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I step closer to him. “That isn’t fair. You don’t know him.”

Grandma turns to me. “And you do?”

I look at Eric. Something in my expression must give us away because Grandma’s anger fades into confusion. Her gaze moves between us.

I take his hand, and his fingers close around mine at once. “Eric and I are together. I was going to tell you tonight.”

Grandma stares at our joined hands. Her grip on her handbag loosens, and she takes a small step back. When she looks at me again, the anger is gone. She looks hurt, as if standing beside Eric means I’ve stopped standing beside her.

For several seconds, she says nothing.

“But the Hartwell?” Her voice is so quiet I almost don’t hear it.

“I would never⁠—”

She turns before I can finish and walks toward the elevators. I release Eric’s hand and start after her, but Chloe catches my arm.

“She won’t hear you while she’s this upset. Let me take her home. I’ll call you once she’s settled.”

Chloe’s right. Grandma has always needed time after something hurts her. If I follow her now, every explanation will sound like an excuse. I nod and step back.

Chloe reaches the elevator before the doors close and steps inside beside Grandma. Grandma doesn’t look back. The doors slide shut, leaving me in the corridor with Eric, Mia, and the members of my staff.

No one seems to know where to look.

Mia recovers first. “We should get back to the hotel.”

“Yes.” I make myself meet her eyes. “I’ll speak to everyone when I return.”

She gives me a small nod. “Okay.”

Mia leads the others toward the next elevator. They pass Eric without looking at him.

Eric reaches for me, but I press both hands to his chest before his arms can close around me.

“I thought you were going to lose.” The words come out sharper than I mean them to.

His hands drop to his sides. “What?”

“Rhonda has a contact at City Hall. She was told four council members planned to vote against the hotel. I believed her.”

Understanding slowly crosses his face. “That's why you've been so calm about this."

I cover my face with both hands. Until a few minutes ago, the new hotel was still a plan on paper. Now the old department store will be torn down, and a twenty-four-story glass tower will rise beside the Hartwell. Eric and I will run competing hotels, fighting for the same guests.

His hotel is really going to be built.

“Rachel.” Eric reaches for me again. This time, I let him pull me into his arms. I press my face against his chest, no longer caring who sees us. “Tell me what you need.”

“I don’t know.” I close my eyes. “I need to get back to the Hartwell. My staff need to hear what this approval means from me, and I need to be there when Grandma is ready to talk.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No.”

“Let me help. We can explain everything together.”

“If you walk into the Hartwell beside me today, no one will hear a word I say.”