A Fatidic Eve (CHRONICLES OF A DISASTER)
/Raúl E. García Lamoutte
A Fatidic Eve
(CHRONICLES OF A DISASTER)
By: Raúl E. García Lamoutte © 2008
Published by Raul E Garcia Lamoutte at Smashwords.
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“Facing the peril of death you have two choices; one, face it, second, run away. On both instances, your whole life flashes in your mind.”
Chapter I Jorge
Chapter II Manolín
Chapter III Cristóbal
Chapter IV Raúl
Chapter V The Union
Chapter VI The Hotel
Chapter VII Events Leading To The Fateful Day
Chapter VIII The Fire
Chapter IX The Firefighters
Chapter X The Aftermath
Acknowledgements
Chapter I
JORGE
New Year’s Eve
Sitting in a reclining chase lounge at the pool of the Sheridan Hotel Jorge was watching his skimpy bathing suit clad toy boyfriend getting out of the water and shaking the water from his hair in slow swirling action. Tall, brown skinned, shoulder long mane of jet black hair, muscular and twenty two years of age. Jorge is pushing fifty, medium height, red sun burned white skin, dirty brown hair; but really his age did not show….. much. He was a businessman representing models that wanted to be in the different pageants such as Miss Universe, Mrs. Universe, Miss Bikini, and others. Always surrounded by beautiful women, whom in turn attracted beautiful men or boys.
It was a beautiful day out in this Caribbean Island of San Eduardo, the sun was shining on a cloudless day, lots of tourists escaping from the cold weather up north were lolling in the pool today, and the hotel was full to capacity.
He was remembering the day they met six months ago. Hector is the older brother to Sandra, a wannabe contestant for a Miss United World contest. They both entered Jorge’s office in response to an ad. She was tall, slender, brown hair, deep green eyes and a body to kill for; except for the beautiful almond shaped green eyes, she was a run-off-the-mill model wannabe. But Hector was a real piece of work. Their eyes met and immediately they knew that they were gay so Jorge had his secretary register Sandra and to set up a photo shoot, while he invited Hector for a coffee next door.
Jorge was born and raised in Argentina and had arrived to San Eduardo fifteen years ago. Back home he had been a successful free lance photographer and a clothes designer. He was invited to San Eduardo by a well known clothes designer to shoot her new collection in this beautiful tropical island and Jorge fell in love with San Eduardo, the beaches, the attractions, the people, and the male inhabitants. Before his visa expired he concocted a marriage with a lesbian model in order to register and request citizenship. His name in Argentina had been Verónico Machiarella but he changed his name to Jorge Mandrake with the citizenship. The ruse worked and he had stayed in San Eduardo ever since.
He was well educated; spoke Spanish, English, Italian, French, and Portuguese fluently. His suave manners and foreign accent won Hector over, even though he never had a penchant for older men. Actually Hector was basically bisexual and he had studied through his BA at the San Eduardo University financing his studies and lifestyle being a gigolo, serving as escort to older women and in rare occasions to older men. His approach was simple; he went to the pool bar at different hotels and approached the elderly ladies that seemed as recent arrivals (no tans or pale skin, and no wedding ring); he would invite them for a drink, start a conversation and then “Sorry, I would like to buy you another drink and continue the conversation but as a student I have blown my budget.” Big smile and bedroom eyes; also his bikini and short cut T Shirt helped a lot. . Usually the lady would stop him and offered to buy him a drink . . .. and nature took its course…. Spending lavishly on him money, car payment, gas for his car, clothes, etc……. He made them very happy touring them around in his small convertible and vigorous sex.
A week later Jorge and Hector met again by the pool bar at the Sheridan, Jorge was not a usual drinker for he always wanted to be in total control of his senses; Hector asked for a Cuba Libre and Jorge for a Perrier with lime. Later a romantic dinner at the Italian restaurant with a bottle of Corvo di Salaparuta, and they both let nature take its course. That same night Jorge was huffing and puffing after a vigorous sex session with Hector at Jorge’s luxurious apartment six blocks from the hotel. Jorge watched Hector’s rippled body swaying towards the bathroom as he experienced another erection. When Hector returned, smiled amusedly at Jorge’s erection and gently slid on the bed and started to lick Jorge from the knees up. Jorge was electrified and ecstatic. They have enjoyed each other company since then.
They had no knowledge of what tragedy would soon befall upon them; after all, who does?
Chapter II
MANOLIN
“Today is not my day! I have lost $300 at the blackjack table. Mierda! Let me try the slot machines to see if I can recoup all or at least part of the money. Lady Luck seems to have also taken the Christmas Holiday vacations seriously.”
Manolín was sixty three years old, six foot one, on the thin side, Moorish nose; and, white hair, carefully combed; and still good looking. With a slow gait he moved from the gaming tables to the slot machines at the eastern side of the building. This casino was set on the lobby floor on the northern corner of the Sheridan, its thick large pane windows overlooking the ocean. It was shaped like a horseshoe; the back part, towards the north side, contained the usual Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Blackjack, and Baccarat tables. The slot machines lined the two side hallways flanking the elevator shafts for the hotel. The two entrances from the lobby to these casino hallways were barred by two double heavy glass doors on each side 10 feet high by 3 feet wide and 2 inch thick, which were opened inward and wide during casino operations.
Manolín left the casino muttering “Maldita sea, fifty more dollars in the fucking machines.” He walked straight ahead crossing the lobby towards the main entrance to go down the ramp onto the street and walk the five blocks home. As he was reaching the main entrance, Aldo the Tuscany Restaurant owner at the same hotel was coming in. “Bon Giorno, Manolín, how have you being treated by the casino?”
