Page 11 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“ T hese numbers aren’t accurate.”

“I pulled them from the booking system?—”

“Which does not include the contract with GrayStone that Mr. Wolf’s assistant confirmed an hour ago,” Belinda says crisply. “Please send updated figures to everyone in this room immediately.”

Minnie’s head bobs in obedience.

There’s a long pause, and then Belinda’s eyebrows arch. “Immediately means now, so that this meeting isn’t a waste of time.”

“Oh. Right. Okay. Give me five minutes!” Minnie dashes out, her tablet pressed to her chest.

Poor girl. I can’t imagine what being Belinda’s assistant is like. It might be worse than working under Henry. Every time I’ve seen Miles, he’s either running or bugging out on caffeine.

“Will one contract make that much of a difference for our purposes today?” Lena asks, voicing a question on the tip of my tongue .

Belinda’s heels click at a leisurely rhythm as she rounds the desk.

“That one contract is an eight-figure commitment from a major company. It is one of the largest ever booked with Wolf Hotels, that Henry himself wrangled, and it will all but cement Mermaid Beach’s record-breaking first year results, which is Henry’s stretch goal.

So, yes, I’d like you to see this contract and understand what is expected of you. ”

Lena and I share a high-browed glance as Belinda does her lap, her short skirt hugging her curves.

Meanwhile, a brunette I haven’t met yet sits across from us, her oversized rectangular-frame glasses magnifying large eyes on a small face. She hasn’t uttered a single word, and Belinda hasn’t introduced her, but that hasn’t stopped the woman from staring at me like an owl sitting on a branch.

Not many people can make me uncomfortable. This one? I’m resisting the urge to squirm.

“As one of you is well aware, and one of you is painfully oblivious about”—Belinda cuts a glance at me—“in addition to your roles running departments at this hotel, you are expected to network and sell Mermaid Beach as a prime location for multiday large-scale events. These events are critical to our success. The meeting room bookings and catering tabs that come with events are substantial, as you can see.” She gestures at our open tablets in front of us.

I scan the file that lists our various rates and whistle. “Twenty-five grand for a coffee station? Jesus, what are we serving? Do animals shit out these beans?” I watched a documentary on kopi luwak. No, thank you .

Owl Girl’s jaw drops.

“Eloquent as always, Ronan,” Belinda murmurs.

“Beverage stations are just the tip of the iceberg. The more we bill, the more profit we make, and Henry has set steep targets for us. Some say too steep,” she adds under her breath, and I hazard that some is her.

“But regardless, we are expected to aim for it. All this is to say that the Events department is an invaluable partner for us, which is why Eleanor here”—she gestures to the stranger in the room—“reports both directly to me as well as into head office. She is our boots on the ground to ensure every event operates without a hitch. She has her own team of coordinators. Eleanor, you know Lena. This is Ronan.”

Right, Eleanor from Events. I remember seeing that name in the org charts now, as well as a few emails about the first golf tournament. I smile at her.

She averts her soul-searing gaze.

“Eleanor and her team have been working very closely with me for the media open, but they are neck-deep in planning events. Expect to receive weekly updates and regular meeting requests from her going forward.”

Can’t wait.

“Now, before Eleanor begins highlighting our upcoming events, I want to talk about the President’s Club.

Again, this is more for you, Ronan.” She strolls by, enjoying every moment of my ignorance and her ability to remind me of it in front of others.

“Each year, total profit dollars earned from contracts are tallied, and the general manager with the highest numbers wins.” Her hands curl around the headrest of a leather chair as she turns to face us. “I expect to win.”

“And what do you win?” I ask.

“Cash bonuses, jewelry, an exotic trip. One time was a two-week stay in Bali and this.” She taps the face of her diamond-encrusted watch. “Another time, it was a luxury cruise.”

It’s clear Belinda is a frequent flyer of this President’s Club. Not surprising, given how much Henry relies on her. “So, let me get this straight. Lena and I bust our asses to sign these contracts, and you reap the rewards?”

“What can I say, perks of being the general manager.” Belinda studies her nails. “Directors are also suitably rewarded.”

“With what?”

“Hotel vouchers and bonuses.” She shrugs. “That sort of thing.”

I was already in a bad mood coming into this meeting, but now I’m annoyed.

No one told me I’d have to be a salesman to line Henry’s gold pockets.

“Well, it sounds like this GrayStone contract has guaranteed your club seat.” I lean back in my chair, making a point of stretching out my thighs.

