She arrived at the hotel with her smart business attire. She settled on a full-length business suit with her arms covered, as she did not feel like attracting a lot of attention. The woman had a lot of seminars to attend during the day, which left her only a bit of time to keep up with her exercise routine.
Wheeling her luggage into the lobby of the Four Seasons, she was amazed at how busy it was. She was mildly aware of another convention in town, but all of her focus was on Atlanta's fitness competition. The IIEF was promising its biggest audience to date, and for this year they were getting national cable coverage.
The woman eventually made her way to the front desk and smiled sweetly at the desk clerk.
"And how are we this evening?" asked the plump older lady working the desk. Her name tag gave her away as CATHY.
"Hello," the woman said. "I believe you will have a reservation for me. Last name Wyman, first Jolene."
Cathy began to chuckle as she typed at her computer. "Oh, I bet you get all those people making silly jokes about your name!"
Jolene laughed. "I will tell you—I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Parton on an occasion."
Cathy looked at Jolene wide-eyed. "Get
out
! My husband and I just love her to death!" Cathy made up an electronic card key and got a couple of brochures bundled together. "Well, darlin', I'm glad to welcome you to Atlanta. Your room is 612, and it's a suite just as you requested. Wi-fi password is your room number followed by your last name." Cathy looked Jolene up and down. "You in town for the suppliers' convention, hon?"
Jolene put her room keys in her tiny purse. "Oh, no. I'm here for the IIEF fitness championship. I'm competing."
Cathy's mouth hung open. "Oh wow!" she exclaimed. She put her hand to her chest. "How, dear, do you manage with all of those gorgeous men walking around in those--" She held her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. "Those tiny little bathing suits? Oh, I would die!"
Jolene laughed. "Oh, I manage somehow." She gave a pleasant wave. "Thank you so much, dear." She wheeled her suitcase over and managed to find a seat. There were many people mulling about in the lobby, trying to talk over one another. Jolene pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling through her browser for health-oriented restaurants.
Jolene was interrupted by a commotion going on over at another part of the check-in desk. The woman checking in appeared frantic. "Yeah, well, check it again! Look, the room should be paid for!"
The lobby attendant with the swept-up hairdo and the rather effeminate gestures went to the trouble of typing again. He held his hands up to his face and gave a sad look. "I'm sorry, but it appears as though the reservation is not there."
The woman appeared to be quite striking, with long flowing dark brown hair and a great figure. However, at this time she appeared a little less than attractive. "We had this reserved for weeks! Check the name again. Last name Vance. I don't know...look for Veronica." She fumbled with a piece of paper out of her purse. "Look! The reservation was made for tonight. I have the printout."
The effeminate man had another man walk in behind him in a similar uniform and whisper something into his ear. The effeminate man nodded, then turned his attention to Ronnie. "I'm sorry, but the reservation was cancelled. We had a bit of an emergency and another person was given your room. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Ronnie leaned in on the desk. "Hey, fuckin' guy! This is why hotels...
make
...
reservations
!" Ronnie was beginning to attract a bit of attention from some of the other guests of the hotel.
The effeminate man appeared to be getting uncomfortable. "Well, if you like, we can make arrangements for you to sleep in the lobby. We would only charge ninety dollars a night."
Ronnie's eyes bugged out and her mouth fell open. "Are you...I..." She flicked her hands in befuddlement. "Listen to me, you fuckin' moron! I want a room like you had promised! This entire town is jam-packed because of this convention. I'll have to get a GoTel in rural Bumfuck at this rate." She paused and squinched up her face. "No offense."
"Ma'am," the attendant started. "If you are going to use such language..." The man gave up as Ronnie wheeled away her luggage flipping him off.
Ronnie made her way for the door in an angry huff when she heard high heels banging on the floor after her. "Miss?" Jolene called to her. "Oh, miss? The...one with no room?"
Ronnie pivoted right before the doors and looked the stranger over. The woman Ronnie saw was smartly dressed and had a beautiful face. Ronnie liked her horn-rimmed glasses and short black hair. She licked her teeth and tried to keep her composure. "Yes?" Ronnie said, sounding irritated.
Jolene pointed behind her at the desk. "I couldn't help but hear your predicament. I am so sorry that you were treated that way."
Ronnie relaxed. "Yeah, well, shit happens."
Jolene clasped her hands in front of her chest. "If it would help at all, I have a very large suite here in the hotel for the next few nights. Would you care to share with me? I know that it might be awkward staying with a stranger..."
Ronnie scooted up to the strange woman. "Are you for real? Oh my God, lady, you just saved me a world of pain!"
Jolene extended her hand, hung down in a gentle manner. "Jolene Wyman."
Ronnie took the hand and shook hard, although she soon found out what a grip the woman had. "Ronnie Vance! I cannot thank you enough. I would have been absolutely fucked if I had to spend a lot of extra time coming and going."
Jolene appeared shocked by the language she was hearing. She had to put her hand over her mouth. "Well, okay, maybe we can make our way up and get ourselves settled."
The two of them made it to the elevator and went in. Ronnie did a few quick bounces of excitement. "This is great. I was worried I would have to cab it in and out. If you've ever seen it at these things, getting a cab is nuts. Showing some cleavage only gets you so far in life."
Jolene smiled. "I couldn't very well leave you stranded. Plus it would be nice to have some company."
They made their way down the hall. Jolene tried a few times with the keycard before getting it open. She led the way in while Ronnie followed in behind.
Ronnie whistled. "Okay, now you must have some sort of killer job if they're willing to put you up in a place like this!" She ran around and assessed what might be free in the room. "I haven't been in a place this nice since my little cabin on the lake."
Jolene began to understand Ronnie's misconception. "Well, I think we will find this place to our liking." Jolene wheeled her suitcase into the bedroom.
"I have to pay you," called Ronnie from the living room area.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Jolene.
"I mean, I can't let you let me stay here for free," Ronnie continued. "It's not fair that I'm probably inconveniencing you. My company should get their money back." Ronnie dashed into the bedroom. She looked over at the bed. "Oh. Whoops! Guess I'm getting the couch." She laughed.
Jolene gave a smile. "Oh, darling. We'll work it out somehow."
"No! It's okay!" exclaimed Ronnie. "It's like, I was actually considering the lobby thing for a second, but then I was thinking I might as well have 'RAPE ME' tattooed on my forehead while I'm at it!" Jolene's eyebrows arched up again as her eyes got wide.
"I'll tell you what," continued Ronnie. "Let me buy you dinner. We should go early because the crowds are going to get going by seven and it'll be absolutely ballzini by that time."
Jolene had found a nice vegan place just a few blocks away using her phone. Although Ronnie's usual diet consisted of chain restaurant processed foods, she figured she could relent on the issue given Jolene's generosity. They went to a smaller, run-down venue called Celery Stalker.
Jolene chuckled as they sat down. "I am guessing that this is not your usual fare," she said to Ronnie. "I just cannot have anything too heavy for a while. If I so much as look at a carb, I know I'll balloon up."
Ronnie held up her hand for silence. "Look, no worries. I respect your choices." Ronnie pulled out a menu for herself and handed one to Jolene. "Ah, pizza at least! Oh, and a craft brew!"
