Chapter 40
FORTY
Rhett
Present Day
H art Weston waited until the entire conference room turned quiet before he stood from his chair, earning everyone’s attention, and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, in one week, we’ll be breaking ground on the Charred restaurant in the Cole and Spade Hotel in Bangkok.”
The other four Weston siblings; the three Spades; their cousin, Jo, along with her husband, Jenner Dalton; and the three of us Coles erupted in applause.
We were a full house today, all packed into the conference room of our corporate office.
The Bangkok hotel, our newest build-out and a project led by Brady Spade, was halfway through completion. That meant it was time for the Weston family to go in and do their thing. They were a group of five siblings who had been longtime partners with the Spades. When our families merged into one company, they became business partners with my family as well. They owned steak houses, seafood and raw bars, and clubs across the world. Charred—their award-winning, Michelin-rated steak house—would be just off the lobby in our hotel in Bangkok.
I didn’t think the Westons’ only purpose in coming today was to celebrate the upcoming construction. I was positive they were also here to discuss where we were building next. They didn’t want to miss out on any new opportunities, and with their reputation and following, we wanted them just as badly as they wanted us.
“So, spill the news,” Hart continued once everyone turned silent. “Where’s the next project?”
I chuckled. “I would have bet my life that was the next thing coming out of your mouth.”
“Your life?” Hart grinned, his green eyes shining like fucking gems. “I need to start making myself less obvious.”
Brady glanced at the other six partners of our company and said, “Should we tell them?” When he finished speaking, he focused his stare on Jenner, our attorney.
“From a legal standpoint, I don’t see any reason to keep it a secret,” Jenner replied.
“Iceland,” Rowan announced. “Specifically Reykjavik.”
“Tell me more,” Beck cooed.
Beck Weston was an NHL star for the LA Whales. He didn’t have an active daily role within their company. But during offseason, he was extremely involved, and he personally financed many of their projects.
“We’re building a three-hundred-room, six-level hotel and spa in the heart of the capital,” Macon replied. “There will be space for two restaurants and a coffee shop, a rooftop bar that will be enclosed with a retractable glass roof, and a patio that’ll wrap around half of the top floor.”
“Envision an overly modern build,” Cooper explained. “A level of modernism we’ve never explored and an interior that will have the same feel—completely off-brand from anything we’ve done. We’re known for our warmth and inviting designs. This won’t be that.”
“But it will fit the aesthetics of Iceland,” Jo offered. “We’ve put a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of research into this hotel. With the recent boom of tourists traveling there and the cost visitors are willing to spend, we believe this could be one of our most successful properties.”
“And we will do everything in our power to make it so,” Ridge said.
I could see the enthusiasm on Hart’s face. He was practically foaming at the fucking mouth.
“What do you say?” he asked his siblings, rubbing his hands together as he waited for their responses.
Walker—the oldest in the family and the creator of every recipe and dish on their menus—was one of the most praised chefs in the business. He replied, “Locally sourced. Farm to table. Authentic flavors. I’m ready to start cooking now.” He nodded toward Hart. “I think it’s a hell of an idea, but”—he glanced at his sister, Eden, who sat next to him—“from a financial standpoint, is it doable?”
She swept her long hair away from her face and put her hand on Walker’s shoulder. “The logistics of getting supplies to Iceland isn’t as easy as other countries in Europe. Everything, aside from food, will have to be imported. We’ll have to use an Icelandic wholesaler, and there will be a value-added tax.” She glanced at Colson, their COO. “Doable? Yes. Complicated? Very much so. But exciting?” She smiled at the group. “Absolutely.”
Colson seemed to ponder everything his siblings had said. The five of them had equal roles and voices, like the seven of us did, but his opinion tended to push things forward if the others were undecided. “This is a big decision,” he said. “I’d like time to pull some numbers and see how profitable this restaurant could be, but”—he held his hand out to Ridge, who sat next to him—“we could very well have a deal.”
