Chapter Eleven - The Elusive Mr. Barlowe

Sydney 

My body trembled with fury at his insult. I knew how hardworking I was. With a will to learn, I could do justice to any job assigned to me. Did he think his offer was the only option left for me to earn? 

I marched towards the tent when the staff member whom I had met earlier approached me. “Did you meet Mr. Barlowe, miss?” 

I shook my head. “No. He hasn’t returned yet.” 

He frowned as if I were crazy. “I saw him return ten minutes ago and go to his office.” 

I gaped at the man. “Oh, are you sure? I was there, but I didn’t meet him.”

He shrugged and walked away. 

I wandered, considering my next move. Maybe I should talk to the manager of this site. I went back to the office only to see Killian yelling at someone! 

Was the man crazy? 

I had no wish to face him and left my phone number with the receptionist. “Please, can you fix an appointment with Mr. Barlowe immediately for me? Here’s my phone number. I’m staying in the tent H11.” 

“Sure, ma’am.” 

I left the place in a rush before Killian could see me. 

There was nothing else to do but to wait for their call. As I passed the restaurant, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafted into my nose. Unable to stop myself, I peered in to see a gala buffet lunch served for all. The place was already teeming with guests, and I rushed in before the food disappeared. 

“Hi, can I sit here? The rest are all occupied,” said a tall, spectacled guy, most probably in his late twenties. 

“Sure.” I made space for him on the table. 

“So, are you staying here? I haven’t seen you before.” He smiled at me as he helped himself to his salad and burger. 

“I came in last night. I’ll stay for a month, maybe. What about you?” I wasn’t curious, but I needed to know about Mr. Barlowe. Maybe he could help me.

“I’m Pete Hendricks. I work here.” He grinned at me. 

“Oh, that’s great! I’m Sydney Bardot. Actually, I’m looking for work here. Can you recommend me to your boss, please?” I gave him a hopeful look. 

“Done. Do you have a resume saved on your phone?” 

“Yes. If you give me your number, I can forward it to you.” 

He looked too happy to help. We exchanged numbers, and I forwarded my resume to him. “What kind of job are you looking for?” 

I shrugged. “Anything. I have a month here, so I should put it to good use.” 

“I’ll call you soon. Bye, my lunch break is over.” 

He left, and I felt better. I was sure Pete would help me get a job here. There was a lot to do here, but I couldn’t think straight. I wandered around the peaceful meadows, listening to the soothing sounds of the Kromme River filling the air. I followed the sounds and found a gurgling creek instead. It was a welcome relief, and I sat at the edge of a boulder, with my feet in the crystal clear water. It was so soothing; it calmed me immensely. The breathtaking Groenberg Mountain Range towered on one side, and the picturesque Doolhof Vineyards stretched for miles on the other. Maybe I would have enjoyed the scenic beauty of the place more under different circumstances. 

The glamping site was enormous, with a recreation center, a shopping center, an office building, and organic farms too. I was sure there were more jobs available here than Killian could ever think of. 

My phone buzzed with an incoming call, startling me totally. Was it my dad? 

However, it was an unknown number, but the location on the call tracker mentioned was Cape Town. So it couldn’t be my dad, right? I had changed all my privacy settings. 

I took the call. “Hello, Ms. Bardot? I’m Jenny from Mr. Barlowe’s office.” 

My heart thumped, realizing who she was. Maybe the receptionist to whom I had given my number. 

“Yes, speaking.” 

“Mr. Hendricks, our events manager, has put in a recommendation for you, ma’am. Mr. Barlowe has agreed to interview you for the position of his assistant. Please come over to the office for the interview.” 

She disconnected the call, and I gaped at the phone. What? So, Pete Hendricks was the events manager here! I felt indebted to the man. Obviously, I couldn’t lose the only chance I got. I almost ran towards the office, totally forgetting to inform Killian. 

On reaching the reception, I gave Jenny a relieved smile. “Is Mr. Barlowe in?” 

