Company
The preternatural glow of a laptop screen illuminated the countenance of a slender girl with brunette and honey brown curls, as she scrolled down the page of emails. Her clients were so needy. For every one she replied to another popped in its place. Like whack-a-mole. Her inbox could never quite seem to be cleared, at least not for long. She stifled a yawn. She had been at this a while, hours to be exact. As always, she was dodging landmines and putting out wildfires. What time was it? Oh. She realized what time it was when she heard what were steadily approaching becoming her two favorite words in the English language.
"Turndown service?" Accompanied by the brash knock.
"Oh." She shut the laptop in front of her on the chaise. "Sure, come in." She grinned when she saw who opened the door. A tall, muscular man. He had bright, wavy hair that was neatly slicked back.
"Hi, Roy."
A pleasant expression crossed his face as he continued this stop on his nightly rounds. "Good evening, Ms. Beecher. Would you care for a turndown service tonight?" The cart paused to a halt in front of her door and he stood in the entrance to her room.
"Yes," she replied, a little breathlessly. A slight flush as her eyes lingered a moment too long on his tight button down shirt and fitted trousers. "I would, thank you."
He nodded and said with a smile, "It would be my pleasure." And like clockwork, he began the routine. "May I kindly ask what you are up to tonight? More work I presume, Ms. Beecher?" He pulled a few bundles of towels off the cart slipped into the adjoining bathroom.
"Roy, you've entered into my room, probably more times than I can count... I always say this, but you can call me, Karen." She responded, just loudly enough to project her words into the porcelain tiled room. As she spoke she was bringing her curly hair together in a fist, securing it on top of her head with a satin scrunchie in confirmation of his assessment about her nightly activities. "But yes... I will be spending tonight doing more work." Her amber eyes observed him darting off to the cart and grab more soaps and lotions. The dark-haired girl knew full well she had barely made a dent in her supply. She nibbled the inside of her cheek to quell her warming face.
The hotel was topnotch, but this caliber of service and personal attention was above even what she was used to. Karen had come to suspect that this red haired man was the one responsible for the incredibly soft, eucalyptus scented towels in her room. The ones she wrapped herself in when she emerged from a nightly lather and rinse. And every night her meetings ran late and she returned to her room, laying on her bed to greet her was something sweet. Hand wrapped candy, cookies, or chocolate. Once there were even macaroons. It was far more than the standard fare consisting of two pillow mints. However, it didn't mean anything necessarily. He was fantastic at his job. If he was going out of his way for her at all, it was probably just because she had gotten to know him. She talked to him every chance she got. After all, why wouldn't she? He was nice. And sweet. And thoughtful.
She may or may not have had a not-so tiny crush.
"Karen, then." He entered the bedroom once more and grinned. "Allow me to get that for you." As he reached down to take her empty espresso cup and saucer, his eyes tracing over her lacy yellow tank top and shorts. She blushed, remembering she was wearing her pajamas - without a bra. Oops. But Roy didn't seem to mind. At least she thought he didn't. He quickly slipped off to place the cup on the cart and bring her a clean one. "If you don't mind my asking, just who benefits from all this work you always seem to do into the hours of the night?"
"Well, the company, I guess..." Her head caressed her hand as she pondered this. "Though no employee is invaluable. They really drill that into you on day one." She held up a finger and stroked her chin, her voice a low drawl in mimicry of her boss. "It's the company, Karen... The company - not the man - that will stand the test of time. Long after you or I have gone from the earth. Blah blah blah... It's all very 1984, but without the rats." She chuckled lightly.
He paused and looked at her curiously.
"I see." Oh God. She was boring him with details about work - again. And rats? What was wrong with her? And then his lips quirked up, exposing white teeth in a manner that almost seemed mischievous. "Ms. Beecher, might anyone back home reap any of these benefits?" Before he started to neatly turn and tuck in the sheets into crisp corners, he had begun fluffing her pillows. Making sure they were full and plump. He bent down again; her eyes followed the action, and traced his physique. The most obscene and depraved part of her surmised that his butt was sure plump enough. He turned to face her, concerned she didn't hear him, when she didn't respond. As though he were somehow disturbing her and could stand to fluff the pillows a little less loudly. "I must apologize, am I prying?"
