by Ali Parker
“I’m sorry,” she muttered.
“It’s fine. You two are really cute together.”
“No, no, we’re not actually together.”
“Sure, you are.”
“No, no, we’re—”
“Just friends,” I finished for her.
Cori came into the office. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. “Hi,” she said on a sigh. “I need one of those spreadsheet things.”
“A spreadsheet thing?”
“I don’t know, something that tells me how much stock I have and whatever.”
She was clearly not okay. “Cori, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I looked at her. “Cori, something.”
She put on a smile. “Nothing. It’s just been really busy, and I don’t know if we’re being robbed or if we’re really selling that much stuff.”
“I would bet you are selling that much stuff,” I said with a smile.
“I’m going to see if Jake has that new mock-up,” Parker said and dashed away.
“Did I scare her away?”
“No, she’s off to get a quickie.”
“What?” she asked with wide eyes.
“Nothing. What’s really going on?” She looked like she was going to say nothing again. I flicked off my computer screen and got to my feet. “Let’s go get a drink. It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
She almost looked relieved. Cori wasn’t usually someone who hid her feelings. She tended to be very open and brutally honest. Something was clearly on her mind. “I’m fine.”
“I need a drink. I’ve been working on my resume and it isn’t pretty.”
“Fine, one drink and then I have to try and figure out where everything went.”
I left the office, assuming Parker would lock up if she actually left or whenever she was done with her quickie in whatever closet they found. I walked with Cori across the grounds and into the lounge. There were plenty of people enjoying the early cocktail hour. We sat down at a table and ordered gin and tonics.
“What’s really going on?”
“I was talking to Nick.”
I grimaced. “Oh no. I’m sorry. Is he still bugging you about the kiss?”
“No, not that. Something else.”
“It’s obviously weighing heavy on your mind, so tell me.”
She blew out a breath. “Nick needs a charity or some way to give back. He had made some plans and they all fell through. He’s crushed.”
I was confused. “I don’t understand why you’re upset that he’s upset. You were just telling me how much he annoyed you and you wanted nothing to do with him.”
“He’s not that bad.”
“That’s different.”
“He did give me Fluffy,” she reminded me.
“The cat you’ve referred to as Satan on more than one occasion?”
“Yes, but in a loving way.”
I slowly nodded. “I see. All right, back to Nick. Why are you so upset about this? I’m sure there are plenty of charities that would love to have his money, especially this time of year.”
“It isn’t like that. He needs to do something positive. Writing a check isn’t the same as really doing something. He wants to make a difference before it’s too late.”
“Too late? There will always be a need for charity and good deeds.”
She looked like she didn’t want to tell me the real story and I knew there was a lot more going on. I wasn’t going to press.
“Nick is a good guy,” she said. “He really is. He annoys the hell out of me, but deep down, he’s a good man. He’s not always been the most ambitious guy. He isn’t like Chase. He isn’t going to go out and work this hard to build something from the ground up. Nick is more the type to want to make money fast with as little effort as possible.”
“Does he make money?”
“Yes. A lot of money actually.”
“I suppose if it makes him happy, he is supporting himself, and the money isn’t made by doing anything illegal or underhanded, it’s fine.”
“I agree, but his father doesn’t.”
“Why not?”
She took a drink, carefully choosing her words before she told me the story. “Nick’s family is wealthy, very wealthy. His dad wants him to take over the family business. Nick doesn’t want to. Nick has always been a playboy. He loves to be free. He says he wants to be someone like Jeff Bezos one day.”
“Richer than God,” I said dryly.
“Yes, basically, but more than that, he wants his name to mean something. He wants to change the world. Unfortunately, he’s a little lost. I mean really, that’s a big task and it isn’t like it can happen overnight. He does lack focus and he’s having a little difficulty finding the right way to go about doing that.”
I could tell there was something big coming. Something that explained her worried expression. “He’s still young. He has time.”
She slowly shook her head. “That’s just it. He doesn’t have time.”
“Is he sick?” I gasped, suddenly understanding her worry.
“No, but he is about to lose everything. His father told him he’s done waiting around. Nick either gets his ass to work in the family business or he’s out. Nick is a stubborn man and he refused. His father has disinherited him.”
“Ouch, that is rough. But why the rush to do a charity event?”
“Nick still has money in an account that was earmarked for this charity thing he was going to be a part of. It was him and a couple of other guys that were going to throw a dinner and auction. If Nick could show his father he was doing good and not just out there screwing around, it could keep him in his father’s good graces. His heart is in the right place, but his dad is tired of waiting.”
I slowly nodded. I didn’t want to tell her I kind of agreed with the father. “Nick thinks one good act will give him another year of playing around and burning through the family money?”
