Chapter 8
Igawk back at my sister and her new events coordinator, trying not to give away how bothered I am. What the hell is she doing here in my hometown, in my hotel?
When I left New York, I never thought I would see her again. I want to use my authority and insist Gisele’s not right for the job, that she doesn’t have the experience or some bullshit like that. But at this point, we’re not in a position to turn away someone who is willing to take it on. We’ve had a total of six girls start and leave since I took over operations. I need someone who’s capable of taking the lead and actually sticking around long enough to get us out of trouble.
Emerson is a top planner, but she’s busy with some of the other aspects of the business. And my instincts tell me my sister is right, Gisele would be perfect for the job. She has that contagious smile people around here are going to go mad for. And thinking back to the night I met her back in New York, I remember our conversation. She was looking for a change, something completely different for her life, and this place will be a polar opposite to her life as a theater star in New York.
She grins back at me, all wide-eyed and hopeful. I can hardly believe it’s her, the girl I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for a month. Standing right here in front of me wearing a staff uniform like she belongs at The Alexander. My eyes keep running up and down her body because I just can’t wrap my head around it. Last time I saw her she was tangled in the sheets of my hotel bed sleeping soundly. I went out to grab us breakfast, and when I got back, she was gone. I hadn’t even asked for her number. Not that it would have done me any good, she lived 800 miles away. I knew when we hooked up that I wouldn’t see her again. It was supposed to be a one-night stand to help her get over her jerk ex and give me a little breather from the pressure I’m feeling here. That was all.
“Right, follow me,” I snip, pulling myself together and taking off for the door. I know I’m being rude, but this is how I handle my staff. I worked out very quickly that if you give them any leeway, they will think they can get away with slacking off on the job, and that’s not how I run this business. And now she’s going to be working for us. This is the version of me she gets. Brody Alexander, interim CEO of one of the biggest hotels in Georgia—or at least it will be when I’m finished re-shaping it.
I don’t have to look back to know she’s following along like the good girl she is. I can hear her heels clicking along the deck as we pass the pool. Fuck, I remember just how good she was for me. The thought makes my dick twitch, but he’s going to have to settle the fuck down, because one night with Gigi Kelley superstar was all he can ever have.
I push open the door to the offices and hold it open for her. As I watch her walk past, I rack my brain trying to work out how it’s possible I missed her application coming through. Emerson conducted the last interviews, but I handpicked the applicants for her to interview. Changing the vibe around here has been my number-one focus in taking over. Under my father’s management, the staff were allowed to get away with just about whatever they wanted, but I demand respect. And I need it. There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding my father’s last few weeks on this planet and why he was so worried that someone was after him. There has to be a reason. So I made sure when I took over that there was no room for uncertainty. There are rules and systems now in place to make sure all staff comply or are moved on.
“My office is the second on the right,” I tell her, then follow her through.
The way she sways her ass in that tight skirt is going to be a big problem. I close my office door behind us and flick the lock, not wanting other management to overhear any part of our conversation. Especially Victor, our general manager, who works right across the hall and who I know is keeping a sharp eye on me, just waiting for me to screw this all up.
“I guess this is the family business you run. Maybe you should have been more specific, and we could have avoided this awkwardness.” She laughs uncomfortably, and I don’t miss the hint of irritation in her tone. Her arms are folded over her chest protectively, the look in her eyes hinting that she’s already about to quit.
“Why don’t you take a seat, Gigi,” I suggest, motioning to the couch I have set up in my office.
She turns to look where I’m pointing. “It’s Gisele,” she corrects me, taking a seat on the navy-blue velvet sofa, crossing one ankle over the other.
My eyes travel up her body, from her heels right up to those captivating blue eyes. She looks different to the night I met her, with minimal makeup, her long hair pulled back in a braid and wearing her company uniform instead of that flashy pink number. But even deprived of all that, I can still tell she’s not like any of the girls around here. There is something about Gisele that’s different.
I take a second to compose myself then find the event coordinator file from my desk and hand it to her, taking the seat opposite. “This file will be your bible. It has every corporate event and wedding we have booked here for the next twelve months. Everything is also filed under the same title on your computer, but we have found, since there has been so much change around here lately, it’s easier to have the hard copies to go through when you first start.”
“Oh,” she says, opening the file and flicking through.
“The first page is your calendar so you don’t double book the room. We can only hold one function per day; we don’t have the restaurant capacity, staff, or space to do anything more than that.”
“It’s almost fully booked for weekends,” she stutters out, shocked. And I know she must be working herself into a tizzy right about now. I have seen that same look on every one of the last six coordinators’ faces as they looked over that file. This job can be overwhelming if you’re not organized.
