A Blast From the Past (Julie)

[REMY GRAHAM]

Waking up early wasn't something Remy enjoyed doing. Ever. It really was a shame that he would likely be spending the next few decades getting up at the crack of down to be at work, though. How had his grandfather done all this? With four daughters at home, no less! He reminded himself that his mom and aunts practically grew up in the hotel, as he did. It was like coming home every time he walked through the doors. He knew every nook and cranny in the entire building, which was a huge advantage if he needed to escape his responsibilities for a while. Those who had been there long term knew him by name, and there were at least four chefs who knew exactly how he liked his food prepared. He had his own suite upstairs for when he wanted to get to relaxing sooner, or if he wanted to sleep in a little. That room had been his since he was a teenager. But Remington Graham was not a teenager anymore. Not by a long shot.

The day had been a long one. His new boss, aka: mom, had showed him in great deal what his new responsibilities would be. This wasn't going to be handed to him as he had hoped. His mother still had a few years under her belt until she was ready to retire and in that time she would be molding him into the perfect CEO. Schooling had only begin the beginning; now the real work began.

Everything he had been shown was tedious, and though he absorbed it as he did everything else, it was hard not to act a little bored. Life sucks when your mother is the boss and has twenty eight years of experience dealing with you. She knew exactly when he wasn't paying attention and called him out on it. Remy had to give his mom a lot of credit. She was a smart, strong woman who had spent a great deal of time working in that hotel while Remy was away at the finest boarding schools, and she still knew her kid like the back of her hand. Sure, he was a pain in the ass, but they got on surprisingly well considering. Maybe that was due to the old saying distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Very little interested him that first morning, but when his mother went down the list of employees he would be responsible for he felt as though he had won some sort of jackpot prize. Julie Brady had worked her scrawny little ass up to manager! He remembered the summer he met her. She had been gorgeous and timid and he had tried desperately to take advantage of that being the cocky little nineteen year old he was. The things he would have liked to do to her up in his suite, but good little Julie decided from day one that Remy, despite his many attempts, would never know what it felt like to make love to her. Not that what Remy would do could be considering making love, but that wasn't really the point. She had made herself off limits. That of course didn't stop him from trying, though. Every summer he found himself back at the hotel he had been named for and every summer she shot him down. Repeatedly. Now, after all this time, they would be colleagues. More than that, really. He owned her. She could be gone with the snap of his finger, but Remy would never in a million years dream of actually doing that. If anyone deserved their seat there at the hotel it was Miss Brady. She was intelligent, tenacious and a hell of a hard worker. Plus his mother made it clear he needed to behave around her.

"This isn't a game anymore." She warned in her mother like way. "You can get sued for sexual harassment and so help me if you make me choose between you and Julie, I'm picking Julie." He took the warning with a grain of salt, filing it in the back of his mind along with the other things he would probably never care about. Julie wouldn't dare, and if she did he would make her life hell. He was still the heir to the hotel and had a major trust fund so it wouldn't be the end of the world if he got let go, but it certainly wouldn't be a pretty existence either.

Finally Caroline Graham let her son off for a break so she could get some work done and he could get a bite to eat, but food wasn't on his mind. Well, it was, but there were more pressing matters at hand. The man made his way to the office marked Julie Brady and rapped gently before letting himself in. "And here I thought we had an open door policy." He greeted, smiling at Julie as he came in and made himself comfortable in one of the chairs across from her desk. "Heya, Jules." He greeted, plastering on that wicked, cocky grin of his. He slouched a little, his crisp white shirt wrinkling a little under his black blazer. "No need to ask if you missed me, I already know the answer." He flashed her a smile as though it were obvious she had missed him when he knew he was nothing more than a thorn in her side and had been for the last decade. "So! Look at you.. manager, eh?" He pursed his lips and nodded, looking around the office. "Not too bad, Brady, not too bad.. I'd have given you the promotion myself if my mother hadn't. What do you say you and I go get some drinks after work. Catch up, celebrate our big promotions, eat...food.. yah know.. in my suite or something.." That wicked glimmer returned and he smiled widely at her. This was definitely going to be an awesome job.

[JULIE BRADY]

Julie Brady had spent almost ten years at the Remington and man, had she come a long way! In some ways she was still the timid little girl she started out as, but she’d grown a backbone steadily over the years. That’s what happened when you were around Caroline Graham. One of her role models, Tabitha Livingston, even came around a lot and she wanted so desperately to emulate women like that. Her mother was like that. Well, Cora Brady had more of a sense of humor, but she was strong like that. Now, Julie Brady was a manager at the Remington and she would definitely have a chance to prove herself. It was also one step closer to her dream of opening her own bed and breakfast. If only she could make enough money to buy the beautiful old home on the bluffs…Someday she would. She’d been saving since high school, and while it wasn’t much, it was a start. Onward and upward! She was determined. Of course, all of the motivational things she told herself in the morning and her mother chanted on the phone every night never left her lips. How neurotic would she look if people saw how much she had to motivate herself with cheestastic sayings? In the privacy of her office, though, sometimes she let one slip in a whisper.

Her office. Two months, and she was still having a hard time believing she had an office. How many women her age could say they were so successful? She had a name plate on the door and people who reported to her—it was awesome! Most of the stuff she did on a daily basis was tedious, but she liked when she had to think so much and get so involved in her work. The days flew by that way. Today she had a schedule: first thing she was going to do was check the reports to make sure spending was accurate in the cleaning department. Then she had a conference call about customer service training for the new employees. By the time that was done, it would be lunchtime, so she might head down to the kitchen and hang out with her work buddy Sophia. Either way, she had a couple interviews this afternoon for a new person at the front desk and it was the first time she would be conducting those on her own. When the knock came at her door, she’d just gotten off her conference call and she was readjusting the pin in her hair holding half of it back in an elegant half and half. Her modest dress brought out the blue in her eyes today and she smoothed the skirt some quickly as she started to invite them in: “Co—” She didn’t even get out the words “come in” before the door opened. Who she found behind the door made her face fall and she could already feel her irritation bubbling at the smile on his face. “Oh, it’s you,” she said in a quiet, deadpan voice, looking at her computer quickly to glance at the e-mail she just received. “And here I thought we had an open door policy.” Julie glanced at Remy before looking back at her screen. “My door is always open for people I like,” she replied softly, making it obvious in her tone that he wasn’t one of those people.

