GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on Apr 11, 2023 18:59:01 GMT
Tucking the phone between his ear and his shoulder, Grey tapped at the keyboard that sat in front of the monitor displaying a quartet of camera feeds. His previous view of the lobby – empty now that Catia had gone through the hotel’s front door – vanished, the street outside the hotel taking its place. Catia crossed the street, heading for her car parked at the opposite curb. If the town council hadn’t taken so damn long with the approval for the parking lot her car would already be parked in a secure off-street lot. The rubber stamp had only come through the previous week though, the work not now expected to start for another fortnight.
He could hear Destiny’s voice at the other end, smiled at the sound of it. ”She should be back by five, which means I should be off by the time you get back here. Maybe we can head out, get dinner somewhere…” If Cameron Easton’s life didn’t explode for a third time, catching Catia at the centre of the blast this time. Third time unlucky.
Grey grimaced faintly, his expression settling into those granite lines as her car pulled out and vanished down the street. Staying away from someone you loved was almost impossible – hadn’t he learned that the hard way – but when it was you or their life … You were meant to at least try. He dragged his upper lip into his mouth, the sandpaper sting of his conscience wringing a wince out of him. Loving him had put Destiny in his sister’s crosshairs, had cost them their son, but he wasn’t about to regret not walking away. He was better off here, better with her. If that meant constantly trying to stand between her and what might still come for her, he’d do it, taking every sling and arrow until someone put Leah back in the ground. Cameron didn’t have the same excuse, definitely didn’t have the balls to take those hits for Catia if what had happened in the lobby with the asshole from his past had been anything to go by.
As soon as he’d had him out of view of the clients who’d stood there open mouthed and a little too thrilled at the public spectacle unfolding in front of them, he’d shut the man’s mouth for him. Sealed in one of the basement rooms, an asshole in time out while he’d made sure Catia was doing alright. Slipping down there after her sister – the one with the mouth and hands – had arrived. The wire biting into his fingers as he’d pulled it tight around his throat. He’d gone down almost easy, faintly disappointing when he’d wanted to let his temper slip just a little. Thankfully the dig for the parking lot wouldn’t turn over the unofficial graveyard out back of the hotel, if it would’ve done both his siter and JJ Hart would’ve been rubbing their hands together. Tough luck.
Easing back in the chair, Grey slipped back into conversation with Destiny, tossing around ideas for restaurants for tonight, promising he’d take Berlioz outside for at least a short walk when he had the time. It was easy to slip into the soft domesticity of life with her, like easing into warm water up his next. Floating in it, feeling the tension melt further with each inch he went deeper. He swung the chair lightly from side to side, his laughter filling his office before the camera outside picked up motion again.
He straightened back up, his brows drawing together again as he thumbed through the feeds. The woman hadn’t just strolled past, she was coming up the front stairs of the hotel, walking through the doors and into the empty lobby. ”A guest’s just walked in. I’ll see you soon. Love you.” The words slipped out easier now, the first ragged tearing of them out of his throat passing as those feelings had settled, their opaque edges solidifying until there was no mistaking what they were.
The phone was set down, his hands smoothing the front of his suit as he stepped out of the office. That effortless charm slipped over his face, brightening the polite smile he offered the woman as he slipped behind the desk. Unfamiliar, but Mystic Falls seemed to have expanded his clientele pool almost exponentially. ”Welcome to the Grey Haven. How can I help you this afternoon?” Pale eyes skimmed over her, looking for some familiarity to fix on. Not a regular, maybe a new guest – there were plenty that came through who hadn’t had the joy of meeting the owner. His staff handled the day to day with the sort of skill and discretion that had made the place the success it was.
