Page 96 of Squad Ghouls

“I…I’ve been in business before. Before this job.”

“It obviously didn’t work out,” Larri pointed out.

“Larri,” I scolded.

“No, he’s right. It didn’t. in fact, it crashed and burned and I’m in debt up to my eyeballs.”

“That’s comforting,” Harri said.

“I’m not Prince Charming or a fairy godmother. I can’t promise you any of this is going to work.” Ryan met my eyes. “All I can promise is that I’ll try my best.”

“That’s worth everything,” I murmured, then I ripped my gaze away from his to face the room nervously. “So, is everyone on board to help? We’ve been holding on, but truthfully, we don’t have too much time to turn this around.”

A happy ping went off in the kitchen and I smiled. “Thanks, Popty.”

“Me an’ the crew are not opposed to a bit of hard work ye know,” Barth said. “And we’ve been working on some new material.”

Ryan rolled his eyes but I grinned. “That sounds amazing! The guests will love it.”

“Entertainment director,” Ryan said.

“Huh?” I asked.

“Barth can be the entertainment director. An official title makes things seem more legit when advertising. It’s best if you start giving them jobs instead of everyone doing everything at once. You should play to their strengths.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Let me get a pen and paper!” Popty held one up for me in the next instant and I began scribbling. “What else?”

“Bronwyn helps you with the cooking, right? So make her the official head chef. Recipes from the seventeenth century. People eat that shit up.”

“Excuse me! The 1800s!” Bronwyn shrieked.

He turned to Harri and Larri next. “You like beer, right? How about we rebuild the bar?”

They gasped with happiness. “The bar!!!”

“You have a liquor licence for the place, surely?” Ryan asked me.

“Y-yes.”

“Alcohol is a great money-maker, and it’ll keep those two occupied instead of them roaming around fighting all day. I’ve never seen them work together apart from when they were trying to get a beer.”

I hadn’t even realised it, but it was true. It was the only thing they agreed on.

“Popty loves to carry and deliver things,” I said, enthused.

“Then he’s our bellhop and room service. Hell, does he have a driving licence? How does he feel about being a valet?”

PING!

“I…I can help with housekeeping,” Andrew said quietly. “Then I don’t have to see people much.”

I smiled softly at him. “That would be amazing, Andrew. But only if you’re sure?”

Andrew nodded bravely.

Ryan gave a pleased hum, looking straight at me. “Looks to me like we have a full staff, Mr. Manager.”

I looked behind myself and then back at Ryan. “Who, me?”