The Sweet Chef and the Corporate Queen (The Callahans of Elk Ridge #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Jules

" I have to leave immediately. My mother's in the hospital."

The words hit me like a bucket of ice water as I stand in the large suite of Mountain Laurel Lodge, still in my silk pajamas, clutching my first coffee of the day. It's precisely 6:42 a.m. on the second day of the most important corporate retreat of the year.

"What happened?" I manage, trying to process Claire's news through my pre-caffeine haze.

"Stroke." Claire's voice through my phone speaker is tight with worry. "They called from the hospital an hour ago. It's serious, Ms. Sinclair. I've already booked a flight home that leaves in two hours."

I glance at the partially open door to the second bedroom where Mia is still sleeping. "I understand this is an emergency, but I'm in the middle of running a leadership retreat with my entire executive team."

"Ms. Sinclair." Claire's voice cracks slightly. "It's my mother."

The raw emotion in those three words stops me cold. I take a slow breath, mentally shifting gears.

"Of course. Family comes first." The words feel foreign in my mouth, but I know they're the right ones. "Do you need help with arrangements?"

"I've already called a taxi. Thank you for understanding."

Before I can respond, I hear rustling from Mia's room.

"Mommy? Is Claire going somewhere?" My daughter appears in the doorway, hair tousled from sleep, stuffed bunny clutched under one arm.

"Go brush your teeth, sweetie. We need to get ready for breakfast."

The moment Mia disappears into the bathroom, I return to the call.

"Take whatever time you need for your family," I say, already mentally calculating contingency plans. "I hope she recovers quickly."

After ending the call, I press the speed dial for my assistant.

"Zoe, we have a situation. Claire had to leave due to a family emergency. I need a replacement nanny here in North Carolina by tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow? But that's?—"

"I'm aware of the timeline. Pull whatever strings necessary. I cannot afford distractions this week."

A toilet flushes, and Mia emerges with a toothpaste smile.

"Where's Claire going? Is she leaving?" There's unmistakable hope in her voice.

"Yes, sweetheart. Claire's mother is ill, so she needed to go home. Which means you'll be joining me for some of today's activities until we sort things out."

Rather than disappointment, Mia's face lights up like I've just announced we're going to Disneyland. "Really? I get to stay with you all day?"

The naked joy in her expression makes my chest tight. When did my daughter become so excited at the mere prospect of spending time with me?

"Temporarily," I caution, already scrolling through my schedule. "I have meetings and events all day, which means you'll need to be very quiet and very good."

"I'm always good." She bounces on her toes, suddenly full of energy. "Can I bring Mr. Hoppy?"

"No stuffed animals in business meetings, Mia." I grab my leather portfolio, checking that all my notes for today's presentation are in order. "We're professionals."

Her little shoulders slump, but only for a moment before she straightens them in an unmistakable imitation of my own posture. "I can be professional."

My phone pings with a text from Zoe: Working on nanny situation. Earliest potential arrival is tomorrow afternoon.

"We’re going to join the morning yoga session," I tell Mia.

"But I hate yoga," she protests. "It's boring."

"It's mindfulness training. And it's only for an hour."

Thirty minutes later, we're walking through the crisp mountain air toward the garden terrace where the yoga session is set up. The lodge is admittedly beautiful, with its rustic wooden architecture and stunning views of the Appalachian mountains.

"Why can't I just stay in our room and watch TV?" Mia drags her feet.

"Because you're seven, and I'm not leaving you alone in a hotel room."

"Claire lets me watch morning cartoons sometimes."

"Well, Claire isn't here right now."

"I know." Mia skips ahead. "And we get to spend the whole day together!"

Before I can respond, I spot Andrea, my VP of Marketing, already on her yoga mat.

"Jules! And little Mia!" Andrea waves. "Joining us for some mountain zen?"

"Our nanny had a family emergency," I explain briefly. "Mia's getting the full executive experience today."

The yoga instructor, a serene-looking woman with impossibly flexible limbs, begins leading the group through breathing exercises.

While Mia halfheartedly follows along, I discreetly check my emails. Three messages from potential investors about our upcoming funding round. A draft of the quarterly report that needs my review before it goes to the board. And a chipper update from Zoe: Found 2 potential nannies! But both need background checks.

