Chapter Seven- Kindness Returned

Sienta entered the Docu-centre and was greeted immediately.

"Hi I'm Violet. What can I do for you today?"

Sienta could not help but to respond in the same pleasant manner. Violet was extremely helpful and she proofread and typeset the documents and they sent six resumes to including the insurance and banking conglomerate and with each email she kissed the screen for good luck.

"Ms Alexander you should apply at this Hotel for a job too, who knows you may just be lucky enough to fill the vacancy in public relations."

"Really Violet? There is a vacancy here at the Oasis, who is the manager and could I meet him or her?"

"Sure, he is new to the hotel and Jamaica. I believe he is from Spain or one of those countries. His name is Nathaniel Hullivier, tall, sensational looking and he makes you want to be near to him when he smiles."

"Oh! Well, why not, it's a try, let me throw my hat in the ring as well with an application. Violet, I am sending another copy of my resume to print and can I have an email address so that I can send my application to your Human Resource Department. Somehow, I think I have met him already, but he gave no indication that he oversaw this hotel," Sienta responded.

"That sounds great Sienta, luck may be on your side already, but I hear he is a ladies' man and a charmer. However, you can't listen to every bit of gossip you hear. Just this morning I heard he was flirting with guest at the 365/48 for more than two hours. I also heard he is single and is one of the most sought-after bachelors in the hotel management circles," Violet said.

"Violet, it seems you know all what is happening at this hotel, fresh off the grapevine, if I got the job, I would have to stay close to you to know the happenings."

She gave a sarcastic smile.

"Wish me luck my dear. Anyway, I just sent the email and can you do me a favour and pass this envelope on to the HR for me please."

She started to second guess going to the event later and was caught between two minds on how she would handle the interaction with him and the possibility of applying for a position. The rumour mill had already started about their innocent conversation at the café. Tongues would wag if he was as relaxed and interesting as he was earlier and she started to unwind and relax. Why was she complicating a simple encounter with a man who made her so comfortable to talk or be around?

Over thinking was always and issue and her head and heart started the age-old battle of image versus control. Maturity was a bitch and she wanted to portray the image of a sophisticated and professional as opposed to carefree, young and available. What if Patrick got his way and decided to try and out dance her, should she not just let down her hair for once and not think about the possibility that Nathan would be watching?

Panic gripped her in its vice-like fingers and only one person had the ability to calm her down, Jason. Without giving it a second thought her fingers dialled his number and she waited nervously for him to answer the phone. Relief encircled her when it was not answered and it went to voice mail, but at the same time she was disappointed that her friend could not spare five minutes. The buzz of the phone and familiar ping of an incoming message read: Wats up? I am driving. At the end of the message, he put a smiley face emoji.

She sent back a message: Just wanted to talk.

A message came back in a voice note sent by Jason:

"You are still talking to me after what happened this morning?"

She thought for a while and then sent back a voice note, "Yes, but I am upset."

"We need to speak later tonight when I am free," he replied with his own voice note.

"Why not now Jason? I need you," Sienta beseeched in her voice note as tears pooled in her eyes.

"Duh I am driving, what is wrong with you Alexander women?" he replied.

Please don't stereotype me I am nothing like my mother and you of all people should know that. she typed.

"Dwl I will link you later Princess ltr," Jason responded in a voice note.

"Hmmph," Sienta sighed and put away the phone.

"That was a bust, just maybe a swim in the pool would make me feel better, where the devil is my blue two-piece bikini?" she mumbled. She slipped on her swimsuit and sauntered over to the pool.

The emerald, blue swimsuit seemed to shimmer against Sienta's pale skin as she slipped effortlessly into the sparkling, clear water of the swimming pool. Her breaststroke was flawless slicing through the water. The glistening, black shoes at the end of the deep end of the pool caught her attention and even the water in her eyes could not prevent her from seeing the shiny, size twelve leather loafer.

"Wow, if you are as good at public relations as you are at swimming you will definitely get the job," Nathan remarked.

"Well, if I got a job just because of how I looked in a swim suit I would not want it Mr General Manager Nathaniel Hulliver," she retorted.

"Wow saucy and feisty for a woman seeking a job," Nathan replied.

"Yes, but you could have and should have said something earlier. Mr Hulliver," Sienta snapped.

"Why? Should I have used the route of trying to impress you with my position? I wanted you to see me as a person Sienta, not a person of power and influence," Nathan replied.

"So, I take it that you have received and reviewed my application?" Sienta smiled as she asked, her tone signalled that her mood had changed.

"I am not here to talk about work, I saw my friend swimming and decided to come over and say hi. Are you enjoying the ambiance of the hotel? I hope that pardon us while we continue to work on the lobby."

Nathan knelt beside the pool with his sockless ankles showing beneath the navy, blue slacks he was wearing.

"Yes Mr Hullivier, I am enjoying my stay at the Oasis so far and if you will please excuse me I would like to continue doing my laps and I certainly would not want to splash water all over your suit," Sienta replied with a chuckle.

"There is no need to be so formal Sienta, you can call me Nathan and will I be seeing you later tonight?" Nathan asked with a glint in his eye.

Confusion was playing racket ball in her head, she did not want to let him see her excitement and at the same time did not want to seem too rude or dismissive and despite her attempts to control her tongue.

"Sure, Nathan I will be there, but only if it has no impact on the resume that was submitted. Additionally, I will not pretend at all and will be myself," Sienta replied.

"Sienta, Alexander, I would not have it any other way, I will see you later," Nathan replied with a grin.

She almost had to cover her eyes as his smile that lit up the pool deck, but she was not sure if it was the fact that she had agreed to attend the festivities later or if it was that the crystal-clear water that provided no hiding place for her body as his gaze followed every stitch in the fabric. Nathan was handsome, charismatic, travelled and was not the typical man that she was exposed to locally, but she wanted to ensure that she was not sending the available now signal.

After twenty laps of the half Olympic size pool, she began to feel tired, but relaxed as the stress of the day's activities evaporated from her mind. She went back to her room encased in her robe and crawled under the comforter and fell soundly asleep for the first time in days. The buzz of the alarm clock dragged her from slumber, it was 10 p.m. and she sprinted to the shower and washed away the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes.

She looked at the white sheer cover-up with the nude panties and pasties for her grape-like nipples lying on the chair but decided against the display of sexiness and skin when she considered the image she wanted to portrait. A blue summer dress that stopped mid-thigh with her red thong that fitted between her ample southern cheeks and her white strapped slipper that almost reach her knees complimented by her sterling silver earrings, chain and ruby red lipstick completed her ensemble.