Chapter Text
“Good evening madam, welcome to the Night Island and Hotel Venezia. I understand that you have a problem?
“I surely do!” The middle-aged woman at the reception desk is simmering and fast approaching boiling point. Sadia is an expert at estimating exactly when a guest is going to boil over and she reckons this one is nearly there, 99ºC and climbing.
“I’ve paid for a balcony with a sea view, and that is what I expect.”
“Of course, madam, I’ll check the booking.” Sadia sucks her teeth as she scrutinises the computer.
“Ah yes. You have a sea view, madam. Room 352, I always think that’s one of our loveliest sea views. Out over the bay.”
Sadia knows that it’s always better to use adjectives such as ‘lovely’ and ‘pretty’ rather than ‘best’.
‘I always think that’s one of our loveliest sea views’ is subjective. Can’t be quantified and therefore easier to defend if some pesky guest puts in a complaint.
“But there’s no balcony! I paid for a balcony!”
“Let me see...ah... your room has a Juliet balcony. The famous balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Juliet was on a balcony like this when Romeo serenaded her.”
Sadia doesn’t think that anyone’s going to serenade this guest, Juliet balcony or not, but if it shuts her up…..
After some more waffle about romance and “the owner is Italian, that’s why we have so many Italian references” the woman withdraws mollified.
“Great start to the evening, I don’t think,” she mutters to her colleague who’s been watching the whole exchange with a grin on his face. “If it’s so funny next time you can deal with it.”
“Ah that’s why you’re paid the manager’s salary, Sadia. Me, I’m just a humble butler. And good evening to you. It’s always nice to see you again.”
“Like you’re a humble anything, Rashid. We all know who’s really in charge round here.”
“Yes, we do, and it’s not me,” Rashid counters. “You’re the night manager Sadia, you’re in charge until dawn. I just drop in from time to time.”
Sadia smiles. She enjoys her job and she knows that she’s good at it. The challenge of running a large hotel excites her, this is her empire and she rules it as surely as any emperor. She treats her staff well and appreciates they have their own ambitions and dreams. She treats them how she’d like to have been treated when she was climbing the ladder (girl from Bradford, Bangladeshi descent, she wasn’t always treated well). And it works. She’s doing well.
Night Island is a rip roaring success. The hotel is taking bookings a year in advance and turning away more guests than they accept. A weekend on the Night Island is seen as a sign that you’ve arrived. It should do, it costs enough. From the moment a guest steps off the Island’s power launch (Night Island is only accessible by boat, it’s part of the exclusivity) they feel that they’re special. This is an experience that very few other people will share.
The shopping mall makes money hand over fist. The kind of people who stay on Night Island want to be able to spend their money conspicuously on designer bling and be seen doing it. Ditto the casino and even the amusement park which is building a reputation as one of the top parks in Florida, and even the US.
Sadia has never met Armand Lemaître, the owner and designer of the Night Island. Rashid interviewed her when she applied. He says that she had the job as soon as she walked in. Impressive CV: Degree in Business Management from Leeds University, experience in a range of jobs in hotel and resort management, three languages, excellent references and a burning desire to get away from her family. Sadia loves her family, she really does, but she needs to live her own life and she has ambitions beyond Bradford. And the weather in Yorkshire is crap.
She knows that Armand is an art dealer and that he invests in property. She also knows that he lives in Dubai with his partner, rumoured to be male, but no confirmation. Sadia thinks that if he can get away with a gay relationship in Dubai then all the luck in the world to him.
He visits, but he has his own villa, Villa dei Misteri – name taken from Pompeii no less. This villa stands alone at one end of the island in its own grounds and the hotel staff don't cover it, the only person who has access is Rashid. If any staff are required Rashid arranges for them to come over from Dubai and they don’t mix.
Rashid is based in Dubai where he runs Armand’s household, he comes over to Night Island whenever the boss does. He has no formal position here, but he has influence. Oh yes, he has influence.
“So what’s my favourite butler doing over here, Rash? How long’s the boss here for?”
“The boss isn’t here. I’m all on my lonesome. And I’m only here until tomorrow, quick stop on my way to New York. Got some business to attend to.”
Sadia’s surprised. She’s never known Rashid to come alone before, he’s always accompanying the boss. This errand must be really important.
