Page 38 of Accidental Getaway

“That’s a great question,” Malcolm starts. “The key selling point of this fine hotel is its location. Look around you. This island is magnificent. The beaches, the architecture, the culture—who wouldn’t want a piece of all of this luxury?”

He raises his hands as if revealing text in the sky before continuing. “Imagine sinking your toes in the golden sand of Santorini, a luxury cabana stocked with Greece’s finest wines?— ”

Everyone in the room turns as we hear chaotic laughter erupt from the computer monitor. “Dog, are you serious right now? I’ve never even set foot at the Omorfiá Hotel and even I know it isn’t on Santorini. You get lost?”

Our actor friend has grabbed his own device and is laughing while spinning around in his chair, making me dizzy the longer I watch the screen.

I glance over at Niko and Ana, who are both trying to hide gleeful, almost-maniacal, smiles. Dimitri is running his hands through his hair. His knight in shining armor is suddenly looking rusty.

Hope blossoms in my chest. This is my chance to show I’m much more prepared than Malcolm.

“If I may, the thing that makes the Omorfiá great isn’t its location on Mykonos.

There are hundreds of resorts on this island, all with the same access to the ocean and flavors of Greece.

” I use air quotes on that last phrase, and Andreas snickers—exactly what I was going for.

“Okay, okay, it was a simple mistake,” Malcolm says, a fake smile plastered across his face. “I’ll own that. But it doesn’t change the fact that we have decades of experience marketing top-end luxury hotels just like yours.”

I step forward, reasserting myself to finish my statement.

“As I was saying, the location isn’t what makes the Omorfiá special.

The Omorfiá bridges the gap between luxury and mid-range hotels.

At the Omorfiá, you can feel a touch of luxury in rooms to die for while still being able to rent a bike to take a picnic lunch from Yia-Yia’s to a remote beach for the afternoon.

The Omorfiá feels like coming home. It feels like family.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, you can enjoy your stay. ”

Dimitri looks like he is contemplating what I’ve said. He leans over to Andreas and whispers something.

“It’s like a premium wine—all the flavor of luxury wine, but more accessible and better-selling,” Dimitri says to the room.

I don’t know much about wine, but I think he understands the point I’m trying to make. “Precisely. You aren’t losing any of the value, but you’re gaining so much more.”

“I like it,” Andreas said with a nod. “Dimitri, our vineyards are exclusive and top-of-the-line. The Omorfiá doesn’t need to be. I think Miss Swanson on to something. We can’t compete with all those waterfront resorts. We need to find our own place in the market.”

Dimitri nods.

“Wait, hold on. You can’t be serious.” Malcolm points a finger at Dimitri. “You brought me here. You said it was as good as done.” Malcolm is starting to lose his composure, his blonde hair slipping out of place. He’s pacing.

Dimitri clears his throat. “It’s business. You know how it goes.”

“I have a question for Mr. Prewitt,” Ana jumps in. “What made you want to work with our small boutique hotel? From your presentation, it’s clear that you typically work with such grand entities.”

“I’m glad someone is still taking this seriously.

I see a ton of potential with this hotel.

I would love to see the Omorfiá expand throughout the Mediterranean, onto other Greek islands, Malta, and even up into Italy.

This property won’t stay small forever. If Niko Psomas is anything like his father, I’m sure the brand will take off, and I want Prewitt Luxury to be right there with it. ”

He gives me a pointed look. That was definitely an attack on my presentation.

“So it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that you knew Jenni was here and wanted to undercut her, yet again?”

Malcolm takes a step back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came here as a favor to Dimitri and my father. And because this is a fantastic opportunity, of course.”

I stand, dumbfounded, but also loving the fact that Malcolm is getting put in the hot seat while not being the one lighting the fire.

“So you didn’t fire her from her job without cause while you were dating, creep on her social media, see she was here, look up the hotel, and then ask Daddy Prewitt if you could come check us out as a client?”

Had Ana listened at the door earlier? Because I’m pretty sure I only told those things to Niko. She is firing on all cylinders. Malcolm is starting to look terrified. His pupils are dilated and his brow is starting to sweat. But like any animal backed into a corner, he intends to go down fighting.

“No, that’s not it at all. If she’s been telling you lies, I wouldn’t be surprised. She lost her job because she was incompetent and argued with clients. I had nothing to do with it. And I’ll say it again: I’m here because I believe in the long-term potential of this property.”

Dimitri stands abruptly, placing his hands on the table in front of him. “I do not appreciate being used as a pawn in your personal matters. I have worked with your father for a long time and, if this is true, he is not going to happy hearing about this little move of yours.”