Remington Graham was single-handedly the most annoying person she’d ever come across working at the Remington. Sure, in the first couple hours she had a little crush on him, and when he noticed her she’d been flattered, but it didn’t even take a day for her to see the real Remy. He was a womanizing, arrogant little jerk who felt he was entitled to everything, even her. After that, she didn’t give his flirtations the time of day; she refused to be a notch on anyone’s bedpost. It took genuine interest in her for Julie to consent to a date or even a relationship. Being naturally suspicious of everyone, she didn’t date much, but that wasn’t to say she was completely inexperienced. It was just an experience she never wanted to have with Remy. Of course, being the entitled brat he was, he made himself right at home in one of the chairs across the desk from her, grinning mischievously. At least she’d learn to deal with it over the years of knowing him. “Heya, Jules.” But not that. Her parents got to call her Jules and no one else, but that never stopped Remy. She narrowed her blue eyes slightly at him, letting him know for the 100,000th time that his use of her nickname was unacceptable…even though she silently admitted to herself that there was something endearing about the way he insisted on calling her Jules. Not that she would ever say that out loud, even to her mother. “No need to ask if you missed me, I already know the answer.” Her face remained a mask of non-emotion, completely deadpanning her way through this conversation. “So! Look at you…manager, eh?” Now she cocked her head to the side as a puppy would when it was confused. “Don’t sound so surprised, Remy. It hurts my feelings,” she said in a soft, sweet tone though her nonchalant face heavily contradicted her words. He looked around and nodded his approval while she looked back at the e-mail on her screen. Meeting notes from the conference call… “Not too bad, Brady, not too bad…” Without looking at him, she typed a quick response as she said, “Thanks, Graham.” If he was going to call her Brady like she was a quarterback for the New England Patriots, then she was going to call him out for being a cracker.

“I’d have given you the promotion myself if my mother hadn’t. What do you say you and I go get some drinks after work? Catch up, celebrate our big promotions, eat…food…yah know…in my suite or something.” Aaaaand it starts, she thought with an inward sigh. She closed her eyes a minute as if she were trying to keep from hitting him. When she looked at him, her eyes were narrowed slightly again at his big, cocky grin. “Have you even read the sexual harassment policy, Remy? If you need a copy, I’d be glad to provide you with the employee handbook.” She didn’t even get flustered when he said those things anymore. Well…not much. In her defense, she’d gotten used to not seeing him for the past year and a half or so, so her defenses had gotten a little rusty. Now that Remy was back, she would have plenty of practice putting them back in place. In a weird way, though, he was a friend. An annoying, overbearing friend, but still…a friend…she supposed. Finding she just couldn’t stir enough irritation with him to kick him out yet, she gave him a curious look and her features softened somewhat. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were on the east coast or something.” She wondered if he’d finished his schooling too. Due to his break in between undergraduate and graduate school, they were both pretty equal in the times they would obtain their Master’s. Of course she took the accelerated program while working full-time and finished three months ago (just in time for her promotion), but it would be about right for Remy to have finished his. Oh man, was he going to be hanging around more now? She wondered how often she would have to deal with him…

[REMY GRAHAM]

“Have you even read the sexual harassment policy, Remy?" No.. "Yes!" He scoffed "If you need a copy, I’d be glad to provide you with the employee handbook.” He chuckled and shook his head. "That won't be necessary, especially since I haven't sexually harassed you." Yet.. He had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. Remy kicked his feet out in front of him and folded his hands neatly in his lap. “What are you doing here anyway?" She asked suddenly and he felt he ha finally on the silent battle of whits they were having. It only made his smile grow further. "I thought you were on the east coast or something.”

Remy for a brief moment felt a little bad for Julie. He knew she didn't very highly of him, and never had. Maybe she had that first summer but somehow she had managed to screw it up and had been happy to continue doing so ever since. Clearly she didn't know he was there to stay and when she did he worried she might want out. If she left he would receive hell from his mother. Julie had always been a valued employee and one of the few who had ever been able to climb the executive ladder in the hotel.

"Didn't you hear?" He asked, cocking his head to the side and catching a glimpse of her perfect blue eyes. Honestly, the girl was wasting her time there holed away in an office when she could be gracing magazine covers worldwide. I'm the new acting Chief Executive Officer." He boasted as if this should be no surprise, and honestly it shouldn't. Julie was a little younger than him but just as, if not more capable of the position that was still much higher than hers. It was a promotion she would expect to get within a few years, and one he might be willing to offer her if he could get his head out of his ass long enough. "And I'm the newest member on the board of directors." He lifted his hands and did a mock wave of celebration. "Yay, us!" He buzzed in his rough voice. "So, it looks as though you're stuck with me for a while, Jules.. sorry for the bad luck, but hey, really this doesn't need to be such a terrible arrangement! It will be like all those summers when I would stay here and hound you for a date, only now I can't I legally do that and we'll be working on projects together." His smile was wide but a little forced. "You love working! It'll be fabulous." He was obviously mocking her a little, and certainly teasing her but it was good natured as it was often intended to be with Julie. "Now, if you wanted to go on a date, I mean, I certainly wouldn't balk at the idea. I mean, we were practically destined to be together.." One look on her face made it clear that she still wasn't interested. "Yeah, baby steps, Jules.. first we should get drinks or something. You know.. and talk about work.. related....types of things or something, I don't really know." He wrinkled his nose and waved his hand around a little dismissively.

[JULIE BRADY]

“Didn’t you hear?” Julie didn’t like the sound of that and her brow furrowed as Remy cocked his head to the side and gazed at her with those piercing blue eyes. She had never denied that the man was handsome, but his personality completed detracted from his looks. “I’m the new acting Chief Executive Officer.” Her stomach sank into her butt. She knew she shouldn’t be surprising but…really?! She’d been lucky enough to avoid the camps, being out of town for two weeks with training when all of that went down, and she had an awesome job. This must have been karma’s way of putting her back in her place. And all these years she thought Caroline Graham liked her! The way her brow was creased, her big blue eyes wide and sad and the way her jaw was hanging open would make it obvious to anyone that she was unpleasantly surprised. “And I’m the newest member on the board of directors. Yay, us!” She was glad someone felt like celebrating because she didn’t! “So it looks as though you’re stuck with me for a while, Jules…sorry for the bad luck, but hey, really this doesn’t need to be such a terrible arrangement! It will be like all those summers when I would stay here and hound you for a date, only now I can’t legally do that and we’ll be working on projects together.” She was getting closer to tears with every word that came out of his mouth, though she was still struggling to believe this was real. Part of her was waiting for the punch line to this cruel joke. “You love working! It’ll be fabulous.” That made it obvious what her role was going to be in this arrangement—she was going to do a vast majority of the work they would be sharing. Actually, he would be delegating…please, someone say, “Just kidding!” Working beside Remy was one thing, but working under him…she was going to need a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and a snuggle with her mom to cheer up from this.

