One Fine Day

“Actually it can be very boring.”

“Yeah, yeah…We’re in early, but the hotel is staffed twenty-four seven.”

No shit early. Ruby had him up and out before seven a.m. this morning. Okay, he was used to early starts on set, and very long days, but this morning he’d found it hard to get out of bed, as if his body wanted to recoup some sleep. It had only been a couple of days since landing. Jet lag would still be taking its toll. It hadn’t helped it was still dark outside, either.

A photograph of Ruby and Mum rested on Ruby’s desk, which Steve picked up and studied, smiling at it. She took it out of his hand, scowling, and put it back in its place, then dumped her bag in the bottom drawer of the desk. How long had she been doing this job? He hadn’t even thought to ask her. All he knew from a letter she sent a while back, before Mum’s funeral, was that she was a hotel manager. “Right, I’ll show you around, give you a quick tour and find you a uniform.”

On their way down the narrow staff corridor they met a young man wearing chef whites, adjusting his hat. “Hi, Ruby,” he said.

“Oh, this is Brett,” Ruby said and smiled. Under his chef’s hat poked coal-black hair. He wore glasses and had a diamond stud earring in his left ear. “He works in the restaurant.”

Steve held out his hand and smiled. “Hello.”

“This is my brother…Stuart,” Ruby said, after a deep breath.

The young man, probably of similar age to Ruby, took Steve’s hand. He had a firm handshake, which surprised Steve, because Brett was slim built. Maybe the chef whites masked his true appearance.

“Hi, I’m the sous chef.”

“Nice to meet you, Sue,” Steve said, and winked, internally cringing – the joke had come out all wrong. He’d sounded American then. Need to concentrate on the accent.

Luckily Brett laughed. “So what you doing here? Ruby has never mentioned a brother.”

“She’s giving me a job until I find my feet,” Steve said the first thing that entered his head. Act. Remember to act.

“Right, well there’s lots to see, talk later, Brett,” Ruby said quickly, grabbing Steve’s arm.

Steve waved a friendly goodbye to Brett, who watched Ruby with a happy expression, then nodded at Steve.

Phew, one down, the rest of the staff to go. Maybe he could do this.

Entering a staff area full of lockers, Ruby rummaged through a cupboard. She handed Steve some clothes and pointed to where he could change, providing him with his own locker key.

“The rule is to get changed here,” Ruby said. “Not to wear the clothes out of the hotel.”

“Why’s that?”

“So that you don’t go down the pub wearing your uniform, and get drunk and give the company a bad name.” Ruby smiled. “Leave your belongings in the locker too. You’re not allowed a mobile phone or any money on you.” Steve nodded. “Meet me back in my office when you’re changed.”

Steve fixed his tie and pulled on the three-quarter length jacket over his waistcoat. There was a lot to be said for tailor-made suits – and he wanted his back, now. The grey uniform trousers with their starched crease down the front were a little short in the leg, especially when sitting, and the shirt, like his burgundy polyester jacket, fitted across his broad shoulders snug but was too big in the waist. This added to the dork factor, supposedly, but he was pretty sure Clark Kent’s clothes had fitted him.

Once he was as happy as he could be with his appearance, he found Ruby’s office.

“Right, I’ll show you around the hotel, introduce you to some of the staff and then leave you at the bar. I have a hotel to manage. I’ll try to make your shifts tally with mine, otherwise I’ll have to drop you in or something, if you have to come in when I’m not working.” She chewed her lip.

“Roo, don’t worry about it, I’ll go with the flow. You’re doing me a huge favour.”

“Okay, let’s do this. Gosh why do I feel nervous?”

“I don’t know, you’re not the one pretending to be Clark Kent.”

“Stuart, Stuart, Stuart,” Ruby mumbled as she left her office.

***

Steve was going to look at all this as experience. Research. You never know when something like this might be needed for acting. He followed Ruby out of her office, his heart beating faster with nerves, his palms sweating. His polyester-cotton mix shirt was making him hot and uncomfortable. He pushed the glasses up. The damn things were hurting behind his left ear and across the bridge of his nose. Did he risk returning to get them adjusted? He needed them to be comfortable as he couldn’t risk not wearing them.

How hard could the work be? It had to be pretty straightforward and he’d do the job adequately. He did worry he’d let Ruby down. All his life he’d acted, though admittedly, he’d done every job imaginable before the acting had taken off. He’d done those successfully, too. Dredging through his memory, he’d done all sorts from waiting tables, serving drinks to working for a pizza delivery company. All in between bit part acting and gigs. Where did fifteen years go when you looked back on them?