"Ms. Sinclair?" The yoga instructor's gentle voice breaks into my thoughts. "We're focusing on staying present in our bodies right now, not on our devices."

I glance up to find the entire class watching me. Wonderful.

"Of course," I say smoothly, tucking my phone away.

Next to me, Mia giggles, clearly enjoying my moment of embarrassment.

By the time the hour ends, my back is sore, my mind is still racing, and Mia has spent more time watching squirrels in the nearby trees than following any of the poses.

My phone buzzes with a calendar alert. The executive strategy session starts in twenty minutes, and I still haven't resolved the Mia situation.

"Jules Sinclair?" An unfamiliar voice calls from across the terrace. I turn to see an older woman approaching, her silver hair framing a face lined with laugh lines.

"Yes?"

"I'm Evelyn Callahan. I own Mountain Laurel Lodge. I wanted to personally welcome you and your team to our property."

"Thank you," I say, automatically shifting into client-relations mode. "Your staff has been excellent."

Her gaze shifts to Mia, who's now balancing on one foot, pretending to be a flamingo. "And who might this be?"

"My daughter, Mia. Say hello to Ms. Callahan, Mia."

"Hello," Mia chirps. "Your lodge has a lot of squirrels."

Evelyn laughs, the sound warm and genuine. "It certainly does. They're quite the troublemakers." She turns back to me. "I understand your group has the Pine Room booked for your strategy session this morning?"

"That's right." I check my watch again. Eighteen minutes.

"And will Mia be joining you?" There's no judgment in her tone, just curiosity.

"We're working through some childcare adjustments. Our nanny had a family emergency."

"I see." Evelyn nods thoughtfully. "Well, my son Declan is preparing a special lunch for your team. I'm sure he wouldn't mind having a helper in the kitchen this morning, if Mia would enjoy that?"

Before I can politely decline this suggestion from a complete stranger, Mia gasps with excitement.

"A real kitchen? With chefs and everything?"

"With one very patient head chef," Evelyn clarifies with a smile.

"Absolutely not," I say firmly. "I couldn't impose on your staff that way. Besides, Mia doesn't know your son."

"But Mommy, I want to see the kitchen!" Mia's lower lip begins to wobble dangerously.

Before either of us can respond, a tall man in chef whites appears at the edge of the terrace. His dark hair is slightly tousled, and there's a smudge of what looks like flour on his cheek.

"Mom, there you are. I need your opinion on the—" He stops, noticing our small group. His eyes, a warm hazel, land briefly on me before shifting to Mia. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."

"Perfect timing," Evelyn says. "Declan, this is Jules Sinclair, head of the executive retreat, and her daughter Mia. Ms. Sinclair's childcare arrangements fell through this morning."

"Hi," Mia says, suddenly shy but clearly intrigued by his chef's coat.

Declan crouches down to Mia's level, his smile easy and genuine. "Hey there. I'm Declan. I was about to start prepping some chocolate chip cookies for your mom's lunch meeting. I could really use an expert taste-tester."

Mia's eyes widen. "I'm an expert at cookies."

"I'm sure you are." Declan stands, looking at me with an understanding that catches me off guard. "I heard about your strategy session in the Pine Room. Starts in about fifteen minutes, right?"

I nod, surprised he's aware of our schedule.

"Mia could hang out in the kitchen with me," he offers casually. "It's just prep work for lunch, nothing dangerous. And the staff lounge has some books and games if she gets bored."

I hesitate, torn between desperate need and parental caution. "I couldn't impose..."

"It's no imposition," Declan says. "Besides, everyone knows cookies taste better when they're made with kid supervision."

"Please, Mommy?" Mia tugs at my hand. "I'll be super good."

I check my watch again. Twelve minutes until my presentation. Panic flutters in my chest.

"I don't know you," I say bluntly to Declan.

He doesn't seem offended. "Fair enough. How about this? The kitchen has a view of the dining area. Mia stays where I can see her, you can check in whenever you want, and staff members come through constantly." He gestures toward the lodge. "You can even see the layout before you decide."

I'm running out of options and time. "Let me see the kitchen first."

As we walk toward the lodge, I study Declan from the corner of my eye. He moves with the easy confidence of someone comfortable in their own skin, chatting with Mia about her favorite cookies as if they're old friends.

This is just a temporary setback, I remind myself. By tomorrow, we'll have a new nanny, and everything will be back on schedule.