“Now, if you wanted to go on a date, I mean, I certainly wouldn’t balk at the idea. I mean, we were practically destined to be together…” Julie’s face stayed the same mask of dismay and he seemed to understand her disinterest. “Yeah, baby steps, Jules…first we should get drinks or something. You know…and talk about work…related…types of things or something, I don’t really know.” He was babbling, so she decided to jump in now and waved her hands a little frantically in front of her, shaking her head and looking irritated. “Just…shhhh for a second!” she nearly snapped. When she looked at Remy it was with a stern, troubled frown. “You mean…you’re my boss now?” No, that sounded all wrong. A sudden smile broke out on her face, a shaky little laugh accompanying it. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, you just got here. You’ve never worked a day in this hotel. You’ve been too busy diddling the waitresses and sleeping around with the town sluts.” Seeing that this was serious, she felt herself getting mad and her blue eyes flared. “It’s not fair! Why do you get to be the boss all of a sudden? I could teach you how to do your job!” She was getting too emotional, not something she did often in front of Remy Graham. Usually her mother was the only one who saw and heard these rants. With a huff of a sigh, she sat back in her chair and glared across the desk at Remy. Honestly, she always knew this day would come, but why did it have to be now? She got up and crossed her arms, giving a hard gaze to the storm outside her window with her back to Remy for the moment. Maybe it was childish, but she felt betrayed by his mom and dad who had always doted on her. They made Remy her boss of all people, knowing how much she didn’t like the way he acted around her.

When she turned around, she was still giving a hard look, feeling she needed to set some ground rules here. “Fine, I’ll be cooperative, but you need to show me more respect. If I tell you to stop doing something, I mean it; cut it out. It’s not a joke anymore, Remy, we have to work together. I don’t want to dread coming to work just because you’re going to harass me. Also, if that door is closed, don’t come in unless I say you can. And please let me know if you’re planning to make any drastic changes either in staffing or with our projects. And if you think you can make me do all the work so you can go play in your suite, you’re wrong.” Remy wasn’t lazy, but he was known to shirk off work to pursue other business in the past—other business being tending to the whims of his penis. With that, she plopped down in her chair again and gazed across the desk. “And when we’re in front of clients, please don’t call me Jules. It’s unprofessional and I don’t want them to get the wrong idea about us. You’ll call me Julie or Miss Brady in front of them, got it?” She knew she wasn’t going to get him out of the habit of calling her Jules in private or even in front of the staff and his parents, but she wouldn’t stand for it when they were in front of clients. This was business and he wasn’t going to screw it up for her.

[REMY GRAHAM]

“Just…shhhh for a second!” she snapped and it became abundantly clear that this was news to her. She had no idea he was back for good. He could see the gears in her mind working, and it wasn't good. "You mean…you’re my boss now?” The smile grew on his face, though deep down he knew it shouldn't. He desperately wanted to make a comment about her working under him but held his tongue. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, you just got here. You’ve never worked a day in this hotel. You’ve been too busy diddling the waitresses and sleeping around with the town sluts.” He pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. She said those things like they were bad. “It’s not fair! Why do you get to be the boss all of a sudden? I could teach you how to do your job!” He furrowed his brow. Yes, she was more qualified when it came to experience, but she forgot that he'd grown up in the hotel witnessing plenty of business practices. He had also gone to school for this and he wasn't an idiot. Sure, she could teach him a thing or two but he wasn't just some idiot trust fund moron coming in to run the business into the ground. His family might like to keep it in the family but they weren't willing to throw it away on someone who was incapable of keeping the hotel running in the manner it had been for the past sixty years. "Watch it, Jules." He warned softly, not really liking the turn their conversation had taken.

Julie huffed and stood up, walking towards the window and looking out. He watched from his spot, giving her a moment to let it all sink in. Her arms were folded tight over her small chest and he admired her long legs poking out from under the crisp blue dress. God was she hot! He was about to open his mouth and try and say something semi comforting when she turned and gave him a stern look, throwing him off a little. “Fine, I’ll be cooperative," Like she had a choice.. "but you need to show me more respect. If I tell you to stop doing something, I mean it; cut it out. It’s not a joke anymore, Remy, we have to work together. I don’t want to dread coming to work just because you’re going to harass me." He rolled his eyes at her as if this weren't obvious already. His mother had already read him the riot act. Twice. "Also, if that door is closed, don’t come in unless I say you can. And please let me know if you’re planning to make any drastic changes either in staffing or with our projects. And if you think you can make me do all the work so you can go play in your suite, you’re wrong.” He didn't care much for her tone, and he had ever intention of putting her back in her place. He was about to ask if she was finished when she opened her mouth and spat more demands at him. “And when we’re in front of clients, please don’t call me Jules. It’s unprofessional and I don’t want them to get the wrong idea about us. You’ll call me Julie or Miss Brady in front of them, got it?”

Deciding she was finished Remy sat up higher in his seat, his hands still folded in his lap as he moved to the edge of the chair to get a little closer. "Okay, first of all like it or not I'm your boss now, which I get pisses you off. Honestly, if I were you, I'd be a little ticked too but you had to know this day was coming. I mean.. they named me after the damn hotel and sent me to the east coast for schooling, I was seriously a shoe in." He rolled his eyes and his hands slid apart, grasping his knees. "That aside, you don't really get to make the demands here, but since we go way back I'm gonna let it slide, because I like you Jules, and you're a good worker. So here's what's going to happen." He stood up and sat on the edge of her desk, his knee coming up to rest on the wood as he folded his arms and looked down at her from his seat. "I will show you the respect any boss should show their employees, at least during work hours and in these offices. I don't need any more shit from my mom about being nice to you, because believe it or not she's hounded me about this already. I don't plan to make any major changes, but if I do they will be passed by my mother first. As a courtesy I'll let you know if that's important to you, because, well, I like to think of us as friends." That cocky attitude of his showed brightly in a sea of shit. "And while we're on the topic of my mother, know that she wouldn't let me dick around even if I wanted to. I have to prove my worth here just as much as you. Yes, I was given this position but it's been made abundantly clear that it can be taken away if I fail to meet my families expectations, so really your worrying is for nothing. Now as for the whole Jules thing, Jules.. in front of clients I intend to act professionally. I am, after all, a professional man despite what you may believe." He gave her a long hard look, almost challenging her. "Changing our relationship won't be easy. I love nothing more than to make you scowl at me, and trust me, I'll do it plenty, but I'm promising you now I won't make you dread work. Not often, anyway." The devilish smirk came back and he stood. "I'm certain you'll enjoy working under me." He had to bite his bottom lip to keep from smiling too much. "And if ever you'd like to talk business over supper or drinks, you make sure to let me know and I'll have it arranged immediately." Of course he meant more but he would allow her to use her imagination. "Now, do you have any further issues to discuss Miss Brady?"

