Page 14 of No Holds Barred

She really had to stop that.

Melissa sighed heavily and dragged her fingers through her dark hair, which had random strands of gray splattered throughout it. “Ali was my realtor for the deal.”

“Oh.” Angelica was surprised by that. She didn’t remember seeing it anywhere in the files she’d combed through to prepare for this episode. Then again, that was probably years ago and they might not have thought it was pertinent information. “So you were renovating the hotel, thought it’d be a good idea to buy it. Did you have any experience in management before?”

Melissa shook her head. “No. But Ali did.”

“It’s how we met,” Ali said, her voice wavering nervously.

Angelica nodded at her. “What all have you two done to the hotel over the years?”

That was the right question to ask. Melissa launched into details about how she’d renovated the rooms and the main reception area several times over the last twenty years that she’d owned the hotel. She’d added in the restaurant five years ago, but it had never made a profit. Ali was relatively quiet except for a few comments about comparable hotels in the area and her ideas on making the place better.

“Why don’t you show us both around, and then we can figure out a plan of action? All right?” Angelica shifted, planting both her feet onto the floor as if she was going to stand up. Hope eyed her curiously. “Ali, you can show Chef Lawrence the kitchens while Melissa and I go through the main part of the hotel.” She had a feeling that pairing off would be better. It’d get the work done faster, that was for sure, but it would also perhaps make Ali stop drooling and be able to focus. If not, then they could rejoin later and reshoot that.

As everyone was leaving the room, Hope crossed her arms and eyed Angelica.

“I’m not sure splitting up is a good idea,” Hope said, locking her gaze on Angelica.

“Why’s that?” Angelica held her iPad to her side, ready to stand her ground on her decisions.

“Because where’s the tension between us if we’re not in the same room?”

Angelica sighed, pressing her lips into a thin line. She looked around to see if anyone was watching them before she stepped in slightly closer and lowered her voice. “Tension can be manufactured, Hope. You know that as well as I do. And adding in miscommunication because you have conversations with Ali and I have conversations with Melissa that neither one of us know about will only add to the conflict. Don’t you think?”

Hope’s lips parted, her gaze dropping down to Angelica’s mouth before she flicked her eyes back up. “Fine.”

“Good.” Angelica’s voice was sharp and to the point. She walked out of the small office and met up with Melissa near the reception desk. She looked to Rex and nodded at him. “Are we ready?”

“Whenever you are,” he answered. “Cadence is just waiting on Hope.”

Angelica hummed, and then turned to Melissa. It was time to focus on work and nothing else.

Chapter

Six

“Holy crap,” Hope mumbled under her breath.

She really should have checked out the restaurant last night when she’d arrived, but it’d been so late and she’d wanted to make sure that Eva had gotten to sleep on time. There was so much that was new, that she hadn’t wanted to upset the routine they’d planned out for her.

But this… this might just take the cake.

The smell emanating from the kitchen reached the dining room. In fact, it reached the hallway that attached the hotel to the restaurant in the most unplanned way. These were clearly two buildings that had been smooshed together by time and space. Hope clenched her jaw and tried to hold her breath, but she wouldn’t be able to get any work done if she passed out.

“What’s that stench?” Cadence asked, pressing the back of her hand to her nose.

“Rotten food,” Hope answered, not looking at Cadence.

“Rotten—what?” Cadence waved to Justin to keep up with them as Hope stepped deeper into the kitchen.

There was no doubt in Hope’s mind that it was rotten food, and that it had been sitting around for a very long time. That, or there was an overwhelming abundance of it. The kitchenwas empty, thankfully, because Hope didn’t want anyone to see just how sick she felt. Except maybe the viewers of their show. She started with the prep tables, checking the food there, but it all seemed okay. Though nothing was dated, so it’d have to go anyway.

When she opened the fridge, Hope had to immediately shut it. Her stomach churned so hard that she nearly puked. She doubled over and put her hands on her knees, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. It took all of twenty more seconds for the blast of scent to reach Cadence and Justin, who also started gagging.

“What is that?” Cadence asked again.

“Rotten food,” Hope repeated. “I suggest you either hold your breath or step back, but I need to go in there.”