“And what sort of business would that be? Business business or personal business?”
“Business business. Nothing exciting, there’s an important package needs delivering. Needs to be done by hand and the boss asked me.”
Sadia is surprised. This package must be very important if it necessitates Rashid leaving the staff in Dubai to their own devices. A particularly precious artwork perhaps? But there are specialist couriers for that kind of thing.
She decides that a little gentle prodding can’t hurt. “So what’s in this package? Must be very exciting to drag you out of Dubai.”
Rashid pauses.
“Oh I don’t think so. It’s... old documents I think. Yes, family stuff. Sensitive to the people concerned, but boring to most people.”
He’s said too much. Interesting.
“Well enjoy New York. Will we see you on the way back?”
Rashid shakes his head. “Doubt it. The boss wants me back as soon as I’ve delivered the package.”
Sadia is disappointed. If there’s one drawback to Night Island it’s the lack of peer group company. Oh, the rest of the hotel staff are pleasant enough, but being the manager makes it difficult to socialise and the day manager, Romaine, is an older man who considers Sadia much too young and inexperienced for her job and makes no secret of his disdain.
She misses having a colleague to have a coffee with. Someone who would be up for a (discreet) gossip and the odd trip to the mainland, or a swim in the late afternoon before starting work.
Sadia thinks that Rashid would fit into that gap very nicely. It’s a shame he isn’t around more.
Oh well. “Do you have plans for New York?” she asks him deliberately allowing a slightly flirtatious note to enter her voice. “Anyone you plan to see while you’re over there?”
She knows perfectly well that there’s no point in her flirting with Rashid (bless the man, he thinks she hasn’t noticed), but sometimes she finds it fun to wind him up a little.
Rashid looks at her sideways. “I don’t really know anyone in New York and my….well no. No plans.” For a second he looks as if he’s repressing a smile. Bashful. Sadia springs upon it.
“Are you sure of that Rashid? ‘Cause I think you look awfully like someone who’s got someone, somewhere.”
Rashid smiles very slightly.
“C’mon Rashid, you can tell me,” Sadia wheedles, “You know I won’t let on to anyone.” She’s enjoying this, it’s a long time since she’s had this kind of gossipy exchange with a friend and she’s surprised at how much she’s missed it.
Wow, Sadia could swear that Rashid’s blushing. Mr Totally Professional, Calm And Collected. Well, hee haw.
“There is somebody isn’t there? Somebody you like? You were thinking about them just then, I saw your face.”
“Okay, there is someone, but it’s not exactly…. it’s incredibly complicated. I can’t talk about...them.”
“So, he ….or she? Are they in Dubai?” Sadia knows that she shouldn’t press, not really, but Rashid doesn’t have to answer her does he? He could tell her to go away and shut up.
Rashid shuffles his feet and gazes at the wall. “He. And sometimes he is in Dubai. And that’s absolutely all I’m telling you. It’s more complicated than you can possibly imagine and it’s absolutely imperative that Ar...my employers know nothing about this. So please, Sadia...can we just drop the subject and never mention it again.”
Sadia knows when she’s gone too far. She holds her hands up, laughing, “Okay, okay. I won’t ask any more. And I promise I won’t say a word to the boss – not that I’m likely to get the opportunity.”
“Good.” Rashid looks rattled. Sadia thinks that she understands. If he’s seeing a man in Dubai that’s complicated. Whatever the nature of their employer’s relationship, Rashid is breaking the law. His visa is probably dependent on his work status so she understands his concern.
Sadia feels touched that Rashid has shared this much with her.
“Hey, it’s okay. I won’t say anything. We’re friends aren’t we? And friends don’t do the dirty on each other.” She wonders if she’s gone too far.
Rashid smiles at her. “Yes, we’re friends. Of course I trust you. Thank-you Sadia.”
After Rashid has left Sadia is relieved. Mainly because she genuinely regards Rashid as her friend. She likes him and she doesn’t want to upset him. She’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she’s got an ulterior motive though.
Night Island is a big operation. The hotel alone is significant, but there’s also the shopping mall, the amusement park, and the casino which makes money hand over fist. Altogether that’s a very significant empire.