[JULIE BRADY]

Julie was still glaring at Remy as he pushed himself further in the chair to sit closer to her. He didn’t look too happy, and she swallowed hard, realizing she’d just freaked out at her new boss. GOD, she hated that he was her boss! “Okay, first of all like it or not I’m your boss now, which I get pisses you off. Honestly, if I were you, I’d be a little ticked too but you had to know this day was coming. I mean…they named me after the damn hotel and sent me to the east coast for schooling, I was seriously a shoe in.” Her brows sank lower, about to argue with him. What an ass! Just because she had her education at UC Berkley, it wasn’t as good as his education on the east coast? Had she gotten more of a scholarship at Yale, she would have gone! How could she pass up a free ride to UC Berkley, though? “That aside, you don’t really get to make the demands here, but since we go way back I’m gonna let it slide, because I like you Jules, and you’re a good worker. So here’s what’s going to happen.” Julie wasn’t a violent person; she wasn’t! But at that moment, she was fully prepared to punch him in that ridiculously handsome face of his. Right in the nose. He sat on the edge of her desk and she stiffened, her jaw set as she looked up at him. “I will show you the respect any boss should show their employees, at least during work hours and in these offices. I don’t need any more shit from my mom about being nice to you, because believe it or not she’s hounded me about this already.” That did surprise her. Caroline Graham had stood up for her? Her? Maybe she was a valued employee after all. “I don’t plan to make any major changes, but if I do they will be passed by my mother first. As a courtesy I’ll let you know if that’s important to you, because, well, I like to think of us as friends.” She didn’t say she needed to be the first to know, just that she wanted to know. Julie didn’t like surprises when it came to her work. As for the friends part…well, she just didn’t want to think about that. Yes, she considered him a friend, but not in the traditional since of the term. More that he had weaseled his way into her affections without her consent and she was reluctant to even admit she liked him at all.

“And while we’re on the topic of my mother, you know she wouldn’t let me dick around even if I wanted to.” That was an interesting choice of words… “I have to prove my worth here just as much as you. Yes, I was given this position but it’s been made abundantly clear that it can be taken away if I don’t meet my family’s expectations, so really your worrying is for nothing. Now as for the whole Jules thing, Jules…in front of clients I intend to act professionally. I am, after all, a professional man despite what you may believe.” He gave her a challenging look and she gave it right back to him. She needed proof that he was indeed a professional man, because as long as she had known him, “professional” was not a word she would use to describe him. “Changing our relationship won’t be easy. I love nothing more than to make you scowl at me, and trust me, I’ll do it plenty, but I’m promising you now I won’t make you dread work. Not often, anyway.” Here she had been almost convinced, and then he gave her that wicked smile. “I’m certain you’ll enjoy working under me.” She sighed and rolled her eyes at the way he smiled more at his own lewd and corny joke. “Oh jeez…” she muttered under her breath. Every day was going to be so long now… “And if ever you’d like to talk business over supper or drinks, you make sure to let me know and I’ll have it arranged immediately.” She hoped he wouldn’t hold his breath waiting for that to happen. It might benefit her to have him die from lack of oxygen, but his mom would be so sad. “Now, do you have any further issues to discuss, Miss Brady?” She narrowed her eyes at him, not liking his emphasis on her name. “No, I’m good now, Mr. Graham.” Julie was still displeased, but she was going to have to deal with it, that much was obvious. Remy wasn’t going anywhere and neither was she, so she was going to have to get used to his harassing her for dates when they were off the clock.

“Well…as long as we’re on the same page, then fine. I guess…I guess it won’t be so bad.” She’d calmed down now and was starting to realize maybe she had overreacted. He was a philanderer, but he was a decent guy when it came down to it. She’d never seen him work, so she couldn’t speak to his work ethic, but as far as how he would treat her, she knew he wouldn’t be mean or anything. Her eyes had wandered off for a moment as she thought about him being her boss, and she supposed it could be bearable. Looking back to him on her desk, though, she gave him a bit of a stern look. “Get off my desk.” Her voice was too sweet and childlike to be of any threat, but she got her point across that she didn’t like him sitting like that. It was too familiar and they were now business partners. “So is your mom training you now? I’ve seen her around a lot lately.” At first, Julie had to admit that she was scared of Caroline Graham. She was powerful and stern and knew exactly how she wanted things to go in her hotel. The woman had high expectations of all her employees. But nowadays Julie had a great working relationship with his mom, even feeling able to discuss some more personal aspects of her life with the distinguished woman, like her relationship with her own mother. It was the same with Remy’s dad since they had similar tastes in literature and thinking on the pair, she wondered how she could get along so well with Remy’s parents but not necessarily with him. If he weren’t such an ass, maybe she would feel differently.

[REMY GRAHAM]

She narrowed her eyes at him and he tried not to smirk. “No, I’m good now, Mr. Graham.” He noted the way she emphasized his name as she did his. "Good." He said with a nod, trying not to let his eyes wander to the hint of cleavage her dress was permitting and failing miserably. The things he would do to her if he got the chance.. even as he thought it he knew it would be a little odd if Julie actually let him have his way. After fighting to get into her pants for ten years and failing, the thought of actually doing it seemed strange. Remy preferred his women a little stupid and not so familiar. It made it easier to throw them away when he was done impressing them, knowing they were using him just as much as he was using them, but with Julie there would be no using. Sure, technically they would be using each other, probably more him using her, but in the end it had lost it's real appeal ages ago. The fun part for him now was making her cringe with the suggestions of it, knowing she would always turn him down.

“Well…as long as we’re on the same page, then fine. I guess…I guess it won’t be so bad.” He was smirking as though he'd won some sort of trophy, and in some cases he had. Julie was calming down and accepting her fate. She stared off into space, obviously thinking about the situation at hand, and when she looked back Remy had his eyes on her crystal blue ones, that cocky little smirk still lingering on his lips. She really was stunning.. “Get off my desk.” It had always been hard to take Julie Brady seriously with her gently, girlish voice. Even now as an adult she still sounded like a teenager and he chuckled, sliding his ass off her wooden desk, standing in front of it instead with his arms folded smugly.

“So is your mom training you now? I’ve seen her around a lot lately.” Remy shrugged, sinking back into the chair he'd started in, slouching low and making his crisp clothing wrinkle. Wasn't like he had to iron them or anything. "Yeah, she's been showing me the ropes I guess. I mean, I've watched her do most of this crap my whole life so I'm actually familiar with a lot of it. Plus the whole schooling thing.." His grin was boyish and his eyes shown brightly. "It's a little boring. I liked traveling better." She looked down at his finger nails and then picked a little dirt out from under one of them. "Hey!" He looked up at Julie, his eyes a little wide. "You should offer to help my mom out. I bet you'd be a great little teacher." His smiled widened, knowing she probably wouldn't go for it. "Think of how nice it will be to boss your new boss around and get to report to my mother, tell her what a good boy I'm being." He bit his lower lip to keep from grinning too much. It was a one in a million shot, but hey.. who knew? He'd much rather check Julie out then.. iew, he'd never check his mom out! He just wanted to look at Jules some more!

