O'Connell Bridge - Pt. 23

After Irish entry customs, LC walked out into the receiving passenger area of the Dublin Airport. A tall man with coal black, long hair underneath a driver’s cap was holding up a sign. “Brennan.”

“I’m Liam Brennan,” LC said as he approached the man.

“Good, I’m George; your driver. Clarice is in the car.”

“Clarice?” LC had her name on a paper, but didn’t expect to meet her upon his arrival.

“Yes, sir.” George walked on.

They stepped out on the sidewalk where a thin blond, mid 20ish woman waited. “I’m Clarice Johnson,” she said, extending her hand.

LC took her hand and shook. “I’m Liam Brennan.”

She smiled. “I know, I’ve seen your pictures. And, if I may say so, you’re quite the diamond in the rough.”

“Ma’am?”

The driver held the backseat door open and Clarice slid in and scooted over and then patted the seat. “Sit here. Oh, we have a lot to learn and talk about. I have the honor to be your instructor; think of me as your slightly older girlfriend, as we are going to be somewhat inseparable for three and a half days.”

“Really?”

“Almost. When we get to the hotel, you are to rest and change into casual wear, but wear a sports coat. You are meeting me for drinks in the hotel bar. You must be there by 4:00 PM. I will be somewhat later, order whatever you want. Your education begins immediately.”

“I need to buy a burn phone, uh, a prepaid phone I can throw away type thing. I left mine at my apartment.”

“First thing. A gentleman never speaks of a personal problem while in the presence of a lady. The hotel Concierge will assist you find whatever you need.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t ma’am me, I’m not your mama or some old woman. Simply say thank you.”

The city passed in a blur and suddenly they pulled in front of a plush hotel.

“The Ashling Hotel. You are staying here. The bar is in the lower lobby. I’ll see you sometime after 4 PM.”

LC started to get out of the car but Clarice put a hand on his arm. “You have a driver.” She smiled. “We have a lot of work to do.”

The driver opened the door and a Concierge approached. “Mr. Brennan, welcome to the Ashling Hotel. Your room is waiting.” He snapped his fingers and a young man ran quickly to LC. “Seamus, take Mr. Brennan to his room. Make sure all is satisfactory. Mr. Brennan will carry his own briefcase.” He looked at LC. “My apologies. He is new to the hotel under a special arrangement with the O’Neil Company. Let me know if his actions are not satisfactory.”

LC was somewhat taken aback. Dutifully, he followed the young man to the elevator and silently to a room near the end of the hallway.”

LC noticed that the young man leading him seemed to have an authoritarian air to him. He was nearly as tall as LC, with longer auburn hair pulled into a ponytail behind an oval face. The young man was dressed in a dark blue suit and hardly seemed like a bellman.

He opened the door and handed LC the passkey. “There is information in the folder about the hotel. The O’Neil Company left a packet of information for you on the desk. Of course room service is available to you at all hours. If there is anything I can get you please do not hesitate to ask. My name is Seamus, I am here to serve you.”

“Seamus, I need a burn phone, one with prepaid time. One I can throw away when I leave here.”

“I can provide one for you in a few minutes. There are phones in the shop downstairs.”

“Good, let me know how much.”

Seamus held up a hand. “Everything for you is already taken care of. I’ll get your new phone shortly.”

“Thank you.” LC started to reach for his wallet but the younger man nearly ran out the door. “Well, that’s interesting. Indeed all of this is interesting.”

The room was large with a separate seating area from the apparent queen size bed. Two high backed armchairs sat juxtaposed around an oblong coffee table. Padded footstools were next to both chairs. LC opened the closet and found all of the clothes he had tried on in Wilmington. Additionally, there were two more sport coats and two additional suits joining the tux he had approved over a week prior. Boxes of shoes littered the floor. He opened a drawer and found all of the underwear Caitlin had selected and LC believed a few extra pair, including socks.

LC walked to the balcony and looked out on Dublin. While he did not know what he was looking at, he recognized the river from a map he had received and looked for a bridge that resembled O’Connell Bridge; but from his viewpoint, he only could see an arched bridge, which he assumed was the Half Penny Bridge or some similar name. On the desk was a large envelope from O’Neil Company. “I guess that is the non disclosure and stuff.” He walked back to the bed and touched the soft coverings. LC kicked off his shoes and dove onto the bed. “Ahhh. Well, Clarice said to rest, I’m resting.” He re-read the letter from Caitlin and then closed his eyes and dozed before his room phone rang. “Yes.”

“I will bring a phone to your room, if that is permissible.”

“Uh, yes please,” LC had no idea how much time had passed.

Two minutes later, Seamus appeared at his door with a small box. “The phone you requested. There are a thousand prepaid minutes on it. The phone has all the standard services.”

“Thank you.”

Seamus handed LC the box. “Will there be anything else, sir?”

“Would it be possible to get a Pepsi or cola of some sort?”

“Yes, sir. How many would you like?”

“Maybe two, one for now and one for later. Or, if you would tell me where to buy them, I could go get the sodas.”

