Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Definitely,” Avril says.
“Thank you so much. And I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would.”
“Is that because of us, or Mr. Room 325?”
It’s like my cheeks have been set on fire. “It’s definitely the job,” I say, even though the job is only part of why I’m enjoying my time here. Deacon has a role to play for sure.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” Avril says and then she bursts into laughter. “You see? I would have an HR problem if I said that to anyone else. I feel like we’re family. Not because we’ve known each other a long time, but because of…”
“The vibe,” Poppy says. We all laugh. She’s not wrong.
“But now we have a Boston hotel in our sights, that’s going to take our focus a lot. And it means that Hotel on Ninth Street is going to need more from…you.”
My heart thuds in my chest.
“More?” I ask.
“Aurora, you’re so capable,” Poppy says. “You could be director of rooms in your sleep. And you handle deputy manager really well. How about you step up into the general manager role?”
It’s such a compliment that they think I’m doing such a good job and feel I could do more. It’s incredibly flattering. It would be easy to say yes. But there are lots of reasons to say no. “But what about you?” I say, turning to Avril.
“I would be CEO of Boston and here. So, it’s not that big a change. We did talk about this being a possible opportunity.”
“I know,” I say. “I just didn’t expect this to happen so quickly.”
“You’re wasted in your current role. You’re amazing with guests, but the staff love you. And they respect you. You’d be such a great fit.”
I think about Deacon. What would he say?
“You’re asking for me to step up into that new role until I leave?” I ask “From now?”
Poppy and Avril share a glance. “We’d like it to be a permanent position,” Avril says.
Panic slides through my veins. Permanent?
“As much as anything is permanent,” Poppy says.
“What does that mean?” I ask. I haven’t missed home as much as I thought I would. More I’m a little sad I didn’t take a chance to do something different sooner. But I’m not sure I want to make anything permanent. I need time.
“Yeah,” Avril says. “What does that mean?”
“I’m just saying that everything changes all the time. Nothing’s really permanent.”
I study Poppy’s face. I’m not quite sure what point she’s making.
“We want you to take the position permanently, but that might mean you’re with us for a year. Or thirty years. We want you to take the position without an end date.”
“Ahh,” Avril says. “So don’t think about it as a decision that means you have to spend the rest of your life doing it, but the next chapter of your life.”
“Exactly,” Poppy says. “None of us know what’s around the corner. Maybe you’ll get married to Mr. Room 325 and you’ll pop out babies and be too busy to work.”
Something inside me shrivels at the mention of me having babies.
I know that’s not my path. If I was to take the job, I won’t be leaving because I’m pregnant.
“Think about it,” Avril says.
“Just consider extending your stay a little.”
If I accepted the job, The Rookery would find a permanent solution to me not being there. I’d probably find it more difficult to go back home to Chilternshire and pick up where I left off if things didn’t work out here in New York.
I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing or not.
If I was to stay in New York…
Maybe part of Deacon’s attraction to me is because I’m not going to be here for long. He knows we have an end date, so he doesn’t have to worry about me getting too close.
Or maybe he’d be happy.
“I’ll think about it,” I say.
“And you should know, we don’t want to stop at Boston,” Poppy says. “We’re ambitious. We want to keep building this empire. So there will be other opportunities down the line too.”
Being hotel manager is a promotion. A big promotion. And I know I could do it. I’ve been in the industry a long time, so even though I haven’t been at Hotel on Ninth Street for long, I know I wouldn’t feel out of my depth.
“I’ll definitely think about it. And I want to say that I really enjoy working for you both. I love the hotel. The staff is brilliant. It’s a great opportunity.”
Avril’s eyes light up as I speak.
“But there’s a lot to think about. I work in the village where I grew up, and although New York is a wonderful place, I’ve never seen myself anywhere but Woolton.”
Avril nods. “I get it. Just think about it,” she says.
Poppy stands and grabs some papers off her desk. “These are the details of the package. Obviously, there’s a substantial pay raise.”