“We’re so pleased you’ve come. It’s lovely to see you after all this time.”
Debra felt a moment’s remorse. When they’d been children, she and Paul had often accompanied their parents to Riversleigh, but since her grandparents had died...
“Linda’s so excited. She can’t wait to see you again.”
Debra glanced away, her back stiffening. Linda had once been a friend, before their lifestyles had diverged so completely. Remorse could turn to guilt if she wasn’t careful. Then her chin jutted. She had no reason to feel guilty. She was a busy woman. People depended on her for their livelihood. Wondering about her childhood friend hadn’t entered her head for more years than she liked to think.
“I promised I’d take you straight to her place so you can catch up. She wanted you to stay with her, but Karin thought living in the staff quarters might give you more access.” Joyce nudged her. “More insight into what might be happening.”
I’ll just bet she did. Debra bit her tongue to keep the disparaging remarks about her mother to herself. Instead she looked around. A frown gathered. The terminal seemed different. When she asked about it, Joyce answered with a satisfied smile.
“Southland has changed, Debra. We’re not the dead end of New Zealand anymore. This revamped terminal is just the first of many changes you’ll see. With the recurrence of the dairy industry and the free polytechnic, people are swarming into the province.”
Debra followed Joyce to the baggage claim area and grabbed her single suitcase. Heading outside she stopped at another new addition. The large wooden sculpture depicting the province’s champion netball team hadn’t been here on her last visit. The weathered condition of the statue slammed home just how many years it had been since Debra had visited this airport.
Before the uneasy niggle turned into guilt Debra shrugged it aside. Why would she have visited? Once her grandparents had passed away, she had no ties with Southland.
The wind, originating in Antarctica for sure, whistled across the flat from Oreti Beach and hit them as they turned the terminal’s corner into the car park. In a battle against the blazing sun above them, the wind emerged a clear winner.
Joyce must have noticed her shiver. “It won’t be as cold at Riversleigh.”
Yeah, right.
“This is the coldest place in the whole of Southland,” Joyce clicked her tongue as she started the car. “And yet it’s where we welcome our guests. Ironic, isn’t it?”
You said it, lady. Debra yanked her coat tighter around her body. She would never forgive her mother for this—never.
Chapter Two
Jase strode through the swinging doors of the dining room. A dark-suited man detached himself from overseeing the breakfast buffet and approached.
“We’re up to strength again, Jase.” George Rivers was their maitre d’. “Come and I’ll introduce you to our new waitress.”
Jase fell into step beside him. “I’m not overly happy about you employing new staff, George. You know what was laid down at the management meeting. Are you certain you couldn’t have jiggled shifts a little, offered a bit more overtime?”
“My staff was already pared down to the core. We had to replace Jerry.”
“Okay.” Accepting George’s word, Jase scrubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “But still, a friend of your wife’s, George? It smacks of favouritism when we have all the young locals graduating from polytech looking for jobs.” He’d voiced this concern before, when he’d discovered George had given an interview, and a job, over the phone to someone from Wellington.
“I’m sure you’ll be happy with what she achieves while she’s here.”
Jase frowned at his companion’s odd choice of words. “That’s the other problem.” Jase’s unease grew. “How long do you think she’ll stay? Used to the bustle of the city, nightlife, the social whirl—”
“She won’t let us down.”
“You’re putting great faith in someone you’ve never met. I hope Linda knows what she’s talked you into.” He shrugged. Staff on the ground was the least of his worries.
Jase had already identified the new member of staff before George signalled her to join them. Although dressed exactly as the other waitresses bustling around the tables, this one stood out. Tall and poised, she crossed the floor like a high-class model on a catwalk. Her almost regal carriage was totally at variance with the uniform she wore.
His concern increased as she acknowledged George’s introduction with a cool, almost haughty nod of her elegant head. Although her greeting was formal, her dark eyes held a mysterious sparkle.