“Bafan culo, Don’t ask!" . . . Aldo how have you being doing; ready for the rush of this New Year’s Eve? I heard the hotel is full and the casino has a couple of whales, and some junkets! Also the manager of the Discotheque told me that they were expecting some high rollers from other hotels at the disco. You know that if they are hungry Raúl will steer them your way.”
“Yes I know, he is very nice. And we have been pretty busy all week. By the way are you and your lovely wife coming to dinner tonight?”
“The casino left me flat broke, I will try to see if my wife will invite me and pay,” said Manolín with a beaming smile. “Did you get fresh mussels?”
“Of Course!" They are also Raul’s favorite dish and he reserved a table for three for 10:30 tonight after the Disco opens and he can leave the night manager in charge.”
“Three people, I guess he is bringing his great looking mother in law. That’s a good time, I have a reservation for 9 PM, are you able to get me a table for 10:30?”
“Oooooffff, Maddona, I will try. I’ll call you if I can.”
Chapter III
CRISTÓBAL
Strong as an ox, hard worker, responsible, but not too bright; he has been working as a houseman at the hotel for the past seven years. In slow times the hotel lays off employees according to seniority, so Raúl at the discotheque would hire him as extra help for their own houseman. Most of the housemen had been employees for over ten years over the three name transitions of the hotel, it depended on which company was managing it. His strength allowed him to move around the heavy furniture in order for the regular houseman could clean under them. Part of his arrangement is that both housemen would split whatever they found under the sofas. Money, earrings, and half filled bags of dope were the usual findings. For the past three months he has been having marital problems and Raúl was his grief counselor. On his free time he would either work with the union as a volunteer or chat with Raúl.
Chapter IV
RAUL
Forty-ish, tall and good looking; has been the right hand of the Disco concessionary owner for the past three years. In charge of the accounting, purchases, personnel, overall daily operations as General Manager; and if he went at night to work he would supersede the Night Manager. He rarely did that; usually he would go at night for dancing, drinking and just to have a good time with his wife. If the owner would be in town Raúl would be his Cicerone if needed. The owner even respected his position, so even if he went to the Disco by himself and would see something wrong, he would page Raúl of call him at any time during day or night to tell him what he saw. If Raúl needed to resolve a problem at night, normally he would stay inside until the night manager opened and let the employees in. When the employees entered and Raúl was waiting inside, a deep butterfly feeling was felt on their stomachs. << Oh, Oh, someone’s going to be fired! >>, was the general thought. He was loved, for he was fair, and feared, for he was stern; not even the owner had that effect on them. Raúl’s job was to ensure that the club was ready at opening time. The Night Manager ran the night operations under the instructions of the General Manager, with specific instructions not to call him unless it was an emergency; fire, riots, and deaths did not qualify; there were fire, police, and medical emergency departments for that.
In all clubs that operate at night such as Discos, drugs; mostly cocaine are rampant not only with the customers but with the working staff; so in order to protect the staff from bad stuff he normally made arrangements with just one dealer to sell in the room and to the staff. Raúl had the right to grab a bag from one of the employees and test it; if the grade was poor, that dealer was out, after reimbursement and a new pusher appointed. No ifs, ands, or buts, his word was final. He had a very nice salary, good cash bonuses, and lots of perks, so he was not bribable, neither had he liked any hard drugs. In his youth he tried marihuana and yes, he did inhale.
Today he would be working late; Yamil would be decorating for the New Year’s Eve bash until 7PM, then off to home for some Z’s, a shower, and to the restaurant at 10:30 with his wife and her mother.
This time of year was the bi-annual battle between the hotel’s management and the union for salary increases, benefits, and what nots. Since the Disco opened, Raúl had negotiated and succeeded in separating the disco employees, as a separate shop, from the hotel’s; he did negotiate that the disco would abide and honor whatever contract the union would negotiate with the hotel but that the disco would be a separate unit from the hotel. That way he protected the disco employees from being “bumped” from the hotel’s senior union members. This awarded him the respect from the union directors and the hotel General Manager.
The nigh crew consisted of a Head Bartender, three bartenders, two bar backs, four waitresses, the receptionist, a cashier, a bouncer, and a DJ; and of course the Night Manager. The Overseer Manager, which was also a very small part owner came during the day to check on things and usually was there during the night. The Overseer Manager was assigned the task of bringing people to the disco; he would do the PR for he was well known all around the island. This special night since Raúl was going to be there, the Overseer Manager had traveled to California to meet with his family.
Two years ago, days before the New Year’s Eve Raúl had intervened between the union and the hotel management which were at en impasse, so by his bidding the Hotel’s General Manager authorized $10,000 in cash from the casino which Raul took to the union officials as a payoff and the meeting of minds between the union and management was settled meeting halfway on the demands. It was agreed for the parties to meet in the VIP section of the Disco so the employees could watch from the glass door; they staged to make a fuss at a specific moment, the union president was to pound his fist on the table, stop talks, get up and walk around; re sit and agree with a hand shake. A show of force staged for the union members to see from afar. Oscars for everybody! This was a last resort to avoid a strike on that New Year’s Eve.
This year Raúl had no time nor desire to get involved. The hotel union, supposedly had on various occasions again staged little mishaps like, water interrupted, short circuits on the light ensembles in the ballroom, sludge in the boilers, etc. Aside from the Sword of Damascus; the menace of a STRIKE.
Chapter V
THE UNION
One month before, a meeting of the union officials and the hotel shop stewards took place at the union’s offices. Keith, the president, Gaspar, the treasurer, and Edgard the benefits manager for the union were meeting with Diego, Luis, José, and Jose Angel representing for the hotel employees from the Food and Beverage Department, Administration, House Keeping, and General Services. “Well people, we are at that time of year again to struggle with the hotel for raises and more benefits,” said Keith. “You guys are the representative faction for the whole hotel employees. Did you bring a list of the consensus of what our people want?” he looked around these four shop stewards. “Diego, you always have been the spokesperson for all of you. What say you?”
