“I’ve been working at the Lodge over four years. I started in housekeeping, was promoted to the front desk within the year. Diane Donner encouraged me to get a degree online for hospitality management.”
Or as I called it, hostility management. I wasn’t about to tell him that it was an online degree from the local Merryville community college. I could only imagine what Ivy League university he went to. Fighting to keep my hands from fidgeting and maintaining eye contact, I continued. “I’ve been unofficially running all the weddings and graduation parties, even as I continued to be the front desk lead. But I-I think—” I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. “My talent would be more beneficial running the events full-time.”
It was the speech I rehearsed all week. No weak verbs, no hesitation. I was the best candidate for this position.
“I don’t disagree that event coordination is more than one person’s full-time job.” He leaned back in the leather office chair and it squeaked. “Probably an entire team if we get it to the point where Diane wants it.” He frowned. “Wanted it.”
Hope started to loosen the tightness in my chest.
“But, unfortunately, with the way things are right now, I can’t make any major decisions. I need to talk with Auclair when he’s not tied up in cow business.” He said the last part quietly like he couldn’t believe the small-town antics he had to deal with. “Let me run it by some people. See how you work with the staff, things like that.”
The collar of my knockoff suit itched my throat. This close he could probably tell that my Burberry suit jacket was actually a Burdberry that I bought out of the back of a van a year ago. It was a hair too snug, but as long as I didn’t slouch or breathe too deep, I was fine. I was just used to people disappointing me, and preferred to plan events by myself. That was why I wanted to do it full-time. Solo.
“I’ve been running events for a while now,” I said. “I coordinated tonight’s event at the drive-in not only to show hotel guests to the charm of Green Valley, but to interact with the community and generate more local business.”
I couldn’t believe the words came out so smoothly.
Mr. Debono studied me closely. I wondered if I should try to smile. People tended to like that but Gretchen told me once my forced smiles looked like a snarl and that it was better to embrace my neutral expression.
“I appreciate your directness, Ms. Kincaid. Many people down here tend to talk in circles before getting to the point and I’m never sure where I stand,” he said evenly, not smiling either.
He was as hard to read as a French dictionary, but at least we had that in common.
“So I’ll be direct with you,” he said. “I have no doubt that Diane trusted you. You wouldn’t be doing all this if she hadn’t. But I’m not comfortable giving you a promotion even one that you may very well deserve. I’m in a tricky spot with the new responsibilities thrust upon me. I can’t make any major decisions without the temporary board’s approval.”
Perhaps my face played out the dread coiling in me because he softened his features and added, “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll observe you over the next few weeks, see how you work with the clients and the staff and then reconsider your promotion. I’m slowly making my way through years of emails in the Lodge’s main account. I’ll search your name and see what Diane had to say about you.”
I felt my chest rising and falling quickly, hoping it didn’t give me away. I could easily prove myself. I’d handled mothers of the brides with food poisoning and raucous bachelorette parties at two a.m. I could handle whatever life threw at me. I was a professional, dammit. I was worthy. I’d worked my ass off. I wanted to scream but I was a professional now. We only screamed internally.
“That sounds fair,” I said coolly.
“Starting with tonight. I’ll accompany you to the movie event. See how you handle things. It would be good for me to meet more of the locals anyway. I have no idea how long I’ll be here.” He pushed up his thick frames to pinch the area between his eyes.
“Tonight,” I repeated, finding my bearings but feeling like a baboon on roller skates.
An icy sort of dread tingled at the base of my spine though I couldn’t be sure why. Maybe the prospect of having every single one of my actions scrutinized. I already felt uncomfortable in my skin half the time, too afraid to talk to strangers and expose my country background. But I did have one advantage in this situation: Vincent Debono knew me only as Roxanne Kincaid. He had no idea of my past, all I had to do was show him the professional that I was and everything would be fine. What was another few weeks?
He blinked at me expectantly.
“The shuttle will be leaving here to take the guests at eight p.m.,” I said.
“Perfect. Then we can discuss more about how the conference went on the way over. I skimmed your presentation and found it very informative. A lot of potential for growth.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“That reminds me …” he started and then sifted the mess of papers on his desk.
Wherever Diane Donner was, she was shuddering at the chaos.
“One of the companies you mentioned in the presentation reached out for a meeting with us,” he said, “but the timing hasn’t worked out. The corporate adventure company.”
My heart skipped a beat—that was one of the companies from Denver I had been most excited about. But then like a damn bursting after a spring storm, all the other thoughts I’d been pushing down from that weekend flooded through me. Sanders with his blue eyes and smiles that made my knees tingle. The dancing. The
