Learning to Fly - 9

Chapter 9 - limping around

Camilla had been a great friend, visiting the bar several times to refill an ice pack, but by the morning, the ankle was still hugely swollen, hot and very painful. Carly hobbled down to breakfast, but her foot impeded her massively and her appetite wasn't great. She was supposedly spending time with Millie before her ten am start, so she had tied her snow boots tightly around her ankle and they'd provided a little support. It still took her a long time to make her way through the paths and steps that led to the chalet. When she got there, she took a deep breath, there were a dozen wooden steps up to the terrace and of course the front door.

When she got there she fell against the door in relief and it was opened almost immediately by Mikey.

"Hi Carly, come in!"

With that he disappeared back into the building. She limped into the hallway, then froze. Several large suitcases and bags were sitting in the centre of the hall, the whole place was chaotic. She could hear Paul shouting instructions to the kids, and she'd barely got to the bottom of the stairs when he bundled down and almost knocked her over.

"Carly!" he exclaimed before pulling her into a hug. "I can't thank you enough! Millie..." he smiled as he held her at arms length, "she woke up yesterday after you'd left, talked about her Mom all afternoon...it was amazing. Really! I spoke to the therapist, he suggested we come home, carry on her treatment."

"Is it sensible to uproot her now..."

Paul smiled, "I love that you care about her so much. I'm forever indebted to you. I did question whether cutting short the trip was right, but she  wants to go see her grandparents, I think she feels like the last six months didn't exist. All thanks to you!" He placed a hand on her shoulder, "I've spoken to Jens, the manager here, I want you to feel free to use this chalet, we're paid up for another week. He's agreed."

She nodded, "a little bit of luxury? That would be great."

Paul grinned, "we're back in February for at least ten days, we do two holidays every year. You'll still be here?" His eyes were intense as he watched for her response.

Carly was suddenly feeling bereft. For the next few days at least she'd had so much planned and commitment to this family was a huge part of it. Now she wondered whether she'd see them again. She shrugged, "I'm not planning on going anywhere."

As Paul walked her towards the door, maybe a little keen to get rid of her he smiled, "Great! I'm so looking forward to that. The money I've already agreed is yours. I'm ever indebted!"

Carly smiled awkwardly, "it was never just about the money...can I say goodbye to Millie?"

He nodded, but she could tell that it was an inconvenience. she hugged the little girl and promised to reply to her emails, amazed on the inside that a four year old was already so internet savvy!

Carly hobbled back to the hotel, and as far as the main foyer when she needed a break. Her foot was swollen and she was struggling. It seemed to be worse if she stopped, or rather it was harder to get going after resting. So she got back on her feet and hobbled down stairs to the creche. 

By mid afternoon Rochelle insisted she left, "you look green! Go put your feet up and relax!"

Carly was reluctant, but after a few hours snoozing on her bed, she felt a lot better. 

The following day things felt better, the swelling had eased and she was nowhere near as stiff. As usual she ate her breakfast alone, enjoying her own space, but it was as she limping out of the canteen toward the creche that an unusual voice called out to her.

"Carly?" Hearing her voice she slowed her ambling gait then turned. Her heart flew to her mouth and a swarm of butterflies, if you called them swarms, fluttered around her stomach. Striding towards her along the corridor was their very rich, very handsome boss Jens. In the almost eight weeks that she'd been there, other than when she'd waited to see Danica the previous week, he'd barely looked at her, let alone spoke to her, in fact she had no idea that he knew her name.

Smiling nervously she nodded.

He grinned, and in his clipped voice that betrayed only the slightest hint of an accent he added, "great. I heard a lot about you, nice to put a face to the name! I really need to talk to you, in my office. Can you come up there in the next hour maybe?"

Carly nodded, "I'll have to check how busy it is, as we're fully booked. If not I have a break at eleven?"

He laughed, "tell Rochelle I want to see you at ten. No buts!"

With that he disappeared.

With great trepidation she hobbled up to the management suite at ten. Rochelle had laughed at her anxieties, assuring her that he was no ogre. But she remained worried. Danica was sat in her office and smiled.

"You here to see Jens?" When she nodded, Danica added, "good luck he's been a grouch all day!"

JUST what she wanted to hear!

After ten minutes of sitting awkwardly, the office door swung open and he stood there, imposing in the doorway. 

Carly already knew he was good looking, tall, broad, everything a woman could want. But when he smiled at her she literally turned to jelly.

"Carly, thanks for coming! I'm so glad the creche could spare you!" His eyes widened in a display of humour as he stepped back and invited her into his lair. As she followed the sweep of his arm, she'd never felt more like a lamb to the slaughter.

