“But sometimes relationships and traditions no longer serve us in the ways they used to,” Traci pointed out. “I really like Felice’scooking. It’s fresh, it’s inventive. The guests seem to like it too. I was looking at the Verandah transaction reports, and we’ve had a nice per-ticket bump, especially at lunch in the grill. That tells me it’s working.”
“It tells me it’s summertime and people are hungry and thirsty.”
Traci rolled her eyes. “Admit it. You don’t like it because I went around your back and hired her myself.”
“Hoke always let me handle all the hiring. That’s the way it’s always been done. Not only that, first you hired that waitress, thatgirl,and then you promoted her to guest relations, without even consulting me.”
“Okay, maybe I could have handled that differently,” Traci conceded. “But we were in a bind. And despite your misgivings about Olivia, who, by the way, is also not a ‘girl,’ I think she’s really settling into the job. She’s good at problem solving.”
“Oh really?” Charlie stood and pointed toward the lobby. “Where’s your problem solver right now? When I walked through the lobby just now, Carla, who is supposed to be working the front desk, was covering for Olivia.”
Traci walked to the office door, poked her head out, and observed Carla engaged in conversation with a mother with two young children in tow, while a line of guests waited at the registration desk.
“I’ll talk to her,” Traci promised.
He threw up his hands in protest. “This is what I’m talking about. You’ve completely blurred the chain-of-command lines here. That girl thinks she’s only accountable to you.”
“Huh. And yet, I don’t recall you getting your boxers in a bunch when Ric Eddings went around both of us and promised KJ’s father you’d give him a summer job here.”
“That was different. The Parkhursts are longtime members.”
“Which was KJ’s one and only qualification for getting that job,” Traci pointed out.
Her cell phone rang. She glanced down at the caller ID and tapped a message telling the caller she was in a meeting and would call back.
“Tell you what, Charlie. Speak to Olivia. Just promise me you won’t fire her.”
“And what about the chef?”
“Donotfire her either. Just have a friendly conversation. Can you do that? Offer constructive criticism?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. Let me know how it goes.”
As soon as the GM was gone, Traci tapped the call-back button.
Whelan answered immediately.
“Hey. Sorry to bother you, but I’ve got some news to share. Are you available for dinner tonight?”
“I’m not sure. There’s a lot going on today. My father-in-law died this morning, and we’ve got a big bankers’ convention checking in, and my GM wants to fire my new chef…”
“I know about your father-in-law. I saw the ambulance this morning and followed it to the house on Golfview. I saw the EMTs bringing out the gurney with the body.”
“Huh. You just missed me. That’s how I spent the rest of my morning. Holding his hand and watching him slip away.”
“I got the impression you didn’t care for the old guy.”
“It’s complicated. I can’t be a hypocrite and say I was fond of him, and he was awful to me, especially after Hoke died, but for better or worse, we’re family.”
“So. Dinner tonight?” Whelan asked.
She hesitated. “I don’t think we should be seen together in public, especially here on the property.”
“Why not?”
“Because you work for the Saint. Technically I’m your boss, and people could… misconstrue things. I’ll tell you what. I won’t have time to cook, but I’ll order dinner for us from the restaurant. It’ll have to be late, though. Can you come around eight?”
