Chapter 14 Emily
I sit at my desk, phone pressed to my ear, my eyes darting to the clock every few seconds. My mother’s voice is on the other end and she sounds exhausted. Guilt floods me. I slept soundly last night, while I’m sure she barely got any rest.
“How is he?” I ask, my fingers tapping restlessly on the surface of the desk.
“The doctor is with him now,” my mother says, sounding worn out. “They’re running more tests this morning.”
I let out a slow breath, nodding even though she can’t see me. “What kind of tests?”
“They’re checking for any signs of infection. The fever’s worrying them,” she says, her voice cracking slightly.
I picture her sitting beside my father’s bed, hands wringing together, eyes watching every breath he takes. I hate that I wasn’t there last night.
The day had been just as grueling with Dad’s fever spiking and then coming back down. We had come close to rushing him to the ER. He’d been sweating buckets and so pale.
“Did the doctor say anything else?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Not much. Just that the test results will determine the next steps.”
My stomach knots. It would be difficult to keep up this secrecy if my father is admitted to hospital. My father’s wishes to keep everything quiet is really pushing us into a corner. Every flare-up feels like the edge of a cliff, and every time, we hope he pulls back just enough to keep going.
“Okay,” I say softly. “Let me know what the results say.”
“I will,” my mother says, but, there’s a strain in her voice that wasn’t there before. She’s trying to hold it together, trying to be the rock, but the cracks are starting to show.
“How are you holding up, Mom? ”
There’s a pause. “I’m alright. Just tired.”
I want to be there day and night but I have to be here, running the business and keeping my Dad a secret from Andrew, which means I can’t disappear any time I want to.
“Why don’t you try to get some rest?” I suggest, even though I know the answer. It’s impossible to rest when Dad is in this state.
“I’ll rest when he’s better,” she says. “But don’t worry about us. You focus on work today, okay? I’ll keep you posted.”
I sigh, nodding again. “Okay. But call me the moment you know anything.”
I hang up and stare at my phone for a moment, trying to push down the guilt clawing at my chest. It’s getting hard to juggle everything and this is just the beginning.
I glance at the clock again, knowing I have to pull myself together before Andrew walks in. As if on cue, the intercom buzzes, jolting me out of my thoughts.
“Emily?” Catherine’s voice comes through, calm and efficient. “Mr. Bennett is here.”
I take a fortifying breath. “Please show him in.”
The door opens a moment later, and Andrew walks in, all businesslike, with Catherine trailing behind him. I smile, rising from my desk.
“Andrew,” I say, motioning toward Catherine. “This is Catherine, my PA. She’ll be assisting you as well, while you’re working here at Riviera.”
Andrew nods curtly. “Good to meet you, Catherine.”
Catherine flashes him a polite smile before turning back to me. “Anything else you need?”
“No, thank you. That’ll be all for now,” I say, and she leaves us alone, the door clicking shut behind her.
I glance at Andrew. He’s still distant, his posture stiff. The coolness between us isn’t lost on me, and I know why. I feel terrible about skipping lunch with his family yesterday, but it had flown right out the window the second I walked into my parents’ house and saw my father in such a bad state. I can’t explain it to him, though, and that gnaws at me even more.
“Let me show you to your office,” I say, gesturing toward the door. “I’ve also organized a meeting with the team.”
Andrew follows me as I lead him next door. “Good,” he says, his voice clipped but businesslike. “But I want to tour the hotels as soon as possible. I need to see firsthand what we’re working with.”
I nod. “Of course. We can schedule that after the meeting.”
I open the door to his new office, stepping aside so he can enter first. As he walks by, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It’s a citrus scent that make me want to move close to him and inhale deeper.
Pushing away those thoughts, I follow him in. The space is modern, and spacious, with large windows overlooking the city. I hold my breath, waiting for Andrew’s verdict.
Andrew scans the room briefly before giving a slight nod of approval.
I hate his coldness and wish I could explain everything to him.
But I can’t. “Let me know if you need anything before the meeting.”
Andrew barely glances my way. Instead, he sits down and clicks on the monitor in front of him. We loaded it with all the information he needs to see how The Riviera group is run.
“I’ll let you know,” he says.
I step out of the office, closing the door quietly behind me, my heart sinking as I walk back to my own desk. I knew he would be upset but I hoped my apology last night would suffice.