“We would like to see a 10% increase in salaries, but we would be happy with a 7%. Edgar, as our benefit manager, how about a better dental plan?”
“Yes, I can work on that, it’s a small 3% increase on the cost but you will have the extra benefit of two cleanings per year, and 75% coverage for braces for members, their spouses, and their children. We will try for the hotel to pay for it, but just in case, are you willing to defray the cost for 1% and the hotel to pick up the tab for the other 2%?”
“I think we can sell that to the members if needed”, José Angel interrupted.
“Anything else?” asked Gaspar.
“Well . . . how about working three days and getting paid for six?”
“No Diego, no way.”
José Angel asked, “When would we be notified of the hotel management’s decision? That way we can start planning on how to coerce them into signing the new agreement.”
Keith stood up, “By the 15th and by the way we cannot know anything about your “coercion” methods”, he said; smiling beamingly and winking.
Back in the car riding to the hotel; Diego commented, “What can we do this year to force the management to comply?”
José replied, “Aren’t we getting ahead of the events? Let’s cross the bridge when we get to it. By the way, let’s get a cold one at the Latin American Café.”
Diego reposted, “We are still working, aren’t we?”
“Union business.”
The next couple of weeks life went about as normal as ever for the holiday season, the hotel was booked solid. Heavy snowstorms up north had most of the tourists to look at warm weather, and what better place than the Caribbean?
Chapter VI
THE HOTEL
Once you enter the hotel from street level up the driveway ramp, the first aisle to your right went straight to the Italian Restaurant; further on to the right was The Lounge and the entrance to the Disco through a heavy glass double door similar to those in the casino. From the disco entrance back to the lobby, to the right of the entrance were the glass doors which connected the stairway down to the main ballroom. The configuration of the disco was after the glass doors going inside of the disco, it opened to a small lobby used for registering the patrons/members, and as a pay station; then to the wide stairway that led to the dance floor, bar, and seating section. To the left of the stairs was the VIP section, which overlooked the disco, just for the Gold Card members, not for the usual patrons. The overall space in the disco was humungous, it could seat 325 people and fit almost 600; as per the fire department ruling. The main ballroom was three times as big.
After the ballroom entrance, to the right also there was the first entrance to the casino, the three elevator doors, and the second entrance to the casino; and in front a doorway that led to the stairs that went down to the cafeteria, pool, pool bar, tennis court, and the cabanas. The elevators serviced from the basement to the 16th floor where the Sky Restaurant was situated. Across front of the elevators were the reception desk, and administrative offices. At the lower level the parking area and on the east side of the building you could find a wide alley which was the service entrance to the hotel, the Italian restaurant, the disco and ballroom. The first entrance through the building was to the disco office and a small warehousing area, also had a small alley with access to the emergency exits. The next entrance was to the kitchen, payroll, and Food and Beverage departments. Both entrances were thirty feet wide in total, the roof of the kitchen passageway was the floor of the VIP room in the disco. Further to the right you could find two large emergency exits from the ballroom; and at the end of this small street the garbage dumpsters against the north wall to the beach.
“Golden Mop” was the nickname of the oldest houseman in the hotel; he had achieved many awards for performance and attendance, including the golden mop award, hence the nickname. Also he was the “in house loan shark”; lending small amounts of money at the modest rate of 40% per two weeks. His usual station on paydays was at the payroll window to collect payments, carefully noted on his little notebook.
Chapter VII
EVENTS LEADING TO THE FATEFUL DAY
Two weeks before the 31st
Riiiiiiiing, “Jeen’s Disco, Happy Holidays; Raúl speaking” “Hello, Raúl and Feliz Navidad to you too; this is Ginny, Congressman Heart’s secretary. Remember me?”
“Of course Miss Lorenzi, how are you doing; long time no hear your sweet voice.”
“Call me Ginny, please! The reason that I am calling is because my boss is going down there on the 31st from 3 PM to 7 PM; Gee that’s only 2 weeks from now; then he flies back home at 8 to spend the New Year with his family. So he would need a room for that time like the last time.”
“No problem, but tell him that our chauffer will pick him up at the special hangar. That way I can insure that he comes through me and not the front desk, for privacy. What I would need to know is his exact ETA on the 31st.”
“No problem, I will call you as soon as I can on the 31st.”
“Do not worry your pretty little head; I will take care of everything as usual. Anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you.”
“Bye.”
Raúl jotted on his calendar on the 31st; Heart/Pit Bull/Dealer/Suite/Dom…..meaning Congressman Heart, call Pit Bull the limousine service, get 2 grams of coke, and get the suite ready with 2 bottles of chilled Dom Perignon. The senator was a very influential and also a close friend with the disco owner. As a courtesy of mutual favors between them, Raúl would cater to his whims whenever he decided to visit the island, which was twice per year. That was twice per year too many.
On Monday the 21th of December Diego, Luis, Angel and Jose Angel were in a huddled meeting in the furthest corner of the main Cafeteria in the pool area. On the outside the day was clear, no clouds in the sky and the sun was shining at his best, and the reflection of the sunrays on the pool surface was shimmering all around the cabanas, pool bar and inside of the cafeteria; it looked like one of those mirrored balls of the old disco days. “Diego, what should we do? The hotel is rejecting all of our petitions.”
“Well, we will have to go to plan “B”.”
Luis, puzzled, asked, “Plan “B”; what is plan “B”?”