“Okay, you’re predominantly going to work in the bar area. You’ll need to learn how to work the coffee machine too, I’ll get Callum to show you.” Ruby spoke as she walked and Steve nodded, running a finger around his collar. “And at quiet periods you may need to man the reception desk. We’re a small hotel, so we have to muck in where we can. You’ll have to work otherwise the others will complain, you understand?”

“Yes, boss.”

She scowled at him.

“Stuart Fisher,” Ruby said, more to herself than Steve as they headed towards the reception desk.

“Stuart Fisher.” He nodded and placed an arm on her shoulder. “Relax, Roo, it will be fine.”

“Yeah, why am I the nervous one here? Just remember to act nerdy, you know, like Clark.”

“Yeah, yeah, but I don’t want to be too clumsy…”

Lois hadn’t fancied Clark – not initially.

“Yes, but too confident and they may see through the disguise. And work on your accent.” Her eyes narrowed. “Right, I need to find Alice,” she mumbled.

They almost bumped into a skinny lad with mild acne as he walked out of the lift.

“Ah, Callum, I want you to meet Stuart,” Ruby said, as Steve held out his hand. As Callum returned the handshake, tucking the tray he carried under his other arm, he wore a puzzled expression, as though he’d done nothing so formal in his life. “He’s going to be working with you behind the bar.”

“Hi, Stuart.” Callum looked from Steve to Ruby.

“He’s my older brother,” she said.

“Yeah, Ruby’s helping me out. I need a job for a while.” Steve tried very hard to lose his American accent but at the same time not sound like Benedict Cumberbatch. He remembered Ruby’s advice, and his memories of the old Superman movie, trying to mimic Clark, to make his gestures jittery. Clark never stood as tall and straight as Superman.

Steve was naturally confident from years of girls falling at his feet, so now he needed to look less secure about himself – especially standing in front of a guy barely out of his teens.

“Ruby never said she had a brother.” Callum frowned.

“Well, I’ve been away, um, travelling for a while,” Steve said, not really sure where it had come from. Stupidly, they’d never managed to get around to making up a back-story. Maybe they should have thought harder about a past for him.

“Yeah, and he didn’t leave on a good note so I didn’t like talking about him,” Ruby added, “but we’re over that now. We’ve cleared the air.”

“Oh, right,” Callum said, scratching his head. “Nice to meet you, Stu.” Steve frowned. “Oh, you don’t like Stu?” Callum grinned wickedly.

“No, no, Stu’s fine.” Steve rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. He’d have to get used to ‘Stu’ from now on.

“Well, you’re Stu now,” Callum said, laughing. The two men joked for a bit, the nervous atmosphere ebbing away, and Steve was able to relax. He wasn’t looking at him as if he was a Hollywood film star. Phew!

“I’m going to introduce Stuart” – Ruby almost said Steve, but he was the only one to notice – “to some more staff then I’ll bring him over to the bar.”

“Yes, boss.” Callum saluted, then turned on his heel and marched away. Ruby rolled her eyes as Steve smirked at Callum’s cheek. Steve had said the same thing and clearly Ruby didn’t like it.

“Firstly, I need to see Alice about some order issues she raised yesterday, so you can come with me,” Ruby said, patting Steve’s arm for attention.

Ruby led Steve along a corridor and through some double doors with a sign above them reading “Tranquillity Relaxation Centre”. Instantly a lemony and floral fragrance hit him. The interior had changed from the hotel’s rich colours, to soothing natural pastels, as if he’d walked into another world. The reception desk had a huge vase full of fresh flowers in yellows and whites. To the right of the desk there was a cream leather couch for guests to wait. A glass coffee table sat in front of it, with a neat pile of glossy magazines. Steve gulped. He hoped he wasn’t inside one of them.

Being early, the place was deserted, including the reception desk.

“Where is she?” Ruby said, impatience lacing her words as she drummed her fingers against the desk.

“I’m here! Just made myself a coffee,” called a woman Steve could only assume was Alice. “Though don’t tell the guests, because to them I only recommend herbal teas.”

Now Alice was Steve’s type of girl. She strode across the wooden floor, and arrived in front of Steve with a steaming mug of coffee in one perfectly French manicured hand. She had chestnut hair, clipped up, with loose tendrils framing her attractive face. As she approached Steve, she smiled a million dollar Hollywood smile.