This is getting ugly. I should intervene. As much as I appreciate what Ana is trying to do, I don’t need to turn this into a court of personal affairs.

“I think we’re all getting a little out of bounds here,” I say. “Can we stay focused on the hotel and what is most important here?”

Dimitri nods at me, reluctantly. Malcolm, on the other hand, isn’t ready to let it go.

“Mr. Psomas, trust me—it’s all lies. That’s what she does. She’s a lying little witch.” His lip twitches and I can tell he’s past the point of calming down. Despite the fact that he just called me a witch, I’m kind of enjoying this. No one, and I mean no one, ever makes Malcolm lose his cool.

“Watch your mouth,” Niko’s voice is stern and steady. “Do not talk about her that way again. I know you used to push her around, but not anymore. Nobody talks to her like that if I have anything to do with it.”

My throat constricts. Is he doing what I think he’s doing? I am not ready to talk about this with everyone in this room. They are all going to know I’m weak.

“What does that mean?” Andreas stands. He’s even more intimidating standing up.

“What does what mean?” Malcolm says.

“That you pushed her around.”

Malcolm rolls his eyes. “What happened between Jenni and I isn’t anyone’s business but ours. She’s clearly been telling Niko lies.”

“Papa, he was just like Callie’s boyfriend.”

Before anyone can respond, Andreas lunges at Malcolm, putting all his weight behind a stiff punch to Malcolm’s jaw.

Malcolm falls to the ground, grabbing his face, while Andreas looms over him.

Dimitri grabs his brother at the same time that Niko jumps around the table to stand as a buffer between his uncle and Malcolm.

All the air whooshes out of my lungs. When I breathe again, however, it feels like a fresh start.

I didn’t realize how much I wanted to see Malcolm finally get his due.

I didn’t know much I needed someone to stand up and defend me.

I’m not weak. There’s nothing wrong with me.

He is the one who is wrong. I don’t condone violence, but seeing Malcolm lying on the ground releases all of the power he has held over me. A weight falls from my shoulder.

“That was for my daughter. She lost her life because of a man like you. ”

But it was also for me, even if Andreas never realizes the gift he’s given me.

Niko puts both of his hands on his uncle’s chest. “Okay, I think he’s got the idea. Why don’t you go take a walk?”

Ana takes her father’s hand and escorts him out of the conference room. I hope they’re able to have a real conversation about Callie and how much they both miss her.

Niko reaches a hand down to Malcolm, but he brushes it off and picks himself up off the ground. “You’re going to be lucky if I don’t press charges. I was just assaulted on your property.”

“Young man, I think you’re going to be lucky if I don’t drop your firm from all Psomas wine brands. You played me, treated my son with disrespect, and I just don’t like you. So I would rethink that threat unless you want to deal with your father.”

Malcolm grunts and dusts off his suit. He gathers his things and heads to the door. “You know what? Good luck and good riddance.”

“Feel free to find a new hotel to stay at tonight,” Niko adds as Malcolm exits the room.

“Can someone tell me what just happened?” A voice rings out from the laptop on the table. “This is the most exciting board meeting I’ve ever attended. I need to start showing up in person.”

Barnaby grabs the laptop. “We’re going to convene this session. We’ll let you know when we reschedule.”

With that, he closes the laptop and heads toward the door, grabbing the other financier on his way. “We’ll let the three of you talk. Niko, you have our support with Aspen Sky Marketing.”

When it’s just Niko, his dad, and I, we all take a seat at the table. Every bit of tension has left my body, leaving me exhausted .

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Psomas,” I say to Dimitri. “I never meant for any of that to get personal. I promise that if you choose to work with my agency, nothing like this will ever happen again.”

“Miss Swanson, you made some really good points in your presentation—things I hadn’t thought about. I don’t like to admit that I’m old or stuck in my ways, but there’s a possibility I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. Aspen Sky is a perfect match for the Omorfiá.”

It takes a second for his words to sink in. When they do, a burning sensation flutters in my chest. I did it. I really did it.

“I appreciate that, sir.”

“And I haven’t seen my son so passionate about anything in a long time. I won’t pretend to have been a very involved parent, but I would have to be an idiot not to see how much he cares about you.”

Niko and I lock eyes. Clearly, we weren’t hiding it as much as we thought we were in that meeting. “Dad, I?—”

“No, no. It’s okay. Have your fun. If the two of you think you can work together even with this budding romance, you have my blessing. Just don’t make me regret it.”

Once he leaves the room, Niko pulls me into an embrace. I lean my head against his chest.

“Are you okay?” He asks, stroking my hair.

“I think so.” I nod and squeeze my arms around his middle. “We did it.”

He kisses my forehead.

“So what’s next?”