La Brat by Ashe Barker Read Free Book Online Page B

outdoor diners over the rim of her cup, noting the ready attention of the staff who hovered around the edges of the patio. They were discreet, unobtrusive, but alert to any signal or gesture, rushing across to tend to each and every need.
    A family with two young children were having difficulty choosing. The burger, which the eldest boy wanted, seemed not to be on the menu. Nevertheless, one was produced, followed by plain and simple ice cream.
    An elderly gentleman requested a newspaper, and his waiter procured one. Nothing was too much trouble. Eugenie was impressed and more than ever, she wanted to be a part of this.
    She signed the tab, thanked the staff for her meal and moved off to continue her excursion. She strolled around the intimate little garden, loving the serene, shady nooks as well as the bright tinkling fountain gracing the center of a manicured lawn. The garden wasn’t large, but she hadn’t thought such an oasis could ever be found in the heart of Paris, not a ten-minute walk from the Place de la Concorde. She adored it.
    Back inside the Totally Five Star, Eugenie made for the main lounge bar where a pianist and singer were providing soft background music to accompany the subdued chat of the few guests there at this time. She ordered a sparkling water and perched on a barstool to savor the relaxed mood. As in the terrace restaurant, the staff was attentive, but without the pushiness she so often experienced. No one seemed overenthusiastic, there was no hard sell, but whatever she wanted would be provided.
    She left her empty glass on the bar and strolled off in search of something more vibrant, and discovered it in the form of the live bar. Here a comedian was just concluding his set, a performance that seemed to have gone down well with the guests. This room was crowded, the piped music loud, the voices raised over it. Eugenie settled herself at an empty table to wait for the next show to start—a troupe of dancers who did something astonishing and clever with lights. These, too, were popular with the audience, and the bar was full to overflowing by the time Eugenie decided to move on. Her final stop, before turning in for the night, was the library. She hadn’t come across such a facility in a hotel previously and was intrigued to see what they might stock.
    The room was breathtaking. Carved wooden shelving lined all the walls, and a balcony skirted the room with further shelving above. The titles encompassed a range of international classics in various languages. Signs invited guests to make their selections and scan any books they wanted to borrow into an automated system. They were urged to take books away with them, and if they checked out before they finished to post the book back later. Or if a guest simply preferred to read there, they could avail themselves of the huge leather armchairs and low tables. A coffeemaker was provided for their further comfort and convenience.
    Eugenie had the place to herself and settled into one of the chairs to thumb through a book on French antiques of the seventeenth century. She passed a contented half hour or so then felt it was time to turn in. She needed to get plenty of sleep.
    Tomorrow was to be a big day.
     
    * * * *
     
    Sleep eluded her. Her brain was whirling, her head full of warring thoughts. She was excited about the coming interview and terrified as well. So much depended on how she might perform in that hour or so tomorrow afternoon. She’d done her homework and was prepared. Why then did she not feel more confident? She was here to carve out a brilliant new career for herself, wasn’t she? This was just the beginning.
    It was more than that, though—much more. She so did not want to return to Northumberland and her old life. Here, in Paris, she could make a fresh start. No more La Brat.
    As she lay in her queen-size bed listening to the low hum of the air conditioning, her mind drifted back to the man who started her on that path. Aaron