She took a seat that he offered and waited for him to slowly move to the opposite side and sit to face her, "so I bet you wonder why I've called you here, hey?"

Carly shrugged, "you're the boss, I'm sure you have your reasons!"

He laughed at that, a loud warming sound then shook his head, "all I hear these days is your name, Danica, Rochelle, the night desk staff, parents, Paul Carter called me to one side before he left to help me realise what an asset you are!"

Carly smiled awkwardly, "sorry..."

He laughed again, "don't apologise, I think that as a manager this much recommendation is a good thing." He lounged back in his seat. "I'm just a little...annoyed...that I didn't realise sooner! But I wanted to let you know that this company appreciates your effort. Danica will keep in touch with you, but she's already put you forward for any junior management positions that become available." He laughed again as he saw her jaw drop. "Carly you are a real tonic. I might change your job description and make you work up here just lightening up my day!"

Carly knew she was gawping, her mouth agape rather inelegantly, but there was nothing that she could do about it. The praise, the possible opportunity...it was all amazing.

"Thank you Mr König, I'm really pleased that you're pleased with my work. I enjoy it here. And I'm extremely grateful that you might even consider me for anything more senior, I really am."

His smile was dazzling, his teeth gleamed in the light like some toothpaste advertisement, "call me Jens, please. And gratitude not needed! I look forward to hearing more of your good work!"

Nodding she hobbled to the door, as she turned to thank him, he raised an eyebrow, "what's the matter with your leg?" 

Groaning she tried to avoid his eyes, "I  went over on my ankle a couple of days ago, it's a bit sore."

Rifling through some paper work, he handed her a business card, "this is the contact for staff medical treatment, go and see this doctor, maybe he'll strap it for you, or at least prescribe some medication."

Two days later, after seeing the doctor and resting a little more, Carly's ankle was much better. So when Rochelle suggested a few hours out on the town Carly agreed. It was ages since she'd had fun, or at least it felt like that.

With her sore ankle strapped into her mid calf high snow boots, she glammed up the rest of her as much as she could in slinky leggings that Camilla had gifted her, and a glittery strappy top, then piled her hair up into a clip. Camilla was working late, but was desperate to meet her later. Carly had laughed at that, Camilla seemed to be out every night, she just happened to be the day's excuse.

Carly love the Europop that blasted in all the pubs, as she sat next to Rochelle watching the world go by she started a heated debate as to the merits of 80's cheese over 90's techno. Marta danced across the room to them her face a beaming smile

"Better late than never!" Carly grinned at her colleague. But Marta still beaming acted a little coy.

"What is it?" Rochelle asked, "don't leave us in suspense!"

Marta's face was a picture of happiness, joy and extreme excitement as like a five year old child she slowly brought her left hand from behind her back. As the two friends immediately clocked the diamond ring that occupied her ring finger they both squealed, jumping off their stools to hug Marta, at the same time the woman in question started to screech too. All three jumped up and down, hugging each other before Carly pulled herself free of her friends and turned to the barman.

"Barman! Champagne please!" Rochelle started to protest at the price, but Carly grinned, "this is a gift from Paul Carter!"

Who could argue with that?

Three hours later and Carly was well on the way to being drunk. She'd had the best night out in ages. Her two friends were great company, and the recent engagement only added to the atmosphere. Bernard the blushing fiance and eventually Rochelle's husband Franz turned up, and the whole evening became raucous. To the point that at one am, Carly found herself dancing on a table to Ace of Base...something that she knew would NEVER have happened without alcohol. But being on the table she couldn't move her feet much, so her ankle barely hurt.

As she suddenly wondered when how the hell she was going to get down...she could neither lower herself nor land on her injured ankle, a pair of hands reached around her waist and she was lowered to the floor as though she was as light as a feather.

"Can't have my star worker falling from a height, can I?"

Carly's heart started to pound dramatically as she turned to meet Jens' eyes. She wanted to laugh, lighten the sudden serious mood, but she was overwhelmed by him, his authority, her own vulnerability, so all she did was babble incoherently.

Laughing he lowered his hands, met her eyes and absorbed her attention for several moments before stepping back and disappearing into the crowd.

Later that evening as she tried to sleep despite the spinning room, her mind was occupied with thoughts of the sad Paul, and his family and then the delectable Jens. Was she attracted to him? She had no idea, but he was both her boss and a womaniser, she needed to keep her distance there, she knew that. God life was so simple when she didn't have hunky men interfering with her equilibrium.

Groaning she let sleep wash over her.