“Hello,” Alice said, fluttering her long black eyelashes. Big, chocolate eyes looked him over. Her dark eyes were enhanced by black eye-liner and thick mascara lashes, and her pouty lips were glossy. The spa uniform accentuated her figure perfectly – beige trousers and a matching lotus tunic with a mandarin collar. Even though the tunic wasn’t revealing Steve could still appreciate the swell of her breasts.

Hello, Alice!

The woman had curves, and knew how to show them off.

She wasn’t wearing a wedding or engagement ring. Result!

“This is Stuart.” Ruby nudged him, and then looked at Alice sternly, reminding her that Ruby was the boss. Alice kept her eyes on Steve, the corner of her mouth twitched. She really wasn’t listening to Ruby.

“Hi, I’m the new boy.” Steve returned with his own million dollar smile, and then remembering Clark Kent, albeit probably too late, slung his hands into his pockets as if nervous.

“He’s my brother, and will be working here for a while. I’m just showing him around. I’ve come to discuss those orders with you.”

“Oh, yes.” Alice led Ruby over to the reception desk, leaving Steve to mull around in the spa.

Would Alice recognise him? She had a stack of glossy magazines on the coffee table after all. In her line of business she would be up on fashion and looks. She was the type of woman to take care of her appearance. The type of woman to follow what celebrities were up to.

Just deny everything. You’re Stuart Fisher. You’ve been travelling for the past few years and now you’re home. Or something like that.

Really should have worked on a back-story.

He’d iron out the details at home, later.

Steve nosed around, finding the pool and gym, then waited patiently for Ruby to finish up with Alice.

“Right, let’s take you to reception,” Ruby said. Steve shared a worried new-boy expression with Alice.

“Don’t worry, Stuart, we’ll look after you,” Alice said, almost in a purr. “You’re in safe hands. You should enjoy working here.” Steve swallowed. He imagined Alice’s hands were far from safe. He glimpsed a brief scowl from Ruby, a hint that she didn’t approve of Alice, but he couldn’t see why. She was friendly, bubbly and confident. And beautiful.

Heady from the spa’s heavy scents and perfumes – or was it Alice’s effect on him? – Steve walked in step with Ruby back to the main part of the hotel, leaving Alice in her relaxation centre.

“Can staff use the pool, Roo? And the gym?” Steve hoped so, it would be one way of keeping up his fitness. He couldn’t shuck all his responsibilities as a Hollywood hunk.

“Yes they can, but only when they’re off duty.” Ruby said. “However, I’m not sure if it’s wise for you to be in there.”

“I’ll make sure I wear really unattractive sweat-pants.”

“Whilst swimming?” Ruby raised her eyebrows.

He smirked. “You know what I mean. However, I’m not taking this nerd look to the point of wearing Speedos.”

“I so hope not!”

In the main part of the hotel, they headed towards a young woman, smartly dressed in similar uniform to Steve; burgundy jacket, and cream blouse with a silk scarf around her neck. They waited at the reception desk for her to finish with a customer, before Ruby spoke, “Hi, Lydia, I want you to meet my brother, Stuart.” Steve smiled at Lydia, adjusting his glasses. “He’s joining our team.”

“Hello, Lydia.” Steve shook Lydia’s hand, more delicately than the way he’d grasped Callum’s. So she was the owner of the voice at the end of the phone the other day, and she turned out to be pretty and young, not old-enough-to-be-his-mother as he feared. He would enjoy working here.

Lydia frowned. The penny had obviously dropped for her too. “You said you’re name was Steve.”

“Ha, yes, I did,” – had he? God, he had – “well, I was worried you were going to ruin the surprise, so I made up a name…”

For a moment Lydia eyed him suspiciously, then nodded. “I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“I couldn’t be sure. And so by giving you the wrong name, if you had said anything it wouldn’t have rung true for Ruby.” Steve anxiously chuckled. Oh, God this was awkward. Luckily, the telephone started ringing – saved by the bell! – and so Lydia gave a delicate, apologetic smile, tucking strands of blonde hair behind her ear and answered it, talking into the microphone on her headset. She had layered, bobbed blonde hair. She was probably Ruby’s age. Steve noticed there were no rings on her left hand either. It had become a habit, checking out for wedding rings, as he’d been surprised at how many supposedly happily married women had thrown themselves at him as his fame increased.