No, but she wished he would - into her shorts. Or use his strong forearms to pry her right off the chaise and -
"No, not at all." She coughed. "So do you mean like a family member? A dependent for employee benefits? I'm not certain exactly what you're asking." She really wanted to be certain. Please let him mean...
He had ceased straightening the bed clothes and he stared at her for a moment.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Ms. Beecher?" Why was he asking her this? She didn't want to get her hopes up. Or think that he liked her. Or saw her as more than just another hotel guest. But it was harder and harder to discern. Like on nights like these. Or whenever she missed him because she hadn't been in her room, but he still left a delectable gift on her pillow after the service. And part of her couldn't help it. He was attractive. Very attractive. Much more attractive than anyone else who had ever turned down a room for her before.
"Karen." She insisted. "And no..."
He almost scoffed. "Forgive me, but a beautiful woman like you?" Her toffee gaze jumped from his and eyed the ground nervously. "Well, I must say I find that hard to believe." And now he was lowering the lights.
"I guess I never found the time... With work... But it paid off in the end, they promoted me to a senior leadership role. Some promotion this turned out to be... I spend a lot of lonely nights in hotels just like this one." She bit her lip. Instantly, she regretted her words. She realized she must have sounded like a sort of spinster in training. Lonely? Why did she have to add the word lonely? She turned away feeling embarrassed and ashamed. And she didn't want to see the look in his jade eyes. It was doubt one of pity.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be hard." Long, patient strides traveled across the room to draw the drapes to close. "Well, as you may be aware, I'm here almost every night - if you need a friendly ear."
"That's nice of you, Roy. Thank you."
Another nod, the red hair bobbed. "It looks like your room is all set, Ms. Beecher and you are ready for the evening. Did you need anything else tonight?"
"No, thank you. The room looks amazing, as always." She fished around her nightstand and handed him a tip, and insisted he take it, even though he always refused. "I guess... You should be on your way. I know you're busy. I've actually got a lot of accounts that need reviewing myself." Karen tried to sound upbeat. In reality, she would probably end up curled on the couch reading yet another erotic novel on her kindle. And then maybe... She took a quick peek over at the top drawer where her electronic assistant lay.
"Actually, the Morrisons checked out. So you're officially my last stop for the night."
"Really, that's good. You get to finish up earlier then." She nodded trying not to think... That there could be something in the way he said last stop.
"Yes. I do." He slid a half step closer to her.
"Well," she shrugged. "As you now know... I may not have anyone waiting for me, but I'm sure you do."
Whoever they were, they were lucky.
"No. In fact, I don't." He flashed a quick grin. "Unless you're trying to get rid of me." The way he said that, there was no pretense or formality. It was as if he had forgotten about it for a moment. And then it was back, like it never left. "Would you like me to leave you now, Ms. Beecher?"
She licked her very dry lips and swallowed. "No."
"No?" Another half step closer.
"No - I mean... yes." Her legs dangled over the edge of the chaise now. "I'm sorry. I admit I enjoy our chats, but there's no need for you to be here when you've finished your work. Besides, I haven't finished my own."
"Are you certain you're alright?" His brow was knit.
Karen assured him not to be concerned for her. "I know what I said, Roy. But you don't need to worry, I'm alright. You don't need to feel obligated to stay to talk to me or keep me company."
"I certainly don't need to. But maybe I would like to." She wasn't sure she was hearing him correctly now. "That, however, depends, on you. So... Would you like some company, Ms. Beecher?"
"Company?" Her core warming up even further at what he was insinuating.
"Yes," His hands flew up to the collar of his shirt and started unbuttoning each of the fastening, while wide eyes watched. Slowly he went. Now each step revealed another inch of deep beige skin.
"Company."
