Chapter 1 #2
I’m about to respond when the image on the screen snags my attention.
It’s a documentary on the Wild Planet channel.
A woman talks to the camera like she’s sharing the most exciting secret with her best friend, and in a matter of seconds, I’m completely drawn in.
She’s surrounded by gigantic pine trees, standing next to a river while rain pours, soaking her hiking gear and her shoulder-length auburn hair.
She’s drenched, but the elements don’t deter her in the slightest. Her eyes are bright, her voice steady, as if the storm only makes her more alive.
In the background, two white bears, what looks to be a mom and a cub, stand in the water, catching their dinner.
Tuning out the topic my dad broached, I grab the remote and turn the volume up.
“I’ve been doing this for a while now, and let me tell you, nothing comes close to the beauty of this place.
There aren’t a lot of rainforests left on earth, so to explore the one in British Columbia is a privilege.
We must protect it at all costs. An entire wildlife ecosystem relies on us to make things right.
The spirit bears you see behind me are some of the rarest creatures on this planet.
And for the next two hours, I’ll take you on a journey to meet them. ”
She goes on about the history of the forest and the native communities still predominantly inhabiting the lands.
It’s enthralling enough that I’m this close to packing my bags and driving there.
And that’s saying a lot, since I’ve never worn hiking boots in my life, let alone spent more than a single day surrounded by trees and wild animals.
“This place is beautiful,” I say, lost in my thoughts.
My dad grunts, pulling me from my stupor.
Frowning, I drag my attention away from the screen. “What?”
He zeroes in on the woman on the TV, his lips turning up in a sneer. “I know her. She’s the bitch who tanked the deal in Pine Falls.”
Whoa, there. I bite back a grimace. Dad has been skipping the annual HR seminars his employees are required to attend, and it shows. “A bitch, huh? Because she disagreed with you?” I tsk . “Which deal?”
“Two years ago,” he huffs in his usual way.
His vocabulary consists mainly of grunts, mumbled words, and wildly inappropriate cursing.
“When I was trying to close on a project north of Vancouver. Lakeside Resort planned to open a complex there. The area attracts a large number of tourists due to its location. We were set to make big bucks. I had the mayor so deep in my pocket he was tickling my balls. But the deal got tanked.” He points to the TV, spitting his next words.
“And she’s the one who convinced the mayor to cancel it.
Cost me millions. Pissed off shareholders and investors for months. ”
I cringe, sitting a little straighter. “Oh, I remember this. I didn’t know it was such a big loss for you, though. What did she do to get the mayor to side with her?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” he mumbles. Though he steers clear of the details, he continues to rant about how he got screwed over.
While he grouses, an idea takes root in my mind. It’d be risky, but… If I conduct thorough market research and surround myself with the right people… High risk, high reward, right?
“Let me try,” I cut in.
The glint in his eye as he focuses on me turns my insides queasy. “You think you can do better than me?”
Oh, the old man pride.
I draw my shoulders back. “I do, actually.” The words are laced with far more courage than I feel.
“You came in guns blazing with grand plans and schematics of your luxury hotels, scaring off small-town folks who are probably very protective of their way of life. If you’d involved me in that project, I would have told you what a bad idea it was.
When I first launched my lodge line, you were so sure I’d fail, and yet here we are.
That line is now among the top three most lucrative revenue streams for the entire group.
Let me go and see if there’s anything up for sale. ”
He studies me for a beat, the challenge still flashing in his eyes. I know my father well. His ego is bigger than his bank account. Insinuating I can be better at something? On a project he’s already failed at? Oof. I better put my money where my mouth is.
“And then what?” he asks.
I pick a piece of lint off my dress and smooth the fabric on my lap.
“Then I close the deal and build a hotel that will make sense there. Maybe the lodge line, actually. Still high-end, but with structures that blend well with that sort of background.” Licking my lips, I steel my spine for this next part.
“Succeeding where you fell short… Would that be enough to convince your shareholders that I can run the company?”
Though he’s silent for a beat, his eyes never leave mine.
“I suppose so.” He looks at the TV screen, where the woman moves through the forest. The man accompanying her is also decked out in hiking gear.
He’s tall, his brown hair falling over his forehead when he dips to avoid a tree branch. “You have a month, princess.”
My heart lurches. “ One month? No. That’s not enough.”
“Take it or leave it.” He cocks a brow. “If you can’t seal the deal in one month, I can’t help your case with the board. They’re already eager to begin their search for an outside hire.”
I wince. I’ve never heard my father use the words “outside hire” before, yet he’s spoken them twice in ten minutes. This company is his family’s legacy. He’s bluffing, but I’m too scared to call him out on it.
With a deep inhale, I lift my chin. “One month, one hotel in Pine Falls, and the job is mine?”
He holds out his hand and winks. “That’s the deal, princess.”
I shake it, hoping he doesn’t notice the tremor in mine. Time to finish what he started.