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He paused—hopefully for dramatic effect, because I didn’t have an answer for him.
“We send them off to spend their money on local tour guides. But not anymore. I don’t want some of that vacation money—I want all of it. We’re going to start offering the complete vacation experience, including guided tours.”
He leaned forward with his arms on the table, unfazed by the searing-hot metal. “What’s more, we’re not going to recommend a single spa, swim with dolphins experience, or helicopter tour if we don’t get a piece of the pie. I want Blue Pacific to dominate this market.” His eyes flashed with something cold. “Every part of it.”
“I’m all for that,” I said, squinting my eyes, trying to make them look as hungry as his.
“I knew you would be. That’s why I gave you the position. Kai has been an asset to our company for a long time, but I don’t think he has the stomach for the job.”
Red flag. That sounded just a little bit scary.
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“These islands are filled with mom-and-pop tour guide businesses. I want to make them obsolete. I want brand loyalty. That’s something a marketing expert like you can understand.”
“For sure. And I think offering the full package is a great idea.”
“I’m glad to hear you say it. I want you to get to know the area, but even more—get to know the competition. I want to know how they operate. What works. What doesn’t. How they do what they do.”
“Market research is one of my specialties.”
“This goes way beyond basic research. I want you to experience what brings our clients to Hawaii. That’s why I’ve booked a week-long tour for you with our top competitor. They’ll be sending their best person to take you on a tour of the islands. Pump that guide for all the information you can get.”
“So, my first job is to go on vacation for a week?”
“Not vacation. Reconnaissance. We’re going to crush the competition. Put them out of business—all of them! And you’re going to be the key player in that. Help me do it, and your future will be very bright.”
It wasn’t hard to catch on to the unspoken words behind his insincere smile. “Crush the competition, or I’ll find someone else who can.”
Okay, so maybe Chuck wasn’t a sweetheart of a businessman. But he was a businessman. All he was trying to do was make sure his company thrived. By putting other businesses out of business, he was actually protecting his own employees’ jobs.
Yeah, I wasn’t buying it either. There wasn’t a great way to spin this no matter how hard I tried.
But this was the job I’d signed up for. My only other option was to go home and ask my stepmom to give me my old job. Ugh, I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit at that thought.
What had I ever done to make Chuck think I was such a cutthroat? I guessed it was time to put away my softer side and go to work.
It was a game of survival-of-the fittest at its best.
But there was one saving grace. As long as I was the regional manager, I’d also have a hand in bringing more jobs into the area. It wasn’t like I’d be putting people out of work permanently. They might lose one job, but I’d have another waiting in the wings for them.
I could do this.
Having my cake and eating it too wasn’t as hard as everyone said.
The waiter set our glasses on the table. Chuck pulled his lemon slice off the rim and bit down on it, sucking on the thing, rind and all. He grimaced and tossed its shriveled remains on a napkin. I wondered if the lemon thought his mouth tasted sour.
He growled out a satisfied sigh. “Seven days. That’s how long you have to learn everything you can about our number one competitor.”
“Got it.”
“I’ll be looking forward to your report.” The legs of his chair scraped across the ground when he stood. “Your guide is supposed to meet you here any minute. I’ll leave you to it.”
And just like that, my new boss disappeared into the crowd.
My uber-friendly waiter stepped up beside me as soon as Chuck was gone. “That was the shortest brunch I’ve ever seen. Are you going to want anything to eat?”
I took a deep breath, trying to channel some of Chuck’s take-no-prisoners attitude. “Tuna. I’m in the mood for tuna.” If I was going to be a shark, it was time to start acting like one.
“Might I suggest the mahi-mahi?” A deep voice from behind rippled through me. I knew that voice. It was the voice I’d heard in my dreams for almost two weeks.
I stood and turned around. My stomach exploded into an uncontrollable flutter that shuddered throughout my body when I looked into a familiar pair of dark eyes I hadn’t counted on ever seeing again.
“It’s good to see you, nani.”
“Kai… h-hello.”
