“Stuart Fisher,” Ruby said, more to herself than Steve as they headed towards the reception desk.
“Stuart Fisher.” He nodded and placed an arm on her shoulder. “Relax, Roo, it will be fine.”
“Yeah, why am I the nervous one here? Just remember to act nerdy, you know, like Clark.”
“Yeah, yeah, but I don’t want to be too clumsy…”
Lois hadn’t fancied Clark – not initially.
“Yes, but too confident and they may see through the disguise. And work on your accent.” Her eyes narrowed. “Right, I need to find Alice,” she mumbled.
They almost bumped into a skinny lad with mild acne as he walked out of the lift.
“Ah, Callum, I want you to meet Stuart,” Ruby said, as Steve held out his hand. As Callum returned the handshake, tucking the tray he carried under his other arm, he wore a puzzled expression, as though he’d done nothing so formal in his life. “He’s going to be working with you behind the bar.”
“Hi, Stuart.” Callum looked from Steve to Ruby.
“He’s my older brother,” she said.
“Yeah, Ruby’s helping me out. I need a job for a while.” Steve tried very hard to lose his American accent but at the same time not sound like Benedict Cumberbatch. He remembered Ruby’s advice, and his memories of the old Superman movie, trying to mimic Clark, to make his gestures jittery. Clark never stood as tall and straight as Superman.
Steve was naturally confident from years of girls falling at his feet, so now he needed to look less secure about himself – especially standing in front of a guy barely out of his teens.
“Ruby never said she had a brother.” Callum frowned.
“Well, I’ve been away, um, travelling for a while,” Steve said, not really sure where it had come from. Stupidly, they’d never managed to get around to making up a back-story. Maybe they should have thought harder about a past for him.
“Yeah, and he didn’t leave on a good note so I didn’t like talking about him,” Ruby added, “but we’re over that now. We’ve cleared the air.”
“Oh, right,” Callum said, scratching his head. “Nice to meet you, Stu.” Steve frowned. “Oh, you don’t like Stu?” Callum grinned wickedly.
“No, no, Stu’s fine.” Steve rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. He’d have to get used to ‘Stu’ from now on.
“Well, you’re Stu now,” Callum said, laughing. The two men joked for a bit, the nervous atmosphere ebbing away, and Steve was able to relax. He wasn’t looking at him as if he was a Hollywood film star. Phew!
“I’m going to introduce Stuart” – Ruby almost said Steve, but he was the only one to notice – “to some more staff then I’ll bring him over to the bar.”
“Yes, boss.” Callum saluted, then turned on his heel and marched away. Ruby rolled her eyes as Steve smirked at Callum’s cheek. Steve had said the same thing and clearly Ruby didn’t like it.
“Firstly, I need to see Alice about some order issues she raised yesterday, so you can come with me,” Ruby said, patting Steve’s arm for attention.
Ruby led Steve along a corridor and through some double doors with a sign above them reading “Tranquillity Relaxation Centre”. Instantly a lemony and floral fragrance hit him. The interior had changed from the hotel’s rich colours, to soothing natural pastels, as if he’d walked into another world. The reception desk had a huge vase full of fresh flowers in yellows and whites. To the right of the desk there was a cream leather couch for guests to wait. A glass coffee table sat in front of it, with a neat pile of glossy magazines. Steve gulped. He hoped he wasn’t inside one of them.
Being early, the place was deserted, including the reception desk.
“Where is she?” Ruby said, impatience lacing her words as she drummed her fingers against the desk.
“I’m here! Just made myself a coffee,” called a woman Steve could only assume was Alice. “Though don’t tell the guests, because to them I only recommend herbal teas.”
Now Alice was Steve’s type of girl. She strode across the wooden floor, and arrived in front of Steve with a steaming mug of coffee in one perfectly French manicured hand. She had chestnut hair, clipped up, with loose tendrils framing her attractive face. As she approached Steve, she smiled a million dollar Hollywood smile.
“Hello,” Alice said, fluttering her long black eyelashes. Big, chocolate eyes looked him over. Her dark eyes were enhanced by black eye-liner and thick mascara lashes, and her pouty lips were glossy. The spa uniform accentuated her figure perfectly – beige trousers and a matching lotus tunic with a mandarin collar. Even though the tunic wasn’t revealing Steve could still appreciate the swell of her breasts.
Hello, Alice!
The woman had curves, and knew how to show them off.
She wasn’t wearing a wedding or engagement ring. Result!
“This is Stuart.” Ruby nudged him, and then looked at Alice sternly, reminding her that Ruby was the boss. Alice kept her eyes on Steve, the corner of her mouth twitched. She really wasn’t listening to Ruby.
“Hi, I’m the new boy.” Steve returned with his own million dollar smile, and then remembering Clark Kent, albeit probably too late, slung his hands into his pockets as if nervous.
“He’s my brother, and will be working here for a while. I’m just showing him around. I’ve come to discuss those orders with you.”
“Oh, yes.” Alice led Ruby over to the reception desk, leaving Steve to mull around in the spa.
Would Alice recognise him? She had a stack of glossy magazines on the coffee table after all. In her line of business she would be up on fashion and looks. She was the type of woman to take care of her appearance. The type of woman to follow what celebrities were up to.
Just deny everything. You’re Stuart Fisher. You’ve been travelling for the past few years and now you’re home. Or something like that.
Really should have worked on a back-story.
He’d iron out the details at home, later.
Steve nosed around, finding the pool and gym, then waited patiently for Ruby to finish up with Alice.
“Right, let’s take you to reception,” Ruby said. Steve shared a worried new-boy expression with Alice.
“Don’t worry, Stuart, we’ll look after you,” Alice said, almost in a purr. “You’re in safe hands. You should enjoy working here.” Steve swallowed. He imagined Alice’s hands were far from safe. He glimpsed a brief scowl from Ruby, a hint that she didn’t approve of Alice, but he couldn’t see why. She was friendly, bubbly and confident. And beautiful.
Heady from the spa’s heavy scents and perfumes – or was it Alice’s effect on him? – Steve walked in step with Ruby back to the main part of the hotel, leaving Alice in her relaxation centre.
“Can staff use the pool, Roo? And the gym?” Steve hoped so, it would be one way of keeping up his fitness. He couldn’t shuck all his responsibilities as a Hollywood hunk.
“Yes they can, but only when they’re off duty.” Ruby said. “However, I’m not sure if it’s wise for you to be in there.”
“I’ll make sure I wear really unattractive sweat-pants.”
“Whilst swimming?” Ruby raised her eyebrows.
He smirked. “You know what I mean. However, I’m not taking this nerd look to the point of wearing Speedos.”
“I so hope not!”