José Angel said, “You are new to this hotel. Two years ago we did a little, mind you just a little sabotage around the hotel; nothing big, just to let the management know we were serious about the decision to go on strike. This year we cannot repeat the same ones, but all the same we have to scare them a little bit. Any suggestions?”
Luis said, smirking, “We did this in a New York hotel; bang up the gas lines so the heaters and the boilers stop working. No hot water for guests, the kitchens, or for the laundry.”
“Great idea!” said Diego; “What else?”
“Well, how about sludge in the pool filters?” Luis added.
Jose Angel replied, “Done that. We have also done short circuits in the lighting system in the ballroom, and slowed down work. We can always go on strike on the 31st; that should scare the shit out of the management. I know they can call scabs and the managers can work the hotel, but the service would be lousy. They will concede defeat and sign the new agreement.”
“How about the disco? They are considered a separate shop?” asked Angel “Would they cross the picket lines?”
“Yes, they are a separate
shop but they agreed to abide by the hotel union decisions and
agreements. But just in case let me talk tomorrow to the manager to
see what would their position be in the strike scenario,” added
Diego.
The next day Diego knocked at the disco heavy glass
doors, even tapped loudly with his keys. Cupping his hands on the
glass, he peered inside but he could not perceive movement inside,
not even the houseman. “Shit, it’s raining but I am going
to go around the kitchen so I won’t get too wet.” He
strolled to the elevators, down to the basement, turned left through
the heavy service doors, through the kitchen, out the passageway ran
to his right and into the disco; almost bumping into Raúl who
was standing in the alley doorway smoking a cigar. “Hey,
Diego, what’s the hurry? You are getting wet, where are you
going?”
“I came to talk to you, but let me catch my breath. That cigar smells good, Cuban?”
“No, it’s locally made and solely sold in the old city; they cost around $1 each and have the qualities of expensive cigars. The Cuban stogies are illegal and they cost upward of $20.00 each. Too rich for my blood.”
“Smells nice, with a little touch of vanilla or chamomile.”
“Diego, you do not visit me too often, what can I do you for?”
“You know that the union is negotiating the new collective agreement this time of year and the management is dilly dallying with the approval of the new agreement.”
“Yes, I got a call from Keith, but I told him to keep me out this time.”
“Well, we; and when I say we, I mean the hotel union stewards; were pondering the idea of a strike and would like your input on this. I mean, what would your position be; well not yours, but your employees’ position to support the strike.”
Raúl, imitating an Italian Don, puffing his cheeks and in a slow and slurring voice; “Diego, you do not visit me except to ask for something. You never invite me for coffee or a drink. But every time you need of me, you come to me.” He was also scratching under his chin a la Don Corleone.
Both laughed. “Just kidding. But have you talked to the disco union steward? I am basically management.”
“No, I have not because I know that all of you employees will follow your instructions, if you decide to go against the strike, they will follow your lead.”
“Between us, even though I am management, I do support the union’s idea of solidarity and I respect their rights. I do hope that the strike thing comes to nothing; I have the disco booked solid for that night so I will prepare for the possible eventual strike. . . I have an idea, it’s almost 4 PM and with this rain I am planning to leave, I feel like having a bourbon; how about a drink at the pool bar?”
“Thanks, I will take a rain check. . . . Ha, ha, funny, a rain check! I still have to work and we are not allowed to partake within the hotel areas unless we get a special permit.”
“Ok, if you have to work, no problem, but I am your special permit. So next time you are buying!”
“Not at these hotel prices! It would be better to meet at the corner bar. By the way, you mentioned that you would prepare for the possible strike. What do you mean by that? ”
“Well I would have to call my entire family and some of my friends to work that night, the guests would decide if they use the hotel’s facilities or go somewhere else at the last moment. I have to open the disco somehow, I know you understand that. It’s not personal, just business.”
“Uh, Uh,” acknowledged Diego.
*
Gary and Paula had met five years ago on a cruise sailing from Miami, Florida that went to Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Labadee, Haiti. The second night out, the ship had a power outage; it was pitch black on a moonless night. Alarms went off, the emergency lights went on and the voice on the PA was instructing everybody to meet at the pool deck for free drinks until they fixed the outage. As fate would have it, they had just sat side by side at the Sports Bar on the pool deck when the lights went out. “Hi, I’m Gary, quite a scare!”
“Hi, I’m Paula. Yes quite a scare. I can imagine other people in worse situations! It must be pitch dark down there. Thank goodness for the emergency lights.”
The bartender sidled towards them, “What can I get for you?”
Paula said, “Since it’s free, let’s ask for Veuve Cliquot champagne, brut. Ok?”
“Sounds good, one bottle please”, said Gary.
The bartender looked up and said, “I’ll bring two, there’s a large crowd arriving.” Gary and Paula looked behind their back and watched a large mob pouring out the doors from both ends of the deck. It seemed like a large Chinese dragon moving in slow motion. The bartender set both bottles in an ice bucket in front of them with two ice cold tulip champagne glasses. Paula asked, may I pour?”
“Sure,” said Gary. She took one bottle, untwisted the cork wire, peeled off the capsule, grabbed the bottle by the neck and pushed up a little bit on the cork with her thumbs; took a napkin and twisted the cork until a low pop was heard. With a beaming smile she filled both cups halfway. “Beautifully done,” said Gary clapping his hands three times.
Both raised their cups and while clinking glasses Gary said, “Here’s to old friends, new friends, and friends to be met.”
Paula responded “I hope my Spanish holds true. Here goes nothing…. Salud, dinero, y amore.”
