Finding Home - Chapter One

Chapter One

Paige places her last piece of art into the brown moving box and tapes it up. A loud noise from outside makes her jump. Brushing it off and thanking everything Holy that she would be out of Chicago soon. She roamed the small studio apartment with her eyes one last time before she said hello to the next. While checking all the drawers to make sure nothing gets left behind, Paige finds a small Polaroid photo. Her smile was so big that day, it was the day the Livi Hotel, the hotel she would be leaving today, was chosen for Top 10 tourist hotels. Her face looked tired but her eyes and smile denied that notion, her black hair draping over one shoulder; she loved that team.

Brandon stood behind her a couple inches taller, he was the best maintenance man she has worked with. "Ay, boss, I'm clockin' out, have a good one" he would say every day before he left. Enrique stood on the right side of Brandon, Enrique was the Director of Sales and was her best help in advancing the process. Enrique was a diva, Paige loved the days he would burst into her office spewing in Spanish about his husband. "Enrique, how many times do I have to tell you, I don't speak Spanish" and every time he would fire back with "and how many times have I told you, you need to learn" one of his eyebrows would always be lifted in this response. She did end up learning a little bit of Spanish for him. His face when she responded in Spanish was all worth it.

She grew closest to Brandon and Enrique as they were always chipping in to create what Paige had envisioned. A small tear rolls down her cheek as she holds the print in her hand. Paige knew it wouldn't be long term. That's not what she was hired for. She closes her eyes to center her emotions and recites her job description in her head "To become general manager of a failing hotel for six months, recreate systems, guest experiences, and remodeling if needed" she smiled, she was one of 5 people with that role. Paige loved her career, she just gets tired of not having roots. She brushes the tear away.

Straightening her composure the picture comes back into view, Charlotte looked quite small standing next to Paige. Paige stands at 5'11" and Charlotte's stature is a mere 5'4". She grinned remembering her first introduction to Charlotte, her diminutive posture clunking towards Paige as Charlotte's hand bursts forward. "My name's Charlotte, I'm a hard worker, I keep my workers in line and I'm ready to make this hotel amazing again." Paige couldn't help but giggle at the memory. Charlotte really was a good worker. Her eyes surfaced over to Thomas and instinctively, she rolled her eyes. His eyes were the center point of the picture, although he always tried to hide the baby blues behind his dirty blonde hair. Thomas, the AGM - Assistant General Manager, was a piece of work, condescending towards her and acting as though he were better than her. She scoffed at that thought. Prisha was standing in front of him, Paige always suspected the two had a fling but never pushed for an answer. Prisha had the most contagious smile, she managed food and beverage and was stubborn as a cow. Paige knew at first introduction Prisha's systems would be the hardest to revise, her faded henna design on her hands proved as much. She didn't like change.

Paige put the picture in her wallet for a rainy day. The Livi was the first hotel she had actually allowed herself to form relationships with the employees as she thought she might stay, but after long thought she decided to move on. Pulling up to the hotel she sees balloons waving in the wind trailing up to the entrance. The smile on her face is wide as her footsteps lead her to say goodbye. As the automatic doors open she looks at her entire team holding a banner: "Paige! Thank you for giving us life again." As she looks at the banner and the smiles behind, she feels warm. One by one like an assembly line she gives them each a hug, she tries to hold in her tears but one sneaks out as she faces Enrique. "Adios, Paige" she wraps him in a long hug "Adios, Enrique, hasta la proxima vez" he places a light peck on her cheek as she walks away from another job well done.

Paige sits back and relaxes as the plane takes off. Looking out the window, she watches Chicago become a speck in her past. Taking a deep breath she pulls out her laptop continuing research on her next property. The Pacific Tide. She scrunches her nose every time she reads it.