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Jim's words were music to my ears. If I had a job again, that would be... my life would be perfect! I could keep paying off my loan as before. I would be working in a hotel again, just as I had always wanted. I could continue gaining experience and then look for a better position at my own pace. Without pressure. I wouldn't look so awkward in front of Carter.
The thought made me feel warm inside.
"Isabella?" Jim's question startled me out of my daydreams. "Is everything alright? You look so... so transported."
Transported.
That was a nice way of putting it. A bit old-fashioned, just like Jim was. Perhaps that's how one had to be as a doorman. It fit the job perfectly.
"Everything's fine." I smiled at Jim again. "Well, I'll try my luck then."
"Good luck," Jim wished me.
"Thanks." I nodded to him and headed for the reception desk. After just two seconds, I began to question my plan again.
"Well, well! You again. I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face here!" Gina was on duty and immediately sprayed her usual venom in greeting.
"Hello Gina," I greeted, trying not to let my annoyance show.
You want a letter of recommendation, Isabella. Just be as charming and polite as possible. Gina can say whatever she wants. You don't need to lecture her or argue with her. She won't change anyway. And that's not what this is about right now.
"Because you misbehaved, I now have to work more. Double shift yesterday. Again today. And tomorrow too. Thanks so much for your collegiality." Gina glared at me viciously.
"I'm sorry about that," I replied. "If it were up to me, I'd be standing here working my usual shift, and you could be enjoying time with your children. Unfortunately, Emmett Kershaw decided otherwise." I smiled at Gina.
She looked even more suspicious now. She probably wasn't used to such nice tones. No wonder. Gina's manner didn't exactly invite particularly kind treatment. I looked around cautiously, leaned forward over the reception counter, winked conspiratorially, and whispered, "Is he here? Emmett Kershaw. I'd like to speak to him. Maybe I can persuade him to do something to ease your workload and rehire me." There. That should be music to Gina's ears.
There was still a certain suspicion in Gina's look, but she said, "He's in his office in the back. You can just go through. He doesn't have any visitors or other appointments at the moment." She glanced at the large telephone system. "He's not on the phone either."
"Thank you," I replied, and this time I actually meant it. I nodded briefly to Gina and disappeared into the dark hallway markedPrivate - Authorized Personnel Only. Not authorized were all hotel guests. They should under no circumstances see that this corner of the hotel hadn't been renovated for several years. Several years? More like decades. When Emmett Kershaw had first come to inspect the hotel, we had watched with bated breath as he walked through this wing. Maybe he would find the rooms as unattractive as we did and finally plan a renovation here too? A modern break room would be wonderful. Emmett, however, seemed to feel particularly comfortable in the seventies-era charm of this hallway. At the memory, I turned down the corners of my mouth.
There was the door to Emmett's office.
I quickly lifted the corners of my mouth again and put on a smile that I hoped didn't look too fake. I knocked. Audibly, but not too energetically. I didn't want to upset Emmett under any circumstances. From inside came an indistinct "Yes".
So I opened the door and stuck my head into the office. Emmett Kershaw was sitting at his desk with his phone to his ear.
"It's important to me that my future partner understands my preferences...," I heard him say. I quickly wanted to withdraw.
But it was too late.
Emmett Kershaw had already noticed me.
"GET OUT!!!" he yelled at a volume I had never heard in my entire life.
As quickly as I could, I closed the door again from the outside and leaned against the wall in the dark, musty hallway, breathing heavily.
Damn shit.
It couldn't have gone worse.
I had caught Emmett during a private, obviously a very private phone call. Whether he was on his cell phone or not, Gina couldn't know of course. And the fact that he uttered a "Yes" at the exact moment I knocked on the door, which wasn't meant for me at all, was more than an unfortunate coincidence.
What now?
Should I leave and come back another time?
You need the letter of recommendation now, Isabella. Every day of delay is another day you don't have a job, don't earn money, and your account slips further into the red. This way, you'll never be able to pay off the loan, but will have to helplessly watch as the apartment is sold. Waiting doesn't make things any better. Emmett Kershaw won't forget this. So you might as well get it over with.