“Hey, it isn’t like that,” she protested. “I know it sounds like that, but Nick has made a lot of money himself. He has a good eye for investments. He likes to search for the next big thing. When he finds it, he invests his chunk of change in the company. It always pays off. He and Chase have worked together before. It’s a way to get an influx of cash while someone else does the work.”
I smiled, keeping my opinion to myself on the matter. “Okay and why are we talking about charity?”
“Because he has a great investment opportunity with a green tech company here in Colorado. Unfortunately, the guy does not have a great opinion of Nick. Nick was hoping to impress him and earn a little goodwill with the owner of the company and some of the other people in the business.”
“By throwing a charity event?”
“Yes, but not just because of that. Nick has always done charity work but it’s always behind the scenes. He doesn’t flaunt it. Instead, he flaunts his wild ways. He is realizing his mistake and wants to change it, but his father is going to pull the investment capital. He’s going to take it all.”
“How can he do that if it is Nick’s money?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure he’ll leave Nick enough to live on, but his dad is playing hardball.”
“Sweetie, I’m not sure what you can do. This sounds like a lot of bad choices have led Nick to this point in his life. Can he talk with his father and explain he has a new deal in the works?”
“I think that bridge is burned. He can’t just take the money out of the account. He needs a valid expense. A charity event is one way to do that.”
“He wants to use the money in one account to prove he should be allowed to keep the money in the investment account. Is that what you are saying?”
“Yes! The investment into the green tech company would be all Nick. He would separate his money and keep it away from his father. This would be him setting out on his own and becoming his own man, investing in companies he believes in. Like I said
, he wants to change the world without being in his father’s shadow.”
I sighed, trying to wrap my head around it. It was one of the oldest stories in history. The rich and titled always felt trapped and rebelled against those confinements. Growing up poor, I never understood it, but it wasn’t my place to understand.
“And what do you plan to do to help him?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I need to think of something and fast. Time is ticking away. Do you have any ideas?”
“Ideas for a charity event that would need to be pulled off in a week?”
She made a face. “Yes.”
“I don’t. Why doesn’t Nick talk to Chase? They are best friends. I’m sure he would help him out.”
“No!” she blurted out. “You can’t tell Chase. Nick doesn’t want anyone to know. He will be pissed if he knows I told you.”
It was a problem I was certain was far bigger than the two of us. “Okay, I won’t say anything.”
“I have to think of something,” she whispered.
We both fell silent. I sipped my drink, trying to think of a way I could help her and him. In the background, I heard music. Not just any music. It was a song I remembered from prom ten years ago. I remembered it because every time it came on, I was taken back to the moment Chase and I danced to it. It was a good memory.
Every time one of those good memories popped up, it brought along a series of other memories. Chase and I had enjoyed a good relationship filled with lots of laughter and adventures. We were always doing something together.
I remembered the fair we went to on Halloween. It was supposed to be a way to keep teens from going out and partying. There had been games and rides. I still had the teddy bear Chase won for me that night. It had been fun, better than any kegger in the boonies.
I was smiling when it hit me. My eyes widened. I slapped my hand on the table. “I know! I know what we can do! It will be difficult, and we’ll have to get Chase’s permission, but if we work hard, we can pull it off.”
She was smiling, her eyes filled with excitement. “I knew you would know what to do.”
“Don’t get too excited. There’s no guarantee we can pull this off.”
Chapter 39
Chase
I signed off on a slew of invoices, again refusing to really think about how much money the grand opening cost. It was worth it. I knew in the long run it would pay off.
It was already working to our advantage. The reviews online were glowing, with a few minor complaints that were to be expected. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The event team was taking calls and working up proposals for several large events in the coming year. The money would keep coming in. The invoices weren’t an issue.
I was just about to pull up the calendar the event team was keeping updated when I heard a knock on my door. “Come in,” I called, knowing only a handful of people knew where my office was.
I smiled when Harper walked through the door.
“Hi,” she said with her beautiful smile.
I got to my feet and was about to move around the desk to kiss her when I remembered that wasn’t part of our arrangement. We weren’t actually together. That kind of thing was reserved for a couple. We were just having sex whenever the urge hit.
“What brings you by?” I asked, gesturing to the chair.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.”
I took my seat once again. “What’s up?”
“I have an idea. The resort is doing great, but I was thinking we need to do something that proves to the community you’re not just here to make money.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I am here to make money.”
“Yes, but you’re not going to be one of those businesses that focuses on the money and ignores the beauty of this city.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. “You’re suggesting the resort is an eyesore?”
“Not at all. Let me start over. One of the best ways to foster a good reputation is to start at home. You want people in Vail to tell their friends about the resort. When someone asks a local where the best place to stay is, you want them to give the resort’s name.”
