David’s fingers brushed hers. She glanced at him. He gave her hand a quick squeeze—steady, grounding—and then returned his attention to Nick as if nothing had happened.
Except it had.
It mattered.
David didn’t miss a beat. “Personally, I’m thrilled she’s here. Otherwise, I’d still be barricading the desk with chairs and inventing new four-letter acronyms to avoid human interaction.” Laughter rippled. “She’s already prevented six guest complaints and multiple HR violations for advanced profanity.”
More laughter. Despite the adrenaline, Lena smiled.
She leaned toward him, hiding her voice behind her hand. “Thanks,” she whispered. He gave a single wink—back to neutral.
The sales and marketing manager launched into catering numbers no one wanted to hear. Lena tried to focus, but her mind slipped.
The elevator. The pressure in the air. The strange hum beneath her skin.
David had gone utterly still—eyes locked on his tablet, screen dark, fingers unmoving. The intensity of him had frightened her more than the stalled car.
Then—the lights snapped on. The elevator moved. Like someone had rewritten reality.
Her gaze shifted to him now. Calm profile. Tablet glowing faintly. He had done something. She didn’t know how. But she knew.
Lena straightened. She would pay attention. Not to the sabotage, or the guests. To him. Things weren’t adding up.
Chapter 7
Shifting Winds
Lena letherself into the bungalow without knocking, as she always had. The place already felt wrong. Too quiet. Too neat. Emma’s flamingo coffee mug was missing from the counter, and the throw pillows (normally arranged in a way Lena referred to as “abstract chaos”) marched along the back of the sofa, as if preparing to be judged.
She padded down the hallway to the bedroom, where a suitcase sat open on the bed, half-packed with colorful blouses and rolled-up pencil skirts. Emma stood beside it, holding a bright swimsuit in one hand and a travel steamer in the other, clearly debating which deserved precious suitcase space.
“Are you trying to make me cry before dinner?” Lena asked, arms folded, leaning in the doorway.
Emma spun around with a grin. “If I’m going to abandon you, I might as well look fabulous doing it. Which should I pack? The steamer or the suit?”
Lena stepped further into the room, giving the suitcase a mournful glance. “Both. That bathing suit doesn’t take up much space. You’re really going, huh?”
“I am.” Emma’s voice softened, and she dropped both into the suitcase. “Task Force Hiring Manager. World traveler bycorporate jet. Recruiter of all the best people in exotic places. It’s a thing now.”
“I hate it.” Lena sulked.
“I know.” Emma smiled.
Lena sank onto the edge of the bed, brushing her hand over a folded sundress, smoothing non-existent wrinkles. “It’s going to be strange. Being here without you. I mean, we shared shampoo and emotional breakdowns. That’s practically marriage.”
Emma let out a laugh and tossed a pair of sandals into the suitcase. “You’ll be fine. You’re the Interim Front Office Queen now. The staff already listens to you more than Pablo.”
“Pablo is too busy trying to make ‘resort chic’ a leadership style.” Lena sighed. “I’m not sure being in charge makes me feel any less like I’m faking it.”
Emma crouched in front of her, resting her hands on Lena’s knees. “Listen to me. You’re not faking anything. You kept this place running through a blackout, an elevator breakdown, and a resort full of guests acting like the End of Days was upon us. That takes guts, brains, and a borderline supernatural tolerance for entitled people. Oh, and that was only the past week.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“I’m mostly fueled by espresso and spite,” Lena murmured, but a smile tugged at her mouth.
“And you look damn good doing it.” Emma dropped a zippered pouch into her carry-on. “This job is going to stretch you in ways you don’t see coming. But I have no doubt—you’ll rise to every single one of them.”
Lena swallowed, her voice quieter now as guilt flooded her veins. “I kind of thought you’d always be here. I know that’s selfish. I, more than anyone, know how much you deserve this promotion.”
“Not selfish. Sweet,” Emma said. “But hey—I’ll be back. This will stay my home base when I’m not traveling. And I’ll answer your calls from wherever I am.”
