Chapter 1

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FOUR YEARS LATER

"Are you sure that's my only option?" I ask the recruitment manager.

"The only one who is offering what you said you needed to make. With your degree in hospitality, this would be the ideal choice for you. If you do well, they may even buy out your contract with us and keep you on full-time. The Williamson is a fine chain of hotels."

I swallow hard. I know Williamson is the name in luxury hotels. I've witnessed it blossom and grow for the last four years. Not because I wanted to.

No, they are just the talk in the hospitality industry right now. A naive Olivia decided to switch her majors four years ago after one amazing night with a man who talked about making a family experience during the holidays in a hotel feel homey. I had stars in my eyes.

Then again, that was before I found out I was pregnant a month and a half later. Before Mason cut ties with me for good, leaving me and our child all alone.

I loved the classes I was taking, though. They spoke to me. So I kept with it.

It took me twice as long to finish my degree while caring for my little girl at home, but it was worth it.

The only problem is my housing allowance from school dried up two months ago, and I've yet to find a good enough job to keep up with the rent. If I don't find something soon, I'm going to end up evicted. I can't have that.

So while Chloe watched Arianna, I caved and came to the best temp agency in the city. They are known for hiring out to high-class clients.

I just didn't expect them to place me there.

"Listen, we need people who take this seriously. You can turn this down if you want, but it would be a mark on your record. You won't be considered for any of our top clients again. You seem like a nice girl. I think you will really excel in the right setting."

I want to groan at the man. He has no idea what this means to me. What going back to work, not just for the company, but for that particular hotel, will do to me.

The memories. Most of them are now painful.

My heart hurts just thinking about it.

I have to think of Arianna, though. I can do this.

"I'll take it. I just want to make a good impression," I lie.

The man smiles, nodding. He accepts the lie easily. Why wouldn't he? Why else would someone not want to work at the best hotel in the city?

I probably won't see Mason, anyway. He runs the entire empire. They don't work out of one location. He's probably traveling all the time.

I almost have myself convinced when the man passes over a packet of paperwork.

"Read through this and then sign."

I glance through the paper, snorting to myself at the no-fraternization policy. A little late for that, but I doubt it matters.

Mason wants to forget Arianna and I exist. So I doubt it will be an issue.

I sign my name at the bottom before looking back at the man in front of me.

"Good. Now they will want you to start right away. You are dressed well enough to go get your paperwork with them done. Head on over and see Madison. She will get you set up and tell you where to report tomorrow. I'll give her a ring and let her know you are on the way."

"Thank you." I give him a small smile before leaving.

I'm going to be sick. My arms are shaking, and I can hear my heartbeat in my ears as I walk out of the building.

With cold fingers, I dig my phone out of my purse and call Chloe.

"Hey girl. How did it go?"

"Um, I have a job," I say hesitantly.

"Okay. What's the catch? You sound like you're dying."

"It's at The Williamson."

Silence. Pure silence on the other end. Then she starts cussing.

Chloe was ready to find Mason and castrate him after I told her what happened at the hotel that day. I held her back, though.

He's not worth it.

I rub my temple with my free hand. "Chloe, chill. It's only temporary. I need something or I'm going to lose the house. It's a foot in the door, and if I do well, hopefully they will give me a recommendation for a job with another hotel."

"I don't like it. If you see him, punch him in the nuts for me," she huffs.

"Yes, ma'am, but I doubt I will see him. Do you really think the CEO of The Williamson Group is sitting at one hotel just waiting to ambush me?"

She sighs. "No. I suppose not. Littles wants to say hi. Hold on."

Then the voice that reminds me why I'm doing all of this comes on the phone. My sweet angel.

"Mommy, are you coming home soon? Aunt Chloe said we can go get pizza."

She still stumbles over her words, but I think it only makes her speech more endearing. I'm going to cry the day she stops it. She's growing up so quickly.

"Mommy has to go see someone about a job, but as soon as I'm done, I'll be home. You want anchovies on your pizza, right? I can call ahead."

She giggles. "Ew. No, Mommy. I want the peppa…" She pauses, trying again. "Peppa-roonei."

I smile at her mispronunciation.

"Pepperoni. Got it. Extra Anchovies. Love you, squirt. I'll be home soon." I kiss into the phone, hearing her do the same.

When Chloe comes back on, I sigh.

"It's going to be hard being away from her for long periods. I miss the days where I only had to leave for an hour class."

"You'll be okay. I know this isn't what you wanted, but go in there and own that place. Give them no reason to even think about how they know you," she says sympathetically.

"Alright. I better go. They are expecting me over there soon. Thank you for always having my back, girl."

"You've got this. If Mr. Almost causes any trouble, I have a shovel. It will all work out the way it's supposed to."

"I hate it when you call him that."

"I know, but we both know it's true. Anyway, go do your thing. We will be waiting for you."

"Later."

As I hang up the phone, I place my hand on my churning stomach.

I hope she's right.

* * *

"You need to come back here, man. Some shit went down with Melanie and Roger at the hotel, and shit is falling apart. We hired a temp agency to fill some voids for now, but it's sinking."

I sigh as I rub my forehead.

I haven't spent much time in Boston in recent years. Running a multi-billion-dollar company will do that to you. It's always another fire at another location that you have to run and put out.

Boston is our flagship hotel, though. The one my great-grandfather started in 1945. My brother Max has been the manager there since my father passed away. As the oldest, I was handed the reins to The Williamson Group, while he was handed the flagship hotel. Not that he minds. While it's still stressful, it's not at the level of my job. Still, the hotel is important, not just to our family but to me as well. It's always been one I've enjoyed visiting.

So if it's struggling, that means it needs to be my main priority.

"You can't handle this yourself?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"I need your help, brother. I can handle the analytical side of things, but you know I've never done well with the social aspect."

He's not wrong. He has severe social anxiety. I wondered how he would handle such an important position with it, but his assistant helps him a lot. So much so that her salary nearly matches his. They might as well run that position together.

"Iris asked you to call, didn't she?"

"She thinks the big wigs coming in will instill fear in the employees and get us back on track. She also said she wants to discuss which ones are unsalvageable."

Meaning she wants approval for severance packages.

Great.

"Alright. I will be there next week. I'll send over the details once I have them. Try not to burn the place down in the meantime."

He chuckles nervously. "Don't jinx me."

We hang up the phone as I lean back in my chair. I don't stay off the phone long. I call my longtime friend and CFO immediately.

"Eli, we need to go to Boston. Shit is going down at the flagship hotel," I tell him in lieu of a greeting.

"Well, hello to you too. Is this a code five? Do we need to leave tonight?"

"No. I told them next week, but I want to surprise them. Let's leave Sunday evening and show up first thing Monday morning. That will give them a little time to prepare, but still catch them off guard."

"Did Maxamillion fuck shit up?" he asks, using the name we used to call Max as a kid.

He's known Max as long as he's known me. We all grew up together. Along with our other best friend, Brantley. The four of us constantly got into trouble.

There is no way I could run it without them.

"No. Some employee shit going on. Not sure how it was missed, but we are going to figure it out. I'll call Brantley next and let him know to expect us. He will want to hang out, I'm sure."

Brantley is in charge of our other holdings in Boston.

"We're getting the band back together," Eli jokes.

I only shake my head. "It will be nice to be home for a little while."

"You own a house there. I don't know why you don't work remotely."

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