Eyes Wide Open Read online

  “You’re talking as though you haven’t got it. You shouldn’t be so defeatist.”

  Shaking her head, Fiona replied, “I’m not. Not at all. I’m staying as neutral as I possibly can. I want it, but I don’t want to get too excited, just in case—”

  The trill of her phone interrupted her mid-sentence. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was a London number. Could it be…?

  She was vaguely aware of Gary relieving her of her mug as she reached for the device. Taking a deep breath and sitting up straight, she swiped the screen to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello. Is that Fiona Gillespie?”

  “Speaking.” She thought she recognized the voice of the person on the end, and her heart began to pound.

  “Oh, hi. This is Sophia Lowrey, from the Totally Five Star.”

  “Hi Sophia—good to hear from you!” She’d meant the words to sound genuine, enthusiastic, but couldn’t help wondering whether they’d come out as too excitable. Didn’t matter, it was too late.

  “Are you okay to talk?”

  “Yes, absolutely.”

  “Fantastic. I’m just calling to let you know that, subject to a trial period, we’d very much like to offer you the role.”

  Her mouth dry, Fiona managed to squeak, “You mean you don’t want me to come for a second interview?” What are you saying, you bloody idiot? Don’t give them the chance to change their minds!

  Sophia seemed nonplussed by Fiona’s reaction. “No. There’s no need. Jane and I agreed you were the standout candidate, and there’s nothing we felt we could learn in a second interview that we can’t learn during a trial period. Am I to take it that you are still interested?”

  “Oh, yes! Most definitely. Thank you!”

  There was a definite hint of amusement in Sophia’s tone as she replied, “That’s good news. I’m glad to hear it. I’ll send you an email with all the pertinent details, which you can go through at your leisure and let it all sink in. Your notice period at your current employment is two weeks, correct?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” She could actually walk out any time she liked since she didn’t have an official contract, but she didn’t want to put the Totally Five Star off her by giving them the impression that she was in less than above-board employment.

  “Okay, that’s fine. I’ll propose an official starting date for you in the email. In the meantime, we will have a background check done on you. Nothing to worry about. This is standard procedure for all new employees, as I’m sure you can appreciate. Subject to that all being okay, which I’m sure it will be, then I’m delighted to welcome you on board.”

  “Wow, thank you, Sophia! I just don’t know what else to say. I’m really happy. Oh”—she gasped—“is it okay to call you Sophia?”

  “Of course. We’ll be working together, after all.”

  “Fantastic, I can’t wait.”

  “I’ll get that email drafted up now, Fiona, and have it in your inbox by the end of the afternoon. If you could get back to me when you can—though no later than the end of the week, if possible—that would be great. We can get things moving then.”

  “Yes, no problem at all. Thank you again, and please pass on my thanks to Ms. Cresswell. I look forward to working with you.”

  “Don’t thank me, Fiona. You earned it. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye.”

  Pressing the ‘End Call’ button, she put the phone back down on the arm of the chair and turned to Gary, her mouth hanging open.

  His expression was a mixture of impatience, curiosity and excitement. “Well?” he prompted. “I take it that was good news?”

  She nodded, too stunned to say a word.

  Rolling his eyes, Gary handed her mug back. “Get that down you, then tell me what happened. Come on. Stop keeping me in bloody suspense here!”

  Doing as she was told, Fiona sipped at the cooling drink, grateful for the opportunity to get her whirling, bouncing, excitable thoughts into some kind of order so she could actually form coherent words and make them come out of her mouth.

  Finally, she put her empty mug down on the table, then turned to Gary with a smile, and repeated the conversation with Sophia.

  “Bloody hell!” he said, when she was finished, putting his own empty mug down. “That’s absolutely fantastic. Well done, gorgeous! You deserve it. I think this is a cause for celebration, don’t you? And this time, tea just isn’t going to cut it. I’ll nip to the shop and get some lager.”

