“But Idoneedyou?” I guess.
“As much as I’m starting to need you,” he says softly.
His words are a spear right into my heart.
He’s saying he wants to take whatever it is we’re starting past this month, but he’s only willing to do it on his terms. Only if I quit my job. Only if I come work for him. Only if I give up what I’ve worked so hard for.
My dream.
Except…is it still my dream?
Or has Archer Bradley become the dream?
This partnership hasn’t been what I expected when I was first invited to stay for a month at this resort. I want to post what I want to post when I want to post it. I want my freedom.
What I don’t want is to get yelled at by a hotel manager because I’m not posting what he wants me to post.
I don’t know what I want. But I do know I can’t just give up my identity for some guy I barely know—no matter how he makes me feel, no matter how connected we are. No matter how much I’m starting to fall for him.
“Excuse me,” I say, mostly because I don’t know how to respond to his words. “I have to go get my ass reamed by the hotel manager.” I spin and practically run out of his room and head to the main tower, where Diedrick’s office is.
It’s more formal than the breakfast meetings we’ve had, but I assume this is where I’ll find him.
I’m emotional. I’m upset. I’m on the verge of tears, and I’m panting since I ran over here from Archer’s suite.
My room this week is actually here in the main tower, and I’ve only been in it a handful of times. I didn’t even move my suitcase to this room, instead opting to keep it in Archer’s room at his suggestion.
When I get to his office, I knock on the doorframe. He glances up over the tops of his wire-rimmed glasses.
“I was told you wanted to see me?” I say, the words inflecting like a question.
“Ms. Monroe, have a seat.” He nods to the chair opposite his desk. “Thanks for coming by so quickly. I’ve been reviewing your content, and I haven’t seen what we spoke about.”
“Frankly, Mr. Pinder, I’m shocked you’d insinuate that I should compromise the privacy of one of your VIP guests,” I say.
“I have word that there are several teammates on the way to spend time with Mr. Bradley. I believe it’s a surprise. Our stakeholders appreciate when our paid partners highlight the full guest experience. If that happens to include any notable guests staying here, that certainly wouldn’t hurt the resort. I think you’ll find benefits to your own accounts as well.”
I blow out a breath as I contemplate how to respond, but he jumps back in before I can.
“Ms. Monroe, the choice is yours. But I do believe you’re aware of the influence I have in this industry,” he says absently as he studies a piece of paper in front of him. “And you have another week here. It wouldn’t look good if you lost your access and perks, would it? You have a lot of work to do. You’re barely meeting the minimum requirements, and this is one potential way to make up for that.” He offers a fake tip of his lips and nods at the door. “You can go now.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t do that.”
He looks surprised that I’m standing up for myself. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve made it clear from the jump that I’d be here an entire month. If you pull my access and perks now, my followers will know something happened,” I say.
He thinks about that for a moment, and then he nods once. “Fine. But I stand by what I said. I know a lot of people in the industry, and if your aim is to gain access to any of the resorts here in the Bahamas or in the same brands of Berkshire Resorts, you’ll be out of luck finding anyone who will be willing to take a risk after my experience with you. On the other hand, I can also offer a paid partnership with our brand if your content does what you claim it can.”
I press my lips together.I will not cry in here. I will not cry in here.
This is the second time this asshole has made me feel this way, but the stakes are even higher this time. He’s essentially blackmailing me for my dream of a paid partnership with the Berkshire brand of hotels.
What do I do? What the hell am I supposed to do?
“I’ll think about it,” I finally say. I stand and walk out of his office.
There has to be some way out of this. I can put him on blast for telling me to showcase his celebrity guests. That wouldn’t look good for this place, but it’ll just makemelook like the petty little whiner who got a free vacation.
