‘You misheard. The word is “decorate”. Story ideas hit me at the most inconvenient times. Anyway, back to yourincorrectassumptions about the hotel. Our plan is to open a week before Christmas or so.’ I hold the end of the tinsel by the arched window while he fixes it in place.
‘What? That’s crazy. You’ll never get it all done in time. Not to a proper standard, anyway.’
I reel. ‘Excusez moi, how do you know that?’
‘I renovated the bar; it took a solid two years. You’re rushing ahead with no thought for the design process.’
He’s always so contrary. If I dragged renovations out for two years, he’d be apoplectic. ‘Is that so? Did you have a team the same size as JP has?’
With a jerk of his head, he gestures for me to move along to the next section of window. ‘Non, I did most of it by myself. I wanted to make sure of the workmanship.’
Does he not realise how egotistical he comes across when he speaks like this? ‘So you’re a licensed builder, as well as bar owner and book lover? Is there no end to your talents?’
He grins. ‘I’m not licensed, but you’re being sarcastic. As for literature, I’ve studied it. And I’m good with my hands, always have been.’
My eyebrows shoot up. ‘I see.’
‘Go to the end of that window.’ He orders me about like I’m an employee. The man is just too much. I duly comply but I go slow, so he knows he does not do my bidding.
‘Well, I have an entire team of licensed renovators working to a schedule to achieve our goal of opening before Christmas.’
‘That’s a great goal but it won’t happen.’
Why is he always obsessed with having the last word and being so negative in the process? Why can’t he be encouraging? Enthusiastic, even?
‘We’ll be open by Christmas.’ If it’s the last thing I do!
‘We’ll see.’ He gives me an affable smile.
He just can’t let it be.
‘We will.’
‘If you say so.’
‘I do say so.’
‘OK.’
‘Noah!’
‘Oui?’
‘You’re insufferable.’
‘I’ve been called worse. Now can you lift your side a little higher. It’s uneven.’
There’s no escaping him!
‘Now,’ he says, dusting his hands together. ‘Have you got time to properly show me suite twenty?’
24
2 DECEMBER
‘This is incredible,’ he says. ‘May I go in?’ I’ll admit, he has good manners at times, always asking permission when it comes to suites nineteen and twenty.
‘You may.’
