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have someone attend to your car. Our valet is on vacation this week, but don’t worry. His fill-in will take care of your vehicle.” The woman picked up the receiver of a desk phone, spoke a few words to someone on the other end and then turned her attention back to Olivia. “Come with me, I’ll get you an application. Let’s chat.” The beautiful woman nodded her head to the left and motioned for Olivia to follow.
    “Maria,” she said to a woman passing them in the hallway. “Hold all of my calls, please.”
    “Yes, Ms. Scarlet.” Another gorgeous blonde-haired woman, Maria padded over to stand behind the massive mahogany desk replied, waving at her with a bright smile as Olivia followed Scarlet out of the lobby.
    She felt incredibly inadequate walking across the elegant carpeting behind the woman. A subtle mixture of jasmine and honey engulfed Olivia, setting her at ease as they padded through corridor after corridor. She watched the woman as her long legs gracefully carried her through the arched hallways, beneath cathedral ceilings.
    They came to a set of white double doors embellished with gold leaf etchings. “Right this way, dear.”
    “You have a beautiful hotel. I’ve never seen anything like it. It reminds me of those fancy places I’ve read about in my friend’s books.”
    “Thank you. I take great pride in the River Jewel.”
    “Where are we going? If you don’t mind me asking.”
    “Just a little further, Olivia. My office is right through these doors.”
    Olivia? She hadn’t told this woman her name. Had she?
    Soft music played in the distance as they entered a large suite. A feeling of foreboding came over her. Maybe she was paranoid, but Olivia didn’t feel right.
    “I don’t think I should be here.”
    Scarlet kept walking, saying nothing. As they moved through the suite, Olivia found herself staring at the most magnificent artwork she’d ever seen. In the sitting room, plush white carpeting covered the floor and once inside, she really freaked out, stopping in her tracks.
    “Scarlet, I can’t come in there.”
    “Really? You’ve changed your mind?”
    “No. I mean here, in this room. I’m not really dressed appropriately for something this gorgeous. I only came here to get an application and now that you’ve seen me completely underdressed, I can only imagine what you must think of me. And I’m afraid my shoes will soil your carpet.”
    “Nonsense. It’s just a rug. And it’s scotch-guarded. Relax, Olivia, and come on in, grab a seat. For the record, I think you’re quite beautiful. Isn’t it high-time you did, too?”
    “Have we met before? I’m sure I would remember meeting you. How do you know my name?”
    Scarlet smiled and picked up a phone on the desk that sat in front of a wall of windows. “Maria, have someone bring up a tray, please.” A slight pause and then, “Thank you.”
    Replacing the handset, Scarlet motioned for Olivia to sit on the long white sofa. When she shook her head, ready to speak up, Scarlet wouldn’t take no for an answer.
    “Olivia, I insist.”
    Though her voice was firm, it still held a melodic, friendly tone and Olivia acquiesced. She perched herself on the edge of the softest couch she’d ever sat upon and glanced around the room, admiring everything about it, not believing she’d been invited to some sort of inner sanctum.
    “You can relax. I don’t bite. In fact, I’ve been expecting you.”
    “You have? But, how?”
    The woman laughed a bit and said “Trust me. This was bound to happen. I’ve been waiting for you for years. Actually, I figured I’d have seen you a long time ago, after Randy died.”
    At the mention of Randy, Olivia bristled and clasped her hands together in an effort to keep her emotions in check. “How do you know about him? Look, I don’t know what kind of sick, twisted game you’re playing, but I’m not going to sit here while you tell me some long-buried secret about my dead fiancé. He’s dead