Page 22 of Sunset Tides
It was impossible to focus, and infuriatingly, Rob couldn’t figure out how to get his new idea to work.
It was a long shot, but heneededit to work. Plus, as far as he was concerned, The Grand Madrona Hotel was a far better site for Grippy’s compound. It had stunning ocean views, it was minutes from that stupid state park, and there was underdeveloped land all around it.
The new owner had underpaid for it, because until recently, the old hotel had been struggling. A few months ago, Rick tried scaring the owner into selling, but she hadn’t taken the bait.
Why would she? Business was booming now, from what Rob could tell.
He knew there must be a way in. He just needed to find it. If he didn’t, he’d be fired, and it’d be next to impossible to get another job with his failure trailing behind him. He’d be a has-been, an unemployable joke.
Rob had promised to have his plan to Rick within a couple of days, and so far, he’d come up with exactly nothing. The hotel was untouchable. No noise complaints, no code violations, and hardly any bad reviews.
Surely the owner had to be doingsomethingwrong? Tax evasion? Laundering money? Hiding drug lords in the penthouse suite?
Whatever it was, he was determined to find it and exploit it.
He was lost in a stack of paperwork when there was a knock on the door to his office.
At first, he didn’t hear it. His ears were filled with the spinning instructor imploring his students to “reach deep inside for the strength to power on!”
The door creaked open and he jumped in surprise. No one had come to see him before.
“Hello?” called out a voice.
He covered up the papers on his desk before responding. “Come on in!”
Rob stood, hoping that by some miracle an answer to his problems would walk through the door.
It ended up just being Lucy.
“Interesting office you’ve got yourself,” she said.
“Thanks. I’d offer you a set of earplugs, but I’m fresh out.”
“I appreciate the consideration, but I’m here to talk to you and earplugs might make that difficult.”
Rob motioned for her to take a seat. There was only one other chair in the embarrassingly empty office. He couldn’t even offer her coffee. “You’re here to talk? Or to gloat?”
She sat down, smiling warmly. “Rob, I wouldnevergloat. I’m not a sore winner. I hope we can still be friends.”
“Friends?” He smiled back at her. Her being here made the office look like an empty jail, and that she was here to be interrogated. Or maybe he was the one who’d be interrogated? “Of course. I don’t hold a grudge.”
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Why not?”
“It’s not my style.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He wasn’t entirely benevolent in his forgiveness, and he was happy to tell her why. “Grudges aren’t useful. Besides, you know the area better than I do. If we stay friends, you might help me.”
She frowned. “Aren’t you leaving?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh.” She sat back.
“You seem disappointed.”
She let out a breath and smiled again. “No, just a little surprised, I guess.”
