Hotel Vendome

Hilary had decided not to tackle Heloise just yet. She let her stay on the fringes of the wedding and watched her like a hawk, waiting for her to do something wrong. When Heloise ordered a Coca-Cola from a passing waiter, Hilary canceled it immediately and reminded Heloise that she was not a guest. But this was Heloise’s world, not hers, and things were done differently here. The owner’s daughter could do no wrong; they had all watched her grow up. Hilary clearly didn’t find her charming, and her only interest was in Hugues.

“You don’t order drinks here,” she told Heloise firmly. “If you want to see the bride, that’s fine. But if you want to eat or drink, go upstairs to your own apartment. And don’t dance or talk to the guests.” Her tone was harsh and her blue eyes ice cold, as the other employees watched her.

“I always talk to the guests,” Heloise said firmly, without flinching. She was not going to be run off by a stranger. This was her home. “I represent my father here,” she said with a tone that was braver than she felt. Hilary was scary.

“And I’m responsible for this wedding. You’re not an invited guest, and I’m sure your father would agree.”

Heloise wasn’t sure he wouldn’t, so she didn’t press the point. But two waiters who had heard the exchange went out to the kitchen and told the head chef that there was trouble in River City, and the new catering manager wouldn’t let the boss’s daughter order a Coke.

“She won’t get far with that.” The cook laughed and rolled her eyes. They all agreed that Hilary wouldn’t last three months if she was mean to Heloise. Her father wouldn’t tolerate that.

The wedding went off perfectly. Heloise watched it for a long time and left before they cut the cake, which was unusual for her, but she felt unwelcome after what Hilary had said and could feel her eyes on her all the time. Heloise went upstairs and watched a movie, then came back downstairs after the wedding was over and walked into her father’s office to say hi. She almost fell over in astonishment when she saw Hilary sitting there with her angel face on, laughing as Hugues poured them each a glass of champagne. Cristal, their best.

“What’s she doing here?” Heloise blurted out as Hilary turned and gave her a victorious look.

“We’re talking about the next few weddings, to bring Hilary up to speed,” he said calmly, looking unconcerned.

It amused him that whenever he wanted a private moment, his daughter never failed to show up. And he didn’t know why, but he could sense the tension between the temporary catering manager and his daughter. It made no sense. He had invited Hilary to his office for a drink after the wedding. She had done a good job, said she wanted to talk to him, and he wanted to put her at ease. And she was a lovely-looking young woman. There was no harm in sharing a glass of champagne.

“Why don’t you go upstairs, Heloise?” he suggested. “I’ll be up in time for dinner.” It was clear he wanted to be alone with Hilary. Heloise looked upset when she left the room and went back to their apartment.

“She’s very possessive of you, and her turf,” Hilary commented with an innocent smile, and he looked at her ruefully and nodded.

“She’s been the woman in my life since she was four, almost all her life, as she remembers it. She likes having me to herself.” He smiled apologetically.

“In a few years she’ll be gone,” Hilary said thoughtfully, “and you’ll wind up alone.” She sounded sympathetic. “You can’t let her run your life. She’s just a little girl.” And Hilary was a big girl who knew a golden opportunity when she saw it and planned to make the most of it while she was there. She would have liked nothing better than to become the girlfriend, or better yet the wife, of the owner of the hotel. She had read Hugues’s bios in hotel magazines for years. The temporary job at the Vendome was her dream, and so was he. She saw this as a long-term opportunity and had pounced on it when the agency offered to send her there. She had done her homework, and her plan was to seduce Hugues Martin, and she wasn’t going to let a precocious twelve-year-old stand in her way.

They drank half the bottle of champagne together, and after that Hugues went to his apartment upstairs. He was attracted to Hilary, but it was against his better judgment to get involved with an employee. She was very seductive, and he told himself that at least she was a temp. Maybe he could go out with her after she left. He was very attracted to her; and Hilary was making the most of it and flirting with him.

When he got to the apartment, Heloise was watching a movie on TV, looking unhappy. She hardly spoke at dinner, and most of Hugues’s efforts to engage her in conversation went ignored, until she finally turned to him, with tears in her eyes.

“That woman is after you, Papa. She’s a liar, and she’s mean to everyone. She yelled at Jan and made her cry.”