Trials
chapter 1
Eva Cuervo sighed, out of pure boredom, behind the large counter of the Front Desk. She had been here for six hours, basically being paid to work on her crossword puzzle book. Not that she was complaining, but, her job was insanely easy. Once it got past 6p.m., business slowed to nil. No check ins, no more paperwork, barely any phone calls.
Despite her hotel's closeness to Universal Studios, good prices, quality, and everything else, nonetheless it wasn't the busy season. No where near it. For some reason, no one wanted to travel to Florida in the spring. Oh, there were a few nights when it went well, but they hadn't cut her hours for nothing. Stifling a yawn and turning the page to the next puzzle, she was surprised by the phone ringing.
"Good evening, thank you for calling Red Roof Inn Universal, how may I direct your call?" Eva droned. If there was one thing she hated about her job, it was that damned phone greeting. Especially the fact that she had to sound happy about it. Like she really gave a damn about it all.
"Uh... hi. I was just calling to ask... do you have any rooms available?" A male voice asked. 'A damn good sounding voice at that,' Eva thought.
"For tonight, sir?" She queried.
"Yeah. Are there a lot of small hotels around there? I'm going to need to move from place to place. I need a room for a week. Do you have any Kings?" The question was odd, but his voice was reason enough not to roll her eyes. Usually she would be pissed. Did she look like a damned tour guide?
"That's not a problem sir. There are plenty of economy and small-size hotels in this area, this street, even. Our rooms include complimentary breakfast in the morning and extended cable service. Our rate for a week... regularly it would be at $69.99 but since you will be here longer than most other guests I can lower it to $59," she lied. Their rate for the night was $59 but her manager was standing right next to her. If she went below it she'd be hearing about it for fifteen minutes.
"Okay, cool. That's awesome. Look, I'd make a reservation but I live on Apopka-Vineland. I'm not far. Are you guys by that big ass Radisson? The one with two buildings?" Oh, Apopka? Good thing she hadn't lowered the rate. All you can find on that road are houses that range in the hundreds of thousands, to millions of dollars. He would have walked right in with his Multi-Platinum American Express and really make her look stupid, or something. But then again, if he was as sexy in person as he was on the phone.... 'Jesus Eva, put your libido down and do your job,' she thought.
"Yeah, we are. Just get on Kirkman Road and turn right on Major Blvd. Swing around and we'll be on your right," God it made her so happy to give directions to a local.
"What was your name again?" before she was able to tell him thank you and return to her crossword. She was willing to bet this guy was about to hit on her. Happens at least once every day.
"Eva," Men always started off by asking her name again and saying that it...
"That's a very beautiful name. Eva, I'm looking forward to connecting a face to your voice," she could hear him chuckle on the other end. They always said the same damn thing. She wasn't sure if she should be annoyed or complimented.
"Thank you sir. We'll see you in a few minutes then?"
"Sure thing babe," he replied, then hung up.
'Pig,' she thought, 'he better be fine.'