Well, here's chapter two! I know I said it would only be a two-part story but it'll have to be longer for me to fit everything in :) Hope you like it! The next chapter should hopefully come soon. Thanks for the feedback so far, please feel free to let me know what you think.

Donna xx

Three years earlier...

"Good morning, The Chesterton Hotel, Reception." Anna chirped into the phone, promptly almost dropping the receiver as she looked up to see Charlie Edwards heading directly for her desk, a smile on his face which literally made her heart melt.

"Yes," Boomed a deep voice down the phone as he reached her and stood patiently on the other side of the desk, "I'd like to make reservation for the 19th."

"Certainly Sir," She shot Charlie a warm smile, "If I could just take your name and a few personal details."

The voice down the phone gave an angry sounding cough, and for the second time Anna almost dropped the handset, "Excuse me? Sir? The name is Jenkins. Mrs Hilary Jenkins."

Anna's eyes widened, and he gave her an inquisitive look before she replied, mortified, "Certainly, Madame. I do apologise, Mrs Jenkins. Now, were you interested in a room or a suite?" And Charlie burst out laughing. She shot him what was supposed to be a fierce look, but failed due to the fact that she was trying her best to hold in peals of laughter herself.

The two of them dared not look at each other again while Anna finished booking Mrs Jenkins' room for fear of exploding, and when Anna finally hung up she leaned across and slapped him lightly on the arm.

"Gosh, that was awful!" She squealed, "She's going to make my life hell when she arrives, she sounded like-"

"Like a man?" Charlie finished for her, in what he clearly imagined to be a helpful way.

"Well yes, that, but I was going to say she sounds like someone who holds a grudge."

"You never fail to amaze me, Anna." he smiled, and she thought she might actually collapse, "Well, you're a very talented, professional woman, I'm sure you'll handle her just fine."

"Thank you, Charlie." Anna gave him her most dazzling smile and fluttered her eyelashes, "That means a lot coming from the newly promoted, er... What was it?"

"Assistant Vice Deputy Manager." He looked a little embarrassed as he said it, "Don't you go raising your eyebrows at me, darling, I know it's a crap title. I've barely got more power than you around here."

She gasped, "Such an insult! Don't forget that I am the Head Receptionist, it's a very highly regarded status."

"Of course." He winked, and leaned in closer so Anna got a whiff of his expensive aftershave, "Which is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Go on." She was intrigued now.

"I was wondering if you'd be able to cover my back for a couple of hours, you know, if Natalie's on the prowl. Tell her I've gone to the Doctor's, or run an errand or something."

"You're asking me to lie to our General manager? Tut tut." Anna smiled, "It'll cost you, mind."

"I'm sure I'll find a way to make it up to you."

"You better had, I'm holding you to that." God, she thought, I really am upping the flirting stakes here, "But if I agree to put my job at risk like that, can I at least know where you're gallivanting off to for two hours?"

"That's where it's a bit iffy, actually," He explained, "See, Natalie can't know... I've got a job interview."

Anna blinked, feeling her heart sink and unable to hide her instinctive emotion as she gasped, "You're leaving us?"

"I might be." He said, "The Head Receptionist's job just opened up at Babylon."

"Hotel Babylon? Ouch, Charlie. You do realise that means you'll be interviewing with Rebecca Mitchell?"

"Who?" He frowned.

"The General Manager over there. Night-mare!" Anna sing-songed, "Veeery uptight, perfectionist. Bit of a bitch really, blonde. You know the type."

"Right." He said, "Well, I'll look out for her. You really do seem to know everyone in this business, don't you Anna."

"I make it my job." She replied, looking up at him, "I just can't believe you want to leave."

"Well, you practically said it yourself, I'm getting nowhere here. And as you also said," He smirked slightly, "Being Head Receptionist is better than head nothing."

"Well, of course I'll cover for you." She smiled, trying to hide how crestfallen she was feeling inside, "Good luck, Charlie."

He shot her that smile again, the one that made her go weak at the knees, before turning and heading towards the double doors at the exit.

"Oh, and Charlie?" She called out, and he turned to look at her across the lobby, "Just give Rebecca Mitchell the impression that you think the sun shines out of her pert little arse - She'll hire you in an instant."

"Got it." He gave her a little wave, and she leaned on the desk as she watched him walk out of the hotel. How in hell's name had he managed to do this to her? She, Anna Thornton-Wilton, who only ever remotely considered the possibility of a relationship if the man in question had at least a million pounds in the bank, had a ridiculous school-girl style crush on her colleague. It was laughable.

"Erm... Excuse me?" A woman's voice plunged her back down to earth, and she became aware that she'd been gawping blankly at the spot where Charlie had just been a few moments earlier.

"I am so sorry." Anna told the woman on the other side of the desk, reverting immediately back to her usual professional demeanor, "Have you got a reservation?"

"No, actually," The woman looked a little uncomfortable, "I'm Catherine Simpson, the new chambermaid?"

"I beg your pardon?" Anna blinked.

"I said I'm the new chamberm-"

"No, I heard you, it's just... A maid? Really? But you're - forgive me for saying it - you're bloody gorgeous!"

Catherine looked shocked, but smiled all the same, "Erm... Thank you! So are you."

"Well," Anna gave a little laugh, "That goes without saying, but anyway... What's someone like you doing working as a chambermaid?"

"You've got to start somewhere." She said with a shrug, and Anna leaned forward on the desk, taking an instant liking to the girl.

"Too bloody right," Anna said, "You know, I started out working in the laundry room of the B+B two doors down from my house." She was a little surprised with herself, and promptly stood back up straight, "I... don't really know why I just told you that, I'm sorry. Anyway, I'd better get you down to housekeeping, our Manager would flip if she saw that a chambermaid had entered through the front doors."

"God, sorry." Catherine said with a grimace, as they got into one of the lifts, "I didn't know-"

"Don't worry," She smiled, "It's fine. It's just a shame someone like you has to be shipped off down to housekeeping! I'm Anna, by the way." She held out a hand, which the girl took.

"Catherine." She told her as Anna noticed her perfectly manicured nails, "But my friends call me Caz."

Anna smiled, "And...What shall I call you?"

The girl flashed a broad smile not dissimilar to Anna's, which she considered her biggest weapon, "Oh, Caz. Definitely."

"Anna!"

Oh, shit, Anna thought, plastering a fake smile on her face as she looked up to see Natalie, General Manager (and didn't she know it) standing with her arms folded.

"Yes, Natalie?" She asked sweetly.

"May I ask," She snapped, "Why you seem to find it acceptable to perform a manicure whilst on duty? I was under the impression that your breaks, or better still, your free time were created solely for this activity."

"Well actually, Natalie, I was only buffing them." Anna replied immediately, a whole host of excuses popping into her head and spilling out of her mouth, "Which is the last step anyway, and as there was no-one wanting checked in I thought it would be okay, plus you are always saying in your morning meetings, which by the way I find very inspirational, that appearence really can contribute to the good-"

"Alright!" Natalie cut her off irritably, and Anna, relieved, finally let out her breath, "Just don't let it happen again. Now, have you seen Charlie anywhere? I've been looking for him for a couple of hours now."

"Charlie." Anna repeated, an alarm going off in her head, "Charlie Edwards, yes, now he did say he was, erm... That he should be back very soon, because he... He told me he was..." Think think think! She told herself, trying desperately to remember the excuses Charlie had suggested.

"Charlie," She finished smoothly, "Is running an errand at the Doctor's."