  “Hey, wait,” she said, putting a hand on his arm as he stood. “Let me give you some money. It’s my news we’re celebrating, after all.”

  “Yes, and that’s why it’s my treat. You can return the favor once I’ve scored an awesome job.”

  It all seemed a bit back to front to Fiona, but once Gary got an idea into his head, there was generally no way of stopping him. She knew that, despite him ‘nipping’ to the shop, he’d be a while, given his propensity for talking rubbish to anyone he bumped into. So she decided to take advantage of the alone time to go and have a shower then put on some clean clothes, then put on a load of laundry.

  She’d just settled back onto the sofa and was checking her emails to see if anything had come through when Gary reappeared. There’d been no email yet. She was a little disappointed, but reminded herself that Sophia was a busy woman. She wouldn’t necessarily have had the time to sit and draft the email straight after finishing their telephone call. She’d said by the end of the afternoon.

  “All right, gorgeous?” Gary said, his grin wide as he held a plastic carrier bag aloft. The material of the bag was so thin that she could clearly see the brand of lager he’d gone for.

  “Wow, you’ve pushed the boat out, haven’t you?” It wasn’t exactly expensive, but it was one step up from the crap they usually ended up drinking.

  “Nothing but the best for you, babe. This is seriously good news, so it needs seriously celebrating.”

  “Fair enough.” Getting up again, she went over to the docking unit beside the TV, slipped her phone into the cradle and set some music to play, but turned the volume down so she and Gary could chat without having to shout.

  By now, he’d retaken his seat and held a can in each hand. He passed her one as she sat down, and they opened them at the same time, then clinked them together.

  “Cheers!” they said in unison, then took several long gulps of the liquid, which was generally the only way to cope with the taste—if you quickly downed enough for a little bit of a buzz to kick in, then the taste wasn’t quite so horrendous. Though the more expensive stuff at least didn’t make her want to gag.

  As her taste buds slowly got used to the assault, Fiona couldn’t help but think that, in a few short weeks, she’d be able to leave the dingy flat and scrimping existence behind. She’d miss the camaraderie in the flat, but that was about it.

  Chapter Six

  Lying on the bed in her new accommodation, Fiona realized she’d read the same page of her book about ten times and hadn’t absorbed a single word. It was hardly surprising, though. She was just too excited.

  It was Sunday evening, and she was due to start work the following morning. She’d spent the past two days moving her stuff across London—easier said than done when she didn’t have a car and couldn’t afford to hire a van. Fortunately, Gary had managed to persuade one of his workmates to lend him his car and between the two of them and their other flatmates, Jenny and Ben, they’d managed it. It had involved some very creative packing of the little Peugeot, not to mention some rather hairy journeys through the center of the city.

  She’d never said a word in front of Gary or the others—they were doing her a massive favor, after all—but she’d been a bit embarrassed each time they’d pulled up outside the Totally Five Star in the crappy vehicle. She wasn’t a snob, but she couldn’t help feeling that the ancient, rusting motor and its occupants didn’t belong in Mayfair, much less carrying stuff inside the most exclusive hotel in the area.
/>   Naturally, they’d been using a staff entrance, rather than the front doors, but it still felt wrong—forbidden almost. And as her friends gasped and gaped at the finery of the Totally Five Star and wondered aloud what kind of people stayed there, Fiona also considered whether she, in fact, belonged.

  Now, though, she’d come to the conclusion that it didn’t matter. Her contract was signed—subject to the trial period. She was set up on the payroll, and she’d moved into her room in the staff accommodation. Granted, it was nothing like the guest accommodation—not even the tiniest bit—but it was still a huge, colossal even, step up from the shared flat in east London.

  For starters, it was hers and hers alone. It was a studio flat, with little more than a double bed, wardrobe, kitchen area, small living area and a bathroom, but what more did one person need?

