I was flustered. Running late for my first day of training at my new job. It was a housekeeping job for hell's sake. It didn't really matter if my strawberry blonde hair was nicely straightened or if my black eyeliner was done just right so that my blue eyes seemed to glow. What is the point of putting effort into hair and makeup at all if you're going to show up late on the first day? I berated myself as i sped down the highway. Especially since i had gotten the feeling that the interview in town the day before had been going somewhat poorly up til the very end. Cameron the property manager had asked all the usual interview questions and did seem pleased that i had experience but definitely not impressed. Then he asked, "How do you feel about the history of the Setting Sun Saloon?"
For a moment I drew a blank at the odd question. "The history of it? You mean that it used to be some type of brothel?" I asked, hoping he'd elaborate.
Cameron merely nodded adding, "And that it was a particularly popular and violent brothel at that."
I smiled before saying, "I love the history of it. I love that when it was renovated most of the rooms were saved and updated rather than completely torn down or remodeled. I've always really enjoyed old places, Its like you can feel or hear the past calling out to you there. I've never been out to the Setting Sun before but i really love the pictures they had of the grand opening in the paper."
He had nodded at me somewhat thoughtfully for so long that i started to wonder if i should keep talking. But then he said, "Well miss McRhode i think you will be a good fit at the Setting Sun. If you can start tomorrow like you said, then show up at noon and ask for Lexi. She is currently our head of housekeeping and she can get you trained up."
He stuck out his hand and i shook it. That was all.
I saw the beautiful wood and adobe building coming up and slowed down to make the turn. It wasn't a terribly large building. I doubted they would have more than 20 rooms to clean. Yet there were a couple of muscle cars and several motorcycles parked outside the building. I firmly believed that my Ford Bronco was a classic and parked it next to the muscle cars almost out of spite. All the vehicles were gorgeous and looked well cared for.
I walked in through the large wooden corral style doors and found myself in a large entryway facing a veritable wall of glass looking out onto the courtyard. On my left there was a Front Desk Check In sign but there was nobody sitting behind the desk. On my right was a kitchen buffet area with a few small tables, and a large very comfy looking couch. There was Native American artwork, some antique western looking doodads, and by the front desk there was a wall covered in photos and portraits of the Setting Sun in its heyday.
The overall feel of the place came across as historic and comfortable. The adobe fortress wall that made up the perimeter made the whole place feel isolated, both in time and geographically. I stepped up to the desk and rang the little bell. A few seconds later a woman stepped around the corner from the back room. She had short blonde hair with caramel and reddish streaks throughout. She spiked it up in the back and in the front it was long enough to frame her heart shaped face. I was surprised to see she was wearing a leather collar around her neck. It had a little red charm dangling from it that said LEXI. Other than that her clothing was normal, just a grey T-shirt and jeans.
"Hi, I'm Shannyn." I smiled, "Cameron told me to be here today for training as a housekeeper."
Lexi looked nonplussed. "Did he tell you that the job we need done entails a lot more than just housekeeping? I mean we only have 18 suites. It wouldn't take 10 hours a day to clean them."
"Umm well no Cameron didn't mention it. But I'm okay with that. I can learn to do anything you want to teach me. And I'm happy to earn my way, i'm not a slacker." I said. I sounded like a suckup to my own ears and i hated that. But i really was damn tired of the job hunt, and i already felt kind of attached to this place. It felt like it could be home.
"Huh. Well i guess we'll see." Lexi huffed as she flipped up the counter top to allow me to walk through with her to the back room. I was surprised that there weren't any security monitors. The other hotel i had worked at monitored every hallway and doorway. Lexi walked me back through the laundry room to a small employee lunchroom that had lockers lining one wall, a sink and a fridge. It was pretty cramped. When i mentioned it Lexi said, "There are only 6 employees who work this place. Including you now i guess. There's me, i run the front desk and housekeeping on your days off, You will be running housekeeping Thursday through Sunday, Taylor runs the kitchens and room service, Gabriella runs the bar, Stella comes in twice a week to do laundry, and Max takes care of security and maintenance."
"Wow." I was floored by this information. "That is amazing that only 6 people can take such good care of this place!"
"Yeah we're all aces." Lexi sighed and opened another door. "This is the housekeeping supply closet. That is the cart you use to move all the crap you need. The clipboard will be hanging here on the wall every day with the list of which rooms need to be done and any special requests from the guests. We really pride ourselves on going above and beyond to please our guests here. Repeat customers and word of mouth recommendations are our main source of business. So it is REALLY important that you give really good SERVICE."
I crinkled my eyebrows, wondering if i had imagined the emphasis she put on the last word. She shut the closet door again and gestured for me to follow her. We went back through the laundry room and out a side door that lead into the main courtyard. A swimming pool took up center stage in the courtyard and off to the right was the bar. Lexi waved to Gabriella as we walked past, and i gave her a friendly nod. She winked at me and turned back to her customers. Four very large men, probably the owners of the motorcycles i had seen out front when i parked.
Lexi showed me to the maintenance office on the other side of the courtyard. "This is where we keep the supplies for cleaning the main areas of the hotel. Plus if there is anything that you need that you can't find in the housekeeping closet, it will be in here. Like lightbulbs. We go through a lot of lightbulbs here." She closed the door and turned to face me again. "That is pretty much everything you need to know. I'll go through your list with you today, tomorrow you're on your own. It's not rocket science. If you are still here after a week then we can get into more detailed training." She said it with a little smirk like she doubted i would last.