Seamus shifted on one foot. “Mr. Brennan, I have been assigned to see to your every need during your stay in Dublin. So please call on me anytime. My personal cell phone number is already programmed into the phone. Additionally, I will accompany you wherever you go.”

LC was somewhat astounded, “Thanks, I guess.” His immediate thought was of Mac’s caution that a guard would be assigned to him. “You don’t speak Pakistani do you?”

“Uh, no, sir, is there something you need? We have translation services available.”

LC laughed. “No, just something a friend told me before I left.”

“I’ll get your Pepsis.” He walked off down the hallway without saying more.

“Interesting, I think I have a babysitter, or maybe a guard. LC unboxed the phone and casually read the instructions. “Just a phone. It’s perfect.”

Minutes later while LC played with the cell phone and watched the BBC, there was a tap on his door. Seamus was carrying two Pepsi’s in a bucket of ice. “Your Pepsis sir.”

“I’m impressed. Seamus, please come in and tell me what’s going on.”

“Sir?”

“Talk to me man.” LC pointed at one of the chairs.

“As you wish, sir. What was your inquiry?”

“Well, first of all, you’re English, not Irish, am I right?

The young man seated opposite of LC sat straight in his chair. “Sort of, sir. My father is from a small town near Galway, my mother from London. Is that important, sir?”

LC laughed. “No I just noticed your accent.”

“Oh, I was educated in London, sir.”

“Do you work for the hotel?”

“Indirectly. I work for Mrs. O’Neil, as a valet to Mr. Simmons, Mrs. O’Neil’s secretary. I have been assigned to the hotel to work as a valet for you for a few days. I am under the management structure of the O’Neil Corporation.”

“And Mr. Simmons?”

Seamus grinned. “He’ll survive.”

LC felt comfortable going into a deeper question. “Do you know what this is all about; I mean, me being here?”

Seamus shook his head. “All I know is you are being trained to meet Mrs. O’Neil.”

“Trained?”

“Prepared, maybe is a better word.”

“Is that necessary? I mean, what is there to meeting her? Hi, I’m Liam Brennan from the US.”

Seamus crunched his eyes. “Uh, I think the security guards would probably move you to the outside of the building with considerable bruising.”

“Oh?”

“Hence instructions.”

“How about Clarice? Who’s she?”

“She’s the lady who is preparing you to meet Mrs. O’Neil.”

“Yes, but,” LC paused trying to figure how to phrase what he wanted to say. “She’s a lovely woman, a year or so older than me, but who is she?”

“She is one of Mrs. O’Neil’s personal assistants. That’s really all I know. I have accompanied her on several projects in and outside the office.”

“You have an office?”

“The corporation does.”

“And Clarice works there?

“She is wherever Mrs. O’Neil is I guess. But, yes, she works in the corporate office in London.”

LC watched his new friend. “But, other than to meet this lady, you know of no other reason I have been invited here?”

“No, sir. None that I have been so informed.”

“So,” LC started. “If the corporate office is in London, why are we in Dublin?”

“Mrs. O’Neil asked for the meeting to be here. I think she may have business here. You know, she sits on several boards of directors.”

“Okay. I can see that. Well, since you have been assigned to me; what are we doing tomorrow?”

“I have your calendar.” He pulled out his cell phone and apparently accessed the appointment function. “You are having breakfast with Clarice at 7:00 AN. Then morning elevenses at 11:00 AM; tomorrow noon, we, you and I, are going to a Hurling match. We can get a sandwich there. We’ll have to get back in time for you to have afternoon tea with Clarice at 3 PM. So, we will leave the match early. And, tomorrow evening you are having cocktails at 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM dinner with Clarice. All of this I am told can and will be changed according to Clarice’s schedule and/or whim.”

“And tonight?”

“You are having cocktails with Clarice at 4 PM”

“Will you be there?”

“I’ll be available if you need me.”

“And dinner?”

“American style, but room service. Clarice felt you would need reflective rest time.”

LC thought he would try the valet idea. “Well, what clothes should I wear to meet her?”

Seamus smiled and stood. “I will lay out your wardrobe.

“Cool.”

“You’ve never attended cocktails with a lady before, have you?”

LC blushed. “A pitcher of beer and hot wings has always been my mode up till today.”

Seamus looked in the closet and began pulling out clothes and placing them on a suit stand. “I have chosen gray slacks, a white long sleeve shirt, no cufflinks or tie. Also here is a blue blazer, black socks, and your black slip on shoes. You need to look sophisticated, but not stuffy. Since this is your first cocktail hour with her, you will need to be ready to repeat the training. That is to say, you will repeat what she teaches you, probably many times. Oh, I also have previously arranged your toiletries and soaps. You need to be at the bar by 4:00 PM.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, think of it as fun.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Seamus nodded as he left the room. “It may not seem so at first, but yes, it will be fun. Welcome to Dublin and the O’Neil Corporation, Mr. Brennan.”

To be continued...