Sadia’s zone of interest is the hotel, but she’s got ambitions beyond that. Each component part of the Island is managed separately, there’s no overall board or corporate executive with responsibility for strategy.
Sadia thinks that should change. She believes that Night Island could be even more successful if there was a coherent strategy linking all of its component parts, with an overarching vision and mission statement (yeah, she can do corporate speak with the best of them).
Sadia thinks that she’s the woman to put that strategy in place.
She wants a meeting with Armand, but it’s not so simple. Soon after she started her job she asked to see him. Seemed to her that she should at least meet the man who’s paying her (very generous) salary and let him know who she is (and how good she is at her job). The answer came back by way of Rashid.
“Armand’s very private, I’m afraid. He doesn’t see anyone. Sorry, but it’s nothing personal.”
So Sadia has a couple of plans. Plan A is to persuade Rashid to plead her case. Armand trusts him, so perhaps he’ll agree to talk to her if Rashid recommends it.
Plan B is to ambush him. Man can’t spend all day and all night in the Villa when he’s here. He must come out sometimes, maybe he likes to walk along the beach or to swim of an evening or early morning. Maybe he pops into the mall for a quick spot of Armani shopping now and then. If Sadia watches closely maybe she can bump into him and plead her case.
But for now she’s got a job to do. Her job.
She turns back to the reception desk. Toni, her deputy has been speaking with a guest. She catches Sadia’s eye and discretely motions that she needs a private word.
“What’s up?” Sadia is mildly surprised. Toni is very competent and the man seems amiable enough. She gives him a quick sideways glance, middle-aged ish, heavy dark rimmed glasses, inoffensive looking. The type who fades into the background, not a trouble maker.
Toni shakes her head, “Nothing much, I just wanted to check with you.” She nods towards the guest. “He wants me to let Rashid know he’s here and I wasn’t sure what to say.”
Sadia frowns. She can’t think why they shouldn’t pass on a message to Rashid, but Toni’s reluctant and she trusts Toni’s instinct.
“Okay, I’ll have a word with him.”
Toni smiles “Thanks Sadia.”
Sadia goes to the desk. “Good evening sir, I’m the Sadia Choudhury, the night manager, can I help you?”
The man puts down the leaflet on glass bottomed boat tours of the Florida Keys that he’s been perusing and turns to her.
“Yes, thank-you. I’m staying here and I realised that an old friend of mine is staying here. Mr Rangerh, Rashid Rangerh. I’d be grateful if you could let him know I’m here.”
He appears mild mannered enough, but there’s something about him. Sadia can’t put her finger on it, but she thinks that Toni’s instincts were correct. There’s something ‘off’. She’s not sure why, but she’s reluctant to pass on his message.
“Of course Mr?…”
“James, Raglan James.”
“Thank-you Mr James. Of course, Mr Rangerh is an employee and while he’s here, he’s at work.”
Raglan James interrupts, “Yes, but he’s not an employee of the hotel is he? Technically he’s not working here. All I want to do is a let a friend know I’m here and see if he fancies a drink. If he’s too busy or not interested he can say no.”
Sadia feels a little awkward. Put like that it does seem unreasonable to refuse. She makes a snap decision.
“I’m not 100% sure that Mr Rangerh is still here actually. But I’ll certainly check and I’ll let him know that you’re here and asking for him.”
She flashes her best professional smile at Raglan James. Very few guests are immune to that.
Raglan James seems satisfied. “If I’ve missed him no problem. I’ll catch up with him in New York.”
He smiles at her and leaves.
As it happens Rashid has already left for New York so Raglan James has missed him. Sadia calls, leaves a message on his voicemail and forgets the incident.
She’s glad to finish at 7am. It’s been a tiring night and Sadia heads out to her villa. It’s a grand name for what’s basically a cabin tucked away on the edge of the hotel grounds, where the land starts to slope down to the sea. Most of the staff live in the staff wing of the hotel building and eat in the staff restaurant, but as night manager Sadia qualifies for her own space.
It’s not big, a living/kitchen space, bedroom and bathroom, but it’s nicer than Sadia’s had at any of her other jobs and she loves it. She’s especially fond of the outside decking. She often sits outside with her tea before she goes to bed, gazing over the ocean, enjoying the peace. The only other member of staff to have a cabin is Romaine and he’s some way away so she can imagine she’s got the place to herself.