“How do you do, Mr. McEwan?” The reply tripled his anxiety. Her accent smacked of privilege and private schooling.
“What brings you to Southland, Debbie? Or more to the point, to Riversleigh?”
“I prefer Debra or Deb please.” Jase noted she managed to look down her nose even though he stood at least twenty centimetres taller. She stared him dead in the eye. “I needed a change and Mr. Rivers was kind enough to offer me the position.”
“Yes, well I expect Mr. Rivers will ensure you settle into your new role quickly.” His nod of dismissal was ignored. It took a light touch on her arm and a slight movement of George’s head for her to turn her back and step away.
“George! For God’s sake, what were you thinking of? Look.” He pointed to where she stood undecided about what to do next. “She’s not a waitress. I’d bet my savings she’s never done a day’s labour in her life.”
Jase didn’t immediately notice the affronted frown growing on his companion’s face. He was too busy staring at the beautiful woman who most definitely wasn’t experienced at the menial task she was currently bungling.
However George’s frosty tone did alert him to his overstepping the mark. “Are the food and beverage staff not my responsibility?”
Unable to drag his eyes away from the dark-clad figure Jase absently placated the man. “Of course they are, George. I’m just concerned. That woman could cause trouble.”
“Not to me, she couldn’t.” The little smile playing around George’s mouth did nothing to nullify Jase’s unease. “Give her a break. She’s been working here for all of…” George looked at his watch, “…one hour. I don’t expect perfection from my staff that quickly.”
Jase grunted, spun on his heel and left the room. Damn. He didn’t need silly little power plays occurring in the dining room. He had enough worries coping with those at management level.
Walking past the dining room some hours later the breath caught in Jase’s throat. The new waitress was chatting with Karin Laurie. There could be no other word for it. She was standing beside the table of the hotel’s part-owner, chatting. With no sign of service, either delivered or collected, the conversation appeared rather more serious than would be expected between a waitress and a dining guest.
Having an owner staying at the hotel for an unspecified time was adding to his stress levels. If she discovered the underlying problems existing here, all their jobs could be in jeopardy.
“Good morning, Mrs. Laurie. I trust you had a restful night.” It was easy to smile. She was a beautiful woman. But he hadn’t yet decided if her beauty was superficial or not.
“I’ll take care of Mrs. Laurie, Debbie. You can get back to work.” Displeased at the waitress’s indignant glare his lips tightened. He jerked his head in dismissal. Turning to face the seated woman he cleared his throat. “If I can assist you in any way, Mrs. Laurie?” he spoke quickly. Karin Laurie must not find anything to complain about.
“Actually there is something you can do.” Blood red fingernails tapped on the tablecloth. “I think I’ll take a drive today. Get me a car and a driver, would you?”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll have the front desk get in touch with the local taxi company immediately and—”
“Oh, I don’t mean a taxi.” Her tinkling laugh showed her confidence. “I’ll have one of the resort vehicles. One of your employees can drive, and then there won’t be any insurance worries.”
Jase’s back straightened. He licked his lips before taking a deep breath and looking Karin Laurie straight in the face. “I’m sorry, ma’am. The hotel doesn’t provide transport except for airport shuttles and programmed tours. I could check the tour schedule and see what is planned for the day, but otherwise—”
“I don’t want to go on some tour.” Her eyes had narrowed and her lips were thin with annoyance. “I grew up in Riversleigh, for heaven’s sake. I don’t need to go on a tour.”
“The taxi company is very reliable, I can arrange a—”
“Forget it,” she snapped, throwing her scrunched-up napkin onto the table. “Perhaps I’ll stay in my room for the day.”
Jase nipped behind her in time to ease out her chair as she stood up and stormed off, leaving a very distinct “harrumph” behind her.
“Very good, ma’am,” he murmured after her, although he doubted she heard him.
Damn! With a whitened grip on its back he readjusted the chair’s position until it was perfectly placed. Only then did he turn toward the servery. With George still nowhere in sight Jase approached, his steps firm and measured.
