Four

Anelia stood at the far end of the conference room and paid attention to what their manager was saying. Mr Furler was currently stood on the small stage on the other end of the room, a mic in his right hand. His voice boomed in the room, as he addressed the entire hoard of staff about an important matter.

"Now, I know it's completely short notice but there's so much one can do when graced with the Black family."

Whispers rose up in the room. It sounded like bees were buzzing around the room with the way people animatedly whispered about the Black family.

Mr Furler patted the mic causing the entire room to immediately quiet down.

"It goes without saying that for the entirety of the month, you'll all have to be on your most impeccable behaviour and work just as hard. I'll not have my record downgraded or soiled," he spoke with unmistakable authority. He paused for a second letting everyone realise that he meant every word that he spoke.

"As such," he continued. "I have decided to divide schedules down to every member of staff, depending on your capabilities and most importantly, how much you take your job here at La Vida seriously. This is on a scale of zero to ten."

Some people groaned lowly, while some excitedly waited for Mr Furler to continue. The Dappers, who always sat around the large table in the middle of the room just sat there, no emotions whatsoever.

Anelia just blinked and wondered what the excitement was all about. At the end of the day, work was work to her. She actually could not wait to start with the cleaning. She patiently stood by the wall, waiting for whatever was about to be said next.

"Having said that, some of you will be working in the penthouse, either cleaning or delivering the guests' food. Some of you will be working in the rest of the floors. However, there are some changes which have to be taken into account indefinitely. Every floor, from now up until the Black family decides to leave our esteemed Hotel, shall only have a total of ten workers."

Ten? Anelia thought to herself. From around twenty people per floor to ten. She could not understand the reasoning behind the notion. Why did the presence of this family suddenly cause so much upheaval.

"Hear me out," he continued at the display of the worried looks on probably most of the staff. "This is simply to avoid crowding in the Hotel. The Black family is very particular about their privacy. As such, we found it needed to cut down to only ten workers."

He shuffled the papers he had placed on the shiny glass pulpit. Finally lifting his head, he looked around the room. He checked his wristwatch, resulting in Anelia involuntarily checking her own. It was now fifteen minutes before nine o'clock. Almost a whole hour wasted, she thought wistfully.

Once again looking at us all, he spoke.

"Due to the hour, I'll not be uncovering the schedules as planned. Rather, specified individuals will bring to each of you your designated schedule for this coming month. It will be in your best interests to stick to that schedule as soon as you get it," he spoke offhandedly leaving no room for any discussion.

"You're all dismissed."

Mr Furler exited through one of the side doors, leaving behind murmurs. Excited, shocked, horrified. You name it. All had some sought of reaction. All except Anelia. She simply slid out past the door and went to get the cleaning equipment. 

As she exited the elevator, she went smack on the wall, only avoiding being run into by a group of men in black suits by a hair's breadth. They rushed past her and into the elevator, no doubt intent on getting to their destination.

She shook her head at what had just happened. People just did as they wanted around here and they never so much as acknowledged the workers in the slightest bit. 

She resumed walking along the corridor, knocking on a very familiar door. The door was immediately opened with a swish, almost as if the person inside was already waiting for her.

She smiled at the gray-haired woman in front of her and made her way inside into the suite. 

"Good Morning Mrs Hally," she greeted the elderly woman.

"Morning Anelia," she greeted smoothly . "Hope you had yourself a good night's rest. God knows it's the only thing that I look forward to these lonely days."

The woman was a joy to be around and Anelia loved these moments that she could share and uncover more about this sophisticated yet interesting epitome of a woman. Anelia smiled at her antics, knowing exactly what she meant by lonely.

"I'm sure your grandsons will come around Mrs Hally," she spoke softly, her heart going out to the kind woman. It was in that moment as she looked at the sad woman that Anelia realised that she cared for Mrs Hally. She cared for this woman who had shared so much of her life and vice versa. 

"Here, I brought you those books you talked so much about," she took out Mrs Hally's favourite books that all had one thing in common. Historical novelty. She had told her so many stories of the past that Anelia always looked forward to hearing more stories.

"But it's not my birthday," the older woman appeared to be confused as she held the books in her hands. 

"I know but I wanted to do something nice for you. Besides, I don't have to wait for your birthday to buy you a gift," she chuckled.

"Oh, thank you so much dear."

One moment she was standing there, the next she had Anelia engulfed in a hug. 

Anelia was momentarily shocked. Mrs Hally was not one for emotions. She might have told Anelia all about her life's sad goings and whatnot but she had never outrightly put her emotions on show.