“I know you’re predominantly going to work in the bar, but sometimes you will need to help out on the reception desk, so I’m going to leave you with Lydia for a bit first.”

Steve stopped studying Lydia – she was pretty – drawing his attention back to Ruby, and nodded.

“The fastest way to learn reception is when it’s busiest.”

The hotel was buzzing with more people around now. Everyone had woken up, had breakfast and were checking out, or getting on with their business.

Not for the first time that day did Steve feel the anxiety crawl up his back. How hard could it all be?

“Lydia, could you please show Stuart the ropes as occasionally he’ll need to help you out.” Ruby turned her attention to Steve, smiling. “And when you’re ready, Stuart, you can take a call, but Lydia will listen in and help you if you get stuck.”

Lydia nodded. “Don’t look so nervous, you’ll be fine.”

He took a deep breath. Man up, Steve, it’s a telephone, not a bomb.

“I’ll come get you later, to show you the bar,” Ruby said. Actually, was she smirking at him, enjoying this?

Lydia tapped him, to get his attention. “Listen and watch me. We have to man the phone and deal with customer requests face to face.” She adjusted her headset, the phone softly rang, and she answered the call. Steve listened carefully to her, the patient tone she took with the customer. Her voice could melt butter, warming and gentle. He noticed the pad in front of her where she’d scribble notes while listening, or occasionally doodle. Little cherub like faces. Happy, sad or mischievous. All incredibly cute. As she spoke, she flicked through the computer system to check hotel availability.

An hour flew quickly as he watched and listened to Lydia and helped her where he could.

“It’s time for my break, so let’s get a cuppa, then you can have a go answering the phone and dealing with the customers who come to the desk.”

“Oh, uh, okay.” Steve’s nerves were real. Why so much fear over a telephone? It’s not like the people at the other end could reach down and throttle him if he got things wrong. They certainly wouldn’t recognise him.

“This is Maxine, she also works on reception.”

“Hello,” Steve said, nodding friendly. Maxine was in her early fifties, with short brown hair. As she smiled the creases in her face deepened. She faintly smelled of cigarette smoke mingled with her perfume. He wouldn’t need to act too dorky around Maxine, but then would he? What was he thinking? He couldn’t let anyone realise who he was, not just the pretty women who were potential love interests. He had to stay on the ball and not let this act slip. He had to convince everyone. One word of who he really was and the game would be over. He’d be back in Hollywood before you could say shooting stars.

Lydia led Steve down the narrow staff corridor, although he was starting to learn his way around. He had a good sense of direction, and the hotel wasn’t huge.

“The staff room,” Lydia said, entering, the very small room. “I know it’s a bit of a joke.” It contained two tables with orange plastic chairs tucked underneath them and a vending machine. A fridge sat under the counter, while the basic kitchen appliances sat on top. Lydia continued, “This is where you come to take all your breaks. Do you want anything to eat?” Lydia asked, slotting coins into the vending machine and pressing the button to retrieve some biscuits.

“No, I’m all right thanks.”

“I’ll share my biscuits. Tea?”

“Yes please.”

Lydia showed him where the tea and coffee was, with an urn full of hot water. “If you want posher coffees, you have to pay for them.” She gestured to a machine where you could push buttons for cappuccinos, lattes etc. But they were powered milk variety and not the real thing in Steve’s opinion. Tea would be just fine.

“Sugar?”

Steve grinned. “No, I’m sweet enough as I am.”

Lydia giggled and he watched her cheeks redden as she concentrated on adding milk and removing the teabag, and not making eye contact with him.

Maybe he should lay off the flirting. It was only the first day. He was a natural charmer though, his mum had always said so. From about the age of three, he’d had old ladies eating out the palm of his hand. He only had to look at his teachers doe-eyed when he’d been cheeky and he’d get away with it. For now he’d turn down his charm-o-meter.

As they only had fifteen minutes, Lydia and Steve didn’t get to talk much. She’d run through the basic chit-chat when two people don’t really know one another and don’t know what to say. Steve had decided to let her talk, and listen. She’d only worked for the hotel a year. It wasn’t a career move, just a job to pay the bills and allow her to live. She lacked confidence, but it could have been an element of shyness, Steve decided, plus he was a stranger. Maybe he’d get her to open up more with time.

Lydia suddenly glanced up at the clock. “Oh, we better be getting back.”