“I’d prefer the cash bonus, thanks. How about you, Lena? ”

“Always a fan of cash.” She’s enjoying watching me hang myself with our boss.

Belinda sneers at my leisurely position. “These meetings you have lined up over the next few days? All this prep work you’ve been doing to ingratiate yourself with our special guests? I expect results.”

“Kissing ass is not one of my strong suits, if you haven’t noticed yet.” Now I’m just poking the bear. But, fuck it, Henry’s going to fire me anyway once I walk into dinner with Sloane tonight.

Our tablets chirp with an incoming email from Mindy.

Belinda stares at me for a lengthy moment before peeling away. “You may begin, Eleanor.”

At the sound of her name, the owlish events manager begins rhyming off events and projections like a programmed computer.

All the while, Belinda’s eyes bore into me.

“Stay back a moment, please, Ronan,” Belinda beckons in a clipped tone.

I sink back into my chair as the ladies leave. I should have known I wouldn’t get away that easily after being a dick.

Belinda saunters over to shut the door behind them. “Okay, what the fuck has gotten into you today?”

It’s more about what I’ve gotten into. Or who I’ve gotten into.

“I had a shitty sleep,” I say instead. “I was up early.”

“Yes, I heard you dragged our pro out on the course.”

I sigh. “Okay, give me whatever lecture you’re dying to give.”

“Who says I’m going to lecture you?”

“Because I recognize that tone, I’ve heard it so many times before. You want to make me feel like a complete idiot, so go ahead. Let’s have it. ”

Instead of retaking her chair, she settles onto the boardroom table, her ankle brushing my knee as she crosses her legs. That skirt of hers is climbing dangerously high. This undoubtedly breaks an HR rule or five.

Then again, we broke all those rules and then some in Wolf Cove two years ago.

“I haven’t spent hours training you only for you to fall apart during one of the most important weeks of the year,” she says calmly.

“You haven’t trained me to be a fucking salesperson.”

“Is that why you’re in such a little snit?” She studies my face. “You have exceeded my expectations up until now. The sky is the limit for you at Wolf if you apply yourself.”

“You mean, if I earn you diamonds and vacations.”

“And cash bonuses, don’t forget those,” she quips, sliding her glasses off to set them on the table beside her. It’s a rare sight when she doesn’t wear those.

Guilt tickles my conscience. I’m giving her a hard time, and there’s no good reason. With a sigh, I point at my tablet, abandoned on the table. “Do I have to memorize all those price lists and shit before tomorrow too?”

She laughs. “No. That’s nitty-gritty stuff. That’s for Eleanor and her team to iron out. We focus on impressing upon these people the benefits of hosting their events at Wolf Hotels. You are selling a partnership. A relationship.”

“And these meetings I have over the next few days are all with women because you expect me to do what as part of selling this relationship?”

“I know what you’re insinuating, and don’t be silly. That is definitely not part of your job description.” She rolls her eyes. “You’re meeting with Olivia McEowan from Black Titan.”

“Oil and gas.”

“Yes. She has been a white whale for Wolf Hotels. When her father was alive, the company’s corporate events were held at Wolf.

Since she’s taken over, she’s axed the budgets by more than half.

Wolf hasn’t hosted them at any of our locations in nine years.

We used to make almost as much with them as we’ve secured with GrayStone. ”

I whistle. “That must hurt.”

“It does. Convince her to choose us again.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Be yourself. But with your pants on.”

I arch an eyebrow.

“Come on. If you can convince Jacob Farnsworth to suck Will Darling’s dick, you can do anything you set your mind to.”

The reference to that night in Alaska is so unexpected I burst out laughing. “Hey, I didn’t convince anyone to do anything. And that match-up was Connor’s idea.”

“Funny, I recall your little fuck club being a joint effort,” she counters smoothly.

I shrug. Everyone who stepped into the pitch-black cabin knew there was a chance they could be partnered with a member of the same team.

No one forced them. Obviously, they had questions, and our twisted little game was a safe way to get their answers.

“For what it’s worth, Farnsworth discovered something important about himself that night.

Last I heard, he was living with a guy in New York.

” Which is a far cry from his days growing up Mormon in Utah.

“I’m not surprised. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely that night, from the eyeful I caught.”

I chuckle. What a night for the security team and Belinda to bust up our after-hours entertainment.

“I have to say, this is a far better version of you than the one in the meeting.”