Chapter 59
‘I need to talk to you,’ Erin raged.
Grant might be her superior, but the hotel manager had lied to her, used her and, worst of all, played her for a fool. And he wasn’t going to get away with that.
‘Erin, wonderful evening. You’re right, everything is perfect. We really couldn’t have asked for—’
‘Couldn’t have asked for what? A better puppet? A better fool to string along?’
‘What do you—’
‘I mean that I know, Grant. I know what you’ve been up to lately. I realise now why you employed me. And it wasn’t to prove myself up to some task. Because the task was already doomed to fail, wasn’t it?’
‘My dear, I have no idea what you—’
‘You said yourself this job was your life. So what did they promise you? Some kind of sweetheart deal in the new place, or whatever it is they – whoever they are – decide to put here instead? Or maybe a cushy number somewhere else. Whatever it is, I honestly don’t care.
But I wasn’t lying when I said I do care about this hotel.
And I can’t believe you sold me, and all the wonderful people who work here, down the river. ’
‘But I didn’t intend … I mean Mr MacKenzie assured me …’ her boss spluttered, and Erin felt something inside her break a little as his reaction confirmed her suspicions.
She was right. Mack had well and truly played her too.
Now, eyes flashing, she faced Grant down, and continued, ‘I knew something was off when I checked the marketing budget and saw how much money you were wasting, flushing away, by gifting stays to so-called VIPs. And how much you seemed to welcome influencer-types with open arms, to the point that this place now has a reputation for being a soft touch for freebies. But that had nothing at all to do with marketing, did it? It was an easy way, a foolproof way, to bring overall earnings down, no questions asked. Because gifting stays to every randomer with an online following is how marketing works these days, or so they say. But it also ensured that the hotel found it nigh on impossible to remain profitable.’
Grant shook his head. ‘I honestly thought all that would work, especially after the lockdowns when we were trying to get back on our feet and this online influencer stuff was all the rage. Roger didn’t agree, he insisted we must focus primarily on our legacy guests, the ones who come back to The Palms year after year, but, Erin, many are older and ageing out, and soon enough there’ll be little repeat custom left.
We needed to bring in new blood. And I honestly thought the best way to do that was to showcase the hotel to a brand-new audience, a younger audience. But it didn’t work out that way.’
‘Of course it didn’t, Grant, because every dog on the street with a camera was too busy enjoying their freebie stays, not advertising the hotel.
’ She put her hand on her hips. ‘So OK, you say that you had the best intentions initially, so what happened? Why bring Mack … I mean Daniel MacKenzie, into it? Or did he come to you? Realising the hotel was on its last legs and it was time to come in for the kill?’
‘I think I heard my name being mentioned …’
Speak of the devil …
Right on cue, the man himself appeared alongside them and Erin didn’t care if Mack had overheard much of what she’d been saying already.
She wasn’t going to let either of these two cowards get away with making her a pawn in their game.
It was despicable what they’d done to the resort, or worse, what they were about to do.
She looked around at all the resort staff enjoying themselves on the beach, laughing and dancing alongside hotel guests and locals, all the loyal hardworking people who made The Palms what it was.
Right when the tourist industry was getting back on its feet after the struggles of the last few years, putting them all out of a job in one fell swoop felt cruel. Herself included.
But at that moment, her future didn’t matter. All she wanted now was answers.
‘It was all too easy, wasn’t it?’ she said, whirling on Mack. ‘You never had any intention of helping this resort, other than bringing to its knees.’
‘Whoa, wait, what?’ He stared back wide-eyed at her and she noticed that he genuinely seemed confused by the accusation.
Did he seriously think Erin was that stupid that she wouldn’t be able to figure it out? He truly had underestimated her.
Mack put a hand on her arm as if to calm her down and she wrenched it away. ‘How dare you.’
‘Erin, I really don’t think that’s a …’ Grant mumbled, looking nervously on.
‘What are you talking about?’ Mack demanded. ‘Why the hell would I want to bring this place to its knees when I’ve just bought part of it?’
