Chapter 4
969 Words
“I’m sure you need some rest,” Mike had told her when they were alone.
“Yes,” she admitted defeatedly before straightening her shoulders. Her voice was clear when she spoke next.
“I noticed you’re hiring. I’ve got nowhere to go, really. And I’ve always been fascinated with Missouri. I was born near Springfield.” She stared him straight in the eye. “I’ve been working on a degree in hotel management and I don’t see how a bed and breakfast is much different.”
He eyed her carefully. Something in her had changed but the dark circles and exhaustion were still very evident.
“I could definitely use some help,” he finally replied. “You need rest though. Let me see you to your room and when you’ve lost those dark circles under your eyes, we can talk business.” Embarrassment overtook her face and he cursed himself for mentioning her appearance.
She simply nodded and looked away. He decided to step out so she didn’t know he’d already made arrangements. He didn’t want her to think he was taking pity on her.
“Let me go make arrangements and I’ll be right back.”
**
She sat alone with the remaining bagels. Her emotions were roller coastering. She felt relief to be free of Allen. She felt worry over being broke and all alone. She felt embarrassed that Mike had pointed out her dark circles. Crystal cringed.
I probably look like some fat drug addict in these God awful clothes.
Allen had picked out everything she now possessed. Plain t-shirts and cheap baggy pants that did nothing for her figure. At first, he surprised her with gifts of clothing and his taste wasn’t bad. Then, when they’d started traveling, he began to insist that the plain clothes saved them time and money on laundry. Delicate garments were too hard to care for on the road and when he found his next business deal, he’d make it up to her. She didn’t realize it was the beginning of his control over her.
Mike rapped his knuckles on the door before entering. “Do you want to go up and get your things or would you like for me to have housekeeping bring it down?” He asked.
She did not want to go back to that room. “If it’s not any trouble, I just need the blue suitcase.” He nodded and closed the door again.
Another knock sounded a few moments later. “Hi,” the older woman she recognized as the breakfast host entered. “I’ve got some hot food ready for you. Would you like to eat in here or wait to eat in your room? It’ll only be a few more minutes.”
Crystal wondered briefly if she’d get to eat with the attractive owner, but remembered the dark circles. “My room, please.”
After she enjoyed the hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy, bacon, hashbrowns, eggs and toast, the last thing Crystal remembered thinking before finally falling asleep, was Crap! I don’t have any job appropriate clothes.
**
Mike was furious. That bastard Ames had poured bleach all over his beautiful Daybreak room; the first room Mike had renovated, mostly on his own. He’d first discovered it after Mark had apprehended Allen but he hadn’t known the extent of the damage. Thousands of dollars worth, at least.
And now, he discovered it was all over everything in the blue suitcase Crystal had said was hers.
Replacing her things wasn’t a problem. He had a clothing closet for the domestic violence survivors. Mike had also noticed what Crystal had worn during her time here was...unflattering. Still, the fact that someone would destroy another’s things made Mike’s blood boil.
He picked up the phone to call his sister, Marissa. She was the local DV counselor and helped him organize the unofficial clothing closet.
There was no dial tone. Frowning, he followed the cords and discovered the line that should have connected the phone to the wall was missing.
To make sure she didn’t call for help. Mother fucker.
He pulled out his cell to call both of his siblings. Once they were both updated, he called in professional cleaners. He wasn’t going to make housekeeping do this job. This way, he’d have a receipt for damages so Mark could get charges filed. Mike doubted he’d ever see a penny out of Ames since it appeared the lowlife would be spending several years in prison, but charges were charges.
Luckily, business was booming and even luckier was that none of the other guests seemed to have heard this morning’s excitement. It was Tuesday and only two other rooms were booked by tourists who drank a lot.
Mike raked a hand through his collar length hair as he descended the grand staircase. He had purchased the dilapidated house solely for this staircase. Every minute of stripping paint, removing staples and nails and old carpet had been worth it. The stairs gleamed now in the light flowing through the 3 stories of arched windows boasted by the main entrance foyer; the only room of the house where anyone who stood there could look 40 feet up.
His other three properties didn’t have this indoor view but he was replicating it in his newest adventure. While not a renovation for the first time, but a new construction, he knew guests would appreciate looking up from the bottom or looking down from a mezzanine level in the log hunting cabin.
He couldn’t think of anything else concerning Crystal that needed done except one. He made his way to his office to catch up on messages and type one to slide under her door.
Then he decided he had better catch a little nap.
- Writer
