“Ooh…” Marcy arched a brow, then looked Lisa over once more as if she was surprised to learn she was gay. “Stella Castillo?”
“Yes.” Lisa laughed at yet another coincidence.
“I know her. Not very well, but we used to hang in the same circles; it’s a small world here if you’re gay. But let’s be clear on one thing; I have not slept with your girlfriend,” Marcy added with a chuckle. “We should have a drink together some time after work. The three of us, I mean.”
“Sure, that would be fun.” Lisa smiled. She liked Marcy and felt a hint of excitement at the opportunity to make a new friend.
“Great, we’ll set something up.” Marcy continued around the pool and pointed to the high brick wall that surrounded the premises. “But let’s get this over with first. You wanted these prison walls painted too, right?”
“Yes. The prison walls.” Lisa laughed. “They’re awful but I’m sure painting them white would make all the difference. It will make it feel like a little oasis instead of a prison courtyard. And the fact that they’re so tall can actually work to the hotel’s advantage as they block out the noise from the street. If we added some water features, the sound of running water would make it feel really tranquil.” She gestured to the longest wall that ran parallel to the pool and into the courtyard. “And this back wall gets a small strip of sunshine in the middle of the day. Could you build some stone benches and paint them white, so it would look like they’re part of the wall? I’ll ask the interior designer to find some nice tables, so guests have the option for a late lunch in the sun.”
“No problem, benches are an easy fix. Don’t you want sunloungers there though?”
“No. The interior designer will create lounge areas and private pods in the courtyard. Once we’ve landscaped and added lots of plants, that will look really pretty.”
“You seem to know what you’re doing; a business hotel is a great idea,” Marcy said, looking over her shoulder as she headed back inside.
“I hope I know what I’m doing. This is kind of new to me but I’m enjoying it.”
“I’m enjoying it too. It’s nice to do something different for once. Everything in Benidorm tends to be the same and frankly I’m bored with doing boxy rooms and sterile communal spaces.”
“I’ve noticed they’re all quite soulless.” Lisa followed her to the lift. “Why are we going up? You haven’t started on the rooms yet, right?”
Marcy pressed the button for the first floor. “Not really; but your interior girl was really keen to get started, so she asked us to prepare one room for you to look at. Two of my best men stripped it, painted everything white and put in a new bathroom before she sprinkled her magic over it. She wanted to be here today, but she had to go to a factory to look at some tiles, so she said she’d catch up with you later. I’ve worked with her before; she creates sample rooms so they’re easy to sign off.”
“Oh, wow.” Lisa needed a moment when Marcy opened the door as the room looked so different from before. The patchy yellow walls were now flawless and white, and the floor was tiled with Spanish terracotta tiles. A simple wooden bed stood in the middle of the room, beautifully made up with white linens. The wooden bedside table held a rustic terracotta lamp with an off-white lampshade that matched the knotted rug on the floor. The blacked-out window had been replaced by normal glass and was wide open, letting in the daylight through off-white linen curtains. Opposite the bed stood a wooden desk and a chair, and someone had marked on the wall where the sockets would be. The built-in wardrobe was still there but now that it was painted white and given new handles, it looked fresh and contemporary. The alcove that was of no use before had been turned into a station for the coffee maker and underneath was a small fridge. Two big plants in woven baskets brought a splash of colour to the natural palette of the room that was neither too feminine nor too masculine; it was perfect. “I love it,” she said, trailing a hand over the rattan headboard behind the bed. She’d discussed the plans with the interior designer in detail, but she hadn’t expected it to look quite so striking.
“Good. In terms of man-hours, it’s been very cost effective. Even the windows weren’t too bad.” Marcy handed her a cost sheet, then opened the door to the en suite bathroom. “In here, we stripped everything and kept it all-white like you requested, with basic materials and practical solutions.”
“Fantastic. It feels like a different room entirely.” The interior designer had added the black accents in the taps, the shower panel and the rain shower like they’d discussed, and she’d spruced it up with nice products, towels and a big, black-framed mirror.
“I agree.” Marcy shot her a proud grin. “I have a very good team. Once they have a concept to copy, they can carry this over into the other rooms fairly quickly.”
“Honestly, I couldn’t be happier,” Lisa said as they left the room and headed back to the ground floor. “And you know what? We should definitely go for that drink soon. I’ll ask Stella when she’s available.” She waved at a woman she recognised from the picture on the CV the general manager had sent her. “I have to catch up with Zoe. She’s going to be the head chef.”
“Oh, God, that woman?” Marcy hesitated. “I spoke to her before you arrived and I’m afraid we didn’t start off on the best foot.” She chuckled uncomfortably when Lisa shot her a confused look. “Never mind, I’ll tell you all about it over that drink. Thanks, Lisa. I’ll see you soon.”
47
Driving out of Benidorm, the landscape changed dramatically. They’d set off at seven am this morning to beat the commuter traffic and August heat. After following the coastline along golden beaches, dramatic cliffs and spectacular sea views, they were now driving inland, towards Las Alpujarras, an area of unspoiled landscape in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Olive groves and Moorish whitewashed villages lay at the foot of the mountains, surrounded by wooded hills. Stella had planned a route to take Lisa past her favourite places; some on the way, some worth taking a detour for.
“You must have been in need of a break,” she said to Lisa. “Since you’ve been working almost three weeks non-stop.”
“I’m not complaining; I haven’t had a job in months, but I must admit I was getting a little tired and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Lisa gazed over the beautiful landscape. Ash trees, poplar and maple trees grew along the road, with wild rose bushes scattered in between. “Is that snow on the peaks?”
“Yes, there’s snow most of the year, actually, but there’s only a little now. I brought a couple of warm jumpers and scarves for us in case it gets chilly, but we’re not going all the way to the top.” Stella opened her window to let the breeze flow through the car. So far, there was no sign of a drastic temperature drop, and her back felt damp from the faux leather of her seat. Lisa was leaning out of the window, her long hair blowing wildly around her face, and Stella struggled to keep her attention on the road as she looked out for the next turning. “I booked a place in the village we’re visiting. The accommodation is basic, but the area is stunning, so it will be worth driving the extra two hours for.” She took a left at the narrow and steep road, hoping her car would make it. She hadn’t driven here in a couple of years and the engine wasn’t what it used to be. Her mother kept telling her she should trade it in for a newer, more reliable vehicle, but she couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to her good old friend. As she shifted into second gear and drove up, she felt a sense of pride for her country and immense excitement to show Lisa some extraordinary places.
“Do your parents mind that we’re only staying two nights at their place, instead of three?”
“No, as long as we show up, they’re fine and I really wanted to take you here. Besides, this will give us time to chill out before we set foot into my parents’ chaotic household. My mother never stops talking.”
The lush landscape turned rugged and untouched, with streams running down from the peaks and huge old trees scattered around patches of vivid green fields where sheep were grazing. Stella counted herself lucky they didn’t meet any other cars in the hairpin bends that led to Pampaneira, a village that rested on secluded, steep slopes among rugged gorges, just above the foothills of the mountains.
Lisa smiled and inhaled deeply as she got out of the car and took in her surroundings. The white village before them, the green hills behind, and the bright blue sky made for a stunning palette.
“It’s a no-traffic zone, so we’ll have to leave the car here and continue on foot.” Stella followed her gaze, rolling her shoulders that were stiff from driving. The views were exceptional and there were signs for several hiking routes that led higher up into the mountains, but despite the breathtaking beauty of the area, Pampaneira wasn’t a very touristy town.
“Where is everyone?” Lisa looked around the pebbled parking area that was only half full. “I would expect this to be a popular destination.”
