Robert is so mad he feels like he is going to explode. Percy Larkin is a douche. How dare that little runt offered to take over his company? He needs fund not a buyer. He should have listened to Bates; Larkin is a waste of time.
He arrives at the hotel entrance rather swiftly in his car and hands his car keys to the valet. He walks with haste to the lounge. They should be there already, it's almost lunch time. Yes, he can see both Anna and Bates sitting near the window. The sight of them eases Robert's heart a little.
"Bates, Anna." He greets them. The two of them jump at the sound of his voice.
"Rob! What are you doing here?" Bates exclaims. "That's a rather fast meeting with Larkin. Is everything alright?"
Anna smiles knowingly at him. She is a step quicker than Bates in understanding of how meeting works.
Robert shakes his head and pats Bates on his shoulder. "No, not really buddy." Robert answers and gives them the necessary details of his meeting with Larkin.
"I'd say I told you so Rob but I'd refrain from doing so." Bates says, "That little runt."
Robert smiles at Bates' last remarks about Larkin. He gives his approval mixed with annoyed look at Bates before he turns to Anna. "How's the American Anna?"
"Smart, sharp and calculating Mr. Crawley. She is something."
"Bates?"
"She is smart indeed Rob. She asked about James. I have to explain about your past with James' parents."
"What?" Robert sits straighter on his seat. "What did you do that for?" Robert put his palm on his face. They are doomed, now the American will think that they are trying to gain her sympathy with a sad 'my parents died when I was a kid' family story.
"She sort of scares me Rob; she has this serious look in her eyes just like you when she asked the question. Only that her eyes are bluer and she is prettier than you. I can't help but tell her about it." Bates explains. Anna chuckles at this.
Robert sighs. "Anna, have you guys brief her about the project?"
"Not yet Mr. Crawley, we are actually waiting for her to finish freshen up and we plan to brief her over lunch."
"How long has she been in her room?" he asks eyeing the almost empty pot of tea at the centre of the table.
"A while, she should be down soon."
"Very well, I'll take over from here Anna. You and Bates just sit back, relax and enjoy your lunch. I'll brief the American instead."
"If that's the case Mr. Crawley, can I just take my lunch at the office? I kind of have some people coming in for the marketing team, I did have them referred to the human resources but I'd like to see how they are if I am no longer needed here."
"Certainly Anna, asks the driver to drive you back- Oy, where do you think you are going?" Robert asks Bates who is standing up from his seat even faster than Anna.
"Well, since you are here. I do have things to do at office too Robert."
"No you don't. The small projects have their own site chiefs. You are not needed anywhere till the London Complex is back on." Robert says blatantly.
Anna who has enough of the two bid Robert a polite farewell and walks away.
"I have this other thing that.. needs.. Attention." Bates says still standing up and eyeing Anna walking away from them.
"Oh blimey, just go." Bates winks at Robert and walks away happily following Anna.
The wait is surprisingly long. Robert guesses it must be because the American is a woman. Woman does take longer to freshen up but this is too long. He almost finishes his second cup of coffee. He even has finished chatting with an old acquaintance that came by his seat. Taking a peek at his watch Robert is surprise to find that it's almost 2 PM now. What is up with that woman?
Finding himself unable to wait any longer, Robert gulped down his coffee, pays the bill at the counter, and heads to the elevator.
He pushes the bell button several times. No answer. He knocks on the door. He can hear a muffled female voice saying of 'Oh My God,' from behind the door.
After pushing the bell again, the woman finally opens the door. She is wearing a white towel robe. She has blue eyes just like him. Her brown curled shoulder length hair is a little messy.
"Who are you?" the woman asks.
"I'm Ro-"
She cuts him mid sentence. "Are you here to clean the room? There is no need I just checked in. I'm sorry, but I think I must have fallen asleep; I have to get down right now. There are people waiting for me downstairs, Oh My God." Her American accent practically drips with every word.
Robert is baffled with the things the woman just said. Did she just say she fell asleep? Just when Robert is about to say something, the door is closed in his face. He grunts and pushes on the bell again.
The woman opens the door her expression is an exasperated one, "Sir, really I don't need the room cleaned." As she moves to close the door again, Robert held one of his feet between the doors. "What are you doing? Remove your foot." her face is in horror.
"Relax Ms. Levinson. Do you see me pushing any cleaning cart? I am not here to clean your room." Robert sighs. From Bates description Cora Levinson is suppose to be scary intimidating woman but this lady here is far from intimidating. He is so going to choke Bates tonight.
Cora Levinson does not answer him; she still has the looks of horror in her face.
"Ms. Levinson, how do you do? I'm Robert Crawley."
Cora face turn red as soon as she registers his words. "Mr. Crawley? But aren't your people downstairs?"
"I kind of finished early from my previous arrangement and decide that I should be the one to brief you about the project so I sent Bates and Anna back to office." Cora looks down and still blushing. "Really Ms. Levinson, do Americans talk on the door all the time?"
"Sorry, er come in Mr. Crawley." Robert has specially instructed Anna to place Cora Levinson in a presidential suite for her stay. Not only the room is big, but it has its own living room. "Sorry, I think I fell asleep. I don't know what happened. I was just sitting down on the bed for a moment and the next thing I know is hearing you knocking on the door."
Robert does not answer her; he sits himself in one of the living room chair near the window. He looks at her again in disbelief. She blushes again, mutters something and disappears into the master bedroom closing the door. Towel Robe, Messy Hair. Sharp, Smart, calculating, something? Yes, he really is going to choke Bates tonight and maybe Anna too.
To be continued…