SEVENTEEN
Even though Aiden was a bit hot-headed where Brynn was concerned, he realized that an issue with the plumbing, real or imagined, was probably something that needed to be addressed, so as he got into the driver’s seat he also gave Kellen a call to let him know about the potential problem. And Kellen invited Cat to go and check it out.
“Do you really think I’m your best choice, sir?” she asked uncertainly. “I don’t think Brynn wants to see me anytime soon.”
“Are you the administrator of housekeeping or not?” asked Kellen pointedly.
“You’re right, sir,” she blushed. “Of course I’ll go. But maybe I ought to bring along the plumber.”
“Good thinking,” Kellen smirked. “Ross is pretty sturdy, he should be able to break the two of you apart.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“You know it,” he chuckled. “Let me know how it all turns out.”
“Thanks, Kellen, you’re all heart,” she replied. She was about to walk out without her purse, but then she thought better of it. Grabbing it, she decided to put it into her locker instead of just leaving it lying around. That was probably a good habit to get into anyway.
“Ross, I may be in need of your services,” she said into her cell. “Please come and meet me in the lobby.”
“Right away, Miss Addison,” he replied. Since he was in the building it didn’t take long for them to meet and head out to Brynn’s cabin.
“Maintenance,” called Cat as she knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Brynn snapped irritably from inside.
Cat stepped through the door with Ross in tow. “Good morning, Ms. Whitney, I have brought along the plumber, as I was given to understand there’s some kind of an issue? Could you please elaborate on that a bit more?”
“My shower this morning got cold,” she sniffed disdainfully. “I’m used to taking long, hot showers, and this one only lasted twenty minutes.”
“Oh, I see,” said Cat, frowning. “So there’s nothing particularly wrong except that you stayed in too long.”
“Too long?” she gasped. “If I want an hour-long shower, the place should still be able to accommodate at the prices this resort is hoping to make!”
“I’m sorry to burst your bubble, ma’am, but this is an island resort which generates its own electricity,” Cat pointed out, trying to remain pleasant. “Besides which, as I understand it, you’re staying here on Aiden’s dime rather than your own. If you wanted hour-long showers and all the other creature comforts a lavish lifestyle provides, you probably ought to have stayed at home.”
“Why you insolent little witch,” she snarled. “I sincerely hope this isn’t how you intend to treat all of the guests here!”
“Ms. Whitney, let me make myself clear,” Cat continued. “There are certain things that every human being should be able to expect from their fellow man or woman, and the one thing most prized by all is dignity. So, since you seem to be uninformed about some of the rules of conduct which must needs be employed in order for the enjoyment of all parties concerned, I shall attempt to spell out just a few. My staff is not here for your amusement, they are here to facilitate the needs of every guest at this resort. The kitchen’s hours are from seven in the morning until ten at night. Calling with a demand for hot cocoa at 2 A.M. will no longer be condoned. Likewise, when you are addressing members of staff at this facility, you will refrain from calling them idiots right to their faces and tossing champagne at them. If you cannot conduct yourself in a manner more in keeping with common civility then I would be well within my rights to have you removed.”
“Where do you get off speaking to me that way?” she demanded hotly. “My husband pays your salary. If I told him of this, he’d have you removed.”
“No, ma’am, that’s not the case,” Car replied. “He’s given me free reign to establish all the rules and regulations pertaining to the domestic activities herein. If I tell him that I require my staff to be treated with proper dignity and respect, I can guarantee you he will take my side. So either modify, or say good-bye. Come on, Ross, there’s nothing further we need to do in here. Good day to you, Ms. Whitney. I hope we won’t need to have this discussion another time, or next time I won’t be nearly as polite, I can assure you.”
“This isn’t the end of this,” Brynn called after her. “You may think you’ve got the upper hand, Miss Addison, but this is far from over. Aiden is still mine!”
Cat looked over her shoulder as she stepped out the door. “No, Brynn, you’ve already sunk that ship big time. Besides, this isn’t about Aiden, it’s about Whitney Resort, and you are required to follow its rules just like everybody else.”
She didn’t wait for a response before she shut the door. She knew she’d probably stepped way over the line, but the feeling of satisfaction she got from speaking her mind overshadowed any concern that Aiden might not like what she’d done.
In all reality, she felt justified to have done it, not because this woman was married to the man she was dating and very close to using the ‘L’ word with, but because she had been behaving so poorly the staff members had felt a need to point it out.
Sure, she’d been the only guest around for the last couple of days, but that didn’t give her any right to act like a shrewish bitch and disturb the serenity of an otherwise peaceful situation. She could already see that everything Aiden had said about her was not just worried ramblings, but was in fact shaping up to be a fairly accurate prophesy.
Brynn is burning up my cell calling you a royal bitch, baby. What did you do?
Cat rolled her eyes. Told her that all guests are meant to treat the staff at Whitney resort with respect and if she didn’t curb her attitude I would need to ask her to leave. I also told her that once you learned of her behavior over the last two days that you’d completely agree with me.
Why, what did she do?
Cat then proceeded to list the numerous complaints, saving the two o’clock in the morning demand for a drink from the kitchen as the final straw. Aiden didn’t comment or call for several minutes, during which time Cat convinced herself that he was probably having a discussion with Brynn. She didn’t begin to worry that he was upset with her for her part in the conversation.
Aiden’s ringtone sounded as she sat down behind her desk, and she quickly answered. “Hi, what’s up?”
“I managed to pick up a hundred cards,” he said with a heavy sigh. “They weren’t easy to come by, though. I had to call Ocean Reef and ask them where they get theirs, and Kyle Morgan said he could spare me one pack, and told me a better company to order them from. So now I’m clear up on the northernmost part of the island. It’ll be about a half an hour before I can get back there.”
“Well, another group of five just arrived, but apparently they’re all bound for Brynn’s cabin, so nobody needed to be concerned about them getting keys before you get here. And if anyone else shows up, I’ll just explain what’s going on when I take them to their rooms. I’m sure this will soon blow over.”
“I suppose I should tell you,” he said. “One of Brynn’s company is a reporter who may very well be looking for reasons to blast the resort in his news column, so stay sharp. We don’t need more negative publicity after the way I just got raked through the tabloids.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she chuckled. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?”
Aiden chuckled. “Cat? I would have loved to see it when you blasted my wife.”
“One thing, though,” Cat said worriedly. “She appears to believe she’ll get you back onto your leash in record time. She hasn’t given up on her idea to reconcile.”
“Sounds like she must be running scared,” Aiden replied. “I’ve spoken with my lawyers just now, and they believe they’ll be able to push forward with the offer of a severance package including spousal maintenance which lasts two years. They even sweetened the deal with the offer of a money manager to help her grow the funds she’ll be getting. Her lawyers, as you might expect, are pushing for half the marital assets. I don’t see how they could win them, though. Not with that prenuptial.”
“So you’re not mad at me, though?” she chuckled. “I didn’t think you would be.”
“I’m not,” he agreed. “But I wouldn’t suggest doing something like that to a real guest though. We’ve got a budding reputation to uphold.”
“Duly noted, sir.”