[JULIE BRADY]

As Remy sat back down in his chair, slouching as he was, Julie could only be reminded of the ill-mannered teenager she’d met for the first time ages ago. She was having a hard time believing he’d changed all that much. “Yeah, she’s been showing me the ropes I guess. I mean, I’ve watched her do most of this crap my whole life so I’m actually familiar with a lot of it. Plus the whole schooling thing…” Julie would never understand why he smiled at her like that. It was like he was taunting her, but she didn’t get the joke. “It’s a little boring. I like traveling better.” Just another thing he could rub in—he’d been traveling and she hadn’t. What time and resources did she have for that, though? Her mom had always wanted to backpack through Europe with her, but they’d never been able to swing it. And now he was calling her life’s work boring…he was completely insufferable. “Hey!” Her big eyes got wide as she looked at him. “What?” she asked, scared of what he’d just thought of. “You should offer to help my mom out. I bet you’d be a great little teacher.” At first she thought of this as a joke, another jab at her being too serious for a twenty-six year old woman, which is probably how it was intended. “Think of how nice it will be to boss your new boss around and get to report to my mother, tell her what a good boy I’m being.” It didn’t sound all that appealing when he first said it, knowing she would have to spend far too much time with Remy if she took him up on that. But then…how awesome would it be to have him report to her? If she had to report to his mother all the time, there was no way he would cross the line when joking around with her. He would be required to respect her and she could already think of all the menial tasks she could make him do for the sake of “education.” It was too rich…

With a big, surprising smile, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it. But remember, you asked for this.” She turned to her phone and dialed his mother’s extension before he could stop her. It didn’t take long for her to answer and Julie perked up a little. “Hi Caroline, it’s Julie.” “Is Remy harassing you yet?” She smiled a little more, glancing to the man sitting across from her. “He’s sitting right here actually.” “If he’s bothering you, dear, you can send him back to me.” A soft laugh left her and she twirled her finger in the cord of the phone. “Well, actually, he gave me an idea. Why don’t you let me train him some? I mean, I’m sure there are some things only you can teach him, but maybe I could help with the reports and such.” The woman on the other end went silent for a long moment and Julie’s big eyes wandered around in uncertainty. “Hello?” Had she overstepped her bounds? “I’m sorry, dear, I’m just surprised. You want to work with him?” “I’m sure I can handle it and I know you have so much on your plate already. I just thought you could use a hand.” She didn’t understand why Remy was snickering and she scowled at him and mouthed, “What?” “That would be lovely, thank you! But if he harasses you too much, you can send him right back to me.” “Of course.” Julie’s voice was sweet, but she had no intention of running to Caroline Graham if Remy got on her nerves. This was her chance to prove herself to Remy and to Caroline and she didn’t want to make herself look more like a child by running to mama for help. Nope, she was going to handle this! The women exchanged a couple more pleasantries and Caroline told her she was welcome to begin Remy’s training whenever she wanted. This had so much potential to be a disaster or a source of immense pride for years to come. She hoped it would be the latter.

She set the phone down and grinned from ear to ear, already coming up with ways she could get back at him for years of torment. “Your mother loves the idea. You are now officially my student. Get ready for the dunce cap, Remington.” The evil scientist in her was laughing maniacally. There was a major chance she would regret this decision, but in that moment she could only see it being an awesome opportunity for revenge. “She said I can start training you whenever I want, but I suppose I’ll be nice and give you a choice. Do you want to start now or this afternoon?” His eyes were wondering from her face down to her chest and she snapped her fingers with a stern look. “Eyes up, mister!” she demanded. “Answer the question. Now or this afternoon?”

[REMY GRAHAM]

Remy never expected Julie to smile so big and for a moment he wondered what she was up to. “Okay, I’ll do it. But remember, you asked for this.” His draw dropped a little. What did he just agree to?! "Wait a sec.." She was already picking up the phone and dialing. "Hey!" “Hi Caroline, it’s Julie.” Remy shut his mouth and pursed his lips, glowering at her. Julie looked more than pleased with himself as he sat there on the edge of his chair just watching. “He’s sitting right here actually.” She was giggling to taunt him, playing with the cord like a school girl and a devilish look grew on his face. “Well, actually, he gave me an idea. Why don’t you let me train him some? I mean, I’m sure there are some things only you can teach him, but maybe I could help with the reports and such.” The realization that she couldn't do anything too terrible to him suddenly sank in. Sure, he could play nice for a while, but when things turned around he would make her pay severely for anything she made him do, and he would make that well known. Slowly he smirked a little. “Hello?” She looked unsure and his smile only grew. “I’m sure I can handle it and I know you have so much on your plate already. I just thought you could use a hand.” Remy snickered softly and leaned back in his seat again, folding his hands over his stomach as she silently asked him what was so funny. All Remy could do was roll his shoulders, though. “Of course.” Remy watched as Julie closed the conversation with his mother, looking more than amused and pleased with himself.

Finally his new "mentor" got off the phone. "Your mother loves the idea. You are now officially my student. Get ready for the dunce cap, Remington. She said I can start training you whenever I want, but I suppose I’ll be nice and give you a choice. Do you want to start now or this afternoon?” His eyes wandered away from her crazy beautiful eyes to that little bit of cleavage again. She snapped her fingers and looked back up at her, grinning once more. “Eyes up, mister! Answer the question. Now or this afternoon?”

Remy had to admit for a moment he was a little unsure about this plan. She could really make his life miserable for a while, but that wasn't to say he couldn't, and wouldn't return the favor. He did like to be fair, after all. "No sense wasting time." He said with a big smile. "Let's go ahead and get this started now. That way once you whip me into shape I can take a nice little break and.. well, I probably should stop talking. There are sexual harassment rules I need to abide by now." His smile was a mischievous one. "So! Should I call you miss Brady or what? Mistress? Ma'am?" He inquired, leaning forward once more. "Oh, I think now's probably a good time to warn you that anything you do, I will have the opportunity to do back to you ten times over, so I would think reeally looong and haaard about what you intend to do with me." Of course there were other meanings to his words, but he was sure he could play it off.

[JULIE BRADY]

Julie didn’t like it when Remy smiled so wickedly. Why was it that she always felt like she was prey even when she was the one holding the cards? She frowned at him suspiciously, wondering what was going on in that devious head of his. “No sense wasting time. Let’s go ahead and get this started now. That way once you whip me into shape I can take a nice break and…well, I probably should stop talking. There are sexual harassment rules I need to abide by now.” Ew! She didn’t want to think about how often she came up in his misguided sexual fantasies and she most certainly didn’t want to hear about it. A disgusted scowl showed on her face as she pushed her bangs from her eyes. What had she signed herself up for? How did he ruin her mood so quickly every time? “So! Should I call you Miss Brady? Mistress? Ma’am?” He leaned forward and she felt the urge to lean away but didn’t. “Oh, I think now’s probably a good time to warn you that anything you do, I will have the opportunity to do back to you ten time over, so I would think really looong and haaard about what you intend to do with me.” She shook her head and tilted it to the side, sighing deeply. “I’m going to have to set up a secret recorder for this sexual harassment suit against you…” she said softly in an almost absentminded way. Of course she didn’t actually mean it, but there was no harm in threatening it. “And I don’t appreciate the threat, Remy. Whatever I have you do will be purely for your educational benefit. And there’s no need to change how you address me unless it’s in front of a client, as I mentioned before.” Did she have some cruel, menial tasks ready for him? Certainly! But he didn’t have to know they were cruel and menial.

