Chapter 9
Imove through my morning meetings, trying not to think about her, but our interaction this morning has me uncharacteristically preoccupied. I dont have the luxury of entertaining pretty distractions like her. I have eleven months to find why we’re hemorrhaging money and turn this place around.
Despite facing opposition and resistance from Victor, the staff is finally embracing the management change and responding well to my leadership. My father should have retired before he let things get so out of control, but from what Emerson tells me, he had no idea there was even a problem. But he knew something, because it was in the contract of his will that I was the one responsible for turning this place around within the twelve-month timeframe, or I lose control to Lana Alexander, his new wife.
The huge list of problems that need solutions gets longer by the day. The rooms are prehistoric, the policies ineffective and in need of a shake-up so we can stay relevant. My father was adored by all, but I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to get this place out of the truckload of debt and bring it into the twenty-first century so we can compete with some of the bigger names in the business as a destination holiday and events venue.
Top of my list is the restaurant. After going over the figures with Elliot, our head chef, earlier in the month, I knew we had a problem. The restaurant is only turning over half of what it should be, and the food side of events is eating into Emerson’s profits. I make my way down to the kitchen to visit Elliot in his domain. The kitchen is a hive of energy getting prepared for lunch. He grins when he sees me and motions for me to join him.
“Mae, take over for me, I’ll be back in a sec,” he calls to Dorothy-Mae, our trainee chef, throwing her a tea towel. She looks toward me with a cautious smile. She along with the rest of Emerson’s friends don’t seem to like me much.
We walk out the back to where staff often sit for breaks and take a seat. It’s deserted at this time of day. The salt spray from the ocean brushes my face, and I see it, why Emerson loves this place so much. It is something unique when you have time to leave the confines of your office and enjoy the fresh late-summer air.
Elliot makes himself comfortable, glancing around to make sure we’re alone before he speaks. “I’ve worked out where the last chef was going wrong,” he says.
“Enlighten me,” I say, impressed he’s on to it already.
“He was paying a fortune for shipping imported products. We could save fifty percent just by adjusting the menu throughout the year to favor local seasonal produce. Pops has been doing the same at McAllister’s Bar and Grill for years, so we know it works. This will just be on a larger, more upmarket scale.”
I nod, appreciating his perspective. It makes a lot of sense. I always knew Elliot would have a knack for turning things around in our restaurant and catering side of the business. “Nice work.”
“The only problem is it won’t keep with tradition. But a shake-up might be just what we need to attract new business once the renovations are complete.”
“I’m not concerned about tradition. Sticking with what we have always done is why this place is losing money. We want to be trendy. A destination for our guests all year round, not just in peak holiday season.”
He raises a brow, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “So, I have the go-ahead to print the new menu?”
“Start as soon as you can.”
“I’ve also been in touch with Mr. Delaney from Pecan Pie Bakery. He’s on board to supply all our loaves of bread and pastries. He might have to employ another pastry chef to keep up with demand, but he was more than pleased to be included in our plans.”
“He wasn’t worried about our reputation and being associated with us after that article?” I ask, curious to see what the locals think. Since the article was published, Emerson went into damage control with some new PR that focused on the weddings-and-events side of the business. I’ve kept out of it, knowing I would be too angry and end up doing more damage than good. I spend all my time either locked away in my office or on my ranch avoiding the gossip of the townspeople.
“The locals, the real ones, don’t believe a word that paper printed. They all know the Prescotts are out to make a quick buck. He’s backing you on this, and so is the Harrison family farm, who will provide all our eggs and fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit. People in this town respect you, not just because they liked your father but because of who you were when you lived here last. They haven’t forgotten who Brody Alexander is.”
“And you think I have?” I glare at him.
He shrugs. “I think it’s good you’re home.”
I can always count on Elliot to tell it how it is. I know I’m not the same kid I was when I grew up here. That kid had no idea about the reality of life and thought his family was perfect. During my senior year of high school, my father shattered those misconceptions. Seventeen years later, Im still coping with the repercussions. With a fucking scandal, it rocked us all, especially Emerson, who had no idea who her father really was. And as much as I’ve had years to process his adultery and the consequences we all had to deal with because of it, having it thrust back in my face the week I took over while I was trying to adjust to moving back here and taking over this place, hasn’t been easy.
“Bad timing that Prescott took over his father’s media company the same week I took over the hotel.”
I see the concern in Elliot’s eyes. We were all buddies once, brothers, but Prescott changed that. And now that he has the power of the media behind him, who knows how he will use it. “Have you been able to find out anything else? Who gave them the insider information to help them write the article?”
I look over my shoulder to make sure we’re still alone. “I don’t know. We both know Prescott was there that night; he knows what we do, and even though we’re not on the best of terms, I didn’t think he would be so willing to drag my family’s name through the mud. It wouldn’t take much for one of us to retaliate, and his family’s perfect reputation would be in tatters as well.”
He nods, agreeing with me. “He might own the company now, but he wasn’t the one behind this.” He leans in closer. “Someone else has it in for you or maybe the hotel?” he says quietly.
