“Your father was in over his head, which caused him to make a string of bad decisions.”
“You mean like Thana?” She rolls her eyes.
“I’m not going to comment on that.” That marriage was a fucking bad decision on Niels part.
“Did Daddy tell you about her lover?”
I nod. “He did, but I always do my due diligence.”
Michaela lets out a sarcastic laugh. “At least now I understand why Thana was praising the virtues of holding onto my virginity,” she says. “I never trusted her. And I was right. She’s nothing but a con artist, a thief, and a pimp. How dare she give me life advice?”
It’s a given I’d hire a team of investigators. I didn’t want to leave any stones unturned. Along with a thorough background check on Niels and Thana, I also did one on her lover. I wanted to understand the implications of the upcoming FBI investigation.
Thana’s lover, Dean Plimsoll, owns a sleazy virgin auction site. The asshole sells women’s virginity to the highest bidder. From my understanding, he’s on the FBI’s watchlist for facilitating sex with minors. Even though his website claims all the girls he represents are at least eighteen and willing participants, that might not be the case.
Michaela’s stepmother was using personal data from guests to flag prospective girls. She’d then feed the information to her lover for a cut of the profits. As if that wasn’t enough, Dean was meeting many of his bidders at the Villiers Grand. I hope the two lowlifes get what they deserve.
“Do you think the investigation is going to tarnish the hotel’s reputation?” Michaela plays with her napkin.
I consider her for a beat.
I’m normally a straight shooter, but she’s had a deluge poured on her today. Still, lying to her won’t change the facts.
“Yes, I do. I have a stellar PR team, but they’re not miracle workers. Given the situation, there’s only so much we can do. Rebranding is the only way to go.”
“We’d lose the Villiers family name?” Her tone is sheer panic.
“Yes.”
“Oh God,” she says. “We’ve lost everything. Mom must be turning in her grave.”
The woman sitting across from me is nothing like the spitfire that torpedoed into my office.
I reach across the table and place a hand on top of hers. “No, you haven’t. I know the name means a lot to you?—”
“It meanseverything.”
I nod. “You either want to save your legacy or you don’t.”
Her lips twist.
I soften my tone. “The building is still standing, the façade is classified as heritage architecture, and the hotel is located in a prime area of Manhattan. We still have a lot to play with.”
“What’s in it for you. Why are you sinking two hundred million dollars into a hotel with a shaky reputation and bleak finances? There must be thousands of other investments for you to choose from. And, how do I fit into your illogical plan?”
I knew the question was coming.
I remove my hand from hers and bore my eyes into hers. “You mean, why did I accept your father’s far-fetched request of a merger-marriage?”
“Yes. I don’t understand. You can have any woman you want.” She frowns. “Why me? I don’t have anything to bring to the table.”
“You have a lot more than you think, Michaela.”
The line between her eyebrows deepens as her gaze darts between me and the napkin she’s torturing. “Please explain, because I don’t get it.”
I hide nothing. I’m honest and transparent about my need for a fake-wife to secure the CEO position.
She listens, her expression unreadable.