With a small almost sardonic smile she folded her hands in front of her on the desk. “Now, first thing you’ll need to learn are the reports. I’m sure your mother mentioned them, but I’ll explain them in more detail. The reports cover profits and revenue and what our spending is by department. Hospitality spending covers what we use for toiletries for the guests, office spending what gets used in these offices, maintenance spending what gets used by the cleaning staff and general hotel upkeep, and food and beverage spending what gets used by the restaurant and kitchen staff. There are also payroll reports, but our office doesn’t general handle these—that’s mostly HR. You have to know all the reports and their functions because your mother will ask for them every week. I send them to you, you send them to her. I do one report four days out of the week and then I send them all to you on Friday. Are you with me so far?” It was clear he wasn’t. Already he looked bored. She sighed heavily and hit the print button on the report she had pulled up. “Let me print one off and I’ll show you how to read it. And I’ll stick a coffee IV in your arm if you don’t perk up.” It was a playful warning and she gave him a little bit of a smile. “If I catch you asleep on the desk, I’ll pull out the ruler.” She actually did have a ruler in her desk…that might wake him up.

So the couple of hours went by, Julie explaining reports and Remy partially listening though his eyes tended to wander. She was about ready to actually pull out the ruler when she figured they could break for some real lunch. “Alright, dunce. You’re getting more unfocused than usual now. I’m going for lunch down in the kitchen.” Standing from her desk, she had the keys to her office in hand before she realized she didn’t know what Remy was going to do for an hour. He wasn’t going to stay in her office unattended for an hour…She glanced to the door and then shrugged. “You can come along if you want to. I don’t know if you’ve ever met the kitchen staff.” It was weird. Part of her dreaded him breaking into the one hour a day now where she wouldn’t have to deal with him, but another part felt a little bad for him. It’s not like he really knew much of the staff, at least not well enough to call his friends. He’d probably slept with a handful of them, another handful he’d probably known since he was very young, but she didn’t know how comfortable he was in this environment he’d be spending every day in for the next however many years. It would be his hotel someday, so he should be familiar with the different parts of it. Whether he took her up on her offer or not was completely up to him, but she didn’t really want to leave him hanging.

[REMY GRAHAM]

“I’m going to have to set up a secret recorder for this sexual harassment suit against you…” She said in a soft voice, but Remy could only smile more. He had only been teasing! But he supposed that wasn't as okay anymore. Sure, talking about things that were long and hard before was in good fun but now he supposed he really could get into some trouble. “And I don’t appreciate the threat, Remy. Whatever I have you do will be purely for your educational benefit. And there’s no need to change how you address me unless it’s in front of a client, as I mentioned before.” He cocked a brow at her. Had he made a threat? He supposed technically he had, but she should know he wouldn't take kindly to being her slave because she was angry that he'd had an easier life than her. It wasn't his fault he had everything handed to him! He had been dealt a lucky hand, that's all. Some made their own fortune, others had the opportunity to ride the coattails of those who had prior to their existence. It wasn't like he wasn't going to work hard or anything!

“Now, first thing you’ll need to learn are the reports.” It seemed this was going to be boring no matter who his teacher was, though he was certain it was better coming from Jules. He listened with mild interest, enjoying the way her mouth moved as she spoke. “Are you with me so far?” He smiled and nodded. “Supplies, maintenance, payroll... got it.” He tapped his skull and watched as she let out a heavy sigh. “Let me print one off and I’ll show you how to read it. And I’ll stick a coffee IV in your arm if you don’t perk up.” He smiled at her smile, even though it was a stupid joke. She was one of the few girls who made stupid jokes seem funny and cute. It was part of her charm. “If I catch you asleep on the desk, I’ll pull out the ruler.” His grin grew devious as he let out a small "Kinky.", loving her reaction. He knew she didn't mean it in a dirty way, but it was hard not to taunt her with his crude jokes.

Remy never believed he could have a genuinely bad time with Julie. She was so... boring. He liked things much better when he was taunting her, but that just wasn't the current case. Every time he seemed to zone out she snapped him back into attention. Every time he made a comment that was bordering on sexual she glowered at him and continued right on with their work. It seemed all work and no play had made Julie a dull girl.

“Alright, dunce. You’re getting more unfocused than usual now." Was she going to let him have a break? "I’m going for lunch down in the kitchen.” He watched as she stood, catching a glimpse of her legs. “You can come along if you want to. I don’t know if you’ve ever met the kitchen staff.” He cocked a brow at her. "Why, Julie Brady are you asking me to lunch?" He teased with a big grin, getting to his own feet as he moved towards her door. "I'm honored!". He imagined briefly what she would look like bent over, her palms flush against the door with her dress hiked up and her legs spread wide, waiting for him. The thought both turned him on and disgusted him at the same time. Julie wouldn't be Julie if she did that. That was a position he would expect many of the sluts he banged to take up, but no Julie. She was more of a leather couch kind of girl.

"I'll have you know the kitchen staff knows me quite well. Or at least the lifers do. I practically grew up here, remember? I bet half of them could tell you my favorite ice cream flavor." He teased with a grin as they made their way out the room. He waited while Julie locked her door behind her and he cocked a brow. "Very protective." He teased, knowing he had to do the exact same thing considering there was information inside that shouldn't be browsed without him there to oversee. "So how am I doing so far, Jules? Because all my success is weighed on your dainty little shoulders, which I'll gladly rub for you after work if you like." He caught the look he gave and offered a playful, innocent smile. "Friendly massage! Won't even invite you to my suite. You have such a dirty mind, honestly.." He shook his head playing off the playfulness as they moved into the waiting elevator. "So, what're you going to have? A salad?" He teased, actually hoping she would. He liked skinny girls.

[JULIE BRADY]

“Why, Julie Brady are you asking me to lunch? I’m honored!” Julie gave Remy a sardonic smile, narrowing her eyes as she did so. She was already starting to regret inviting him. Of course, his jokes could be worse—God only knew what went on in his head. She was sure a great deal of it was far from wholesome. “I’ll have you know the kitchen staff knows me quite well. Or at least the lifers do. I practically grew up here, remember? I bet half of them could tell you my favorite ice cream flavor.” At his grin, she gave a small smile of her own and rolled her eyes. Yeah, whenever he was home from his fancy boarding school the staff knew him, but of course the staff would know him. But this was an opportunity for him to get to know the staff, since he would be in charge of them. Once Julie had locked the door, her eyes came to Remy. “Very protective.” She rolled her eyes again with a little smile, moving on ahead so they could get to the kitchen. Julie knew her way around this place like it was the back of her hand. “So how am I doing so far, Jules? Because all my success is weighed on your dainty little shoulders, which I’ll gladly rub for you after work if you like.” Julie narrowed her blue eyes at him, glaring slightly. How many times did she have to shoot him down in one day? He of course gave her a big innocent smile. “Friendly massage! Won’t even invite you to my suite. You have such a dirty mind, honestly…” Julie couldn’t help but smile a little as she shook her head, trying not to laugh. He was such an ass, but a humorous one.