Clearly not.
An hour later, I’m still at my desk responding to emails when Catherine’s voice comes through the intercom again. “The team is in the conference room.”
“Thanks. Have you let Mr. Bennett know?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s on his way there,” Catherine says .
I leave my office and head to the conference room. Everyone is already seated and I walk in as Andrew is introducing himself. I take a seat next to him.
“Thank you all for coming,” I begin, my voice steady as I glance around the room. “As you know, we’re here to give Andrew a comprehensive briefing on the current state of the Riviera Group. Amy, would you like to start?”
Amy, the Director of Operations, leans forward, her expression serious. “As Director of Operations, I’ve been closely monitoring all our properties, and frankly, we’re facing significant challenges.
“Every one of our properties is underperforming. Outdated facilities are taking a toll on guest satisfaction, which in turn is impacting our bookings.”
Matthew, the CFO, nods, adding weight to Amy’s words. “Financially, we’ve been running in the red for the past two quarters. The Army Base Riviera is a major concern—it’s bleeding money due to its lack of modernization.”
The rest of the team chime in. The situation is bleak, but none of this is news to Andrew. He’s already familiar with the financial, legal, and operational reports that were sent to Bennett Developers before they acquired a 50% stake in the company.
Andrew listens intently, absorbing every detail without interrupting.
When everyone is done with their briefing, he says, “So, we’re dealing with two major issues here—outdated facilities and a lack of competitive marketing. Both of which need immediate attention if we’re going to turn this around.”
This is music to my ears and I nod, as does everyone else.
The meeting continues for another hour, with discussions around logistics, timelines, and strategies. Andrew takes control, laying out the steps we need to take, and the team responds with a renewed sense of purpose.
The energy in the room shifts as everyone sees a renewed future for the Riviera .
As the meeting wraps up, everyone gathers their things and heads for the door, leaving Andrew and me alone in the room.
“I would love a tour of this hotel,” he says.
“Sure.” I was expecting that and I’m excited to show him what makes the Riviera hotels so special.
We step out through the private entrance used by management, which offers a discreet way for me and my team to enter and exit without crossing through the main hotel.
It’s a quiet corner of the building, separate from the hotel’s hustle and bustle, and as we walk through, the atmosphere between us starts to thaw.
“I’ve always liked this location,” Andrew says, glancing out of the windows that line the hallway, offering a glimpse of the busy Back Bay streets. “Your father had an eye for great spots.”
I smile, feeling a small sense of pride. “He did. He always said location is everything.”
As we continue, I give him a rundown of the rooms. “The standard rooms are cozy, perfect for guests who want something intimate but still luxurious. Each has a reading nook with views of either the tree-lined streets or the skyline.”
Andrew nods, his gaze moving around, absorbing every detail. “It’s smart. It gives the guests something personal without overdoing it.”
We take the elevator up to the fourth floor, where I show him the deluxe rooms. “These are a bit larger, with premium views of the Charles River or the skyline. We’ve incorporated a lot of rich fabrics and mahogany touches to give the rooms a more elegant, timeless feel.”
He steps into one of the rooms and glances around. “This has potential. The size and design cater to an upscale crowd, but you can see where things are in need of refreshing. The fabrics are a bit dated, and some of the amenities could use an upgrade.”
“Café Riviera is on the first floor,” I say, as we descend in the elevator .
“It’s well thought out,” Andrew says, taking in the atmosphere of the cafe. “Your father definitely knew how to strike a balance between elegance and modern appeal. But there’s still a lot we can work with.”
His approval makes my chest tighten with unexpected warmth.
We head back out toward the private entrance, the tour winding down. The more we talk, the easier it becomes.
As we step out into the cool afternoon air, I glance at him. “You know, my father didn’t start off in hotels.”
Andrew’s brow furrows with interest. “Oh?”
“He actually started with one small bar in Back Bay. It was a tiny place, practically a hole in the wall, but he turned it into a popular spot. From there, he bought a small bed-and-breakfast and grew it, expanding his reach bit by bit.”
“Sounds like my father,” Andrew says.
I nod and continue. “He worked hard for everything he had. The Riviera Group wasn’t built overnight. It’s one of the reasons I’m so committed to keeping it afloat.”
I need Andrew to understand that this is not just business for me. It’s about ensuring that my father’s hard work was not in vain.