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LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
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Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on May 10, 2023 15:03:56 GMT
She missed holding a pair of scissors in her hand, chopping away at people’s hair whilst making conversation. Lottie thrived in that environment because she could spend hours talking about nothing, but most importantly she could listen to the gossip. She knew everything about everyone but even though everyone in the neighbourhood had their eyes peeled they missed Freddie’s affair. Now she was probably the gossip of the town, but thankfully she wasn’t around to hear what people were saying about her. Whispers about her failed marriage and people saying “Oh poor Lottie.” She didn’t want their sympathy, she wanted to rewind back to last year where everything was perfect. Now she was in a town where everyone knew everyone, but she knew no one. She felt like an outsider. A character arriving in season five on a show, forcing her to pester Lucky and Catia more than normal. Catia was more welcoming than Lucky of course, but yet she craved more. The left side of her hotel bed was empty and her toilet seat remained in the down position. She would get pissed at Freddie whenever he left it up, but now she missed that. She missed him. If only she was more like Lucky who would have removed his balls with a rusty knife. Maybe once she’d stop grieving the death of her marriage she would move into the angry stage which would be awful for the locals. She’d brought a downpour of rain to the town since arriving, but if she was filled with fury it would bring thundering and lightning. Lucky wouldn’t be thanking her for that. The rain had subsided slowly over the past few weeks though as Lottie found herself sobbing less and less. The tears were still there, but it wasn’t the uncontrollable sobs like before. She even managed to break into a small smile on her way to work when Viv sent her message. She entered the hotel, sliding her phone into her back pocket as she spotted the man on reception. Catia mentioned there was another man who was a manager there. “Hi….” Her voice trailed off awkwardly as she smiled slightly, “I’m here to clock in… for work… I’m a cleaner.” A below average one, but she tried her best, “I’m Lottie… Charlotte Christmas. Catia’s sister… well half sister but we grew up together so… yeah.” She held back unveiling the whole story about their childhood because no one wanted to listen to that. GREY MADDOX |
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on May 16, 2023 15:57:13 GMT
Rusty wasn’t exactly the term for it, but it was close enough. Slipping behind the reception desk that morning he’d realised how disconnected he’d become from the day to day running of the hotel, the trenches. Catia had already been elbow deep in the business by the time the Grey Haven had opened here, but after Leah had carved the centre out of their lives, it had been a sudden drop of everything in her lap. For months they’d practically sealed off the penthouse, he and Destiny sealing themselves off in the same way. The newspaper, the hotel, the lives they’d had before had become unimportant in comparison to trying to hold each other together. Maybe he’d left a little too much of it to her after, but she’d been the one person he could trust with it all.
It almost felt like he was invading a space that had become hers as he’d emerged from his office into the empty lobby. Would guests turn up looking for her? Frowns starting to crease foreheads as the one person who’d been giving them a personal service here seemed to vanish in an instant. He was the money man, the boss, the one only spoken of in quiet tones, like he was Howard Hughes instead of the one who’d always got his hands dirty in the past.
There wasn’t a sign of that on them as the woman appeared on the camera and was forced to set the phone down. Both him and the motel were spotless, meticulously so, all the violence that had happened here carefully erased, leaving just that impression of a high class retreat behind (a far cry from that first motel, where he and Cat had occupied the lowest two rungs on the ladder).
Grey pasted on his smile – cool but friendly, no sign of the predator in it. There was no point in startling the guests until he had a feel of how much of that other side of himself was going to eventually emerge. It froze on his face, brittle as glass as the woman’s voice trailed off after that short greeting, her smile barely enough to make a dent in the sudden awkwardness. Work. Hiring was another thing Cat had handled the lion’s share of for too long. When he’d hit manager of some shitty little motel in Queens he’d been handling it all, but times and circumstances shifted and now he felt like his hands were a million miles off the wheel again.
Dark brows furrowed, his eyes narrowed. Cleaner. That was ringing bells. There were always contracts and random bits of paperwork that required him signing off on it. Trusting Cat as he did, he barely glanced at it all anymore. Maybe he’d scanned the contract, but the details obviously hadn’t registered. Lottie Christmas. Well, shit. Cat had managed to avoid the ridiculous surname, but her family situation had come with sisters, half-sisters. The first to turn up had made a grab for him, digging through his head without a damn invite. ”Catia kept that quiet,” he murmured, a softer edge touching his voice for a moment like it was amusing. At least it wasn’t the other one.
He extended his hand, the smile brightening. If Lucky – what had their dad been smoking to come up with that? - had been the one turning up the welcome would’ve quick frozen. ”Grey Maddox. Catia’s boss. She told me we had a new cleaner. She didn’t mention that it was her little sister. Did she make sure you were all settled in? Give you the full tour of the place?” Maybe not the full tour considering that she hadn’t dragged Lottie to his office for formal introductions to her growing family here. Lucky. Cam. Lottie. Was her dad gonna be next?