What Anelia did not know in that moment was that Mrs Hally had approved of her. As a woman and as a person. Something which Anelia was not aware about.

"Come now, dear," Mrs Hally took her hand and led her to her spacious kitchen. It was the other part of Mrs Hally's suite that she loved so much. It was here that they had grown their bond. She loved cooking, baking and generally being in the vicinity of the kitchen.

So it was during those baking or cooking sessions that she had come to know this short woman with a bigger spirit. The first time they met had been during the festive season and Anelia had been assigned to her room. 

What she had not expected when she walked in, was to see a smile and a hearty hello dear.

"I'm making pancakes today," she said gathering around the necessary equipment and ingredients.

Anelia was already washing her hands, ready to begin their baking expedition. Every time she came to Mrs Hally's apartment, she'd either cook, bake or read books with her. The cleaning? Her suite was always impeccable.

They baked so many pancakes. From strawberry to chocolate flavoured. She had just finished clearing up the kitchen, which she strongly insisted despite Mrs Hally's refusal. So, whilst Mrs Hally had gone to make a call, she had cleaned the kitchen until there was not a single sign of their earlier baking. 

She scanned her uniform and sighed begrudgingly. It was dirtied up with some flour. Sometime during their baking, Anelia had accidentally blown up some flour all over herself, her face and hair included. 

She could not go out looking like this. Not if she wanted to keep her job. Just then Mrs Hally walked in.

"The call took longer than expected. These pig-headed grandsons will make me age faster than I should," she said, although a smile broke out on her face. 

It was clear that Mrs Hally loved her grandsons no matter how stubborn she always said they were. Anelia already knew so much about these men although she was yet to meet them. Well, she hoped to see these men who always managed to put Mrs Hally in a twist of sorts.

She already knew that there was twenty-five year old Dave whose full name was actually David but since he, according to Mrs Hally, he hated the full one, he went by Dave. He was the youngest, worked in the fashion industry designing women's clothes. From hats to shoes to undergarments.

The second, Brett, was an author and loved to keep to himself. He was the most sensible of the other two, as told by Mrs Hally. He was only six minutes older than Dave so that made him twenty-five as well. Yes, Dave and Brett were twins.

The oldest was Dexter, who went by Dex. He was the Ceo of their string of Hotels all over the world. At least that's what she had been told. He was also a hardworking man who never had time for anything other than his precious work. Anelia could almost see Mrs Hally saying that. 

"Look at you, dear. Run along to the bathroom upstairs in the guest room. I'll bring a change of clothes."

Anelia contemplated refusing but momentarily realised that she could not exactly go out there looking like she had been deeped in flour so she nodded.

She was just about to enter the living room on her way upstairs, when it suddenly clicked in her head. 

It would be in your best interests to stick to that schedule as soon as you get it.

She flinched and stopped walking.

"On second thought, Mrs Hally. I have to go now," she hurried along into the living room. Struggling to put on her shoes, she was already on the verge of crying. 

What if she was needed somewhere else right at that moment. What if someone had already reported her. All these thoughts roamed in her head and for a moment she forgot that Mrs Hally stood in the living room watching her.

Mrs Hally looked at a very panicked Anelia and could not for the life of her figure out why the girl was so hell bent on going. She watched her struggle to put on her shoe and went to stop her.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

Anelia jumped a little and only realised then that she was shaking. 

"Umm, I have to go Mrs Hally."

"Tell me what's wrong Anelia," she spoke with an air of authority that made Anelia stop and look at her. She had finally snapped out of her distress.

She sniffed back her tears, a little embarrassed at her actions. Mrs Hally was one of the nicest people that she had come to know and all she had wanted to do was just go without so much as a proper goodbye. Where were her manners?

She blushed a pink shade and looked away from Mrs Hally's unwavering gaze.

"We have new schedules today and being the klutz that I am, I forgot all about it."

Mrs Hally breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had thought it was something serious. With a wave of her hand, she took the cleaning equipment Anelia had come with and placed it away.

"I'm sure they will understand once I explain to them that I held you up. Now...," she did not get to finish her statement.

"I do not want to take advantage of your kindness Mrs Hally. Y-you have helped me so many times before. You don't have to do this," Anelia stood up, wringing her uniform nervously. 

Mrs Hally was beyond amused. People always wanted to take advantage of her, either for what she had or who she was as a whole. To have someone not want to take advantage of her kindness was refreshing. Her heart soared with happiness yet again, because of the young girl in her living room.

She was a gem and Mrs Hally was not letting her out of her hands until her plan worked out. She smiled at the innocent being before her, the wheels in her head turning and forming a masterpiece of a plan.