“Maybe that would be better than turning it into a carnival.”
“I’m not suggesting a carnival.I’m suggesting professional marketing practices that have been proven to work.”
“For corporations.For people who don’t care about anything except the bottom line.”Bryan stood.“My grandfather started this festival because he wanted to celebrate the community that kept the lighthouse running for generations.It was never supposed to be some branded event designed to extract money from tourists.”
“No one is extracting anything.”She could hear her voice getting sharper, and she tried to moderate her tone.“I’m trying to help you reach people who would genuinely appreciate what Starlight Shores has to offer.That’s not exploitation.That’s connection.”
“You don’t know the first thing about this town.You’ve been here, what, a week or so?And you think you can waltz in with your fancy presentations and tell us how to do everything better?”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Then what would you call it?”He gestured at the projector screen.“Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re trying to fix something you don’t understand.”
Mayor West cleared her throat.“Bryan, I think if we just?—”
“You want to talk about understanding?”Cassidy cut her off.Her hands were shaking.She pressed them flat against the table.“Let me tell you what I understand.I understand that half the storefronts at the far end of downtown are empty.I understand that your restaurant is struggling to stay afloat.I understand that if this festival fails, you lose one of the few things that still brings people to this town.”
Bryan’s eyes flashed.“You don’t know anything about my restaurant.”
“I know you’re working eighteen-hour days and still barely breaking even.I know you can’t afford to hire enough staff.I know you’re one bad season away from losing everything your family built.”The words came out cold and hard.“So maybe instead of fighting every suggestion I make, you could consider the possibility that I actually know what I’m talking about.”
The room fell silent.Sally set down her bear claw.Marty studied his hands.
Bryan stared at her.Anger flickered across his face, and she swore she also saw hurt, but he quickly covered it.
“You think you’ve got it all figured out.”His voice was quiet now.Dangerous.“You come in here with your statistics and your target demographics and your five-thousand-dollar ad campaigns.You think that’s what’s going to save us?”
“I think it’s a start.”
“It’s a bandage.You’re not solving the actual problems.You’re just putting a pretty face on them and hoping tourists won’t notice what’s underneath.”He grabbed his handout and portfolio.“You want to run this your way?Go ahead.I’m sure the mayor would be thrilled to hand it all over to someone with your credentials.”
“Bryan—” Mayor West started.
“I’m done.”He headed for the door.
Cassidy’s pulse pounded in her temples.“We’re supposed to be doing this together.”
Bryan turned back.“Are we?Because I don’t remember being asked if I wanted a co-chair.”
The words hit like a slap.Cassidy looked at Mayor West.The mayor’s face had gone pink.
“Aren’t we at least going to discuss it?”Cassidy forced herself to keep her voice level.“I thought we were co-chairs.”
“Whatever would make you think that?”Bryan’s eyes stayed on the mayor.
Mayor West shifted in her seat.“Well, you need help, Bryan.You’re so busy.And Cassidy has time to help us.It seemed foolish to throw that away.”
“Right.Because I can’t handle it on my own.”Bryan’s laugh was bitter.“Fine.You want her?You got her.It’s all hers.”
He pushed through the door.It swung shut behind him with a bang that rattled the windows.
Nobody spoke.Cassidy stood frozen at the front of the room.Her carefully prepared presentation glowed on the screen behind her.Thirty slides of data and strategy that suddenly felt completely useless.
Mayor West rubbed her temples.“I’ll talk to him.He’ll come around.”
Cassidy sat down.“I don’t think he will.”
“He’s just protective of the festival.It means a lot to him.”
