Colm’s lips thinned into a line, but he said nothing as he continued to stare at the iPad like it was the one thing in the world that would ruin him. And it very well might.
“You need remediation, immediately.”
“I-I can’t afford that,” Colm murmured.
“How long have you known it’s been a problem?” Hope jumped in, asking. She put a hand on Colm’s arm, offering the comfort that Angelica would never be comfortable giving.
They did make a good team when it came to this type of interactions. Angelica let her gaze linger on that physical touch before moving back toward focusing on Colm. “We’ll help you with it, by starting with the reception and the kitchen and dining room.”
“What?” Tears spilled down the corners of Colm’s eyes.
Angelica knew she wasn’t supposed to mention on camera that they weren’t going to pay for everything, but she’d have to get around to that part of the conversation eventually. There was always an order to these types of conversations, and she was very adept at finding that order.
“We’ll help you start the process, but there’s no way it’ll be finished by the time we leave at the end of the week. But there’s no way for this hotel to even be in business without remediation and without some renovations.” Angelica uncrossed and crossed her legs, catching Hope’s gaze as it dropped down her body and then back up.
Angelica threw her an amused glimmer before she focused back on Colm.
“But we’re going to need your cooperation, and you need to admit when there are problems.”
“I will. I will.” Colm nodded his head wildly. “I can’t believe…” He sniffled. “I applied for this, but I didn’t think anything would be able to save this place. I just assumed it was doomed and that’s what you were coming here to tell me.”
“Well, it’s going to be quite the effort to get it up to snuff. But I never believe that anything is impossible.” Angelica flicked through her iPad and calmed slightly. “Before we get started on how this process is going to begin, you should know that production is only able to help to an extent. The rest will be on your shoulders to work to find investors and to change your structures and management so that the hotel doesn’t crumble around you.”
“Of course.”
“With that said, let’s get into the details of how this is going to work.” Angelica pulled up another file on her iPad. They spent the next hour going through all of the details, bouncing between her and Hope and Colm.
When Rex called cut, Angelica was ready for the break. That question still lingered in her mind.
Was an open relationship even something she wanted?
Chapter
Nine
Hope finishedthe buttons on her chef’s coat and smoothed her hands down the front of it. It was like a second skin to her, and each time she slipped the material on, she became this person, the chef, the bubbly boss who had a deep passion for food. But outside of it, she was so much more. And sometimes it felt as though she was just discovering exactly who she was as a whole person, not just the different facets of who she was expected to be.
Snagging her phone, she walked into the dining hall and mentally prepared herself for a day of filming around construction crews. She was moving her team to another hotel to practice new recipes in the kitchen there while this one was being torn apart and fixed.
“Morning,” Hope chimed to Cadence as she walked through the room. “Everything set to go?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cadence winked at her. “FloRo has decided she wants to visit our little field trip for a bit too, but I hear she’ll be joining us later.”
“Perfect.” Hope smiled. She didn’t mind Florence. She was a bit to get used to, but that was about it. Rolling her neck andcracking it, Hope took a step toward the kitchen when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She must have forgotten to put it on silent.
Reaching for the phone, she paused.
The text called to her, even though it wasn’t a number she recognized. Tapping it open, her stomach plummeted. On her phone was the video Josef had sent to Angelica all those months ago in Mountain View West, the security cam footage of Hope leaning in and kissing her—their first kiss.
Hope pushed her phone against her chest and looked around. Had anyone else seen what was on her phone? They weren’t looking at her. But they were… staring at their phones.
Hope flipped around to Cadence, who glanced up at her and winced. Holding her breath, Hope waited for some kind of sign. Please tell her it wasn’t happening. Please tell her that she had been the only one to receive the message. Please tell her that everything she and Angelica had worked so damn hard for in the last year wasn’t about to come crashing down in a second.
“Hope…” Cadence’s soft tones told her exactly what she didn’t want to know.
Looking around the room again, she saw everyone was glued to their phones before they looked up at her and then quickly looked away. A lump formed in Hope’s throat, and she wanted to cry. She wanted to vanish in an instant.
What the hell must they all think of her?