Tonight though, Sadia goes straight to bed. She pulls across her black-out curtains and falls asleep to the sounds of the ocean. Her sleep is deep and peaceful.
As usual she wakes in the late afternoon. Thanks to the job she’s pretty much nocturnal, but she likes to get outside during the hours of daylight she has free and top up her vitamin D levels.
Her favourite activity is swimming. There’s a private beach for hotel residents that staff can use, to say nothing of the three swimming pools, but Sadia prefers a little more privacy. When she wants to swim (most days) she cycles out to a beach she’s discovered in the north of the Island. Night Island is about 3 ½ miles long and 1 ½ miles wide at its widest point. This beach is at the north end of the island and few tourists go there. The closest building is the Villa dei Misteri which stands in its own grounds.
The beach is beautiful, a small, sandy cove set slightly down from the edge of the island, with rocks trailing into the water at either side creating privacy. The trees at the edge of the sand provide welcome shade and also block the view of the cove from passers-by. Sadia usually has the cove to herself and this afternoon it’s deserted. She pulls off her shorts and t shirt and plunges into the water.
She’s a strong swimmer, but today she’s content to swim back and forth across the cove a few times, feeling the water part before her.
The sky is a deepening, cerulean blue, the sinking sun’s rays catching the surface of the water, lapis lazuli and gold. The colour reflected back to the sea and Sadia feels as though she’s gliding through a giant blue and golden globe, suspended between water and air.
Splash! Not loud, but deliberate. Someone announcing their presence. Her mood broken, she twists in the water and sees a man swimming away from her.
Blast. Probably a hotel guest trying to avoid the crowds or one of the staff. Sadia hopes that it’s a guest. Selfishly, she doesn’t want to share the cove.
She heads for the beach and her towel. As she dries herself off she sees that the man has turned and is returning to shore. Sadia feels a pang of alarm. She’s sure that there’s nothing to worry about – really. But if anything did happen….well there’s no-one around and the chances of a passer-by hearing her scream are slim to zero.
Not much to do. He’d easily catch her if she were to make a run for it. Anyway, odds are there’s no threat and running would be incredibly rude.
The man reaches the beach and walks up the sand towards her.
Sadia gasps. Fuck, he’s gorgeous. Genuine 24 carat beautiful. Tall, broad shouldered, graceful, with flawless brown skin and curls that belong in a shampoo advert. A sculpted chest, narrow waist and legs….Sadia deliberately drags her eyes away.
He’s wearing sunglasses. How on earth did he keep those on in the water? Must have something securing them.
The vision speaks. “Hello, I’m sorry to disturb you. It wasn’t my intention to alarm you.”
He’s British? RP, with an indefinable overlay of….something else? Maybe a guest then. Man looks like a model.
“Oh you didn’t disturb me, not really. It’s just that I don’t often see anyone else here.”
“You come here regularly?”
“Yes. I work at the hotel, I’m the night manager, Sadia Choudhury.”
He smiles. “Chaturdharin, the holder of four. Appropriate for the night manager.”
Sadia smiles with relief. “Kind of. I don’t rule four districts though. Just the hotel between between 11pm and 7am.”
“I’m sure that’s as much work as four districts. I recognise your accent I think, are you from Yorkshire?”
“You have a good ear. Bradford, my parents are from Bangladesh.”
“Mmmmm, interesting. What brought you to the Night Island?”
Sadia shrugs. “Ambition mostly. I wanted to work abroad, have responsibility for a bigger operation. When I saw this job, it seemed perfect.”
She grins. “The weather helped. I mean...winter in Bradford….eh wuthering is tough.”
He grins back (perfect teeth). “I can imagine. I’ve been to Top Withins.”
Sadia suddenly feels awkward. Here she is, dripping wet on the beach, chatting with this man in her swimming costume (one piece, perfectly decent, but still). And time is getting on.
“It’s been nice to meet you, but I really need to get back now.”
He nods. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your work. But perhaps we will bump into each other again. I swim here when I’m on the Island which sadly isn’t as often as I’d like.”
Sadia stares at him. The jigsaw puzzle is suddenly coming together. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I know your name?”
“Armand. For you, Sadia Choudhury, ruler of the night, Armand.”