Chapter 26
Felix
Cici was elated. Hawaii was paradise and she had never seen anything like it before. When we arrived at the hotel, she ran up and down the lobby, squealing with joy, running out of the back and heading straight for the pools. It wasn’t just me who chased after her; some of the staff ran after us too. Cici was out of control with happiness, and though every nerve in my body wanted to snap at her and tell her to sit quietly and behave herself — I didn’t. I wanted to give Cici one vacation where she could do anything she pleased.
Cici hurled herself into the kid’s pool, in all her clothes, and I ran to the edge, watching her float up, spurting water from her mouth.
“Did you see me, Daddy? I learned to do that at swim class!” She giggled and I laughed.
“That was amazing, Cici, but maybe you should change into a bathing suit,” I suggested, as a member of the staff brought me a tray of cocktails to choose from. I waved him away, too distracted by my daughter.
“Okay, Daddy, but who will help me put it on? There’s no Anne or nanny with us.” Cici pouted her lips, and I looked around.
“Okay, I’ll find someone,” I told her. “In the meantime, you get out of the pool and wait for me.”
The rest of the guests were looking at us, amazed by Cici’s activities, and I passed around smiles as I walked back to the hotel lobby.
I stopped one of the pool waiters on my way in. “Hey, keep an eye on my daughter, make sure she goes nowhere.”
“Yes, Mr. Stone,” he said.
I walked up to the reception desk, where everyone was standing at attention, trying to be on their best behavior.
“Mr. Stone, I’m Naomi. Joan called me to give me the brief on your meeting. I’ll be assisting you during your stay here.” The woman had appeared out of nowhere beside me. I didn’t remember hiring her, but then again, I didn’t remember hiring anyone on my management team. I interacted with too many people on a daily basis to remember faces.
“Yeah, okay, good. Naomi, has Nora Stevens arrived yet?” I asked her.
Naomi had a chart in her hand and she quickly flipped through it, narrowing her eyes at the names down the list.
“No, sir, there is no Nora Stevens on the guest list,” she said, and I smiled.
“I don’t mean the guest list. She’s one of our employees. She’s been transferred here from San Francisco for training,” I told her and Naomi nodded her head.
“Oh yes, of course! She arrived late last night. We’ve put her up in the staff quarters. She’s already at work. Jackson, from the San Francisco hotel, sent us a training schedule for her. It seems she has no experience working in a five-star hotel.” Naomi was walking with me as I walked down the lobby. Just like the rest of the staff, she too was pushing to impress.
“Yes, I know. Could you please find her and send her out to me? I’ll be with my daughter at the pool,” I told her.
“Oh…okay, sir. Is there anything I can assist you with?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“No, that’s all for now. Thank you, Naomi,” I said and walked back towards the pool.
Cici was dragging herself out of the water when she saw me. The staff at the pool area were fussing over her, offering her towels and lemonade. Cici ignored all of them and ran towards me.
“Daddy! I’m having so much fun!” she cried, throwing her arms wide, and before I could stop her, she had thrown herself at me. Water splashed everywhere, wetting my suit and shoes and she gasped and jumped away. I saw the look of fear in Cici’s eyes. She was afraid that I would scold her. Was my daughter afraid of me?
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said in a meek, apologetic voice. I looked into her glittering green eyes and gulped. I knew I would have to work very hard to mend what was broken between us.
“That’s okay, baby girl. It’s a vacation!” I said with a laugh, and a smile spread on Cici’s face again.
“Nora!” she shrieked, looking past me. I hadn’t realized that Nora had appeared by the pool. I whipped around to see her standing some distance away. She was dressed in the hotel’s uniform, an aquamarine-blue, tight t-shirt and white pants. She had left her long blond hair down today, and it blew in the breeze as she stood, staring at us. She had a tray of drinks in her hand; she looked frozen to the spot.
Cici went running to her.
“Can I hug you? I’m all wet! I’ve ruined daddy’s clothes already!” she said, laughing and panting. Nora was staring at me; she hadn’t really looked at Cici yet, and I knew something was wrong. She wasn’t as happy to see us as I hoped she would be…as Cici was to see her.
“Nora?” Cici waved a hand in front of her, trying to get her attention. I walked towards her, taking slow steps. She followed my every movement with her clear blue eyes. There was a storm raging behind them, and she had her lips tightly pressed together like she was trying to keep her anger down.
“Nora? It’s me!” Cici continued trying to get her attention.
I stopped when I came close enough to her, holding her gaze.
“Hello, Nora,” I said, and I watched as she gritted her teeth.
“Why have you brought me here?” she hissed.
There was genuine wrath in her voice as she spoke. Enough to silence Cici. She whipped around, without waiting for my response, and stormed back towards the hotel lobby.
“Cici, stay right here!” I barked at her, before I ran after Nora.