Page 37 of Accidental Getaway

I stare at Malcolm as his shock fades into a smirk.

Meanwhile, my mouth is ajar and I’m still frozen in place.

He knows me well enough that I’m sure he can see the uncertainty written on my face.

He thinks it means he is still in control.

His words ring in my head. “ I think it’s time for you to leave. ”

But I try to remember what Piper said. I am the only person who can stand in my way.

I can’t give up now. I can’t let Malcolm control or define my life anymore.

I have to keep going, even if he’s going to stand here the entire time.

I have to live my life without worrying about his approval or disapproval.

I muster all the strength I can and take a step forward and address the table. “I’m so sorry I’m late. There was a miscommunication, but I believe I have the first slot on the agenda, and I would love to tell you all about what makes Aspen Sky Marketing perfect for this hotel.”

My stomach clenches as I wait for an answer.

Dimitri looks at the man sitting next to him, who looks like he could be a professional wrestler.

Other than the stark difference in body composition, both men share Niko’s eyes, which leaves me to assume he must be Nikos’s uncle, Andreas.

Then the man on his other side catches my eye.

Barnaby! What are the chances? He winks at me and then gives Dimitri an encouraging nod.

Dimitri faces me. “You are quite late, Miss …”

“Swanson. Jenni Swanson.” I silently beg the room to allow me to speak. I might lose my nerve if I have to wait and go after Malcolm. “Again, I’m terribly sorry. I would never waste your time. I will be very direct and quick with my presentation to make up for?—”

“I’ve already set up my presentation. This is highly unprofessional.”

Niko steps forward to join me. The stare he gives Malcolm is chilling. “She was talking. Don’t interrupt her again.”

Niko puts a hand in the center of my back. It’s a private show of reassurance even while he’s going to bat for me out loud.

“Niko, I’m sure it was an honest mistake,” Dimitri says.

“I don’t think so, Dad. Women are interrupted thirty-three percent more often than men in corporate meetings. That’s not okay.”

My heart flutters as Niko defends me.

Dimitri glances back and forth between the two younger men, his eyebrows knit together. Niko and Malcolm are locked in a standstill. The air in the room thickens with tension.

“Okay,” Malcolm finally answers, rolling his eyes and throwing his hands up in the air. “I apologize for interrupting. When you didn’t show up and Niko disappeared, I offered to go ahead with my pitch. And I would appreciate the professional courtesy to continue.”

“Oh yeah? Like you gave her the professional courtesy of?—”

“Stop.” I set my hand on Niko’s arm to calm him, even as my own pulse is racing.

I don’t need him to cause a scene on my behalf.

Not yet anyway. I want the chance to give my presentation, whether it’s before or after Malcolm.

I need to prove to myself I can do it even if more than half the people in the room don’t believe in me.

“It’s okay. I can wait.” Turning to Malcolm I say, “I’m sorry, Mr. Prewitt. You’re absolutely right. Go ahead.”

Niko, Ana, and I take seats at the table and watch as Malcolm, clearly flustered, attempts to regain his composure.

“As I was saying, I represent a luxury brand marketing firm out of Chicago. Prewitt Luxury has worked with some of the largest hotel and hospitality brands in the world, including the world’s leading five-star hotel, and of course, Psomas wine brands and vineyards. ”

Niko leans over to whisper, “What is your plan?”

“I believe in my message. I don’t want the board to pick me just because of who Malcolm is. I want them to pick me because of what Aspen Sky has to offer.”

Malcolm continues with his presentation, focusing on massive campaigns, primetime television ads, and full-spread magazine features—all the things they excel at.

There’s one thing he’s forgetting to keep in mind, though.

He is treating the Omorfiá like it’s the JW Marriott and his presentation is full of stock photos of people in ball gowns and luxury cars.

He clearly hasn’t done a single ounce of research on the hotel or their target demographic.

It’s honestly laughable, at least where Niko is concerned.

I don’t know whether his dad recognizes this or not.

Maybe he wants the Omorfiá to cater to such high-end clientele.

I lean over toward Ana. “You never told me your dad was Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.”

“Hardly,” she whispers back. “Don’t let him hear you say that, or it will go straight to his head.”

Malcolm flips the slide and yet another diamond-studded model in a sleek hotel lobby fills the screen .

