Bryan found Tallulah in the restaurant laying up a recently vacated table. He was getting heartily sick and tired of this classical Christmas music. It was so bloody boring. The playlist was sent down by head office and they were expected to play it throughout the public areas from seven in the morning until dinner finished and the last customer had left the restaurant. It was classy and elegant, Kevin had said, and Bryan didn’t want to seem too lowbrow by disagreeing, so he put up with it. It didn’t stop it appearing in his dreams though, or in the middle of the night when he got up for a wee. Tallulah almost dropped a fork as he neared and stood up, smoothing down her black skirt. ‘Come with me, Tallulah, please.’
Before he led the way, Bryan saw the flash of panic in her eyes. His conscience pricked him then disappeared as he flattened his tie. Business was business. Tallulah didn’t speak as she followed him down to the office. He opened the door, walking in before her, then waited. A polite smile was fixed on her face, but a redness had already crept up from her neck.
‘Tallulah, come in please.’ Kevin was all politeness and his big wide grin seemed as natural as it was ever going to. Any smile with teeth that could be seen from space would look slightly menacing. He was sitting on the front edge of his desk, in front of the chair he motioned for her to sit in. One leg was hitched up, the other resting on the floor for support. It made him look creepy, but Bryan wasn’t going to say anything. Kevin had no sense of humour for jokes like that. Tallulah glanced at Bryan, her immediate boss, before gingerly lowering herself into the chair. Another flash of conscience told him he should let her know things were all right, that she wasn’t in trouble, but he couldn’t. Knowing Kevin, and even himself if push came to shove, there was every chance that if this backfired, she’d be under the bus before she had any idea one was coming. ‘Thanks for stopping by, Tallulah.’
She hadn’t had much choice, thought Bryan.
‘We talked earlier about you needing extra hours and I said I’d consider it. Well, I’m happy to say that we have an opportunity for you.’ Tallulah’s eyes brightened and her shoulders relaxed a little. Bryan felt queasy as Kevin went on. ‘It’s not on reception but it’s something very important to the business. We need someone to do some research on one of our competitors in the town.’ Fear and confusion passed over her face, and Kevin raised his hand in a conciliatory fashion. ‘Don’t look so scared. It’s nothing illegal or wrong. We just want to get an idea of what they’re doing. You wouldn’t want us to lose business and have to lay off staff, would you?’
‘N-No,’ Tallulah said, but she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘But I’m not sure I should—’
‘Tallulah, Tallulah, Tallulah. You’re a bright girl with lots of potential. You could really go far with this company if you work hard, and you’re uniquely placed to do this job for me. I’ll be paying you double time as you’ll be working in the evenings. Let me explain some more before you give me an answer. You know that woman who put the spider in her soup? The woman Bryan had to ask to leave?’ They’d put it about amongst the staff that that was what had happened, rather than François the chef being a lazy turd. Tallulah nodded. ‘She got someone to take a video of the whole thing and she’s uploaded it to HotelRater to make us look bad.’
‘But didn’t the spider fall into the soup in the kitchen? That’s what Bryan said to Franç—’
‘No.’ Bryan stepped closer into the room. He should have controlled his temper that night. ‘Tallulah, I conducted a full investigation and we established it didn’t get into the soup here in the hotel. She must have put it there.’ Tallulah’s eyes dropped, suitably chastised, and Kevin continued.
‘All we want you to do is attend this school carol service she’s hosting and if possible, have a look at her reservations. See how busy she is. If you can’t, fine. No problem. Just let us know what people are saying. Are they talking about her, or talking about us? Haven’t you got little brothers and sisters at St Herbert’s Primary?’
‘Yes, sir.’ As soon as she confirmed it, Bryan nearly punched the air and Kevin leaned back, resting his hands on his hips. ‘I’ve got a younger brother in Year 4 and a sister in Year 1 but—’
‘So, you’d be going anyway.’ Kevin gave a chuckle that sent an odd sensation up Bryan’s spine. ‘Double time for going to an event you were already going to? That’s not bad, is it?’
‘No, sir,’ Tallulah replied in a small voice.
‘And after that, we’ll see what extra hours we have on reception, shall we?’ Tallulah nodded and looked at them both uneasily. ‘Great.’ Kevin’s teeth gleamed. ‘So, we’ll catch up after the carol service. Until then, Bryan can give you as many shifts as he has in the restaurant. Right, Bry?’
‘Sure thing.’
‘Thank you,’ Tallulah said, but having worked with her for a good few months now, Bryan could tell she wasn’t completely on board with their plan. When Kevin leaped off the edge of the desk, she stood to leave, and Bryan opened the door for her.
After she’d gone, Kevin congratulated them both on a job well done, but Bryan wasn’t feeling as easy about the situation as he thought he would. He sat at his desk and began working on the rota for next week, putting Tallulah’s name down as much as possible, but he didn’t like the uncomfortable tightness in his stomach. Perhaps he’d pulled a stomach muscle at the gym this morning. It couldn’t possibly