The confusion was tremendous, most of the crew were mustered and had to help to serve drinks, and sodas to all the people gathered in the deck. Paula and Gary were well apart from this chaos in their little corner, as if the rest of the world was not there; just the two of them. All that was missing was the violin player. After the first bottle the lights came on so the Happy Hour was over, the deck started to empty as fast as it filled. The Chinese dragon at work again. Paula commented, “Can you imagine a New Year celebration on a cruise ship, similar to this crowd, 2,000 people on the deck, but more of a festive environment and everybody whooping and kissing; the ship’s horn blowing, and fireworks in the dark of the night?”
Gary, already with glassy eyes said, “Yup”. The second bottle went neck down into the ice bucket one hour later, Gary took two $20 bills and placed it in his right hand, said goodbye to the bartender shaking his hand and palming the bills off. Gus, the bartender with wide eyes said “Thank you!”, and made a mental note of their faces to seek them out whenever they would be for drinks… << Good tippers>>
“Let’s go to the casino,” said both at the same time and started giggling. “I feel lucky tonight” said Gary. Paula thought, “And you might just get lucky,” and beamed a big enigmatic smile. In the casino both stood in front of the MegaBUCK machine, Gary plopped $5.00 and played only one line. Whirring silently the three fruit filled drums spun for what seemed a minute. The fruits whizzed past the small window very fast. Gary and Paula interchanged one of those looks that say “I like you”, and looked back at the machine but not really seeing it. Paula started to say, “You should have played the three li……..” Suddenly, whistles, bells, and a siren-like noise came from the machine, and a red spinning light on top filled the casino. Three cherries showed their plump red faces on the line. “Jackpot! Jackpot!” was heard all around. Gary and Paula were stunned at the moment without realizing what had happened. It suddenly struck them, they had won the jackpot! They jumped up and down, hugged, and kissed without really thinking. $ 2,500 was the winning, so they decided to celebrate by drinking just champagne all the rest of the night. Paula was pondering that the three lines would have produced a $10,000 jackpot with just three $5 bets. But anything given is welcomed; you cannot look into the mouth of a horse that has been given to you.
Next morning in Paula’s cabin the sun was creeping through the heavy drapes that led to the balcony reflecting on the floor, as the sun rose the sunlit spot crept across the room until it rested on Paula’s eyes waking her up. Gary was naked in bed face down and sprawled sideways, and Paula covered by a sheet on the floor besides the bed. Paula woke up lazily first, “Jeeez, what a headache! What happened last night? Where am I?” Getting up slowly recognizing her room and she was surprised to be met with Gary’s feet and naked hairy behind. << Oh, Oh, what happened here? >> and still thinking to herself, << That is a stupid question>> She got up ever so slowly still wrapped in the sheet, threw a bedspread over Gary, went to the bathroom and downed 4 aspirins. The time on the bedside clock read 08:46 AM. She got some cold water from an ice bucked which had 2 upright down bottles of champagne and started to sprinkle Gary to no avail. She showered lathering twice to get the smell of champagne and cigarette smoke out, dressed, went to Gary with more cold water sprinkling him until he woke up. Wearily opening his eyes and groaning, “My head, my poor head, it weights a ton!” and looking startled, “Hi Paula, what happened, why are you here in my cabin? What time is it? How did you get in? Oh my head!,” Gary said in words that sounded more of a groan.
“Gary, we are in my cabin, not yours; get dressed and let’s go down for breakfast, I left 4 aspirins for you on the sink. We need to talk.” She said as she slid open the curtains letting the sun shine in, causing Gary to shield his eyes, slid open the door to the balcony and stepped out to a sea side view of the docks. She lit a cigarette, coughed and inhaled long and hard; sat on the plastic lined metal chair, propped one bare foot on the chair and the other on the external wall. Her mind was in turmoil thinking ten things at a time as the same time the exhaled swirling smoke wrapped around her face and slowly floated to the open balcony.
Gary slowly got up feeling the worst hangover ever; wrapped himself like a roman legislator and wobbled to the head (bathroom), muttering “The champagne hangover is the worst ever. I have heard that if you drink cold water you would be drunk all over again. Hah, old wife’s tales.”
She came back in, picked up his clothes and handed them to him through the door and sat again in the balcony, pondering what is to be done next. When Gary came out after showering with cold water to clear his head he started to look for his socks and shoes, “I am missing one shoe, have you seen it?” Paula heard his voice, twisted in her chair to look inside and giggled seeing Gary walking on all fours.
“It’s here in the balcony, under the chair,” and handed it to him. “A long walk for a single shoe.” Moments later they went down the elevator and walked to the restaurant in silence. Paula recognized one of the waitresses and said “Jo Napot”.
The waitress beamed a smile and responded the same.
Gary looked at her puzzlingly. “She is Hungarian, I remember her from the first bar we went last night. And Jo Napot means good day. It’s a good thing that they all have their names and country of origin on their tags.”
They sat down and both started to fidget with the fork and knife. Gary broke the silence, “Did we have a good time last night?” He paused.
“All I remember was going into a second nightclub on the 14th deck, we sat overlooking the ship, you asked for two bottles of Dom Perignon, and waking up with a horrible hangover. And a ringside view of your naked backside.”
The waiter Kemal Tursan from Turkey asked them for their order. “Merhaba” said Gary and Kemal smiled.
“Merhaba sela sir” responded the waiter.
“I’m impressed,” said Paula. They ordered breakfast, by pointing to what they wanted from the menu, and while waiting he said. “Paula; I really, really like you, I know we have only met for some hours but I feel completely comfortable with you. When I entered the head and looked myself in the mirror, even though the vision was blurred, I felt like it was any normal morning; of course less the humungous headache. By the way, my head, not the bathroom, still weighs one hundred pounds. At least the aspirins got rid of the horrible thumping in the brain. So let’s think that nothing happened last night out of the ordinary and start from scratch. My name is Gary Lester and I live in Atlanta Georgia, I am 42 years old, divorced with a 16 year old daughter, named Shannon; who by the way is a handful.”