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LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
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Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on Jun 15, 2023 8:08:12 GMT
She was so excited to ring Viv to tell her about her new job, even though it was her job from hell and she hadn’t even managed to find it herself. It didn’t matter to her though. All that mattered was that it was proof she could look after herself. She didn’t need a stupid man to support her. She had to force herself to think of what her life was like before Freddie because he hadn’t always been there for her. Lottie had managed to buy her own apartment and set up her own business, so she was capable of being independent. It was going to be a bumpy ride, but she could do it. Right? It came over her in waves. One minute she was confident the next minute she was doubting herself. Why wasn’t she more like her sisters? Sometimes it seemed like she was the weak link in the Christmas family. She certainly didn’t take after her dad. He was a selfish asshole who only cared about money and himself. But then her mom had survived prison and was brave enough to kill her dying sister, even though she knew she’d probably get sent down it. Lottie could never do something like that. Not because it was wrong but because she didn’t have the courage. It was as if she was an anomaly in the family. But maybe this was her chance to prove to everyone she was just as strong as her sisters. She felt the awkwardness was over her as this man greeted her like a guest. Panic set in for a moment as she wondered whether she should have already known who he was. Should she have been the one greeting him? Lottie had no idea how jobs like this worked, considering she’d always been her boss. Goddamn why didn’t Catia take her to meet him sooner? She was even more pissed when he muttered Catia hadn’t told him about hiring Lottie. “Oh. I’m sorry.” Sorry was a word that came out of her mouth too often, sometimes apologising for things that weren’t even her fault. Thankfully he didn’t seem pissed about it though. She extended her hand, with a wide smile on her face, “Nice to meet you Grey!” She shook his hand before letting her arm drop, “One of many.” Much to her dad’s dismay. “Um… she hasn’t really given me a tour to be honest.” She showed her where the cleaning supplies were and where the linen could be found. GREY MADDOX |
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on Jul 6, 2023 20:40:06 GMT
Money didn’t make you smart – being supernatural didn’t automatically give you smarts either, the number of bodies fertilising the grounds of his hotels across the eastern seaboard were proof of both things. It gave you opportunities, but none of it meant you were going to succeed in a dog eat dog world. You needed teeth for that and Grey liked to think he was proof of how someone from the roughest backgrounds could work their way up until they were more comfortable in a place like this than some of those whose blood ran practically blue. He’d created his environment, had poured himself into every inch of it as the place was refurbished from the ground up. In a way it had been a self-preservation move, a dozen escape routes planned into it, the entire place designed to shield himself – and now Destiny. Grey was sure Catia could probably pick some of the secrets out, especially now, but not everything. This was his place, a glossy reflection of him.
The woman looked like that part startled her. If she had been a guest, paying through the nose for a room, or even a suite, then she was the sort who hadn’t swelled her bank accounts through smarts alone. She hadn’t anticipated him and that left him riddled with a mix of amusement and curiosity. Grey didn’t let the predator inside of him reach his eyes, keeping the friendly face on instead, but it was that instinct inside of him that had tried to study her and pin her down. He hadn’t anticipated how wrong his first guess would’ve been, and that was on Catia.
After all that had happened to her since she’d arrived in Mystic Falls, it was no wonder that things were slipping Catia’s memory, but he’d have thought that a sister showing up would’ve made one of their daily updates. Grey’s eyes narrowed faintly as he studied the woman surreptitiously again. Given how Lucky had barged her way into the hotel and his head, maybe Catia had thought he’d kick Lottie out the minute he heard that she was another Christmas sister. Surely there couldn’t have been more than one bad apple amongst them – unless Catia’s sweet manner left her the black sheep in the family.
Maybe he ought to have been a little more cautious about offering up his hand – who knew if Lottie was as psychic as her sisters, or what she’d been gifted with. Grey’s eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile growing at her apology. ”I’m guessing Catia didn’t give you the full run down on me.” She wouldn’t have done – not when it came to what it was her boss and friend tended to get up to in his spare time. Her sister working here meant that Catia trusted him, but she’d still be cautious, especially after what she’d seen on the night she’d arrived in town.
Grey kept his eyes on hers as they shook, waiting for some tiny flicker of shock in them, or the sensation of fingers digging through his memory again. Lucky hadn’t been subtle, and he doubted Lottie had managed to rifle through his memory without him noticing. A relief at least. ”Nice to meet you too. Your sister’s told me plenty about the family over the years, it’s nice to finally put faces to the names.” A total lie in Lucky’s case. He’d have told Lottie that he’d have happily swapped his sister for the handful of hers, but that would’ve been a lie – Lucky was far too close to Leah in her rabid raccoon manner. Amusement had him humming as he shook his head. ”She’s really been slacking. That should’ve been first thing on the list. If I get someone to watch the desk for me now, would you like one of the place? It’d give us a chance to get to know one another, hmm?” And for him to get the measure of the woman. She already seemed more open than either of her sisters – both a blessing and a curse in a place like this.
