She answered her phone, palms sweating, a hundred bad scenarios spinning through her head. Her heart was pounding. She was afraid she was about to have a heart attack and end up in hospital next to Gerald.
The call lasted ten minutes and when she eventually put the phone down she felt dazed.
“Well?” Her father came back into the room. “Was it something important?”
“Oh—no, nothing major. Why do you ask?”
Her father transferred the remains of the now cool lasagne to a smaller dish and covered it. “Because that white-haired man with eyes like a weasel who stayed at the hotel last month wasn’t enjoying a mini break. He was doing a valuation and looking for commercial opportunities.”
She gaped at him. “You knew that?”
“Of course I knew that.” He put the lasagne in the fridge and the other dish in the sink to soak. “It’s my job to know about the people staying in my hotel.”
She felt a rush of emotion. He’d noticed, but he hadn’t said anything to her. The fact that her father thought of it as “his” hotel did nothing to reduce the feeling of pressure.
“You didn’t mention it. Does anyone else know?”
He shrugged. “They knew he wasn’t who he said he was, but whether they’ve drawn conclusions from that—I don’t know. I haven’t heard any gossip, so possibly not. What’s happening? What was the phone call about?”
“They’re sending someone to help me. Someone experienced who can work in most areas of the business.” She was still absorbing the information. Was the call a result of the memo she’d sent? When she’d had no response, she’d assumed no one had read it. “Miranda—she’s the global head of talent or some other lofty title—said that they understand it has been difficult since Gerald was taken ill. The executive team had a meeting about it and decided we need support. They know about the staffing problems. They didn’t mention anyone looking around the hotel.” And that had to be good news, surely?
“So we’re getting a new team member?”
“Yes. That’s great, isn’t it?” She forced a smile. “Having someone with experience will be good. It’s not as if she’s taking over or anything. They said she’ll be able to support me wherever she’s most needed.”
It bruised her ego of course, but she was willing to take a little punch to her self-esteem if it meant protecting everyone’s jobs. And it was further confirmation that they weren’t thinking of closing the place down. She’d been wrong about that. If they’d wanted to, they would have done it. And that wasgood. One less thing for her to feel bad about if she managed to get herself a new job.
Her father drank his coffee and then put the cup down slowly. “So when is this person arriving and who is she?”
“It’s a woman, and she’s arriving the day after tomorrow.”
“That soon?”
“Yes. I’m to arrange accommodation. Someone called Abby I think, but they’re sending me through details later.”
“She’ll use the rooms at the Smuggler’s Inn?”
“The Lookout? I suppose so. I’d better call and warn Tristan.” The pub held one room for them for new staff members, to give them time to find more permanent accommodation. The lack of affordable places to stay was one of the reasons they had problems recruiting. “This will be good for everyone.”
“So you keep saying.”
“You were the one who taught me to be positive in any situation.” She stood up and loaded the plates and cups into the dishwasher. “Dinner was delicious. Thanks, Dad. You’re a lifesaver.”
“You’re doing a good job, Evie.” He helped her finish the job. “Don’t doubt it. I’m proud of you.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “You don’t think you might be biased?”
“You’re good at what you do, and you’ve been handling a tough situation. And you’ve already had a positive impact on the place.”
“Like what?”
“For a start, you recruited Luca, and the restaurant is fully booked for what feels like most of the summer. We’re having to turn people away. And he’s a good guy.”
She stepped back and looked at him properly. There was a twinkle in his eyes. “Did you happen to speak to Donna today by any chance?”
“Maybe. I speak to most of the staff at one point or another, you know that.”
She did know that. Her father was always the centre of everything, which was why he was her first point of contact when she wanted to know something.
