“Best spring break story ever.”
“Nobody’s going to believe us.”
A girl from Boston held up her phone. “I’m posting everything. #TropicalStormOnCarlsonIsland is already trending.”
Sarah pulled out her own phone and checked social media. The posts were indeed already exploding. #MansionParty. #SurpriseStorm. #BestSpringBreakEver.
Photos of the indoor spa setup. Videos of people playing giant Jenga. Selfies in front of boarded windows. Everyone tagging the Carlson Seaside. Talking about how the staff had handled the emergency. How they’d turned a disaster into an adventure.
Carlos looked over her shoulder. “That’s actually good publicity.”
The ferry ride back was calm. Smooth water, clear skies. Like the storm had never happened. Key West appeared in the distance.
They docked at the main pier. Spring breakers rushed to the vans waiting to take them back to the hotel. Sarah followed with the staff, Lizzie at her side. It was hard not to hold her hand, to hug or kiss her, but she knew she couldn’t. Not yet.
At the Carlson, everything looked normal. The pool was closed, but that was normal after a storm. Debris didn’t make for the best swimming companions. Still, there were people poolside, reading, drinking, relaxing. Good. The building also appeared no worse for wear. She’d already had a lengthy text exchange with Stavros and told him everything that had happened.
She couldn’t tell from his replies if he was upset with her or not. Or if he knew that she’d been right all along. He was going to stop by, he’d said. Something that made her feel a little sick to her stomach.
The contracts in place meant she could not easily be dismissed from her position, but if she caused damage to the resort’s reputation, they could suspend her and start an investigation.
Would they try to use this? Had the others turned Stavros against her?
Sarah went straight to her office and started making calls to Esmeralda and the other heads of departments. The only one she could not reach was Derek. Typical.
A knock on her door interrupted her fourth phone call. She looked up to see Stavros Andreou standing in the doorway.
Her stomach dropped. Here it comes. The lecture about the damage. The reprimand.
“Sarah. Do you have a moment?”
She gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Of course.”
Stavros sat down and was quiet for a moment. He looked tired. Older than usual.
“I owe you an apology.”
Sarah blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“You came to me with concerns about the storm system. You recommended postponing the island festival until the weather cleared.” He met her eyes. “I dismissed you. Told youwe couldn’t cancel based on a weather prediction that might not materialize.”
“The board voted—”
“The board was wrong. I was wrong.” Stavros leaned forward. “You were right to be concerned. We got lucky, Sarah. Very lucky. That storm could have been much worse. People could have been hurt. We are getting complaints from upset parents but…”
“There will be some, but we turned it around,” she said defensively.
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ve seen the videos on social media. The overwhelming response has been good. We like that. Any complains, I’ll deal with myself. This will not fall on your shoulders.”
Sarah didn’t know what to say. She’d spent the entire night and morning preparing for this fight.
“I’ve already spoken to Peter and Derek,” Stavros continued. “I told them that you handled the emergency perfectly. That your quick thinking saved what could have been a disaster. The mansion, the indoor activities, everything. You did exactly what needed to be done.”
“The damage on the island—”
“Is covered by insurance. Not the house, that’s private property. But the rest of the place. And minimal compared to what it could have been, going by what Carlos told me before I came up here.”
He walked to the door, then paused. “For what it’s worth, I think Billy would be proud of how you handled last night. I know I am.”
