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Eli’s jaw ticks. I can’t help but grin at my small victory. “Sorry, but I’m not interested in dating. Thank you, though. Can I get you a drink?” I ask him.
“Nah, just need to pay my tab.”
“I don’t have a tab for you,” I tell him.
“No. She’s been helping me.” He points down the bar to Ackley.
“Let me get it,” I tell him. I move down the bar, and get his ticket from Ackley, and cash him out. He hands me a fifty-dollar bill as a tip. “Thanks, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“That’s for you.”
“I wasn’t your server.”
“But I gave it to you.”
“And I’m going to give it to the woman who earned it.” I make a show of walking over to Ackley and handing her the tip. My tolerance for men who think they can control me or the situation has reached its max limit for the night. I’m ready to get the hell out of here.
Ignoring Eli, I cash out my drawer and make my way to the back to hand my drawer off to the manager. Grabbing my purse, I slip out the backdoor, pulling in a lung full of fresh air. This has been the strangest night. The parking lot is well lit, so when I see a figure standing next to the light post in the parking lot, I recognize him immediately.
“What do you want?” I ask Eli.
“Just making sure you get to your car.”
“I’m a big girl,” I tell him. He mumbles something that sounds like “I noticed,” but I ignore him. “See ya,” I say, sliding behind the wheel of my car. I try like hell not to look in the rearview mirror as I drive away, but fail miserably. Eli is standing, feet apart, arms crossed over his chest, watching me drive away.
Chapter 3
Eli
“Thank you all for coming today,” Grandpa says from the head of the conference room table. I’m sitting directly to his left, while Jane is to his right. The management team surrounds the table, and there’s a camera pointed directly at him—the hotel managers from around the United States are all watching on a video feed established for our business.
“I’ve been talking about this day for years,” Grandpa adds, glancing down at me and smiling. “Ever since Eli was a boy, the hope was to bring him in to man the helm at Morrison. That day is today.
“Eli has spent the last few years in Chicago, running that location with the expertise I’ve come to expect from him. His attention to detail and business-savvy mind, coupled with his ability to understand and work with people of all walks of life, has confirmed the fact he’s the right man for the job.” Grandpa glances down at me once more, pride filling his eyes.
“I’d like to formally introduce you all to my grandson, Eli Morrison, new CEO of Morrison Hotels.”
I’m surrounded by applause as Grandpa shakes my hand, quickly followed by those around me. Jane pulls me into a hug, not even trying to wipe away the tears on her cheeks. I see movement at the back of the room and find Mom and Grandma there, watching as the transition unfolds.
The paperwork was all formally signed this morning, so the deal is already done. Grandpa will still serve his company, but in a lesser role than before. He will no longer sit at the head of the table. From this point on, that position is mine. He remains the majority owner, though for how long, I don’t know.
I walk around and shake hands, greeting familiar faces, and meeting new ones. Some have been with the company for as long as I’ve been alive, which speaks volumes for the type of company Morrison is.
“Jeanie James, marketing director,” a beauty with raven black hair says, flashing a bright white smile.
“Pleasure, Jeanie. I believe we’ve spoken on the phone several times when I was in Chicago. It’s nice to put a face with the name,” I reply politely.
Her dark eyes light up and fill with something I’m not expecting. Interest. She continues to hold my hand as she steps forward. “I’m really looking forward to working under you.” If the not-so-subtle way she said under wasn’t enough of a red flag, the fact she’s now biting her plump, pink lips and gazing up at me through her eyelashes with desire is definitely a sign.
I pull my hand out of hers casually and take a step back. “Very nice to meet you, Jeanie. I’m sure we’ll work well together.”
She smiles widely, obviously taking my words as an invitation. “Oh, I think we’ll definitely work well together.”
“Eli,” a loud voice booms beside me. I’m grateful for the interruption and turn to face Cliff Donahoe, CFO.
“Cliff,” I reply, reaching out a hand, but am pulled into a hug.
