Chapter 25
Nora
I was washing dishes in the kitchen at the hotel when Jackson came in. It was lunchtime, which meant that it was super busy. I had been working in the kitchens the past few days, but all I’d really done was peel potatoes and wash dishes. Pedro, the sous chef, was in charge of my training, and he told me that he would have me waitressing in a few weeks.
According to Jackson’s training plan, I was supposed to work at the restaurant for two months, before I could move on to a different department. He still hadn’t decided where he was ultimately going to have me work. I could sense that he was just buying time, waiting for me to majorly slip up, so he had a reason to let me go.
It was no surprise that he hadn’t warmed to me yet.
When he came charging towards me now, I was convinced that I had done something wrong.
“Stevens!” he exclaimed; he called me by my last name these days. He was trying to keep me at as much a distance from him as was possible.
“Hi Jackson,” I said, trying to be as cordial to him as I could.
“Dry off here, we need to talk,” he said firmly. I quickly dried my hands on a dishcloth.
“Walk with me,” he added as he turned and started walking out of the kitchen. I mouthed a quick sorry to Pedro and followed Jackson out of the kitchen. He always walked too quickly for me to keep up.
“There’s been a change of plan,” he said, looking around him as he walked, keeping an eye on things…like he was in the Secret Service.
“Change of plan?” I asked, with my heart sinking. Here it comes…here come the words I’d been dreading to hear. They were going to fire me. I was sure that Felix himself had made the decision. After last night, he had decided that I should no longer work here. After all, he had sex with an employee…it was against every rule in the book.
“Yeah, you’re going to Hawaii,” Jackson said and stopped in his tracks.
His words hit me like a rock. I had no idea what he was talking about. I stopped too, staring at him with my brows crossed.
“Hawaii? I am? Why?” I asked, and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Beats me. I’ve been trying to switch to that hotel for months now…and they decide to send you!” he said, and I could see he was displeased with the news.
“At the hotel…you mean, I’m going to the Stone Hotel in Hawaii?” I asked, feeling a slight bit relieved. So, I wasn’t losing my job?
“Yeah, what did you think? They’ve decided to send you to the Hawaii hotel to get trained there, for some reason,” he said and continued walking again. I followed him, trying to keep up. I had so many questions!
“They? Who they?” I asked.
“Upper Management. I don’t know. I’m not privy to that kind of information. All I know is that you have to pack your bags and get on a flight to Hawaii tonight. The tickets have already been booked for you. You’ll be given accommodation at the staff quarters at the hotel,” Jackson continued, and the more he spoke, the angrier he got. I could hear it in his voice.
I gulped, confused and afraid of asking him any more questions.
“Have they told you how long I’m going for?” I asked, and he stopped again, facing me with an angry red face.
“I don’t know, okay? Feel free to go barrage Upper Management with these questions!” he barked.
“No, that’s okay, I’ll go. I’ll pack,” I said, stammering a little.
“You can go home now. The tickets will be emailed to you. You have the rest of the day off,” he said.
“Jackson…I just want to thank you for your mentorship these past few days,” I said quickly before he could turn away and go. He glared at me, and then his eyes softened.
“Okay, I know I haven’t been easy on you, Stevens,” he snapped.
I just looked at him blankly.
“But you’re a good kid, I guess. Just inexperienced for this job,” he added. Then he turned and walked away from me, and I knew better than to follow him.
What was happening? I was going to Hawaii? I had never been to Hawaii before. Why, and who had made this decision?
I rushed to my locker at the back of the hotel to get my things, while my heart was racing in my chest. I had no idea how long I was going to be gone. What was I supposed to do with the apartment? Was I moving there permanently or only for a short while? What was I supposed to tell Katie?
On my way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Felix and what he had said to me…that he took full responsibility for what had happened between us. Was this a part of him taking responsibility? He felt too guilty to fire me, so he was just sending me away? Was it that uncomfortable for him to see me again?
The apartment was empty when I got home. Katie was still at work. I checked my emails and saw that the flights had been booked for that evening, four hours from now.
I packed hurriedly…I didn’t even know how long I was packing for. I just stuffed everything I could think of into two bags. For Katie, I left a note on the fridge.
Katie, I’m so sorry, but something came up at work and I have to go to Hawaii. I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ll call you tomorrow, with as much information as I have. I’ll miss you and I hope I’ll see you soon. Take care — Nora