“Yes, I would. Has it been busy today?” I’m badly in need of a quiet night so I can figure out where the hell I’m going to come up with the money I apparently needed last week in order to get back in good standing with the university. I’d also love to crack open my Probate and Succession textbook. Well, perhaps love isn’t the best word. Must is more accurate.
“Not horrible, but we did have an RHM couple check into to A-355, so I’d expect to hear from them a few times before the night is over.”
“Brilliant,” I say, completely devoid of enthusiasm. RHM is our code for the worst kind of guest. They are both rude and high maintenance. They typically start out their stay by scouring the room to find deficiencies so they can demand a free upgrade. Then, once they get the upgrade, they whine about how long it took the bellboy to get there to move their luggage, and that the upgraded room has something wrong with it too, and don’t we have anything better because this isn’t at all what they’ve come to expect from a five-star all-inclusive resort? I willnotmiss dealing with them when I finally quit.
“All right, I’ll leave you to it, Bree. Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks.”
I lock my purse in the cabinet and take a second to straighten myself up, preparing for the night ahead.
“Bree, there you are,” Rosy’s voice rises above the sounds of the whirring fans and the chatter of the guests.
I smile at her as she crosses the floor, but she doesn’t smile back. She gives methe look,which says she knows damn well I was not delivering a package just now. She raises one eyebrow. “How’d the package delivery go?”
“So quick it was almost like it didn’t happen,” I answer, guilt written all over my face.
“Thought so,” she says with a hint of a reluctant grin. “Just get here on time from now on. You’re my best concierge, and I don’t want to have to write you up.”
“Thanks, it won’t happen again.” I hope.
“It better not. Things are going to get a little hectic around here. The IT department is finally rolling out that new computer system tomorrow, so I need you to be ready. You’ll have to find time to do the tutorial during your shift, and maybe during your lunch break. It took most of the staff about three hours to complete.”
Terrific. Instead of studying probate, I’m going to be studying a new computer system that won’t help Future Bree in the least. “I’ll get right on it.”
She hands me a piece of paper with my username and login ID. “Oh, and Jeremy called to say that he can’t make it in again, so I fired him. The concierge desk is going to have to pick up the slack until I find someone to replace him.”
Perfect.Bellboy duties are the worst. I give her a bright grin. “Absolutely.”
“How are your studies coming?”
“Couldn’t be better,” I say with a confident nod.
“Good for you. I honestly don’t know how you manage it all, girl.”
Me, either.
***
It’s almost eleven p.m., and I can barely keep my eyes open. I have finally finished the tutorial on what may be the least user-friendly hotel management system someone could dream up. We’re all going to be given swipe cards that have to be used pretty much every time we doanythingon our computers, so every decision we make or website we visit can be monitored. Based on the track record of Kevin, our IT guy, I’d give it about a 10% chance that this roll-out will actually work, and a 90% chance that we end up with absolutely no computers from launch date until high season ends.
But at least it’s quiet for now. We’re down to a skeleton crew—Mario and Todd, the security guys, and Donalda and Onika at the reception desk. The breeze is cool this evening, and the pair of troupials nested on one of the cross braces of the sloped thatched roof have gone to sleep.
I log onto my bank account and open my Google Doc budget spreadsheet to see where I can possibly squeak out the money to at least pay my library access fee. Sadly, a large influx of cash hasn’t appeared in my account since I last looked, meaning I’ll have twelve dollars to play with until my next cheque comes, and that’s without even taking into account the wedding expenses. I sign out of my bank account, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat.Do not cry, Bree. Don’t even think about it. This is a temporary problem, and you are smart enough to come up with a solution.
I’m going to channel my inner Scarlett O’Hara and save this for tomorrow, because after all, tomorrow is another day. Not that Scarlett O’Hara is my role model or something, because she’s obviously a deeply flawed character. But sheistenacious, which I’m going to need to be to survive the next few months. I’ll finish my shift, get a good night’s sleep, and find the answer first thing tomorrow morning.
***
The Next Morning
“Shit,” I mutter, glad that Izzy’s not up yet so I don’t have to dial back my language to child-safe swears like shitake mushrooms or fudge doodles. I should be catching up on my sleep, too, but I woke at five, worried about…oh, a million things…money being the biggest problem at the moment. I’ve just finished a budget for Amber’s wedding that has led me to the inescapable conclusion that I’m totally screwed.
SAVINGS: $720
NET MONTHLY EARNINGS: $2, 500
MONTHLY EXPENSES:
