It wasn’t often that people complimented me, let alone for something not related to wealth, family, or fame. When I wasn’t lambasted for my bad decisions, I was lauded for things I had zero influence over. For most of my life, I’d been overlooked in favor of my siblings.
Graham was the perfect brother. In control and in charge. He’d been selected by my grandparents to run the family business. Sloan was the baby. The only girl. She could do no wrong.
Knox and Nate were technically my cousins, but they’d always been more like brothers to me. The five of us—Nate, Knox, Graham, Sloan, and I—had been raised by our grandparents after a plane crash had claimed the lives of my parents and my aunt and uncle.
Hell, sometimes I felt closer to Nate and Knox than my actual siblings. Though that was probably only because they weren’t as involved in the day-to-day management of the family brand. Nate was busy with his production studio and acting. And Knox owned LA’s pro soccer team, the Leatherbacks. As much as I loved Graham and Sloan, running the family luxury hotel empire could put a lot of pressure on our relationship at times.
But Darla had always seen the real me. Which was why I needed her now, more than ever.
“What’s it really like to have all that money?” Mary asked,and I was grateful for the reprieve from the topic of my love life. “Do you just…spend it on whatever you want? Go swimming in the cash like Scrooge McDuck?”
“This might disappoint you,” I said, “but most of my assets are tied up in my family’s business or investments. I don’t go swimming in the cash, though that sounds like fun. And my grandparents taught me to be mindful of my spending. They believed that we had a responsibility to our employees and our communities to give back.”
“That’s why the CEO’s salary is capped at the Huxley brand,” Darla said.
“Exactly, but it goes beyond that. We offer some of the most generous paid leave and health insurance in the industry—to all our employees, regardless of where they work or the type of position they hold. And we are passionate about investing in local communities. We don’t want to come in and take over. We want to learn from the locals. We want to respect their traditions and their culture. Their land and their priorities.”
They all nodded, clearly impressed.
“What about your car collection?” Mary asked.
“Oh, Darla told you about that, huh?” I smirked. When she nodded, I said, “Did she also mention that I inherited most of them from my dad?”
They turned on Darla. “No. No, she didn’t mention that,” Becky muttered, narrowing her eyes at Darla.
Darla shrugged. “You wanted to believe the fantasy. Who was I to burst your cherry?”
I nearly spewed my drink. “I believe the saying you’re looking for is burst your bubble.”
She waved a hand through the air. “Same difference.” She smirked, knowing damn well it was not the same thing.
“No.” Mary wagged her finger at Darla. “We wanted the truth. And that’s why we asked you to invite him.”
“Invited?” I scoffed. “Feels more like I was lured here under false pretenses and then ambushed.”
Mary looked horrified. Becky shot daggers at Darla. “You said you’d told him.”
“I did,” Darla responded. “When he got here.”
The others sighed, and one or more of them said, “Typical Darla.”
I nodded my agreement.
“Well, thank you for humoring us,” Becky said.
“Absolutely.” I lifted my glass to them before taking another sip. “Now, let me ask you ladies something. Your love of reading has inspired me.” All evening, an idea had been percolating in my mind. A way to enhance the guest experience and provide an extra perk for our employees. “I’m thinking about creating a lending library for my employees and guests.”
“Ooh. That would be amazing,” Beth said. “Digital or print?”
“I think print. I like the nostalgia of it. A way to encourage guests to get off their devices, relax, and immerse themselves in the experience.”
“Exactly,” Becky said. “Would it be two separate libraries or the same one?”
“Probably two separate ones so employees could peruse the shelves on their break.”
We discussed the logistics for a while, and then it was time for me to go. I stood, shaking each of their hands and thanking them for a memorable evening.
“Come back any time,” Beth called out as Darla led me back down the path to her house. I smiled and winked at her over my shoulder.
