Chapter 6
Ellen worked until after seven, until the people on the street below stopped going home from work and started going out to extend the Halloween spirit into the weekend. When she got downstairs, she turned into the lobby, instead of taking the back entrance to the parking lot. She had never liked that quiet, unfrequented passageway; the brightness of the lobby and the people in it made her feel a whole lot safer, and Kane Fielding’s visit had made her even more jumpy.
The lobby was very busy. People were coming down dressed to go out, or coming back from a day of sightseeing with tired and cranky kids. New arrivals clogged all the pathways with suitcases, while bellhops waited for direction. She looked over to the front desk. For some reason Penny was by herself, trying to cope with everyone. Without saying a word, Ellen stepped behind the counter, flicked on a monitor, and turned her best customer-service smile on the person in front of her. She’d started her career in reception at the Rosette in London; Penny had shown her the systems soon after they’d met.
After fifteen minutes or so they got a chance to say a couple of words. “Where’s Francesca?” Ellen asked, scanning in a keycard.
“Sick,” Penny said quickly, before she told a couple in perfect Portuguese the arrangements for having their room cleaned.
It was another hour before they could say any more. “What kind of sick?” Ellen said.
“Looked like the flu; nose like Rudolph and a voice like Joan Rivers. She was putting off the customers. Ugh, finally, guys.” The receptionists from the next shift had come in, and the pressure lifted a little. Penny waved to a man who had been in the reading area for the last half-hour. Ellen picked up her bag and followed her into the back room.
“Second date?” Ellen guessed. Penny was a cute, petite blonde with short hair and a mouth born to pout. She ran with her assets, channeling fifties pinup models, with scarlet lipstick, shirts that were just on the business side of tight, and a large flower of some kind usually pinned to her chest. In fact, if you didn’t know her, you’d think that she was off to a Halloween party as a blond Betty Boop. She loved to love men and was constantly trying to convince Ellen to let her guard down.
“Third, if we’re counting,” Penny answered, with an appealing leer. “He’s an accountant with a real ‘head’ for ‘figures.’” She struck a pose and then turned to her mirror, ignoring Ellen’s groan. “But don’t change the subject. What the hell was—”
Ellen’s cell phone rang. Gratefully, she picked it up. “It’s Francesca. Hey, Francesca. Sorry you’re ill.”
“OMG, Elena, I’m as white as a shit.” Francesca’s Italian accent hadn’t softened in her two years of living in Boston. “But my nose, it is red like Penny’s mouth.” She sounded god-awful, and Ellen told her so. “Yes, precisely,” she said. “I have to ask you a favor, my love. Can you please help me? I know it is short notice, but I am disperata.”
“All right; what do you need?” Ellen asked. Penny raised her eyebrows while penciling them in at the same time. Ellen could never figure out how she did that.
“I have the dog of my brother to stay with me. He is a big giant of a furball, and he is jumping all over my apartment. I cannot take him to walk him; my head will fall off if I get off the couch. I know is a lot to ask but please would you come and take him out tonight?”
Ellen had precisely no plans for tonight. Or almost any night. “Of course; don’t worry. I’m just leaving work now. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“You are still at work?”
“Yes!” Penny called over from the mirror. “Saving my hide when you deserted me!”
Ellen had held out the phone. When she put it back to her ear, Francesca said, “She is late for her accountant, I know. Thank you, cara, thank you a million. He is a good dog. I will lend you sneakers.”
That didn’t sound good, but Ellen had promised, so she could only say goodbye and hang up.
Penny was done prepping. She looked ready for a photo shoot. Ellen was aware that she hadn’t paid any attention to her hair or face all day. “So come on,” Penny said, looking at Ellen in the mirror.
“Oh no, Pen, I don’t want to make you late for your date,” Ellen said, wide-eyed.
“Screw him. Come on. Details. How does Kane Fielding—oh my God, just the name—know you? What did he want?”
“Believe it or not, because I don’t, he asked me to go to the Queen’s Ball with him.”
Penny jumped over to her and slapped her on the arm. “No he didn’t!”
“Yes he did.” Ellen aimed a slap back but Penny moved out of range. “And I told him to shove off.”
“No you didn’t,” Penny echoed on a breath.
“Honestly, Pen. I know you think he’s a god and all, but I don’t think I’ve met a more egotistical brat in my life.”
“Are you nuts?” Penny’s face was one big “o” of amazement. “You, not even you, could turn down that incredible hunk of meat.”
“Uh, yes I could, and it was quite easy, actually,” she added, crossing her fingers behind her back. “He was an ass, Penny, I’m telling you.”
Penny smoothed her stockings and checked her lipstick again. “And what an ass. My God, I’d—”
“I know, cut off your feet to get horizontal with him. You said, many times.” Ellen put on her coat.