“It is. Emerson has set this business up to be one of the most popular wedding venues in all of Georgia. She has worked diligently for the past six weeks to make sure we have a busy calendar for the next year. This part of the business is extremely important to the bottom line. So, you can see why it’s so imperative to have a coordinator who knows what’s she’s doing.”
She looks up at me, and I see the concern on her pretty face. She considers me. “I have no idea what I’m doing, you know that. Why did you agree to me doing this job?”
“You would have been by far the most suitable applicant in the room, even with no experience,” I say, matter-of-factly. This is not the time for buttering her up.
“I guess I will take that as a compliment then.” She rolls her eyes, returning her gaze back to the folder in front of her, studying her job description.
“You should. We will teach you what you need to know, it’s not a difficult job, but you will need to be organized, well-mannered, and knowledgeable when dealing with clients and couples. I suggest getting acquainted with the packages we offer and our facilities.” I watch the way her lashes flutter as she reads over the binder.
“Why do all the girls keep leaving?” Her voice is full of concern, and I can see she’s wondering what mess she has just walked into.
I let out a labored sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Look, this job isn’t for everyone. My sister Emerson had the position for the last six years and had it all set up diligently. You just need to follow her procedures. She never had a problem with the hours or the clients.” I pause, considering how honest I should be. I don’t want to set her up for disappointment. “Some of the girls we have had recently didn’t cope all that well under the pressure. And the hotel itself has recently had a management change and is now under construction, with renovations taking place in various areas of the hotel at any given time. Some people can’t handle all the chaos. Emerson can teach you everything you need to know, and she will always be around to support you. If not, my door is always open.” Not something I say to other staff, but I would be happy to answer Gisele’s questions. A little too pleased.
I’m not my father, she’s off limits now that she works here, I remind myself, knowing I haven’t been able to take my eyes off her since she walked in. But the chemistry between us is still here, just like that first night in New York. “Something tells me you’re good at taking direction.” I raise a brow, trying to get a rise out of her, even though I know I shouldn’t.
She glances back up at me, her cheeks flushing pink, and I know she’s reliving our steamy night together. Makes me regret my choice of words. And my current position. But having her here in my office has me worked up. I want to push her buttons and see how she reacts, because she was supposed to be just a night of fun, an escape from my life, and now, she’s right here in the middle of this mess with me, taunting me because I can no longer have her in any of the ways I want.
“Guess I can’t be any worse than the past six, now can I?” She throws my words from earlier back at me, and I relish her feistiness.
“I guess we will see. Take today to get yourself familiar with the binder. There’s an empty office down the hall, just by Emerson’s, you can set yourself up in. If you have any questions save them for her, she will be able to point you in the right direction.” I stand to show her to her office space, but she doesn’t move. She stares up at me all doe-eyed and gorgeous, her full luscious lips forming a pout. I get a vision of her on her knees in front of me in just a hot-pink thong, like the night I met her. I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends. This is bad. Really fucking bad.
She blinks back at me. “So that’s it then? We’re just going to ignore the elephant in the room and pretend like we never met before?”
“Since you’re now working for my family’s hotel, I think that would be for the best,” I tell her, but I know how uncertain my words sound. A very large part of me wishes things were different and I could have another taste of her.
She rises to her feet. Keeping her eyes plastered on me, she moves toward me so we’re just a couple of inches apart. I can smell her sweet perfume; it’s the same one she had on that night. And just for a second, I let my eyes close as I inhale. Having her around is going to be trouble.
“If that’s what you want, sweet pea.” She smiles at me smugly like she just won a competition I didn’t know we were in, then walks right past me. “Did you say down the hall? I can find my own way,” she mutters, already on her way out the door.
“How did you get hired here, Gisele?” I ask the question that has been on the tip of my tongue since I first laid eyes on her today.
She turns back toward me slowly. “The normal way. Found the ad in a job search, and I thought why not, so I called the number,” she sasses.
“You didn’t send off your resume or hand in an application?” I ask, implying this wasn’t normal.
“Err, no. The girl on the other end of the call just asked me a few questions and when I could start. She said you were desperate for staff, and I didn’t have a resume made up, so she just said to show up today. She was super nice, even found me a couple of girls to move in with who both work here as well.”
That would explain why I never saw her application. We have become somewhat desperate for staff, leaving Emerson to hire people without the proper protocol. But it’s still a pretty big fucking coincidence that she is here in my hotel. I narrow my eyes on her, trying to read her body language. “Did you work out who I was and apply for this job because of me?”
The way her eyes widen and the thin line of her lips tells me I have asked one question too many. “Are you kidding me?” she snaps, furious, her hands flying to her hips. “Why would anyone do something like that? Are you trying to accuse me of stalking you or something?” Her words drip with contempt, and in less than ten minutes, I’ve been able to turn her from smiley ray of sunshine to one of the other staff with a look of disgust aimed right at me.