“No, he asked you to wait for him in his office.” 

I nodded and rushed ahead when Jenny called me. 

“Don’t you want to fix your appearance? The washroom is over there.” She pointed at a closed door nearby. 

I smacked my forehead playfully. Of course, I wanted to look my best. After running around all morning, I was sure I looked a mess. “Of course, thanks.” 

She grinned. “Best of luck!” 

I thanked her and ran ahead. After five minutes, I was ready and seated at Mr. Barlowe’s desk, waiting for him. My heart pounded in my chest in apprehension. With no experience in a job interview, I didn’t know what to expect. What if he rejected me? 

After an hour’s wait when he didn’t turn up, I felt restless. Had he left without meeting me? I felt like tearing my hair in frustration. 

Time ticked by, and it was almost evening. I had waited for the elusive Mr. Barlowe for almost four hours! 

No one in the office had a clue about his whereabouts. They didn’t know if he was coming back to the office. He had left me hanging, and it bothered me. But I didn’t give up sitting there stubbornly until he canceled the interview. Not once did I complain to any of his staff, but I sat there patiently. 

It was time to close the office, and Pete walked inside with a smile. “Hey, beautiful! You’re in. I just received a call from Mr. Barlowe. He had a meeting in Cape Town and couldn’t make it back for the interview. He has accepted your resume so you can start tomorrow as an assistant. Congratulations.”

He held out his hand for a shake while I gaped at him in a state of daze. “Oh! Thanks. Has he recruited me without even meeting me?” 

He chuckled and shook my hand excitedly. “Yes, this is so surprising. Sir is a hard taskmaster when he’s here. Anyway, come on, let’s complete the formalities so you can start tomorrow.” He sounded more excited than I, and I wondered why. 

After an hour, the formalities were complete, and I was free to go back to the tent. Was Killian there? It was strange he had taken no update on me since the moment I walked out on him. Was he mad at me? 

“Sydney! Wait!” Pete’s voice from behind made me stop and turn. 

He came jogging towards me. “Have dinner with me?”

I couldn’t decline him since he had helped me so much. “Okay.” 

He led me towards the restaurant where the buffet dinner had started. We served ourselves and settled in one corner of the restaurant. “Thanks for everything, Pete.” 

“You’re welcome, Sydney. So, which tent are you occupying?” 

I smiled at him. “H11.” 

He cocked an eyebrow at me. “With your family?” 

I shook my head. “No, with a friend.” I didn’t know how to explain my relationship with Killian. 

He gave me a suspicious look. “Boyfriend?”

“Umm..” Before I could answer him, my glance fell on Killian, striding into the restaurant in a fit of rage. My face paled as I realized how furious he was. Was it because of Pete? Or was it because I ignored his offer and landed up a job here? “Shit!” I ducked under the table in fear, and Pete gaped at me. 

“What’s going on? Who are you hiding from?” He gave me an agitated look. 

“Stop. Look the other way. I’m not here,” I muttered at the clueless man. 

“Why? Who are you hiding from?” He tried to help me up. As if I needed his help. 

“From me,” growled Killian, as he stopped at our table and glared at me. 

My heart sank with dread. I could feel all eyes on me now. Would he create a scene here in front of all? I wanted to vanish. This was so embarrassing!

Strangely, Pete paled at the sight of Killian. Did he know Killian? He stood straight and trembled like a leaf. “S-sir! I didn’t g-get you.” 

Sir? Did Pete address all the guests that way? 

“Sydney, out!” growled Killian, helping me to my feet. “What the hell are you doing here with him?” 

“What? I was just having my dinner, that’s all.” I trembled like a leaf. 

“Pete, you’re fired.” There was a pin-dropped silence all around as everyone gaped at the ongoing drama. I wanted to die of shame. 

“Please, Mr. Barlowe, don’t throw me out,” begged Pete, and my jaw dropped to the floor. 

Who was Mr. Barlowe? How could Killian be Mr. Barlowe, the owner of this place?