“Yes. The busiest season. It’s the perfect time to observe how the hotel operates under pressure.”
Abby said nothing. She was as surprised as the rest of the team by her mother’s unexpected response.
Something still didn’t feel right about this. The offer from the developer was surely too good to refuse. And yet her mother was refusing it.
Miranda was still frantically scribbling.
The finance director was sweating. “I do feel a responsibility to suggest that you at least take a meeting with the developer. Listen to what he has to say, that’s all. You might change your mind.”
Tension rippled around the table and Abby braced herself.
“Change my mind?” Alexandra’s voice was gentle and pleasant. “Are you suggesting that I don’t know my own mind?”
Here we go, Abby thought.
The man coloured deeply, squirming in his seat. “No, but—”
“In the time you have worked for me, have you known me to be indecisive?”
“No.”
Alexandra nodded. “Then I’m sure I don’t need to repeat what I said a few moments ago.” She spoke so softly that everyone had to stay absolutely still in order to hear her. “I will not, under any circumstances, be selling. And becauseI don’t believe in wasting people’s time, I won’t be taking a meeting.”
Abby might have had sympathy for the finance director, but he’d worked for the company for five years. Surely he should know by now that when her mother made a decision she never faltered. Nor did she allow herself to be intimidated by any person or situation. She had nerves of steel.
And she was still talking.
“I want someone I can trust embedded in the hotel. I want them to integrate and work closely with all departments. Become one of the team. I want regular reports, and an informed analysis of what has gone wrong here and recommendations of how to fix it. Once we have a summary of all the options, I will decide next steps.”
Miranda, who had regrouped while Jack was in the spotlight, glanced up from the notes she’d made. “I’ve been thinking about this, and I suggest we send—”
“Abby will go.”
Everyone was visibly shocked, Abby included.
Her mother wanted her to spend the summer at The Alexandra, Cornwall? The whole summer? Why? What was going on? And how would getting to know the staff change anything?
Her mother wasn’t a people person. She wasn’t touchy-feely. She was a numbers woman. Her interest was balance sheets. She focused on profit and loss and ultimately the success of the company. And Abby understood why. Her mother had grown up with no financial security. She’d been a young single mother with no family support. She’d had no choice but to step up and provide for both of them. There was no room for emotion when you were fighting to survive. She made decisions that were right for the business.
So why this sudden urge to dig deeper into why The Alexandra, Cornwall was failing?
Deep down she was as perplexed as the finance director.
Miranda inhaled. “Right. But I think perhaps we should—”
“Abby has worked in every area and all the key departments. She understands our business better than anyone.”
Jack looked panicked. “But I’m the one who knows the hotel. I should do it. Maybe not the whole summer, that’s a big ask, but I could check in weekly—”
“I want someone there for the whole summer. And that someone will be Abby. Abby?”
“Of course.” You didn’t argue with the boss, even when you could feel the resentment wafting across the table like a noxious gas. “I’ll contact the staff and let them know I’m coming.”
“Miranda will do that. You’ll be under-cover.”
“Under-cover?” Abby stared. “You mean—not tell them who I am?”
“If they know who you are, you won’t be able to get a true picture of the situation. They’ll hide things from you, stop conversations when you walk into a room, exclude you.”
