Once her basic bodily needs had been taken care of, the hunt for a new guy to teach her what she wanted would be on. The perfect place to start would be the resort lounge. From her observations, slightly intoxicated men were far more willing to do the bidding of strange women.
After finishing her meal and noting the time, Haley drove back to the resort, surprised by the huge line of people parading down the quaint paths. Luckily, valet parking wasn't too busy, and she had to wait only about five minutes before a good-looking young man opened her car door.
"Sorry about the wait, Miss, but opening day has been busy. Are you staying with us tonight?"
"Yes I am, and the wait wasn't bad at all." She gave him a huge smile and was delighted when his cheeks flushed. Too bad he was so young - and so shy. She needed a man, not a boy.
"Um … just take this slip inside with you, and we'll be sure to bring your bags to your room," he stuttered, giving Haley confidence she didn't know she had.
"Thank you … ," she said, pausing as she looked at his name tag, " … Sammy. You have a great day."
Life was already looking up. As she stepped inside the plush lobby of the resort, Crew was nowhere to be seen, but that was OK with her, because there were plenty of men to take his place.
As she looked around, she suddenly felt like sinking through the floor. This place was so far out of her league, she felt it was a sin to be standing on the magnificent floors. Though, she had seven figures in the bank, the clientele here spent that kind of money in a month, for vacation homes, expensive cars, and charity donations.
When her grandparents had died, a big chunk of their estate had been taken in taxes and payment on debts, but she still wouldn't complain at what she had. She could live comfortably on the interest alone if she chose, but she wouldn't be able to come to resorts such as this on the money in her bank account.
Beautifully dressed staff members were walking around the crowded lobby, carrying trays filled with eye-catching appetizers and full glasses of wine in honor of the grand opening. The lobby oozed elegance and perfection. Every last touch seemed to have been planned, down to the minutest detail.
Overwhelmed and hoping she hadn't made a mistake, Haley found she couldn't get her feet to move. She was underdressed and she stuck out like a sore thumb in the roomful of sophisticated people. Even the cleaning staff were dressed better than she was.
In every direction she looked, handsome men in hand-tailored suits were standing around chatting with other people also dressed to the nines, or leaning against the romantic railings lining the whimsical staircases.
This was a high-class place, one where even the floors stood out with their unique marble patterns, and she felt a thrill to be a guest. Not entirely a good thrill, but she refused to allow herself be too intimidated. Though she felt an intense impulse to turn around and run back outside, she fought it and was winning. She wasn't that girl who was allowed to associate only with the servants and certainly no one of any social standing, not anymore.
She wasn't living with her tyrannical grandparents - they were long gone. She had money, and she could go wherever she felt like going.
Still, her surroundings filled her with the overwhelming emotion of not being good enough. It was impossible to go through life on the outside, and then suddenly feel as if you were a part of the action. No matter how much was in her bank account, she knew who she was, and she just didn't fit in with this diamonds-and-caviar crowd. Refusing to cower, though, she raised her chin and squaring her shoulders, sauntered up to the granite-topped front desk, where a smiling woman greeted her.
"Welcome to the Catalina Couture Resort. We're delighted to have you on our opening day."
"Thank you," Haley replied as she reached into her purse for her identification and credit card. Though her room was free, she would definitely take advantage of the room service options. This was the vacation of a lifetime and she was going to enjoy every moment, even if she had to plaster a fake smile on her face.
"Your reservation is all set, Ms. Sutherland. I'll just have you sign right here, and our bellman will assist you to your room and explain about our services." With a smile that still betrayed a hint of awe, Haley thanked the woman, grateful for her genuine kindness that somehow settled her nerves, then followed a young man to the elevators, where he pushed the number for the tenth floor.
When she'd won this vacation, she hadn't thought she'd get the top floor. This was truly a cream-of-the-crop prize. She'd have a nice view of either the ocean or the island.
As they began the short journey up, Haley turned toward the kid assisting her. "Do you enjoy working here?"