Marcy turned to Lisa for help, as she wasn’t sure how she’d deserved such a backlash from simply defending herself. Lisa looked confused too, but Zoe spoke again before she had the chance to call time on their verbal boxing match.
“Well? You think I’m just some dumb bimbo, don’t you? Isn’t that how you think of all women?” She shook her head and huffed, then stormed off in the direction of the beach.
“Jesus, what was that about?” Marcy was shaking, completely taken aback by Zoe’s attack as well as her own anger. It was out of character for her to have a go at someone, but Zoe had taken it too far by accusing her of ripping off Lisa.
“I don’t know…” Lisa frowned and stood up too. “I’m going after her. Keep my seat free?”
“Sure.” Marcy groaned as she watched Lisa run after her. She shouldn’t have done that; it was unprofessional. But then so was Zoe.
“Is this seat taken?”
Marcy looked up to find a stunning blonde in a skimpy dress. “Ehm, no,” she heard herself say, hoping Lisa would take her time as she could really do with the distraction. Anything to make herself feel better would be a blessed relief right now. “Please sit.”
“Thank you. I won’t be long; I just need to charge my phone at the bar for a moment. My battery is dead, and I can’t find my hotel.”
“I can probably help you with that,” Marcy said. “But why don’t you charge your phone anyway and have a drink with me while you wait? What would you like?”
“That’s okay, really. I can get my own drink.”
“No, I insist.” Marcy put on her most charming smile and tried not to stare at the woman’s cleavage. “It’s not every day I get the chance to buy a drink for a beautiful woman. I’m Marcy, by the way.”
“Oh…” The woman blushed and narrowed her eyes at Marcy. She clearly wasn’t used to being hit on by women and for a moment, Marcy thought she might leave, but she settled next to her and held out her hand. “I’m Carol. It’s nice to meet you.”
8
“I’m sorry, that was super unprofessional of me.” Zoe buried her face in her hands and sighed in frustration.
“It’s okay. I’m just not used to seeing you so upset.” Lisa patted her shoulder. “I can see you’re frustrated but I want you to be happy with the kitchen layout. We’ll go with the changes; Mr Calvo has given me some leeway on the budget, so I don’t see a problem.”
“I don’t want to be difficult. Really, I’m not normally like this and I don’t want you to think I’m going to be a nightmare to work with.”
“That’s not what I think.” Zoe could tell Lisa had many questions on her mind, but thankfully she didn’t pry. “Go home and get some rest. I imagine it’s been quite stressful for you with all the interviews lately.”
“Yes,” Zoe lied, more than happy to blame her mood swings on the hiring process. She was about to say she’d apologise to Marcy, but still filled with rage, she wasn’t willing to go there yet. “You go back and discuss it with Marcy. I’m happy with whatever you decide.” Glancing over her shoulder, she felt her stomach tighten. “That is, if she’s still got time for you.”
Lisa frowned as she followed her gaze. “Wow. That didn’t take long.” She chuckled. “She’s like a magnet to women. How does she do that?”
“Jesus...” Zoe watched Marcy flirt with the woman. A hand on her arm, a smile, a joke. She leaned in close and whispered something in her ear. The blonde threw her head back and laughed, then stared at her for a moment, wide-eyed, as if Marcy had said something that both shocked her and amused her. Again, Marcy made her laugh and held out her phone. The woman hesitated before she took it and entered what Zoe assumed to be her number. Even though they couldn’t hear what they were saying, there was no doubt they were setting up a date. “Anyway,” she said as casually as she could manage, “I’m going. Have a good day, Lisa. I’ll see you soon and again, I’m sorry.”
“No problem, darling.” Lisa shot her a reassuring smile before she headed back to Marcy and the woman who had scooted her chair closer to her now.
Zoe too, had fallen for it a long time ago and she didn’t like to be reminded of that. Mindlessly wandering, she found herself in front of a bar out of their sight, and not actually wanting to go home, as her mother would ask why she was back early, she took a seat and ordered a beer. Admittedly, the ‘no drinking during work meetings’ comment had been a low blow, and her other comment even more so.Why do I feel the need to attack her all the time?Although she didn’t like to admit it, Zoe knew exactly why. Marcy had hurt her, and she’d never paid the price for that.
The beer calmed her a little, and looking around, Zoe realised she was in a British hangout, surrounded by tourists. Growing up in Benidorm, she tended to avoid these places. Her go-to bars had been outside the city centre where the drinks were much cheaper and the clientele local, but today, the happy faces of the holiday makers did her good. They looked sunburned and hot, sitting in the blazing August sun, sweat dripping down their foreheads as they laughed and cheered with their pints. Zoe didn’t mind the heat; compared to Hong Kong it was actually quite refreshing, and she’d missed the blue sky and cool sea breeze that wafted off the Mediterranean Sea.
“Are you having a good time in Benidorm?” the bartender asked her, drawing his words out slowly as if he wasn’t quite sure if she’d understand him.
Zoe smiled at him. “I live here,” she said in fluent Spanish, then repeated her words in English as the man was British.
“Oh, you do?” He looked surprised. Locals rarely came to bars like these, and admittedly, Zoe did look a little touristy today in her shorts and shades. “I thought you were—”
“A Chinese tourist?” she finished his sentence with a raised brow. With her mother’s Chinese roots and her father being Spanish, people often found it hard to guess where she was from. With her dark bobbed hair, she looked Asian mostly, but she had a Spanish tan and her father’s hazel eyes, her unusual looks giving her an added air of mystery.
The man blushed and shook his head. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Relax, it’s okay.” Zoe shot him a wink and took a long drink from her beer. “It’s busy for a Wednesday. Looks like your business is doing well.”
“Yeah, but we’re still playing catch-up after the lockdown.” The man shrugged. “If we can get two more busy months in before the season ends, I’d be happy.” He studied her while he cleaned glasses. “Are you in hospitality?”