“Okay, true, but what is this idea?”
“I think we need to instill some goodwill within the community. Community relations are important. If you piss off the locals, they will not hesitate to give you bad reviews and blast your name on social media. We live in a world that a few people can make a big difference. Start at home and let the positivity spread out.”
I nodded, still not sure where she was going with all of it. “Okay, and?”
“I was thinking we could do something like a holiday fair for the kids in the area.”
“That’s a great idea but the holiday is coming up pretty fast. Are you suggesting we do this next year?”
She chewed her lower lip. “No, I’m saying this year. One week.”
I laughed. “Sure.”
“I’m serious. We could bust ass and get it done.”
“Harper, that would take a miracle to happen.”
She smiled, shrugging a shoulder. “We’ve seen a miracle once or twice this season already, right?”
“But this is a huge undertaking.”
“I pulled off the Santa thing. You said it was too much.”
“You nearly quit too.”
She shook her head. “I can do this, Chase. I want to do this. Yes, it will be a big expense, and I have no right asking you to pony up another huge amount, but I really think it will be worth it. I think you will be doing something great for the local kids in the community and it will inspire other businesses to do something generous.”
I wanted to tell her no. I knew it was too much. “If it isn’t pulled off, the only other option is a bomb. A bombing at this early stage of the resort could be devastating.”
“I know. I get it. I won’t let it bomb. I promise I will work around the clock to make sure the kids have a blast and your resort earns a few good points. This is also a way for the locals to see grandeur. They would never venture in here without a valid reason, and some of the people in the community can’t afford a visit. But if you let them see what they are missing, they might be inclined to save up for a special night out or something.”
I smiled. “Always marketing.”
“That’s what I do,” she said with a wink. “Do I have your approval?”
“I pray I’m not going to regret this.”
“You won’t.”
“Fine, but please remember you are working with no time.”
She jumped to her feet and came around the desk. She dropped a kiss on my cheek. “I won’t forget. Thank you.”
I grabbed her hand and held it, not letting her pull away. I stared into her eyes, getting lost for a moment. “Let me know what I can do to help.”
“I will. Also, Nick will be helping out. He heard about my idea and offered to help.”
Just like that, my hand released hers. “Nick?” I questioned.
She grinned and walked to the door, stopping before she walked out. “This is going to be awesome. Thank you for being such an amazing boss.”
She walked out and left me with a hundred questions. When did Nick hear about it? I was only just hearing about it. Was this something she’d been cooking up for a while? Why wouldn’t she tell me sooner. Nick? I felt like I was missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Instead of focusing on the Nick element, I let myself have a little fantasy about her. She looked so pretty with those green eyes pleading with mine. I was helpless to resist her. I had a feeling she probably knew that. I didn’t mind giving her anything she wanted. I liked making her smile.
This kiss was sweet, but I was going to collect on something a little bigger later. I just hoped I didn’t shoot myself in the foot by giving her a project that was sure to monopolize her time for the next week. I only had a short time to convince her she wanted to be with me.
I shut down the computer and left my offi
ce to go in search of food. I walked into the lobby, stopping by the pop-up shop that was devoid of customers, which was a rare sight. Cori was carefully stacking little hand towels on top of one another.
“Hey,” I said, grabbing her attention.
She turned and looked at me with a small smile on her face. “Hi.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, knowing my twin very well.
“Nothing.”
“Liar. Come talk to me. I’m going to get a BLT. You can have my fries.”
“I don’t want your fries.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing the game very well. “Fine, you order a salad and then eat my fries.”
“I should finish this.”
“Come on.”
She looked at the young woman that was manning the booth. “I’ll be back.”
We walked into the busy dining room and found a table. After we ordered, I waited for her to tell me what was wrong. “Cori, what’s up? Don’t tell me nothing because I know there is something. You have that look in your eye.”
“What look would that be?”
“Like you are trying to solve all of the world’s problems all by your little self.”
“Not the entire world, just one.”
“Ha, I knew it. What’s the problem? Maybe I can help.”
“It’s not really a problem. I mean, it is, but it isn’t. I saw Nick again and I think I might have feelings for him.”
Not what I wanted to hear. “You think you have feelings for him or you do have feelings for him?”
“I do.”
I groaned. I knew it was likely to happen. The signs were all there. I had tried to get my head around it, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t really have a valid reason not to like it, but I didn’t. “Cori, are you sure?”
“I am. Trust me. It doesn’t make me happy.”
“Then stay away from him.”
“I can’t,” she said with a sigh. “I tried and there’s just something about him.”
“He is always on the move. He’s always looking for the next big thing. He’s a workaholic. You just ended your last relationship because the dude was always working, and you felt neglected.”