“Gary, we may be neighbors, I also hail from Atlanta. My name is Paula Litheda and I am blank years of age; old enough mind you; also divorced, but no children. I work for a bank as an assistant manager.”
“Nice to meet you, Paula. What did you order for breakfast?”
“Eggs Benedictine, sausages, and hash browns, and a large OJ.”
“Amazing, we ordered the exact same things, well, except for the sodoku figs; you must try them. How about some champagne or Mimosa?”
“No thanks, I thing I am still a little drunk. My head, not the bathroom, is still pounding like a hammer on an anvil. By the way, we are docked in Mexico, I think. At least we are docked somewhere as I could see from the balcony.”
“I think so; I have not seen many people on our way here. Let’s find out and if you do not have any inconveniences, would you be my companion today?”
“Sure, why not.” Breakfast was brought and when they had almost finished, “You know, I found around $1,500 in my pocket, so we only blew $1,000 last night!”
“That’s a lot at the ship’s prices! Did we buy drinks for one half of the passengers?”
Gary shrugged.
“Mexico, brace yourself; here comes Paula and Gary !!!!!!”
From that moment on they never left each other’s side. She rented out her apartment and moved into his home in the southern part of Atlanta. Four years later, they planned their wedding in Atlanta for Wednesday December 31st early in the AM, fly that same morning to San Eduardo and spend a whole week in this Caribbean paradise. They had made the reservations On-line; arrival at 1 PM at the Sheridan, dinner at the Sky Restaurant at 7:30 and at the Disco at 10:30. Next day a tour of a lake, kayaking; and lots of fun activities for the week, including a bioluminescent lagoon.
*
December 31st- NEW YEAR’S EVE
It has been beautiful weather for the past week, few clouds, sunny and temperatures in the low 80 degrees. The hotel had been at 95 % occupancy but expected a 100% today. Paula and Gary had arrived on time unloaded their bags at the room on the 10th floor overlooking the street, and expected to be at the casino from 5 PM until the dinner reservation time.
Jorge had rented a large cabana by the pool as a surprise for Hector in order to get dressed before dinner at the Tuscany.
Manolín had gone to his house and his wife Estela started to berate him. “Que bonito! Wonderful! A special day like today and you go to the casino, most probably you lost a lot of money. You should be here with me, calling your family, instead of gallivanting around. As long as you were at the Sheridan, did you confirm our reservations? This is not a day to be leaving me alone, you always do that to me, blah, blah, blah. . . ” At this moment Manolín went to the bathroom for a long hot shower, he could hear Estella’s prattling through the door, but he had shut his ears to her voice. After a nice hot shower, a close shave; the second one of the day, and carefully blow drying and styling his hair he got dressed and left again. “I’ll wait for you at the casino woman, whenever you are ready.” “How can you do that to me? Every year you do the. . . .. Mierda.. I hate it when he does that.” Manolo you forgot your jacket!” He returned, picked up the jacket, draped it around his shoulders and was out the door walking the five blocks from his house to the hotel. At his age he still walked tall and proud at a slow gait. “Ay, ay, ay.” Stopping at the corner in front of the hotel, at the furniture store which had large window panes that reflected everything around it; he donned the jacket, passed his hand to carefully smooth out his white hair and to pat down some loose strands that the hairspray had not held. “Handsome devil, you.” and still talking to his reflection, “You know Estela is right, you know.” He smiled and started to cross the street towards the ramp to the hotel but stopped suddenly. A large black stretch limo came roaring down the street and up the ramp. Manolín hurried to cross the street and at a fast clip ascended the ramp to be there when the limo stopped. He had recognized the passenger, Yvonne Goddard, the movie legend that had a standing reservation at the hotel from the 31st to the 6th of every year. Manolo and Estela had met her six years ago at the Tuscany restaurant and had struck a friendship. Even though she had been a very successful actress with one Oscar and many nominations; the last ten years had been “idle”. Manolín hurried to open her door before the uniformed chauffer got out to go around opening her door. “Hello Yvonne and welcome!” Long well formed legs started to emerge from the limo; followed by a flower print pattern dress, then a very elegant woman emerged, she was in her late sixties, but looked older. A tired face and some wrinkles possibly caused by years of heavy make-up or possible overuse of drugs or alcohol may have marred her long time beauty, but had left untouched her beautiful baby blue eyes. Even though the gossip columns just talked about her two very bad marriages and worse divorces. Manolo, always a gentleman extended his hand to her, which she took daintily.
“Hello Manolo, as always is a pleasure seen you again. I see that the hotel finally had the sense of hiring handsome men to open my door,” she said with a smile and a malicious wink.
“Yvonne, as always it is my pleasure to greet you. You are going to stay for the usual time?”
“Yes.”
“So can we meet later on to have a drink? My wifey will be in around in one or two hours.”
“Maybe later, it was a rough flight; I have a splitting headache due to the too much champagne on the airplane, I believe it is called a standing hangover. I think I will take a nice long nap, wake up around 10; a quick wake up shower and be at the Sky restaurant at 11:30 and celebrate New Year there. What are your plans with Estela?”
“We have reservation at the Tuscany, later to The Lounge, and around 11:30 to the Disco. The theme this year is Gypsies, I believe Raúl has a real gypsy for the occasion, tent, crystal ball, and all; she may read your fortune from tea leaves or the Tarot.”
“Or from the leaves in the Mojito. That sounds like fun, I might go down later after midnight.”
