Tom, she could see, was already amused as Nadia set up her laptop on one of the small coffee tables before standing and clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. ‘Right, let’s start by talking about you.’
Nell shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She was never very keen on talking about herself. ‘What do you want to know exactly?’
‘Well …’ Nadia was worryingly enthusiastic with her hands and Nell thought she might get accidentally slapped in the face if she got too close. ‘You’re the heart and soul of this business, Nell. We want to know all about you, Nell Jones, and Nell Jones’s vision for the future.’ Every time she spoke her hands flew around like she was directing traffic and the end of each sentence lifted up as if she were asking a question. The repeated use of Nell’s name grated like nails down a blackboard. A textbook tactic to build a rapport with her and make this seem more personal, but really it was just extremely irritating. ‘So, Nell, like, what’s the hotel’s USP? What’s your USP? It all comes down to you, yeah? Like what is your ultimate vision for the future, for Nell …’ Her eyes darted to the screen of her laptop, checking her notes.
‘My what now?’
Though Nadia’s slightly manic grin remained intact, she took in a tiny breath of annoyance. ‘Your vision for the future. So, like, where do you see yourself in five, ten years’ time, Nell?’
‘Umm, here. I suppose. Doing this.’ She motioned around her. ‘Maybe with a few more guests but …’ Two sets of eyeballs narrowed, telling Nell her answer was less than sufficient. ‘I just want some ideas as to how I can market the place better, that’s all.’
‘Well,’ began Manley, in the highest, reediest voice Nell had ever heard. It was so high even Tom jumped in surprise. ‘In order to do that we need to know where you want your business to go. Where’s it headed, okay? Where is Nell Jones going?’
‘Ah huh,’ agreed Nadia, nodding with such vehemence she looked like one of those bobble head toys you get on car dashboards. ‘This stratosphere? The next stratosphere? Are we talking Mars level of ambition?’
Nell glanced at Tom, who, as well as enjoying himself thoroughly, had an annoying, I-told-you-so look on his face. This wasn’t what she’d had in mind at all. She’d thought they’d have told her where was best to advertise and whether adverts in the local paper or the luxury retreats websites were more worth the money. She didn’t realise she was going to be interviewed by trendy youngsters speaking a language she didn’t understand. All she wanted was to make her hotel as successful as it could be. ‘Umm, I just want to know where the best place to advertise is really. I’ve got reviews on HotelRater and I’ve got a website—’
‘Wow,’ said Nadia in a really patronising manner that made Nell’s muscles instantly tighten up. ‘I mean, it’s a start but, I’ll be honest, that is so basic.’
Seeing Nell’s face, Manley cut in. ‘But we all have to start somewhere. So good job.’ He gave a strange, double thumbs-up and Tom stifled a giggle.
‘True, true.’ Nadia nodded again. ‘But we can take you to the next level in luxury hospitality. If we do your marketing plan including an awesome new logo, top-quality photographs and deluxe marketing package, we can put you on Mars, Nell. Mars!’
Nell had no intention of going to Mars. All she wanted was to be here in Swallowtail Bay, just with more visitors.
‘This place is fab, Nell,’ Nadia continued. ‘We checked out your website and you’ve made this place look good. There’s top-quality design here.’ Considering she wanted to remove Nadia from the building by her long dangly earrings, it was a compliment Nell was willing to take. ‘You’ve got good reviews on HotelRater apart from that one from yesterday and—’
‘What?’ Nell shot a quick glance at Tom who, from the puzzled look on his face, didn’t seem to know anything about it either. She’d never had a bad review in her life. All right, there might have been a couple that leaned more towards the moaning side than out and out praise, but no one had mentioned anything other than matters she couldn’t control like bad weather, or an attraction being closed. ‘What bad review?’
‘Here, look.’ Nadia sat down and loaded up HotelRater then turned the screen to face Nell and Tom. Nell read it slowly, taking in each word and a searing hot fire crept up her spine.
Some unnamed person, who had apparently stayed on dates they weren’t prepared to specify, spoke about the poor food at breakfast (Mrs Meggett, who came in and cooked for her would be livid and rightly so, her full English breakfasts were to die for), they moaned about the quality of the beds, the moody and hardly ever there owner who never listened to anything they said. It was all so utterly preposterous, Nell didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t recall the guest or think who it might be; no one had ever complained to her. Her guests had always left with glowing compliments and big happy