He intercepted the new waitress as she carried a fresh tray of eggs toward the Bain Marie. Her haughty look screamed for him to get out of her way as she scooted around him agitatedly balancing the hot tray in her hands. Her ineptness at dodging the steam as she removed the original tray and replaced it reinforced the unlikelihood of her ever having done such work before.
Jase’s lips tightened still further at her ham-fisted display. Still, as George had so rightly pointed out, waiting staff was the responsibility of the maitre d’, not him. But in George’s absence Jase needed to make one thing very clear to this new employee.
“A word please,” he said as she made to sashay past him. He led her to a quiet corner away from the sight of the few guests in the dining room.
If Jase hadn’t been so annoyed he might have almost applauded her straight back and the arrogant way her chin jutted out as she halted in front of him—almost.
“While I expect you to be pleasant to our guests at all times, you are not paid to chat, Debbie,” he snapped. “In future please confine yourself to the duties you’ve been assigned.”
Her narrowing lips seemed somewhat familiar as she glared, without any sign of deference to his position. “Do not think just because Linda Rivers vouched for you...You are here to tend table. I didn’t see you tending Mrs. Laurie’s table, instead you were chatting. George will see to Mrs. Laurie’s needs in future. Do you understand?”
The dark eyes flashing like sparks from a disturbed fire added further credence to his certainty of her former social position. His hands fisted. She’d never done menial work, never acquiesced to the dictates of an employer. He was as sure of that as he was of the sun rising tomorrow. What the hell was George thinking of?
More to the point, what was she doing here? How long would she stay before deciding the job would wreak havoc on her manicure?
And why? Had she fallen on hard times? Like so many others during this economic downturn had her wealth deserted her? Jase felt his mouth tighten. Even if her bank balance had taken a beating, her haughty demeanour remained intact. She was dying to answer him back, dying to put him in his place. Part of him wanted her to try.
Her mouth opened. Sensing her inner struggle he waited, anticipation rising. A twinge of disappointment surfaced, as with a noticeable chomp on her bottom lip she gave her head a stilted nod and without a word of apology, stalked away.
****
“Make up your mind, Mother,” Debra sank onto one of the armchairs in her mother’s opulent room and eased tight shoes from her swollen feet. “You wanted me to be a waitress.” She gingerly raised her feet onto the pouffe, glaring at her unrepentant parent. “I’m a waitress. If you wanted me to be available to drop everything and run to your side every time you crook your little finger...”
Rubbing her oversized toes didn’t ease the ache. In fact they hurt more now than when she’d had her shoes on. “I can’t be seen wandering around the hotel, let alone on the superior floor. You’re going to have to contact me through Linda or George. I’ve already been warned by management to stay away from you.” Karin’s delighted chuckle didn’t ease her annoyance. “Apparently you’re a VIP and only George can serve you.”
“I wondered what Jase McEwan would do when he saw us talking.” Karin leaned forward. “What did he say to you? Did he chew you out?”
“Really, Mother,” Debra managed to scoff despite the fact facing Jase McEwan had been almost invigorating. He was very different than she’d imagined. Very different from the rugby player she’d fantasised about when she’d been young and silly. “No man will ever ‘chew me out,’ as you so indelicately put it. He might think he can try, but...”
Debra left the words hanging. Nothing would make her share what amounted, in her eyes, to humiliation with her mother.
She’d wanted to put him in his place, tear a strip off him. Instead, because of the restraints her mother had forced upon her, he’d managed to do the tearing. Her lips tightened. Debra didn’t like that. Didn’t like it one little bit. And the man who thought he’d bettered her? He would soon find out just how wrong he was.
Memory of her silly schoolgirl crush hadn’t helped. Despite herself, there had been a moment when George had introduced them, when Jase had taken her hand in his...Debra dismissed the realisation he’d been even more compelling in real life, refusing to acknowledge the thrilling tingle that had swept through her.