Page 1 of Caruso (Vegas Mafia #3)

Chapter One

Taylor

I must not screw this up. It’s my last remaining chance, and if this doesn’t work out, I’ve lost it all.

I can live without the small apartment on the outskirts of town if I must. I can live without the hour-long commute to work every day and especially the bus ride home when it’s dark.

But I can’t with the fact that I will have to move home—back to Oklahoma, back to where he lives.

“So, are we clear?”

Mrs. Joyce appears to be glaring at me. Have I done something wrong already, and I’ve only just arrived? Is my hair too scruffy, my make-up too thick or my attitude not quite right?

Perhaps it’s because I haven’t been listening to a word she has said because I’m obsessing about not letting her down.

It could be any of the above, and I bite my bottom lip and force an apologetic smile on my face .

“I’m sorry, please can you repeat that last sentence?”

Silence is my answer, and I shift nervously on my seat, trying desperately to ignore the low grumble from my stomach that is reminding me I haven’t eaten in three days.

Her gaze is intense, probing and judgmental. I swallow hard as I grip the hem of my dress and fix a hopeful smile on my face.

“Taylor.” She heaves a deep sigh and, despite my nerves, she is giving off a serious maternal vibe.

“When did you last eat?”

“I, I, um…”

My mind is racing because what is the right answer?

“Don’t answer that question?” She shakes her head, her pitying glance reminding me what a waste of time I am, always am, and she heaves a deep sigh.

“The job is yours.”

“Excuse me?”

She taps her fingers on the file in front of her and lowers her voice.

“Listen, I don’t care what brought you here or what you do outside of this building; it’s what happens inside it that counts. When you work here, you give it one hundred and twenty percent, and I have a feeling you are on your last lucky break. So, word of advice–”

I lean forward, my mind racing because now she has my full attention.

“Don’t let me down. Show up for work early rather than late and stay late rather than leave early. I want your full commitment to the role, and in return I will treat you well.”

A faint smile graces her lips.

“This is not the easiest job in the city. It’s hard, and it will suck the life out of your soul, but it pays well. You wear a uniform, are provided with three square meals a day, and the tips are good. The hours are long and the work grueling, which is why there is such a high turnover.”

She peers at me with a grave expression.

“I should turn your application down. You arrived with no resume, no preparation and no references. However, you also turned up with an empty stomach, a sense of desolation and an aura that tells me I’m your last chance, so call me a sucker for a sob story but I’ll take my chance on you.

Just don’t give me a reason to regret it. ”

I have no words. Kindness doesn’t reach out to me very often, and her soft smile undoes me in a far greater way than any harsh words or admonishments.

My eyes fill with grateful tears, and my lower lip quivers as I stare at the head housekeeper of The Artemis, one of the most salubrious of Vegas hotels.

The job is mine.

I don’t have to return to him.

To my hometown.

To my past life and the scene of my shame.

“Well?”

She raises her eyes, and the lone tear that escapes causes a soft smile to brighten her face as I whisper, “Thank you, Mrs. Joyce. I would be honored to accept. ”

She leans forward and lowers her voice. “You know, my door is always open if you ever want to talk.”

I blink my tears away and smile my gratitude.

“I’ll bear that in mind. Thank you and Mrs. Joyce–”

She raises her eyes as I whisper, “I won’t let you down.”

She sits back in her seat, and a sad expression flits across her face.

“No, you won’t, Taylor. This is your chance to shine, and I have every faith in you.”

She consults her watch.

“So, the job is yours as of now. Which means…”

Her smile is genuine as she grins, “Which means there is still time for breakfast before your shift begins. Follow me and I’ll sort you out with the necessary uniform and paperwork before showing you to the staff cafeteria where you help yourself to whatever you like–” She winks. “Courtesy of The Artemis, of course.”

Words fail me as my gratitude overflows for Mrs. Joyce.

She doesn’t know it yet, but she has handed me a lifeline that has prevented me from drowning.

I wasn’t kidding. I won’t let her down because she is the only one who has ever given me a break, and right at this moment my life restarts, and this time I’ll do it the right way.

Honest hard work and lots of it. The past is now behind me, and it’s the future that counts, and cleaning the hotel rooms of this five-star hotel makes me feel as if I’ve won the lottery.

True to her word, Mrs. Joyce soon equips me with a uniform, staff lanyard and a room card to access all the guest rooms on the fifteenth floor.

My new domain. My new place of work, because it will be my job to ensure they pass the closest scrutiny and provide a clean and welcoming space for our guests to enjoy.

She shows me to the cafeteria, and my stomach growls in anticipation as I spy the banquet laid out before me. Eggs, bacon, waffles… so many delights to satisfy my appetite. I’m almost giddy at the sight of so much food, and all of it available to me.

The smell of coffee is a welcome one, and as she hands me a tray, she winks. “Eat well, Taylor, but remember, lunch isn’t too far away. Make the most of your time here because you will need the energy to service all those rooms. It’s not easy, you know; I’ve been there myself.”

“How long have you worked here, Mrs. Joyce?”

I ask out of politeness, but to be honest, I like her enough to ask, anyway. She isn’t so scary anymore, and she rolls her eyes. “Twenty years, but that was before it was bought by Mr. Caruso. It was a very different place then, not anywhere near as opulent as it is now.”

I’ve heard of the Caruso brothers. Not much of it is good, although they are held in silent awe as their reputation is spoken of in hushed whispers on the strip. Nobody messes with that family because if they do, it will be their downfall, and many hope never to set eyes on them—ever.

She rolls her eyes. “Standards are high and discipline higher. My advice would be to keep your head down and your mouth shut, not that I expect you to interact with them.”

Her phone rings, and she frowns.

“I’m sorry, I must run.”

She points toward the food stretching out before me like a delicious dream.

“When you’ve finished, please report to housekeeping central. Dorinda will kit you up and point you in the right direction.”

As she turns to leave, my voice shakes as I stutter, “Th, thank you, for the opportunity, um, Mrs. Joyce. I won’t let you down.”

She nods and leaves without another word passing between us, and before she has even left the room, I am diving toward the food as if my life depends on it.