“That sounds like next year!” commented Manolín with a beaming smile. The chauffer had taken her luggage out with the help of a porter who placed it in the luggage cart; and started to push it towards the elevator, the porter already had her key in his hand. She shook Manolo’s hand daintily with a little well rehearsed curtsy and hurried behind her luggage, both reaching the elevator at the same time. “Hello Andy, long time no see. How are things with you? How are things here at the hotel?”
“Hi Miss Goddard, you are a sight for sore eyes. With me all is same old, same old. The union is threatening with a strike some time later.”
“Same as two years ago, but I have faith that all will be resolved peacefully again.” The elevator doors opened up, Andy signaled her to go ahead, then hurried ahead to the left and halted in front of the big 301 on the door. The third floor comprised only three suites, all facing north and had a magnificent view of the ocean, and all were the same. Andy opened the door for her and let her in; she went straight to the bar and started mixing a very dry Smirnoff martini in the silver cocktail shaker with two cubes of ice and a small dose of Vermouth. Andy passed the foyer immediately from the door which opened up to a large living area; the bar was on the right hand side, in front of the bar a full length concert piano, behind the piano a large bathroom fully equipped. To the left the two bedrooms with their large two leafed doors. Andy went in front of the door to the left, the bedroom with the ocean view and stopped. A rap on the door was heard and Andy went to open. Gladys the special maid contracted just for Miss Goddard for the past three years stood there. Andy kissed her on the cheek and she walked in. “Hello Miss Goddard, nice to see you again, may I put your clothes away?” Yvonne more glassy eyed than tired raised her glass in agreement. Andy helped to enter the cart to the room took the luggage down and pulled the cart out. Yvonne was waiting with a folded $10 folded bill for him. She walked to the bedroom door, “Please Gladys, can you run my bath with the lilacs? That really soothes me. And please close all the heavy curtains to make it as dark as possible.” Back to the bar for the second martini, drier this time, no vermouth, and one ice cube. Once she finished the drink she went to the bathroom, slithered from her clothes and she sank ever so slowly in the purplish swirling bubbly hot water of the large Jacuzzi in her bathroom, closing her eyes. “Ahhhhh. This feels good!” After twenty minutes she called the front desk for a 10 PM wake up call, put on her jelly sleep mask and slinked into bed.
*
Riiiiiiiing, “Jeen’s Disco, Happy Holidays; Raúl speaking” “Hi, Don Raul, this is Jerry, I am running a little late with your errand, but I will be there in less than fifteen minutes.” Pause. “OK?” Click.
“He is walking on a tight rope, if the congressman arrives and the coke does not he will be out the game. Then I would have to call Xavier and make him run here with the material and make him the main man. Whoever is the provider tonight will make lots of moolah.”
Almost at three o’ clock the white stretch limousine was pulling into the service alley. Pit Bull, the uniformed driver got out and let Congressman Hart out the left side door. Both went to Raul’s office and crossed paths with Jerry who was walking out; he had just delivered the goods and was pocketing his money. “Hi, Mr Hart, nice seen you again! Here is your key.” At the same time Raúl handed the key card and the plastic bag palmed in the handshake.
“Harrumph, I assume everything is ready?”
“Yes, sir!” he said almost clicking his heels, but thinking “Pompous ass.” When you are ready, call the driver, go out the front entrance and leave the key at the….”
“I know; this is not my first time.” “Rodriguez, can you bring the little package I left in the car?” he ordered to Pit Bull. Pit Bull went to the car, opened the door and offered his hand to the young girl inside. “Quite a package!” he thought. Tall, blonde, and beautiful; around twenty three years old. He escorted her to the office and Raúl led them through the passageway behind the bar, up a slant and through a side door that exited to the reception area of the disco and out the glass doors into the lobby. Raul returned to the disco locking the door and just watching the hip sway of that magnificent specimen of a woman. “Lucky bastard; he must be in his late fifties!” Going back to the office, they both raised their eyebrows and exclaimed at the same time, “Wow”.
Pit Bull commented, “She looks like a young version of Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, and Ava Gardner ; all rolled into one.”
“Did you see that pair of legs?”
“Yes and she had wide hips and a nice round ass!”
“You really checked her out.”
“Well I have to be content with just looking; he is the one who is going to have her.”
“Yup, served on a silver platter. I hope he ate lots of oysters on the plane.”
“Did you give him your pager number to call you when he is ready to go back to his plane?” Pit Bull nodded. At the same time his beeper rang.
“Can I use your phone?”
“Sure.”
“Off I go, another pick up at the airport, see you later alligator.”
This time he picked up a family, a Real Estate agent, his wife, a son and a daughter around 17 and 18 years of age, they had reserved through his real estate company one of the two penthouse suites. They were on the floor under the restaurant, only two on that floor. The girl in a turquoise halter tight mini-skirt with a chain belt, and ankle boots; the boy in a loud acid green shirt, black Ray-Bans a la Tom Cruise. The other penthouse was permanently rented by an elderly couple for the past five years; they were a Jewish couple owners of the largest jewelry store in the island.
The time was around 3:00 PM, Yamil was unloading all the trimmings, balloons, and helium tank for the New Year decoration for the discotheque through the service entrance. At the end of the alley, Diego, Luis and Jose Angel were having an emergency meeting huddled against the wall. Diego was saying, “I got a call from Keith, there has not been any resolve with the hotel management, so he needs us to do something to prompt them. Any ideas?”
“I have an idea, that will surely get the management’s attention”, said Luis. “ What?” asked Diego.
“The less you know the better. Just leave me to get it done.”
Diego retorted, “Ok. Let’s get our asses out of here before we are seen.”
Hart was in the balcony smoking a cigar, during a much needed sex break while she was snorting some cocaine again and sipping on a flute half filled with champagne. She draped herself in the hotel white robe and walked seductively towards him. “You are quite a stud; I am impressed. Are you ready for more?” He kissed her long and hard on her lips.