“So, what’re you going to have? A salad?” Her nose scrunched up as she gave him an incredulous look. “What, rabbit food? No. I’ll probably have a chicken salad sandwich with French fries. Sophia makes her chicken salad sandwiches with cranberries and apples. It’s actually really good.” Julie could eat anything and never gain an ounce. She and her mother ate hardly anything besides takeout before her stepdad came along and she’d always managed to stay scrawny. Thinking on it now, she’d never seen Remy with a full figured woman—in fact, most of them were a similar build to her, though some had bigger boobs or a bigger butt. He probably liked when girls ate salad, but that just wasn’t Julie. She’d never enjoyed salad unless it had fried chicken or a ton of dressing on it. Looking at him, she realized he probably didn’t know who Sophia was. “Sophia is one of the cooks. She’s only been here for about a year, but she’s really good. And by the way, the kitchen staff might know you, but you probably don’t know most of them. Since they’ll be your employees now, you should know their names and faces.” Maybe he thought it was below him to know the help, but she wasn’t about to let him get away with that attitude. If she had to discuss one of the staff with him, he should know who it was she was referring to. She flashed him a sweet smile. “I think if your mom can keep track of the staff, you can.”

When the elevator doors opened, she walked back with him toward the kitchen. “You don’t happen to speak French or Spanish do you?” One look at his face and she knew he didn’t. Well, that could make communication difficult…“Yeah, you’ll just have to get used to Chef Coussard’s accent then. He has a very thick French accent. He’ll give you French lessons for free whether you want them or not. Some of the kitchen staff have thick Spanish accents, but they understand English just fine; you’ll run into problems with the cleaning staff though. Some of them only speak Spanish. Not that you’ll be speaking to them directly most of the time, but if you have to, it might be best to have me along.” She had been a Spanish minor in college and had plenty of opportunity in everyday life to use her lessons. “And no, if you ask me to speak in Spanish for you, I won’t do it. I think you would enjoy that too much.” Julie didn’t even have to look at him to know he was grinning. She pushed the door to the kitchen open and was greeted with a wave of heat and a blend of sumptuous smells. There was loud hissing, the clanking of pots and pans and Sous Chef Coussard’s voice yelling out orders. Just as they walked in, Sophia came rushing by and gave Julie a bright smile which she returned. Sophia[/u] was a beautiful young Hispanic woman, full-figured with a wide, sweet smile and one of Julie’s best friends. “Hey mama!” she greeted Julie with an excited voice. When her eyes fell on Remy, her smile faded a little though her eyes stayed wide. “Tienes buen gusto en novios.” Julie gave Remy a nervous sidelong glance and then she gave Sophia a semi-stern look. “Él no es mi novio. Y no hablo de él delante de él, aunque sea en español.” Sophia held her hands up defensively with a smile. “Okay, fine! Am I making you guys lunch today?” Julie smiled sweetly, clasping her hands in front of her like she was pleading. “If you don’t mind.” Sophia laughed and shook her head. “No, I’ve got time.” Julie clapped and then made her way to the counter where there were stools she and Remy could sit on and be out of the way. “Oh, Sophia this is Remy Graham. Remy, this is Sophia Vasquez, Chef Coussard’s right hand woman.” Sophia had stopped and looked at Julie with surprise before glancing to Remy. “Wait…you’re Mrs. Graham’s son?” Julie nodded, giving her a wide eyed smile, trying to communicate to her friend to play it cool. She was an excitable one…Sophia’s smile grew ten times and she held out her hand to Remy for a shake. Thankfully he took it, otherwise Julie would have to hear about how much of a dick he was later and was she not good enough for a handshake because she worked in the kitchen? She’d heard it before about some of the hotel’s investors… “It’s so nice to finally meet you! What can I make for you today?”

[REMY GRAHAM]

“What, rabbit food? No. I’ll probably have a chicken salad sandwich with French fries. Sophia makes her chicken salad sandwiches with cranberries and apples. It’s actually really good.” He cocked a brow at her, a little surprised that she would eat actual food. Girls her size never ate in front of Remy. Well, some did, and he should have known Julie wouldn't be the salad type, but it was still a bit of a surprise that she wasn't. Then again, her sandwich had apples and raisins in it, so that was healthy, right? “Sophia is one of the cooks. She’s only been here for about a year, but she’s really good. And by the way, the kitchen staff might know you, but you probably don’t know most of them. Since they’ll be your employees now, you should know their names and faces." she made a valid point and he watched her curiously. He should probably get to know them to some degree. He didn't want to but he knew his mother would want him to. It wasn't like he needed to be their friend or anything, he just needed to know their name. Having them come to his office for something shouldn't be the first time he's met his employees, but then again he wouldn't likely have any of them in his office. That was what supervisors were for. Those he should know.. “I think if your mom can keep track of the staff, you can.” He rolled his eyes. "I didn't argue with you, Jules. I'll meet the staff if you introduce me." He said a little smugly

“You don’t happen to speak French or Spanish do you?” It was hard for Remy not to cringe at the question. The fact that some of his staff spoke Spanish annoyed him a bit, but then again they worked hard and cheap so he shouldn't care too much. He reminded himself he wasn't their friends, just their bosses bosses boss, or something like that. He sneered slightly anyway, having known a little of both but not fluent in either. It wasn't like he could hold a conversation, but he'd been to Mexico, Spain, France and Montreal, Canada, three countries and one province that spoke the languages suggested, but Julie simply assumed he didn't know a lick of either. “Yeah, you’ll just have to get used to Chef Coussard’s accent then. He has a very thick French accent. He’ll give you French lessons for free whether you want them or not. Some of the kitchen staff have thick Spanish accents, but they understand English just fine; you’ll run into problems with the cleaning staff though. Some of them only speak Spanish. Not that you’ll be speaking to them directly most of the time, but if you have to, it might be best to have me along. And no, if you ask me to speak in Spanish for you, I won’t do it. I think you would enjoy that too much.” Remy grinned down at her and shook his head. "I never asked you to." He offered in reply.

The kitchen was how he always remembered it being. Loud, hot and filled with the thick smell of gourmet food. “Hey mama!” Remy looked at the woman approaching "Tienes buen gusto en novios.” Oddly Remy knew enough of the words in that sentence to make out what she said and smirked a little. "Él no es mi novio. Y no hablo de él delante de él, aunque sea en español.” Remy looked between the two girls, oddly turned on at how comfortable Julie was speaking Spanish. “Okay, fine! Am I making you guys lunch today?” “If you don’t mind.” “No, I’ve got time.” Remy stood a little taller, waiting for an actual introduction, or wondering if he would need to do it himself. “Oh, Sophia this is Remy Graham. Remy, this is Sophia Vasquez, Chef Coussard’s right hand woman.” The look on his face spoke volumes. “Wait…you’re Mrs. Graham’s son?” He smiled slightly and nodded. "The one and only." He took her hand and gave it a small, firm shake. She was obviously excited about meeting him, which meant Julie hadn't had the opportunity to bad mouth him to her just yet. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! What can I make for you today?” "Likewise." He said in a casual voice taking his hand back and waiting until she was not looking before wiping it on the back of his pants. She had been working with food, so who knew what she had on her hands! "And blackened chicken with mashed potatoes would be fine, thank you." He grinned and waited for the curvy Latino to get to work before leaning in to Julie. "By the way, I know a hint of Spanish, and if you'd rather introduce me as your future novio I might be alright with that." Without looking at her he stood again and clapped his hands together. "Now, would you care to introduce me t the rest of the staff, or do I need to do that on my own?"