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LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
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Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on Jul 28, 2023 17:08:31 GMT
The conversation with Catia had been dominated by the breakdown of Lottie’s marriage. It didn’t even occur to her to ask Catia about the owner. As always Lottie became locked on her problems and her problems only. “No, sorry.” There it was again, the word slipping out of her like it was her fault Catia hadn’t told her about the owner or maybe she had and Lottie just hadn’t registered the information. After all, her head was an empty space with wind whistling between her ears. It wasn’t uncommon for things to go in one ear and float straight back out the other one. Her eyebrows raised a little when he said Catia had already told him plenty about their family. Did this mean she could trust Grey? Probably. If Catia trusted him then so did Lottie because it was easier for her to piggyback on her sister’s views of someone rather than forming her own. She was the true definition of a sheep and it was the bane of Viv’s life but there was no point saying anything to Lottie. Nothing would register. She hoped Catia hadn’t told Grey too much about their family, for example their dad used his abilities to convince people to buy toys from his stores or that Lottie could have a conversation with cats. She hoped it was just the baseline shit, like where they were born and what school they went to. She felt awful when Grey commented Catia had been slacking, as she was unable to gauge whether or not Grey was joking. She could read animals with ease, but people? Not so many. You could be suggesting to wrap up a conversation with Lottie and she just wouldn’t get the hint. Should she tell Catia that Grey said that? Or should she just keep it to herself? She’d ask Viv later. “Yeah sure!” She said ecstatically, even though she wasn’t sure what kind of tour to expect. She knew where to find the bedding and she knew where the rooms were, but nonetheless she was happy to tag along for the tour, especially as it meant she could kill an hour of work. Anything to avoid changing the bedsheets and hoovering. GREY MADDOX - wanna wrap with yours? |
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on Aug 28, 2023 19:06:03 GMT
With all that had happened since Catia had arrived at the Grey Haven unannounced, it was no wonder that the discussion of just who she was working for hadn’t happened between her and her sister. Maybe there’d been a name offered up, enough that Lottie might’ve recognised it if he’d given it. She hadn’t been told about his nightly activities though – a blessing considering her other sister was probably the one who’d screamed it into the ear of that son of a bitch working for Destiny at the Daily. She hadn’t been told about that sometimes he’d man the desk, or that despite all his faults he was a decent guy underneath. He might as well have been a blank slate, which was going to make his pre-emptive move to convince her that he wasn’t who Lucky would make him out to be far easier.
Grey chuckled lightly, shaking his head. ”No need to apologise. I guess she thought there’d be time later.” When things had settled down on the other fronts in her life. He didn’t have a clue what it was like to burden your siblings with the things that were going on in your life – there hadn’t even been a time before that he’d been close to Leah. He’d confided in her dad a time or two but the reminder not to trust anybody around them was always slurred out on a gut rot scented breath afterwards. All those secrets about what he’d done and how he’d been emotionally torn to shreds multiple times since Malcolm had died had remained locked up in his chest until Destiny had come into his life. Most weren’t that emotionally constipated though.
Catching the hitch to Lottie’s brows, Grey realised that she didn’t even know just how long Catia had been working for him. ”I’ve known her since before she lost her fiancé,” he told her honestly. ”We met at the first hotel I started working at over here. I guess you could say we’ve worked together since. We’re friends.” Friends where one still worked for the other, some would say that left things unbalanced, but it had always worked for the two of them.
A decent friend probably wouldn’t have slated her sister when it came to the job, but he was only joking when he told Lottie that Catia had been slacking. There were extenuating circumstances here, ones he’d make up for, just like a good friend and an even better boss. ”We’ll head top to bottom,” he told Lottie, all smiles still. He picked up the phone, hit the button that would connect him to one of the supervisors overseeing an upgrade to one of their suites. ”Come you come down and cover the desk for half an hour. Catia’s taking some personal time and I’ve got a new employee to show the ropes. Thanks.” They’d head down straight away, used to jumping at his orders the moment he gave them.
Not waiting for them to arrive, Grey was always leading the way towards the elevator. The second he heard the second elevator ping to announce their arrival, he was shuttling Lottie into the car. ”We’ll start at the top floor of the suites, the only thing above them is the penthouse, which is mine. Don’t worry, I don’t expect my staff to be cleaning up after me.” Winking at her, he hit the button for the top floor, his own only accessed by key. He’d come off as generous, congenial, a good boss, when the truth was the only people allowed to see into that inner sanctum were Destiny, Catia (with prior warning, as she’d learned so shockingly) and those who wouldn’t be walking out of it again.
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hope to see you in the discord! 