“Yes, as soon as I finish my cigar and powder my nose.” She giggled. From the balcony he could see the ocean and a cruise ship turning into the harbor to his left. At the left end of the balcony a floor to roof wall divided this suite from the next one. Looking down there was a wall dividing the white sandy beach from the back alley of the hotel which was the casino entrances for money delivery or pickups. From the wall to the entrances was a distance of twenty feet, but seemed less from this height specially that the balcony protruded eight feet out. She started to rub her body against his manhood causing deep stirring within him; he flung the half smoked cigar to the beach sand, kissed her again deeply while she started to sidle toward the suite letting her robe slide slowly to the floor. Outside you could hear the quiet roar of the ocean waves lapping the sand. Once inside she grabbed the plastic bag, scooped with her long pinkie nail some of the white powder and brought it to his nose. Then she started to suck on his semi erect manhood, stopped to pour some cocaine on it and spread it around the glans with her tongue. She pushed him back to the bed and scrambled on top of him. Riding high she scooped more cocaine which she shared with him; straddled him and started to kiss him again; feeling him get hard she pushed him inside her and started to ride him like a bronco and yelling “YAHOO!”
*
Yvonne Goddard had awakened from a bad nightmare. She was dreaming of a black and white scene she had done on one of her first movies. In this scene she was kissing her lover, both clad in bathing suit in a remote beach; when suddenly a loud roar made them aware of the surrounding. Looking out to the ocean a giant tidal wave was approaching…… and she woke up sweaty and shivering. Shakily she went to the bathroom, downed a Xanax, carefully took out orange colored ear plugs from her etui and placed them on her ears; and wobbled back to the safety of the covers of the bed and to instant blissful sleep.
*
Jorge and Hector had taken a shower in their cabana and Jorge gave Hector $500, “When you get to the casino place one $100 bet on the roulette on number 3; win or lose get away. The other $400 if for you to play Blackjack, your favorite.” Hector went to Jorge and kissed him in the mouth.
“It’s almost three already, I will play like until 6, then we can go to the Italian restaurant across the street in front of the hotel, I made a reservation for us both, and I have a surprise for you. I cancelled the reservation at the Tuscany.”
“Oh I love surprises! What is it?”
“If I told you it would not be a surprise”, said Hector smiling lovingly and caressing Jorge’s chin.
“While you play, I will be at the pool bar talking with Rodolfo, the bartender.”
“I don’t know how you can have a long conversation with him, he stutters. When I talk with him I start to stutter, and I don’t know why. I am afraid he might think I am making fun of him.”
“Awwww, don’t be silly.”
*
Luis was meeting with Cristóbal behind a not much used service entrance near the kitchen. “Cristóbal I need for you to place this sterno under the new stack of chairs with the plastic covers in the main ballroom and light it. We have not been able to negotiate with the hotel management and we need to make a statement.”
“A fire under the chairs? That is dangerous. Why me?”
“First of all, you are off today, so your only record of being at the hotel is that you helped at the disco. The fire is not dangerous for it will only burn the plastic and very quickly it will create a lot of smoke. That should get the attention of the management and prompt them to sign the new collective agreement. The Ballroom is to open at 11 PM and the housemen will be readying it from 7 PM. All we need is a little push to avoid going on a strike. What do you say?”
“Well, I, I, I don’t know, . . . it seems dangerous and risky.”
“No risk, just go in, place and prop up the sterno, get out; and that’s it. The slow flame will heat the plastic and it will take around 5 minutes to start burning. That will give you ample time to get out and be seen elsewhere.”
“OK”
*
Raúl was watching Yamil setting up the decorations sitting yoga style on top of the bar; at his side the portable telephone, a bottle of Turkey, a glass shot, and a cold Bud. Riiiiiiiing, “Jeen’s Disco, Happy Holidays; Raúl speaking. Oh, hi honey, what’s up? . . .Oh, shit, ok I’ll pick you up in 15 minutes; call Tito of the tow truck anyways.”
“HEY, YAMIL, WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATED TIME TO FINISH?” he shouted across the disco.
“AROUND SIX AT THE LATEST. WHY?”
“OK, IT’S ALMOST THREE THIRTY; I HAVE TO PICK UP MY WIFE, HER CAR CONKED OUT. I SHOULD BE BACK IN TWO AND A HALF HOUR., OK?”
“SURE, TAKE YOUR TIME; I’LL FINISH THE TURKEY FOR YOU.”
“HA, HA, HA, VEDDY, VEDDY, FUNNY! I’ll leave two beers in the icemaker for you. Don’t touch my champagne which is also there.”
Leaving the bar area he left the door to the alley where the ice machine stood, went down the passageway out closing the access from the alley into the disco and he walked to the parking lot. He had a reserved space near the disco entrance and also close to the entrance ramp, and a shiny new Porsche Carrera; both complementary perks from the disco. Also part of his perks was a 50% discount on consumption at the disco, he could also sign bar and restaurant tabs at the hotel. The owner, depending on his mood might condone the bills or take it out of his pay in very comfortable installments. Usually all were condoned, because Raúl would never abuse the privilege. Normally he would invite outside Casino Managers or Hotel Managers to dine and wine in exchange of some business interchange, after all, the disco at the Sheridan was the biggest, the best, and with a really updated DJ and sound system. He would not normally spend his free time at his place of work unless for a specific reason like tonight; usually he went to the other hotels once every two months where he was known and many times he and his wife had a really good time and many times at no expense. Of course he would leave very good tips, most waiters that had known him ran faster than others to be able to serve his table. Ah, the good life of good wines, good food, and great service; and as the theme song of a TV program says, “Where everybody knows your name”.
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