Page 79 of Her Ruin

Parking at The Grand, I gave myself twenty seconds to go over it once more, and then I promised myself I would banish the man and the memory of his touch from my mind.

At the hotel, I greeted the front desk staff before I strode through the lobby with practiced purpose. I headed straight to the ballroom. As I walked, I caught my reflection in the glass doors—a face set in determined lines, eyes narrowed with focus. I didn’t have time for sentimental reflections on last night; this hotel’s reopening success depended on every detail being perfect.

If it didn’t look like a ballroom when I opened the doors, I was going to commit murder. With a flutter of apprehension, I pushed the door open and smiled widely. It was finished. It wasstunning.

“Oh…” I walked deeper into the room. The navy tile with silver was fabulous; the light from the high windows danced across the floor. The walls had all been replastered. The light dove gray was not drab or dull, and there was a sheen to it that made it look like it was glimmering. It would look amazing in the evening with the light from the chandeliers catching it. There was a feature wall paying homage to the art deco era of the hotel, but it was so subtle andincredibleI loved it.

“You look happy?” Pete said as he came into the room, looking around with a gleam of satisfaction.

I shared his sense of accomplishment. “It looks…amazing.”

Pete scratched behind his ear. “Yeah, it does.” He gestured to the flooring. “You have an eye for detail,” he complimented me.

My light laugh echoed in the room. “It’s my job.”

“Mr. Fitzsimmons is in the conservatory,” Pete told me, his satisfied expression gone. “He’s happy with what we’ve done,” he added hurriedly.

“But?”

“He has ideas to extend the conservatory…”

My eyes widened in horror. “No! No more!” I was only half serious. Together, we left the ballroom, Pete saying nothing when I stopped to look back at it with one final glance.

Gerard was at his usual table with what looked like blueprints in front of him.

“Save me from this,” I whispered, an urgent prayer. I heard Pete mutter anAmenbeside me. “Gerard?” I greeted him when I stopped beside his table.

“Isla! My darling girl!” He gestured to the seats at his table. “Sit, sit, we have much to discuss!”

“Do we?” I shared a look with Pete as I took a seat.

Gerard launched into a rambling presentation, outlining his half-thought-out ideas and grandiose plans. When he finished, he looked at me expectantly. “Well?” he asked me, looking at Pete, who sat still and silent. “What do you think?”

I cleared my throat and then rattled off numbers, percentages, and contingency plans as if reciting from a well-rehearsed mantra. Because itwas;it was the ballroom, the entrance lobby, the hallways, and the conference rooms all over again.

The light dimmed in Gerard’s eyes the more I spoke, and when I finished, he rolled up his plans. “I thought if you were working here for me you would have better control.”

“Excuse me?” I glanced at Pete, who was conveniently looking out at the gardens.

“You would quit your job and come and work for me and be my full-time event coordinator.” Gerard waved his hand over the room. “Why pay a commission to a company when I can pay you directly? You would have full access to all of the hotel and make ittrulyadestinationhotel.”

Pete jumped into the stunned silence. “I told him he couldn’t afford you, Isla,” he joked, and I appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood.

Gerard sighed. “You would also have a project foreman on hand.” He nodded towards Pete. “I offered him the same job, but he would be working foryou;I learned my lesson,” he said, graciously bowing his head.

I didn’t buy it. Would he give me complete control? Never…but the idea was tempting.

“You should think about it,” Gerard offered as he sat back.

With a mental shake, I refocused. “You haven’t given me anything to think about.” I tried to sound teasing, but I sounded more serious than I intended. “No mention of salary, benefits, vacation…” I sighed dramatically, going for the lighter tone. “Pete’s right. I don’t think you can afford me.”

Pete snickered, but Gerard’s look made me realize I wasn’t fooling him. He knew I had thought about it, and I looked away.

I could have my own business. I would be tied to The Grand, but my god, the opportunities. My gaze swept across the grounds. Marquees in the summer for weddings, a few semi-permanent huts in the wooded areas, and we could create glamping packages with the hotel and transform the smaller conference room into a spa or something.

Looking back, I met Gerard’s small smile. Pete had gone, and I hadn’t even noticed.

“Is everything all right?” Gerard asked me casually. “You seem…distracted.”

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