A young guy stops in front of us with a friendly smile. “Caldwell!” He looks at me like I should know who he is.
I raise an unimpressed brow that he’s approached me when I was clearly in the middle of something. “No, Brody.” I shoot a perplexed look at Elliot.
Confusion clouds his face. “Sorry, I mixed you up with someone else I went to school with. I thought he was working here.” He keeps walking, looking embarrassed.
“What the fuck was that?” I grumble.
“You’ve been away too long, people don’t recognize you.” Elliot laughs.
I shrug it off. I have more pressing matters to concern myself with. Some random guy mistaking me for someone else is the least of my worries.
“Better let you get back to it. You up for a beer with the other guys tonight? Ma’s looking after Lacy and Kara.”
I consider his offer, knowing he doesn’t get many nights out, being a single dad. But I know when I’m done here tonight, all I’m going to want is to sleep. The days are never-ending. “Not tonight.”
“I get it. But don’t forget who your buddies are. Work will be here tomorrow,” he says before leaving me to it. And I know he’s right, but honestly, it’s easier to work until all hours than to deal with this town and all the memories it holds.
On my way back to my office, I decide to pay our newest staff member a visit to see how she’s settling in. Not because I feel like I need to but because I can’t stay away.
I tap at her door, and she glances up at me. “Hi,” she says awkwardly. “I was just about to head out for some lunch in the sunshine.”
I let myself in and close her door behind me. “I won’t keep you long then. How has the morning been?” I lean against her door, thinking it best to keep my distance.
“I’ve called our two couples for this weekend to go over the final arrangements for their weddings. Everything is sorted. Your sister’s system is incredible. It’s kind of like being in a production, except the wedding is the show.” She beams back at me, and I can tell she’s pleased with herself and over her mood with me this morning.
“Looks like you’re doing just fine. I guess show business prepared you for this job after all.”
She cringes, biting her teeth into her lip. “On that note, can we maybe keep that little bit of information between the two of us? I came to Deception Bay for a change. I was desperate to get out of the limelight my parents’ names thrust me into from a really young age, and I know what comes with people knowing who I am.”
I can’t imagine why someone with her talent would want to quit and come and work in our hotel for a shitty wage. I still don’t understand why she’s really here. “Why?”
“Expectations, people want you to be something amazing. A superstar. I just want to be a regular girl. Back home I was called the lucky one because every single person in show business just assumed I got parts and was so successful at a young age because of who my parents were. I was judged constantly, and it was tiring trying to prove my worth. And the whole time I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. I was doing it all for my father. I think his heart was in the right place, but he was a little controlling.”
Being trapped in the expectations of your family is something I can understand. Hearing her father is controlling gets my hackles up. She’s a young woman who should be able to choose her own path. She doesn’t need some asshole controlling her. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thank you.” She offers me a smile, and it’s the sweetest smile I think I’ve ever seen. She’s pretty as a peach. And I already know it’s going to be impossible to stay away from her, knowing she’s working just up the hall from me, but I have to. There’s too much at stake. And not only that, but I can’t be just like him, screwing my staff because I have no control.
“You need to keep a secret for me as well. No one around here can know about New York.”
A slow blush rises on her cheeks, coloring them in a soft pink, and I know she’s right back there with me. Her sweet lips calling my name as I give her orgasm after orgasm. “I thought that was a given since you didn’t even want to talk about it.”
I sigh heavily, knowing I have to tell her about the contract. “I can’t. There is a strict policy about management dating staff. It was imposed by my father as one of the stipulations in me taking over the hotel. If anyone found out we had gotten cozy, even before you started here, I stand to lose a whole lot.”
Her eyes go wide. She looks me over, and I would kill to know what she’s thinking with the sassy look she has on her face. I just told her we can’t ever have what we did again. So why do I feel like her lips are silently tempting to break the rules? She slowly zips across her lips as if to say her lips are sealed.
“Good girl,” I say and regret it as soon as I do. The look in her eyes is full of desire. She likes me calling her a good girl and bossing her around, it gets her all hot and bothered. But fuck, we can’t go there now, and I need to get my dirty thoughts for her under control. “I will let you get to lunch,” I say, leaving her to it.
Irritation crawls under my skin. This morning, I thought we could put what happened between us a month ago behind us and act as though it never even happened. But it’s only day one and having her here in my space already has me on edge. I hear so often that I look like my father. I’m taller than he was, but even I know there is a striking family resemblance in nearly every other way. I never wanted to be anything like him and have spent my whole adult life avoiding relationships to make sure I never hurt anyone the way he did my mother. If you’re up front with a girl and tell her it’s just one night, it’s simple. No one gets hurt. But Gisele being here complicates my one-night-only policy. Because I can’t forget how sweet she tasted or the way her soft moans filled the hotel room as she writhed over my cock. I can’t forget how soft and silky her hair was wrapped around my wrist as I fucked her face. And I can’t forget what a good little girl she was just for me.