I meet her angry gaze. “Just checking your motives for being here,” I say, not backing down. This is too coincidental.
She glares daggers at me. “My motives for being here have nothing to do with you. I was just as shocked to see you here today.” Her hands ball into fists, and I can see how mad I’ve made her. “You know what? Stick your job up your ass, I will work something else out.” She stalks for the door, long strides moving quickly.
Shit, that was fast. I pushed her too far. “Gisele,” I call, chasing her down the hall and getting in front of her. “Don’t do anything stupid,” I warn, knowing this is my fault.
“Too late for that now, isn’t it,” she snips, likely implying what we did in New York was a mistake. “You’re an asshole.”
“What I said was out of line.” I pause, trying to find the correct words. “You have to admit it does look a bit strange, though, right?” I say quietly, trying to keep my voice down so I’m not overheard by Victor or whoever else is in his office.
“It’s an unfortunate coincidence,” she hisses back.
Lana, my late father’s wife, wanders out of Victor’s office, eyeing the two of us with a shrewd expression before carrying on down the hall.
Fucking great, just what I need. “We need to continue this in my office.” She looks reluctant but lets me guide her back inside before going on. “Alright, don’t go having a hissy fit on me, it’s a coincidence.”
“You’re a conceited jerk if you really think I would track you down after a one-night stand and take up a job working for you. Just to be close to you or something. I was just as disappointed to see you as you were me. You weren’t that good.” She stares me down.
I laugh, her comment amusing me more than it should. She knows I was. But I need her to stay, so I don’t argue the point. “You’re right, I was being a jerk,” I say through clenched teeth. I hate admitting I was wrong. “Let’s just pretend the last five minutes didn’t happen so we can get you started with your new position.”
“You really are desperate for staff, aren’t you?”
“We need someone in this role, I have two events this weekend. Why don’t you go settle into your office, and I’ll get Emerson to drop in and check on you when she’s available.”
She stares me down, and I can see her options ticking over in her head. She opens the door.
“Room labeled six,” I call back, letting her go. It’s not what I want to do. I want to drag her back in here by her neat braid and punish her for using my sweet little nickname for her against me. But I have eleven months left of this deal, and if I get through it, we get to keep this place. While it may not have been my dream initially, the more time I spend here and the more effort we invest, the more I understand Emersons passion for it. Ive spent a considerable sum of money on the place in the last month, and Im looking forward to seeing a return on my investment.
Victor Morgan, our general manager, steps into the space she vacated. He’s been with the company longer than I’ve been on this earth, and you can tell in the way he carries himself—like he owns the place. Dressed to the nines in a sharp suit and tie, dark hair perfectly in place, Victor perpetually wears a smile, as if harboring a secret he’s itching to share. While I tolerate him due to his unwavering loyalty to my father and extensive knowledge of every facet of the business, his hardworking nature can’t mask the fact that he consistently crawls under my skin.
“New hire?” he inquires, his gaze curious, but I can see behind his mask. He wants details, all of them, like who she is and why I was talking quietly with her in the hall after she stormed out of here. Unlike my father, I don’t plan on letting him in on every aspect of my life. Nope. With Victor, I keep my personal life and most of the dealings of this business now close to my chest.
“Gisele Kelley, our new events coordinator,” I respond, irritated that I need to tell him anything.
He nods knowingly. “Ah, the girl from New York. Emerson said you would like her. Breath of fresh air around here or something to that effect. I thought she was going for the front desk position?” he pushes.
“Emerson thinks she’s more suited to events, and since we lost another coordinator on Friday and have a month full of bookings, it was a priority to fill the position today with one of the new hires,” I grumble, making it obvious I need to get on with my day and don’t have time to shoot the breeze with him.
“You don’t seem too pleased with her choice,” he observes keenly.
I shift uncomfortably, about done with this conversation and his line of questions. “I’m sure she will be acceptable at the job.”
He scrutinizes me, his discerning eyes delving into the unspoken. “What is it then?”
I’m taken aback by his perceptiveness. “It’s nothing. What can I help you with? I’m very busy,” I growl, teeth clenched.
He smiles with delight in his eyes I don’t like the look of. “Just heard a commotion, thought I would check in. But since you’re busy, I will be on my way. Your assistant Mary wanted me to mention your meeting with accounts today at ten, and then Elliot McAllister wants to go over some plans he has for the restaurant.”
“Elliot doesn’t have to book an appointment to see me.”
“With how busy you are, he does,” he says, then casually exits my office, leaving me with an unsettled feeling. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about him that I can’t stand so much. Maybe it’s the way he and my stepmother carry on, or his constant inquiries into everything I do around here. I understand he was allowed to do as he pleased for a long time under my father’s management style, but I don’t need him like he did. I have my own way of running things.