Shapeshifter Boyfriend: Claude Part 1 (special preview)

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Archie says with a grin. “In the mornings, it looks blue. At sunset, it goes all red. It’s amazing.”

The room is wide and open, but there are islands of sofas and chairs dotting the grounds. One section is all green, another is all blue, the color coded islands of comfortable furniture have me wondering if it is done out of aesthetic or for a particular reason.

The front desk is a massive circle in the very center of the room. There is a station at each direction, north, east, south, and west. Archie leads me to the one at south. Behind the counter is a gangly, unassuming man. He’s tall, very tall, with a wild coif of blonde-gray hair. He’s wearing a pair of thick glasses and has on a tweed ensemble with a sweater vest and bowtie. 

“Claude, your new hire is here,” Archie says.

The gangly man looks up from the papers on his desk, his face is smeared with freckles and he has the most beautiful golden honey eyes I’ve ever seen. I’m stunned for a moment, my voice catching as I fumble to regain my thoughts. He looked so unassuming with his head down, like an awkward librarian or IT geeky guy. His eyes, though, are what give him something special.

“Inara!” He says brightly. “So glad to have you here!” He reaches across the desk, shaking my hand. “I thought so,” he chuckles. “Moths always have the softest hands.”

His grip was strong and reassuring, his palm so warm. I always liked to imagine how people would touch or massage, it was something I did even while doing regular massages. 

“Thank you,” I say softly, my wings fluttering behind me.

Claude walks out from behind the front desk and takes my bag in my hand. “All your other boxes have already been taken to your new room. If you want, I can show you to your new room so you can rest. When you want a tour, just give me a call here at the desk.”

“Actually,” I say, starting to gain my confidence back, “I was hoping to see where I will be working today. After that, I wouldn’t mind a meal not from a tray and then a rest. I’ve basically only been sitting for two days and would love to stretch my legs.”

“Lovely legs deserve a stretching,” Claude says with a wink. He then hands off my bag to an orc in a dark uniform. “Take this to the Delicate Suite please, Malik.” He then turns, smiling at me and leading me through an archway.

“I am so very excited to have you here, Inara,” he says with a charming voice. “Just ask Archie, things have been a bit dismal since our last parlor manager left.”

Achie is still following behind us. “Things have been crazy, even when Mel was here.” He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Total lack of communication.”

“That all will change. I’ve been working on what I want for the place ever since I did the phone interview with Claude.” I reach into my purse, pulling out my planner and journal. “Back at the last place I worked, there were things I loved and things I hated. I’m hoping to implement my ideas here over time.”

“If you can find a system that keeps the towels folded when we need them, you’ll be improving things,” Archie huffs.

The dark hallway soon turns into white marble, everything becomes open and airy. The room we walk into is bright and elegant like some sort of angel cloud