They swallowed down the last of their drinks, and pushed the orange chairs with a scrape under the table. Lydia took both mugs and placed them on a rack with other dirty dishes.

Back behind the reception desk, Lydia handed Steve one of the two headsets. He grinned, realising he was still nervous. She giggled.

“It’s not that bad, honest,” she said.

He was actually going to do this. Actually answer the phone and deal with queries, and serve any customers who came to the desk. Was he having an early midlife crisis – or something worse? His life was in LA, making movies…

Think Clark Kent…trying to find Lois.

He felt more nervous than being butt naked in front of a film crew doing a love scene. This shirt was doing nothing for him. He felt hot and awkward. The heating in this hotel needed turning down. He wanted air. In fact, he could just bolt. He didn’t really need to do this job, he wasn’t even getting paid. He could go back to LA…His comfort zone.

He’d find someone eventually, amongst the gold diggers. Not.

Running away, because he had the money to do so, was not an option. He wasn’t a coward, he chided himself. If he wanted to find someone to love…and who loved him, he did need to try this. He had nothing to lose. If the press got wind, he could always say he was working undercover for research purposes. Anything. It would probably give his PA, Marie, the biggest headache of her life but he could get round it. He’d give her a pay rise.

He took a deep breath, and pulled up his sleeves. “I can do this.”

“You’ll be fine, and I’m here. If you get really stuck just say you’re handing over to a colleague and I’ll take over.” She squeezed his arm and when the phone started ringing his heart sped up. Taking another deep, calming breath, he answered it.

Chapter 6

Ruby put the phone down then glanced at her watch; quarter past ten. Steve had done a long enough stint on reception for one day. He could do some more tomorrow. She’d take him to the bar where she wanted him to work most of the time. She felt guilty really, making him work, but there was no way she could have him here doing nothing. She’d have all of her employees complaining, or worse, walking out.

“How was your morning?” Ruby said, leaning against the reception desk, watching Steve fill the printer with paper.

Steve nodded confidently. “Good. Didn’t make too many mistakes did I?” He nudged Lydia.

“Oh, no, you were fine,” Lydia said. Then her smile dropped. “There was just that one time…Sorry, Ruby, we might have a complaint coming in—”

“Shhhh…” Steve’s expression was mischievous, revealing the dimples in his cheeks, “I told you not to tell Ruby about it.”

“About what?” She frowned quizzically.

“Nothing…” Lydia giggled. “Don’t panic, he’s pulling your leg. He told me to say it. I’m a terrible liar.”

“I never!”

Ruby narrowed her eyes at her brother. He’d always teased her as a kid, and here he was winding her up again, getting Lydia to do it, too. Swine.

His flipping smile and sparkly eyes. Whether he was famous or not, they’d get people to do his bidding. I give him a job and this is how he repays me.

“Oh, Ruby,” Lydia reached under the desk and pulled a book out from under it, “here’s that book I said I’d lend you.”

Ruby took the hardback, admired the cover then tucked it under her arm. It was sweet of Lydia to remember the book. She’d only mentioned it in passing a couple of weeks ago. “Thanks. You’ll have to pop over sometime and take a book off my shelf.”

“There’s no need.”

“No I insist.” Ruby turned her attention to Steve, whose expression sobered. “There’s some time before lunch, let’s show you this bar. By the end of the day, I want you producing the best cappuccinos this side of Bristol.”

“See you later, Lydia,” Steve said, and joined Ruby in step as they headed towards the bar.

“How was it really?” Ruby asked, once out of the earshot of Lydia.

“Not bad. I was nervous the first time I picked up the phone.”

“Hopefully you won’t have to man reception too much, only quiet periods when the girls need to take their breaks etc.”

“It was fine, honestly. I’m clocking it up as research.” He chuckled. “And Lydia’s really nice.”

They walked into a room just behind reception. This was Ruby’s favourite area of the hotel, where they usually held their functions. Because the hotel originally was an old Georgian house, this room had a large fireplace. In the winter she always ensured the fire was lit day and night, providing a cosy refuge from the cold for her guests. Two large leather sofas, the colour of caramel, sat in front of the fire, with a low coffee table made of solid oak between them. These were the most popular seats in the room. Scattered around the bar were other comfortable sofas and armchairs, tucked around small tables. Soft music played in the background. It all came together to provide a relaxing atmosphere. At the back of the room was the bar area, where Callum stood wiping glasses and placing them on the back shelf. Ruby was relieved to see he was actually working.