to the skyline and beyond. "How magical it is!" she gushed.
Passing by a couple of chaise lounges with towels and sun lotion beside them, they sat the table.
"Yes, it is a wonderful view and so private. I try to make time daily to get a bit of sun to keep up my color. It looks like you do to?"
"Yes, I love tan-lines and my husband does a well." Christine replied looking enviously at the accommodation and imaging herself lying in her new bikini on one of the chaises.
"Anyway, what Mr. Ross wanted me to talk to you about was this: he noticed in the account ledger the regularly entered reduced rate and write off of the room service charges. He raised it with the manager, at a meeting I attended, and the manager reluctantly explained the situation about how you and your husband took care of himself and various staff members and that as a regular repeat customer, he thought it was good business. Mr. Ross initially appeared shocked and was miffed that it appeared he was missing out. I know Mr. Ross and if there is anything he hates is not getting value for money."
Christine stammered in an embarrassed way.
"Don't worry Christine, everything is ok. Hope you don't mind if I shift my chair around to face the sun so I can get a few rays?"