Niko whispers in my ear. “If he says the word ‘upscale’ one more time, I’m going to throw an apricot at him.”

I snort. And then have to pretend to be stifling a sneeze when Andreas glances over at us.

“And that is why I think you’ll be amazed by what Prewitt Luxury can do for your upscale hotel.”

I bump Niko with my knee in silent warning not to actually chuck a small fruit across the room.

“Thank you, Mr. Prewitt,” Dimitri says when it’s clear Malcolm has finished.

“Since we are in the unique situation of having both parties here at the same time, why don’t we have Miss Swanson give her presentation and save all questions for the end when we have a better grasp on both agencies?”

The men around the table nod in agreement and Dimitri gestures for me to take the floor.

Niko squeezes my thigh under the table. My chest feels tight with nerves, but his touch gives me the strength I need to stand.

“Thank you,” I say, and plug my laptop into the presentation screen.

“My name is Jenni Swanson, and I represent Aspen Sky Marketing. We are a small, female-owned agency specializing in marketing independent hotels and resorts around the world. We think every property is unique and needs a tailor-made marketing plan to reflect that.”

I pull up the first slide of my presentation. A chart plotting the ROI of all the campaigns we ran in the first quarter of the year. Once I’m talking, the tightness in my chest starts to ease. I’m confident in my proposal.

“As you can see, we work with properties that do under ten million in revenue each year, not twenty-five billion like most worldwide luxury brands.

Clientele in this bracket need different strategies and tools than the major industry leaders.

As an agency, we have made it our goal to identify the best ways to be successful in this bracket.

“Let me show you a ranch in Durango, Colorado. The property has twenty cabins and a total of eighty beds. The site includes a working horse stable, blacksmith workshops, and a community garden open to the public. Last year, we ran a digital ad campaign targeting couples in their thirties whose online activity suggests an interest in homesteading, western romance novels, and traveling with friends. In addition, we created a featured guest campaign, where we produced high-quality videos interviewing real guests about their stay. We used those videos on social media and as ads on video-sharing platforms.”

“Hey, I think I’ve been there. I filmed a movie somewhere in that area once.”

We all look around the room, confused.

“It’s me, over here on the computer.” I forgot about the actor cousin on video.

“Oh, hi! Then you know how unique it is.”

“Yep, it’s dope. Sorry for the interruption.”

I make eye contact with Niko, who is covering his mouth. No doubt because he’s trying not to laugh. Ana sits with rapt attention on me, and the rest of the men in the room shift in their seats, waiting for me to continue.

“The ranch saw an eighteen percent increase in winter bookings and a record twelve percent year-over-year increase this past spring, which was already their second-busiest season. We have seen similar success with a dozen properties in the same revenue range.”

I flip to the next slide and a photo of the Omorfiá fills the screen.

“After spending time here, I have seen that the Omorfiá Hotel is unique in its emphasis on lifting the community in which it sits. If I was running your marketing, I would emphasize the opportunity for guests to purchase local art in the on-site gallery, the chance to eat produce grown on the rooftop, and the walkability to all of Mykonos’s best spots.

Today’s travelers are eco-conscious and self-aware, and will jump at the opportunity to support businesses that share their values. ”

I flip through sample campaigns and comparative clients, showcasing how well we work in this sector of the market.

“But most of all, what makes Aspen Sky different from larger firms is that we know how to get the most out of a tighter budget. TV commercials and fancy magazine spreads might create brand awareness, but they cost a lot of money for unrealized sales. By targeting specific audiences, we can get the most return out of a smaller budget and reach the people who are ready to book their next Greek getaway.”

Niko smiles and I know I’ve nailed it. Not even Dimitri can argue with that logic.

When I’m done, Malcolm stands to join me. One of the financiers asks Malcolm a question about the cost of his flashy campaigns. He answers with the same charisma and finesse he’s always had, without ever really answering the question.

“Mr. Prewitt, what do you see as the key selling point of the Omorfiá?” Barnaby asks, giving me a knowing glance. Dimitri leans forward in his chair, his gaze fixed on Malcolm.

With this back and forth, I start to feel a bit shaky. Presenting prepared material is one thing, but answering direct questions with Malcolm standing next to me is another.