  Despite the relatively small scale of it, it was clear to Fiona that Totally Five Star didn’t scrimp on the cost of decorating and furnishing their staff accommodation. There were no sparkling chandeliers, marble floors or expensive art, but everything was well done. The décor was neutral and spotless, the carpets thick and clean, the wardrobe and cupboards solid, the appliances top of the range and clearly well looked after. There was even a small desk and chair in one corner, and access to free high speed Wi-Fi. She wanted for nothing and was feeling incredibly lucky…and she hadn’t even officially started work yet.

  Slipping the bookmark inside the pages, she closed the book and placed it on her bedside table, then allowed a huge smile to take over her face. God, this is really happening. She still wasn’t quite sure how she’d gone from working in a dingy pub in a dodgy area of London, living in an equally dingy flat in the same area, to working and living in a super-expensive, super-beautiful part of London. Somehow, she’d fallen on her feet, and was determined to make the most of it.

  Tomorrow, she’d begin her career, and do her very best to ensure that Jane and Sophia believed they’d made the right choice in her. She’d learn, be enthusiastic, work hard and grasp every opportunity that was thrown her way. They’d already said that far from her inexperience going against her, they’d seen it as a way to take on someone who had the basic skills they required—that was where her degree came in—but no previous habits. They could train her on the job, so she’d be learning about PR, but more specifically, PR for the hotel business—the high-end hotel business. She was very much to be a clean slate, and Fiona was more than happy with that, especially since at some point there was the potential to take some exams to gain more formal PR qualifications on her CV.

  For now, though, she was trying—and failing dismally—to relax. The move, though it had been a bit of a nuisance, had gone well and she had nothing else to do or to organize. All her clothes were clean and ironed, including the outfit she’d chosen for the next day. She’d found homes for all her belongings, and there was no further preparation she could make to give her a head start for tomorrow. She’d even called her mother and let her know she was all moved into her new home.

  The thought of her mother made Fiona smile again. She’d been so excited when Fiona had called to let her know she’d gotten the job at Totally Five Star.

  “I knew you could do it, chick!” she’d said. “You’ve always been one for getting something once you put your mind to it. I’m so proud of you. This is just the start of something wonderful for you, sweetheart, and I hope you enjoy every moment of it. You deserve it.” After a beat, she apparently hadn’t been able to resist adding, “And I’ll be glad to see you out of that horrible flat.”

  Rolling her eyes, Fiona had responded, “Yeah, me too, Mum. It’s not the nicest place, but I’ve made some good friends here and I’ll be sad to leave them.”

  “No boyfriend yet, darling?”

  Her mother had been surprised when the answer had been in the negative, and Fiona had had to hold herself back from blurting out what had happened when she’d celebrated her good news with Gary.

  Their celebratory lager had turned into another, and another, and the booze had done its usual job of loosening tongues and lowering inhibitions. They’d been talking all kinds of rubbish about everything and nothing, and during the course of the chat, Fiona had sunk lower into the sofa, in a state of lazy, hazy happiness.

  “I’ll really miss you, you know.” Gary’s statement had come completely out of the blue.

  “Eh?” She’d turned her head to look at him, and seen that his expression was deadly serious. “I’ll still be in London. I’m not moving to Mars. We’ll still see each other. Meet up for drinks, I can pop round here. I’m not sure what the situation is with personal visitors at the Totally Five Star, but I’ll make it a priority to find out.”

  “I hope so, ’cause I don’t want us drifting apart. I think we’ve got a good thing here, you and me.”

  Frowning, she’d replied, “You make it sound like we’re in a relationship, Gary.”

  “I wish we were.”

  Had she not already been sitting down—or, more accurately, slouching—that comment would have put her on her backside. As long as she’d known Gary, he’d always been a bit of a flirt and not just with her, so she hadn’t thought any more about it. She certainly hadn’t gotten the impression that he wanted any more from her than just friendship, and once he’d thrown it out there, she’d had no idea how to react.

  “Um, where’s this coming from, Gary?” Struggling to push herself into a more upright position, she’d peered at him confusedly.

