Page 79 of The Chalet Girl

Vivian went pale. Anastasia frowned. Lysander looked thoughtful.

‘What I’ve learned from three generations in this industry, is that hospitality always needs a figurehead. Conrad, Rocco, Bernie, Bill…’

Anastasia rolled her eyes.All men,she thought.

‘The Steinherr portfolio needs a figurehead.’

Vivian listened intently. Dimitri gently nodded.

‘And I think it’s fair to say that neither of you have enjoyed running the Anna Maria together.’

A shocked and petulant expression danced across Anastasia’s face; Vivian raised her hand while she spoke.

‘Daddy it’s not that I haven’t enjoyed running the Anna Maria, I love it!’

Walter raised his palm to stop her.

‘I need to put a sole heir in place, ready to run everything if– when– I die.’

Anastasia looked at her brother next to her, arms folded but relaxed, and the penny dropped.

‘What?’ she gasped, looking between Lysander and their father.

‘He knowsnothingabout this business!’ she scolded. ‘He turned his back on being a hotelier when he went to New York to defend American sleazebags!’

Lysander shook his head and stayed calm.

‘Wrong tree, Anni,’ he mumbled quietly.

Dimitri squeezed the bridge of his nose.

‘No, I’m going to put Vivian in charge as the Steinherr figurehead, to represent the family.’

Anastasia stood abruptly as she gasped.

‘WHAT?!’

She stormed over to their father’s desk and leaned one hand on the plush leather writing surface. She pointed her other hand at her sister.

‘Why her?’ she spat.

Vivian flushed a shade of flattered.

‘Daddy!’ she said wide-eyed, as pleasantly shocked as her sister was wildly so.

Lysander kept his arms folded and looked at his shoes.

‘But what about me?’ Anastasia’s angry voice wobbled. Walter looked at his eldest daughter, equal parts vicious and beautiful, and his smile grew.

‘My wealth will be left toallof you Anni. Even Caspian. But Vivian will become director of the Steinherr hotel group. You can take your pick of which hotel you want to manage.’

Anastasia shook her head, as if co-managing the Anna Maria with her dreary sister had been enough to put her off running a hotel at all.

‘I don’t want to manage a goddamn hotel!’ she snapped, as if she was going to burst into tears any second. ‘I just wanted–’

‘No!’ Walter bellowed, cutting her off again, which only added to Anastasia’s frustration and fury.

‘You have children Anastasia, Vivian doesn’t…’