‘Not so fast. Molly hasn’t signed over her shares yet and she won’t either if I have anything to do with it.’
He frowned. ‘What the hell has gotten into you, Erin? Why are you being like this?’
‘Because, unlike you two, I care about this hotel, that’s why.
I’ve worked my ass off since I got here to make sure it stays afloat, even when both of you tried everything in your power to ensure otherwise.
And because I didn’t know that, no matter what I did, you’d best me anyway.
Just like that day on the mountain. That day I thought you’d beaten me fair and square.
But now I see that must’ve been yet another of your sneaky plays. ’
Mack’s eyes narrowed. ‘Whatever you might think of me, Erin, you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
You spent all this time persuading me to partner with this hotel, and you succeeded.
It is a taste of paradise. But I didn’t do only that; I liked what I saw so much that I persuaded my investors to run the place outright.
Preferably with you at the helm. Because I do know how much you care about The Palms, Erin. As do I.’
She stood back, reeling. ‘I don’t understand.’
Grant stepped forward again. ‘I was stupid and desperate. I knew that if we didn’t get back on our feet soon, we’d be targeted again for development.
But my … admittedly feeble marketing attempts, as you so rightly pointed out, only succeeded in making things worse.
So when Head Office told me that Discover Earth was in the market for a potential eco-partnership and coming here to check it out, I didn’t think we had a chance in hell.
I’d already given up. And was certain that the hotel was doomed.
So … I’m ashamed to say, I let it happen.
’ He hung his head. ‘I pushed Roger out because I knew the worst was coming, and I didn’t want him, such a loyal fixture in this place for all these years, out of a job.
Like I knew I would be soon. And I also let it be …
rumoured that the end was surely nigh for The Palms, so that our other staff might desert the sinking ship before the worst came to pass.
’ He hung his head. ‘I’ll admit I originally brought you in as a replacement, expecting that you wouldn’t see out the end of your probationary period.
Because the hotel would likely be done.’
‘Except somehow, you got it,’ Mack said gruffly, side-eyeing Erin.
‘And you convinced me of The Palms’ importance as a true island stalwart, a legacy even – far too important to let it be razed to the ground and replaced by some charmless resort chain.
To the point that I too could see the huge potential here. ’
‘But why would you try to cheat Molly out of her shares …’ she stuttered, no longer sure what to think. ‘And Trevor too …’
‘I talked to Molly about the shares because I want to ensure the same thing didn’t happen again.
My investors still need to be able to see off any future unwanted advances.
I’ve also spoken to some other original shareholders and they’ve agreed to work with me to bring this place back to its former glory.
So that it doesn’t come under threat again. ’
‘Oh.’
‘Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say?’ Mack demanded hotly. ‘After basically accusing me of sabotage?’
‘Well, what did you expect?’ Erin shot back automatically, despite being very unnerved now.
‘I’ve been going around this last while looking over my shoulder, expecting things to go wrong everywhere I look, expecting some faceless saboteur at play.
And lots of things did! As it is, I still can’t relax because I’m not entirely sure if what you’re saying is really true. ’
‘It’s absolutely true, Erin,’ Grant assured her. ‘Mr MacKenzie’s financiers sent over the documentation this evening. The Palms is officially now a Discover Earth property.’
Her mouth dropped open. It was true then. Oh man, had she gotten things all wrong.
‘Like you said, I’m a competitor, Erin.’ Mack’s eyes were cold as he walked away. ‘But I always play fair and square.’
Still stunned by everything she’d learned, Erin left Grant and stumbled into the sand and back down the beach toward the bonfire, which by now was starting to die down.
Not entirely unlike her own anger. She grabbed a glass of rum from a nearby serving station, swallowing it in one.
Oh boy …
The realisation of what she’d actually done, and the accusations she had levelled – and at the apparent brand-new resort CEO, no less – were finally beginning to dawn.
And Erin knew for certain that whatever happened to The Palms from now on, this job – and Mack – were surely both now lost to her anyway.