  He’d shrugged, and taken another sip from his can. “Dunno, really. Seemed like a day for sharing news, so just thought I’d mention it.”

  Blinking, Fiona had shaken her head. “You just thought you’d mention it? That’s a bit random, Gary. I had absolutely no idea you, uh…liked me, and you’ve just sprung it on me as though it’s no big deal.”

  With what seemed to be a superhuman effort, he’d turned and met her eyes. “Is it a big deal? For you, I mean?”

  “I don’t know! I haven’t even had time to process this. It’s all just so—”

  “Fiona,” he’d cut in, still gazing at her intently. “It’s not difficult. You either like me in that way, or you don’t. We’ve known each other for long enough for you to have come to that conclusion, I’m sure.”

  “I…” Running a hand through her still-damp hair, she’d scrabbled around for a suitable response. The fact that she’d never even considered it before told her everything she needed to know. She’d never thought of Gary that way, and attraction didn’t just switch on and off like a light. If she liked him that way, she’d have been aware of it for a while. But how to tell him without coming across as a complete bitch?

  Turned out she hadn’t needed to. “Your silence speaks volumes, Fi.”

  She’d opened her mouth to say something, though she wasn’t quite sure what, but he’d held up a hand to stop her.

  “Don’t. Don’t apologize or try and say something nice. I get it, and it’s all right, honestly. I pretty much knew that was going to be your response, anyway. I hadn’t gotten my hopes up or anything, I just figured that since I was feeling a little bit brave—damn you, lager—I’d put it out there, just in case. You never know unless you try, and all that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go to my room and feel sorry for myself for a bit.”

  “Gary, I—”

  “Seriously, it’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” Unfolding his lanky frame from the sofa, he’d leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Congratulations on the job, gorgeous. You deserve it. It’ll be my turn next, just you wait and see.”

  He’d loped off in the direction of his room, leaving Fiona feeling confusion, surprise and regret all in one go. She’d left him alone, though, and when he’d emerged later on, he’d clearly been playing the forget-we-ever-had-that-conversation game, and she’d been happy to go along with it. After all, there had been nothing she could say to help. He liked her, but she didn’t feel the same, and that
wasn’t going to change.

  She was glad to leave that incident behind her, both emotionally and physically. Although Gary hadn’t mentioned it since, it had, unfortunately, still had an impact on their friendship. They weren’t quite as comfortable with each other as they had been previously, and he’d toned down what she’d always thought of as harmless flirting. If the others had noticed, they’d kept quiet about it, and her incredible news had overshadowed everything else, in any case.

  A flurry of activity had followed—responding to Sophia’s email when it arrived, then working from there to get everything organized. Handing in her notice, both at the pub and with her landlord, helping the others to put the word out that a room was coming up for rent, talking to those that were interested in taking her room to weed out the most undesirable folk.

  After all of that, though, there had been some fun. She and Jenny had hit the shops in order to get her kitted out with some suitable clothes for her new job. A single interview suit wasn’t going to cut it. Thankfully Fiona’s parents had sent some money to help her out in that regard, and she’d managed to make the budget stretch to enough items that she could mix and match without looking as though she was wearing the same stuff again and again. That would last her until her first payday, and on her much-improved wage she could gradually start adding items to her wardrobe.

  Her send-off from the flat had been emotional and bonkers at the same time. It had been sad because she was leaving, but also a celebration of her getting her foot on the first rung of the career ladder. The weird mix of emotions had resulted in an incredibly drunken evening with the four of them—plus Ben’s girlfriend Megan and Jenny’s on-again, off-again boyfriend José vowing to make sure they kept in touch, met up as often as possible and so on.

  It’d be difficult, Fiona knew, because she’d no doubt be crazy busy with her new job and learning the ropes, but she felt it was important to keep her friends close. Maybe a little bit of time and space would help mend the rift between her and Gary too. She hoped so.