[JULIE BRADY]

“Likewise.” Well that was polite of Remy. She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised, knowing he wasn’t a complete cad, but she hadn’t expected the sincere tone he used. Her eyes looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he really meant what he said. She looked away before he could wipe his hand off, though—which was a good thing because that would have damaged what little progress Remy had made with Julie today. “And blackened chicken with mashed potatoes would be fine, thank you.” Sophia nodded before turning her eyes back to Julie and raising her eyebrows. “The chicken salad sandwich with French fries, please.” Her friend nodded again with a knowing smile and then walked away to begin preparing the dishes. She was still smiling after her when Remy leaned down to talk to her and she watched him do so with curious eyes. “By the way, I know a hint of Spanish, and if you’d rather introduce me as your future novio I might be alright with that.” Before she could suppress it, she felt a deep blush creep up her neck and ears right into her pale, freckled cheeks. Thankfully he wasn’t looking at her, but she wanted to hit him. “Don’t hold your breath on that one,” she replied in a soft but trying to be firm voice. He’d caught her off guard with that one and she didn’t like it!

When he stood straight again, she was glad he did so, not wanting anyone to think he really was her novio. His hands clapped together before he said, “Now, would you care to introduce me to the rest of the staff, or do I need to do that on my own?” She willed the blush to cool in her cheeks as she turned away from him quickly to guide him through the rest of the kitchen. “Follow me.”As she took him on a tour of the kitchens she slowly settled back into her element. Chef Coussard was as jovial as ever in his greeting, in French of course, and he was quite enthusiastic to meet the heir of the Remington. He offered Remy a sample of the chocolate pastries he was working on, of course giving Julie a taste as well. She could swear the chef had a direct line to Heaven for his ingredients. If she could eat his food all day, every day, she wouldn’t even care how fat she was. Next were the other cooks, most of them American and half of them female, but also a pair of brothers from El Salvador who spoke with thick accents. They teased Julie in Spanish, but she always gave it right back, which made them laugh even more. She was careful this time, though, unsure if she would say something Remy would actually understand. Finally she introduced Remy to the dishwashers, the young men working their way through high school who worked as both busboys in the restaurant and the dishwashers in the kitchen.

By the time they swung back around, their food was just being placed on the counter for them to enjoy. Even Sophia’s presentation was spectacular. “Perfect timing!” she piped and Julie gave a sweet smile in return. “You know I have a sixth sense for when you’re done making me food. I should make you my wifey so you’ll have to make me food three times a day.” Her grin was wide a playful and Sophia’s sigh in return was the same. “So you say every day and yet I still don’t have a ring.” Julie gave a sweet smile in return. “Don’t worry, I’m saving up.” With a big smile, Sophia walked away to get back to her real duties of serving the guests of the Remington and Julie was suddenly reminded that Remy was there. She cleared her throat a little and looked down at her sandwich. “We’re best friends, me and Sophia.” It was her way of explaining her light-hearted and playful banter that she could never picture herself having with Remy. She picked up half of her sandwich and bit into it before she could say anything else stupid. As a minute passed of silence and he was able to taste his food, she allowed her eyes to wander over to them. “How is it?” she asked. She knew it had to be amazing. Sophia was one of the best cooks she’d ever known.

[REMY GRAHAM]

There was very little Remy liked to see more than rosy cheeks on Miss Julie Brady, especially if he had been the one to make them so. “Follow me.” She commanded and he bit his tongue from saying anything that would further annoy her. Hadn't she learned never to underestimate him? Apparently not, well. not yet anyway. Remy was certain she would be quick to his games in the near future.

Remy dutifully met the staff as Julie introduced them. Plenty of them he had met before and vice versa, but this was a much more formal introduction where he actually gave them the time of day and didn't treat them like the servants he had in his younger years. Whatever Remy wanted he had gotten, but things weren't that way anymore. They were still hired hands but now he knew they weren't his personal hired hands. It worked out in his benefit, though. He got to taste a chocolate pastry that was truly divine and he would remember to order one of those perhaps late one evening when he was working well after hours, which wouldn't be tonight he was sure. It was interesting watching Julie with the help, though. She felt so comfortable with them and he couldn't help but feel like she would do better in his sort of job. Then again, she was a little too friendly and it was important to keep a clear line between work and personal life. Did she go out with these people after work? Not likely, but if she intended to move up she would need to learn that she couldn't be best friends with everyone. Still, she had a nice laugh and the splatter of freckles on her nose were cute when she scrunched her nose up like she giggled. He caught a few words in her conversation with the two Spanish guys, but not enough to follow their conversation. It didn't matter, though. Remy was sure he had scared Julie from saying anything further about him. She had no idea how much he did, or rather didn't know.

By the time the introductions were finished their lunch was ready, and Remy wouldn't be more thrilled. Saying hello to all those people he would never remember had made him work up quite the appetite. “Perfect timing!” “You know I have a sixth sense for when you’re done making me food. I should make you my wifey so you’ll have to make me food three times a day.” Though Julie was being playful Remy couldn't help but raise a brow at her. Wifey? “So you say every day and yet I still don’t have a ring.” “Don’t worry, I’m saving up.” Remy wasn't nearly as amused by the exchange as the girls were. The though of lesbians didn't bother him, but the though of Julie being with a woman did, even in jest. Unless of course she was doing that in bed with him maybe.. He watched the curvy Latina walk away and considered the pair making out on his bed together. Actually, in that context it didn't seem so bad. Sure, she was bigger than he typically liked but she was sexy in her own right he supposed.

Julie cleared her throat as if to pull him from his vulgar thoughts of her and Sophia. “We’re best friends, me and Sophia.” He nodded slowly turning back to look at Sophia before down to his food. It looked good enough. “How is it?” she asked as he pushed a forkful of potato into his mouth. "Just fine, thanks." He responded, cutting up his chicken and then looking over at Julie. "You know, I don't discourage workplace friendships. It's important to have camaraderie to boost morale, but you should know friendships should stay within your own level." He explained, not trying to be gentle. "Making things too personal when you're in charge of someone makes it difficult to want to fire them when you need to. You begin to make excuses to keep them on board because they have a mortgage or a baby or sick husband or something. You can't let relationships blur what needs to be done." Remy shrugged, poking a piece of chicken with his fork. "You don't get to the top by being everyone's friend, Jules." He explained, popping the food in his mouth and chewing. It was certainly tasty!