The Billionaire's Paradise (Sexy Billionaires)(27)

Best not to get her hopes up. Not yet, anyway.

“Our two o’clock is here,” Karen said as a knock sounded on the door. “Ready?”

“Show her in,” Avery agreed. Time to focus on the reason she was here.

“Lea.” She greeted the pretty receptionist as she stepped into the room. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.”

“My pleasure,” the other woman said, taking an empty seat at the table.

“We’re trying to find time to speak with permanent staff. Anything you say to us is completely confidential, of course. We just want to get your opinion on how the hotel is running.”

Lea crossed her legs, tucking a dark lock of hair behind her ear. “I understand.”

Karen dropped into her chair, fiddling with the recorder, while Avery took her seat next to Lea.

“All right, let’s get started. For the record, how long have you been employed here?”

“I’ve been here for about eight years. I used to work part-time as a maid when I was still in school.”

“So, you must have seen some changes in all that time.”

Lea inclined her head. “Some better than others. I heard that back when Hayden was coming more regularly, things ran smoothly, but that was before my time.”

Avery’s pen paused at the casual use of Hayden’s name. “Have you had much to do with Mr. Wexton during his visits to the hotel since you began your employment here?”

Lea leaned back in her chair, a soft smile on her lips. “Not officially.”

Ah.

Who was this woman to Hayden? She couldn’t help wondering. Just another admirer?

Or a lover?

Something twisted inside her chest that she didn’t want to examine too closely. What business of hers was it if Hayden slept with every attractive staff member in this or any other hotel?

“What changes have you noticed since Mr. Wexton stopped visiting the property so often?” she asked, forcing herself to focus on the questions she was allowed to professionally ask.

The other woman sighed. “When the cat’s away, right? I think the general feeling became if we weren’t being watched, things could get a little more lax.”

“But you have a general manager running the hotel.”

Her eyes sidled away. “Of course we do.”

Avery exchanged a glance with Karen. “Is there a problem with the GM?”

“Isn’t that what you are here to decide?”

“Anything you’d like to tell us helps us gain a better understanding of the problems with the hotel.”

“I like my job. I just keep my head down and do what I’ve been hired to do. Decisions about running the hotel are above my pay grade.”

“Of course,” Avery said smoothly. “How about you tell us a little more about your role and what you are personally responsible for.”

Leaning forward, Lea started talking about her job and how it had changed in the years since she’d first come to the hotel.

Avery listened, taking notes as Karen did the same. Growing more comfortable, Lea was happy enough to speak about her work. But Avery noticed a distinct lack of mention of the upper management. She got the feeling Lea managed herself.

Problem with the staff oversight?

She’d seen it before in other hotels. When management slacked, there was a trickledown effect on the other staff. It might explain why the maintenance of the hotel was suffering, as well as the high turnover of unhappy employees.

They breezed through the half hour interview, then Avery rose, signaling the end of their time together.

“Thank you for your candor,” she said. “We’ll let you know if we need to speak with you again.”

“My pleasure,” Lea replied, following her to the door. “While I have you, Ms. Clarke—I received a message from Hayden before coming into this session. He’d like you to meet him at eight o’clock in his suite for his evening update. I gather that won’t be a problem for you.”

“In his suite?” Avery asked, her eyes narrowing.

Lea merely nodded.

It was on the tip of her tongue to give the other woman a message that she wouldn’t be attending, but the words caught in her mouth. She didn’t know what Lea was to Hayden but the knowing expression in the other woman’s gaze got her back up.

“I’ll be there,” she said.

“I’ll let him know.” The words were said without any rancor, as if Lea didn’t care what Hayden did or with whom.

I wish I was that sophisticated.

God knew she wasn’t. She’d never been the sort of woman capable of staying friends with an ex.

“Have a lovely evening,” Lea said before slipping from the room.