“If you don’t stop, I’m going to suggest to Esme that you guys should dress up as Elizabeth and Darcy for Fantasy Fest.”
That sobered him right up.
“Don’t do that. I only just talked her out of making me dress up as King Arthur.”
The two grinned at one another. They had been friends for years now. Carlos had been a bell hop at the first hotel she’d ever worked at, and they’d supported one another ever since.
His wife rounded out their trio. It had been Esme who’d suggested Key West as a location for one of their hotels years ago, and Billy had fallen in love with the place on their first scouting mission.
“So, what are you thinking? About Miss Wakefield.”
She shrugged. “I think it’s ironic that the board is pushing her on me…given they accuse me of only being where I am thanks to nepotism.”
“And especially given the bubba culture here. The irony is beautiful.”
“Isn’t it?” Sarah rubbed her temples. “I love this town.”
“You actually do love this town. Just not the politics.”
“That’s true.” She adored Key West. Mostly because Billy had adored it, but she hated the culture. If you weren’t a native, a so called ‘conch’, you were never truly part of things. You were eyed with suspicion. And she was not only not a conch, but she was also a woman who had been married to a much older man who’d helped her achieve her position.
Never mind the fact that she’d helped him build his empire.
Carlos laughed. “For what it’s worth, I can’t really complain about nepotism. I only got maintenance supervisor because you hired me.”
“You got maintenance supervisor because you’re good at your job. You ran the maintenance department in Aspen for years before we came here.”
“I’m also your best friend.”
She sighed. “Fine. Yes. I hired you because I trust you and I needed at least one person here who wasn’t reporting my every move back to the board. Happy?”
“Ecstatic.” He stretched his legs out. “How’s everything going with the court stuff?”
The question made her shoulders tense. “Slower than molasses. Jonathan’s lawyers are creative, I’ll give them that.”
“Still claiming you manipulated Billy?”
“Still claiming I seduced and manipulated a vulnerable elderly man into cutting out his beloved son and setting up a trust that gives me control of his entire empire. Never mind that fact that Billy was fifty-three when we met and had just competed in the Iron Man.”
“His case is weak though, right?”
“Yes, but until it’s thrown out of court, I’m spinning. I can’t take control of the estate. It’s lucky I was GM of this property before Billy died and it’s separate from the trust. Although I know the board would love nothing more than to kick me to the curb and replace me with Derek.”
Derek Mitchell, the assistant GM and head of the Timeshare Department had been a thorn in her side before Billy’s death and especially now. But he was a local, unlike her, and had many friends on the board. Peter Lassiter especially. If it wasn’t for the board president, Stavros Andreou, she’d have a much harder time with the board, and they might have already found a way out. Stavros, however, had been one of Billy’s close friends and had always been on her side.
Carlos frowned. “They can’t just remove you.”
“They can make my life miserable though. You know they’re all salivating and hoping Jonathan turns this around and takes over.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“No, it’s not.” She stood and walked to the window. Down below, a charter bus was pulling up to the front entrance. The doors opened and college students poured out, loud and excited, already in vacation mode. Spring break was starting early for some schools.
Carlos stood. “I should get back. Pipe issue in building C. Just wanted to check in.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
After he left, Sarah caught her reflection in the glass. Beige suit, floral blouse underneath, blonde hair pulled back in what the Carlson’s brand consultant had called an “elegant yet approachable” ponytail. She looked cheerful. Beachy. Welcoming.