Ridge shook his hand. “Excellent.”
“Who will be spearheading this project?” Hart asked.
The room went silent.
And within that quietness, I took a deep breath. “Me.”
When the darkness threatened to pull me under and I needed to get the fuck out of Dodge, I didn’t want to go to one of our hotels, where every employee tried to impress me and did everything in their power to please me. I wanted to go somewhere I didn’t know anyone.
The last time, I’d ended up in Iceland.
And I immediately fell for the island. The moodiness of the weather, the Viking mindset, the architecture that was cold and sharp, clean air that allowed me to breathe.
That was when the idea had come to me, and that had been almost a year ago.
I would be leaving for Reykjavik in the next few months.
A thought that had once excited me.
But that just wasn’t the case anymore.
“We’ve never worked on a project with you before,” Hart replied.
“I promise to make it a memorable experience.” I winked.
Hart let out a laugh. “My man, I have no doubt you will.”
Everyone got up from the table, the room full of murmurs as we made our way out into the hallway. I was only a few steps from my office when someone grabbed my hand.
I glanced to my side, meeting Rowan’s stare, her fingers now linked with mine.
“Let’s talk,” she said.
Before I could decline her offer, she was pulling me into her office, where Ridge was already waiting.
“What is this? A fucking ambush?”
She shut the door and took a seat behind her desk. “Call it a family meeting.” She nodded toward the chair next to the one Ridge was sitting in. “Take a seat.”
I sighed. “I know you’re not barking orders at me.”
She pressed her hands together and placed them under her chin. “Rhett, please, will you sit?”
I slumped down in the chair, my leg bouncing, my hands gripping the armrests. “What is it you want to talk about?”
“Trista’s back at work, which tells me you’re no longer having her follow Lainey,” Rowan said.
“You’re correct,” I replied.
Ridge eyed me with a smile. “Are you going to tell us what you and Lainey talked about?”
“I never said we talked.”
“You don’t have to,” Rowan responded. “We can see it in your face. Besides, isn’t that where you ran off to the last time we were discussing her?”
It had only been days ago when they were drilling me about Lainey and I rushed out of the office to go to our old high school.
It felt like a goddamn lifetime.
“I told her”—I took a long, deep inhale—“everything.”
“ Everything , everything?” Ridge asked. When I nodded, he added, “Oh shit.”
“And?” Rowan leaned on her desk. “How did she take it?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“Did she hear you out?” Rowan pushed.
“Yes.”
“Did she tell you to fuck off and storm out?” Rowan continued.
“No.”
“Rhett …” She flattened her hands against her desk and pounded them down a few times. “Talk to us. You’re giving us nothing.”
I shifted in my seat, unable to sit still. I had all this pent-up energy, and I didn’t know what to do with it. “She listened to everything I told her. She didn’t fight me. She didn’t tell me I was wrong or that this was my opinion and she believed otherwise. She wanted to hear it, and she was ready to.”
“Wow,” Rowan whispered.
“I didn’t hold back, Row. I told her I’d never stopped loving her. That I’d thought of her every day for the last fifteen years. When she left that track—she was walking at our old high school—she knew exactly where I stood and how I felt.”
“Fuck. You went all in.” Ridge clasped my arm. “I’m proud of you.”
Rowan nodded. “Me too.”
“I’ve stayed silent for far too long,” I admitted.
“Fifteen years too long,” Rowan offered.
“Holding in those secrets did nothing to fucking help me. They gave me nightmares when I actually did fall asleep. They put me in the worst headspace.” I dragged my fingers through the side of my hair. “No more. I’m done with that bullshit.”
“I don’t know who you are right now, but I’m loving every word of this,” Rowan said.
We all turned silent, and I broke it with, “Lainey Taylor isn’t mine. I had nothing to lose by being honest with her.”
“She’s not yours yet ,” Ridge corrected.
I released a hiss. “You know … that’s the best thing you’ve ever said to me.”