Mae meets Dominick

CHAPTER ONE

Ever wonder what death looks like? You needn't. When it comes, you know. Smells and tastes metallic, hangs over the air and even in your clothes. It is amazing.

I look at the body at my feet. He had been a handsome man. He had been my husband. I stare at the gun in my hand, amazed, waiting for any guilt to set in. it did not.

This is what it feels like to kill someone.

I gently drop the gun and pick up an overnight bag. I begin packing. Idly I wonder what would catch up with me first; the police, his business partners or my conscience.

Let the race begin…

* * * * *

MAE…

"Mae could you help cover the graveyard shift for me? Sharon needs me at home for the baby" Ian, my co receptionist pleads

"Of course Ian. Give her my love. If you can't make it for your shift tomorrow afternoon, let me know as well" i respond immediately

"Thank you so much." He left. There goes my night of relaxation, I think

Not that I have anything important to do at home anyways but I was so looking forward to kicking off my shoes, pouring myself a glass of wine and just sliding through channels before falling asleep. "No sleeping now," I mutter under my breath.

I do not begrudge Ian or Sharon, they are lovely people and in truth I would take all Ian's shifts till he can fully come back. Sharon, having just given birth through CS four months back, needs all the help she can get. She tried doing it on her own the first two months and went back in for re- stitching as she ends up doing more damage to herself. Now, Ian cannot bear to be away from home longer than two hours. That is lovely in and of itself. The baby, a girl, is a noisy one; can't sleep for more than two hours, needs attention always. Or maybe it looks that way to me because I have no kids and probably never will. Ian and Sharon's babies are as close as I was ever coming to having children.

Having the graveyard shift as a receptionist in a hotel isn't so bad. You have the quiet, and the desk in front of you to do whatever you want, all the impossible customers are asleep, except the vampires and more importantly, auntie Shay, the head chef always brings out food for you. Enough food to feed an army, from the day's left overs. Well then, I guess I have to prepare for my shift. Thank God I always keep a pair of flats in a drawer because this shoes are killing me.

"Excuse me, I would like to book a room" a voice says.

I smile at her. "Welcome to Grace Manor Hotel. Which room do you want?"

"Medium class. I won't be staying long."

"How long will you stay?"

"A week. Can I get the room or not?"

I guess she isn't into small talks. "Of course ma'am. Let me set you up. I need an identification card and 1000 dollars."

She brings out her credit card and an ID and I get busy. After I log her in, I take her up to her room and have her things brought up.

After that it is pretty dull. I use the extra time to do some bookkeeping. I do not want to come up short in any area of my work here. This is all I have, all keeping me sane, keeping me from descending into a bottomless pit of self-pity and depression.

You may wonder why I am depressed. It isn't a big reason. I am a single twenty eight years old with no hope of marriage in the nearest future or children. I work at as a receptionist – which isn't bad in the grand scheme of things- and I go home to a shitty empty apartment every day. Why won't I be depressed? Plus, most days I just want to stay in bed and drink and sleep all day but have you taken a look at the prices of things these days? Food, rent, gas? Jeez! I can't even oversleep on any given morning. Life is hard.

Looking around me, the hotel is every bit as grand as the papers make it out to be. I always get a kick when I see the name of the hotel on television of newspapers. I always want to shout to the world and let everyone know I work there. But u can't because apparently that will be crazy. The owner is an older couple, Mary and Jacob Connor, currently travelling the world. They are living the life I always dream of living. I could still live it. I smile to myself. I have the location planned out, the transportation I would need figured out. I only need the money. That is all. By the savings currently sitting in my bank, I know that if something magical does not happen, by the time I'm financially stable to travel wide, I will probably be dead. Oh well, I should start cutting my hat according to my size or however the saying goes.

The couple not being around to oversee the day to day running of the business does not mean there is no one to do that. They have four lovely adult children. Angela, the first, interviewed me when I first apply for the job. She is stern and direct but also fair. Her immediate younger brother, Dominick, is in Africa, expanding the company. Then there is Alex, he's the one doing the daily management of all the America business branches. Diana, being the baby is not expected to do anything but enjoy the wealth created by her parents and sustained by her siblings. Her husband and children all look like they enjoy a whole lot of the money with her. That is not bad. Privileges of marrying into money I suppose.

Unfortunately for my fantasy world, Alex is also married to a gorgeous red head. Now, I would probably still flirt every now and then and maybe dip my feet in the proverbial pool but red heads are notoriously hot-headed devils and June? She's their Queen. I think I still love this beautiful land of the living so much so that I do not want to leave it.

My dreams have not always been this retarded; fantasizing about gorgeous men while working as a receptionist. I had plans, graduating high school, I wanted to work in a bank while having a bakery on the side. I had the world at my feet with my parents supporting me every step of the way. But, that does not happen. What happens instead is life and I have to suck it up and be a grown woman.

I look down at the accounts I am supposed to be balancing. My head aches. This math thing is not my area. I am nearly in tears when I hear

"I think it's only strong people who balance accounts in the middle of the night. I could never be that good, to my parents' utmost regret." A strange voice says.

I jump. "Perhaps you not learning common courtesy is your parents regret. How would you just sneak up on someone like that?"

"I've been standing here for a while and I made enough noise to wake the dead. I just thought perhaps you are deaf." He responds half acerbic.

"And here was I thinking you had the good sense to apologize. I should know better. Men of the younger generation do not have common sense."

He laughs. "Younger generation? I am flattered you think I am that young. You on the other hand definitely look like my mom's age mate."

That hurt. I know I look older than my actual age but to actually be told I do? Wow. "Wait, why are you down here? I want to assume you are a guest but you are coming from the service area. Now I know every staff in the place personally and I have never seen you."

"I could be newly employed."

"Even if you were given the job an hour ago, I would still know you. So now I ask, who are you? Except you are a guest who just had a quick rumble with a staff. That would be extremely uncomfortable though because I know for a fact there is no comfortable place back there for that."

He laughs." Honey you do not need comfort for that type of activity. The fact you are saying that leads me to believe it has been a while since you had any activity down there."

I fume. "Who the fuck are you? I will not ask again. The police are on speed dial you creep."

"I wonder what the police would think when they come here and find that you called them to come arrest the owner of this property."

"Meaning? Look Mister, you either tell me or you tell the police. Who are you?"

"Why, I'm Dominick." He smiles

I blink. "As in Rashford?"

"That's it honey. Boy o' boy, this conversation has been enlightening to say the least."