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“Imani and Jack are singing her praises. The hotel managers are sighing with relief to see their projects expertly managed. She’s competent and intuitive. Her attention to detail is unparalleled. Quite frankly, she should be a division head. I have grand hopes for Winter, and she’s only twenty-eight. Her recent suggestions to transform our business is the type of blue-sky thinking that will see us elevated to the top of the Most Luxurious Hotel list.”
“We already are in many cities,” Sienna drawls.
“Now, we’ll win ineverycity. And we’ll win every accolade going. There’s every reason we can win the International Star Diamond Award for Chateau Balthazar next year. I want Vail to be on the Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List. I wantBestawards coming out of our ears for guest experience, for hospitality, for luxury hotel, for ski hotel. I want them right across the portfolio.”
I chuckle, liking how invested he is. At how he sees the hotel group growing even if he’s no longer part of it. His faith in us has my back straightening, and I down my beer, feeling celebratory. This is good news for me and my bros. For our future.
Balthazar looks at me. “I know you’ll design one hell of a patisserie for Chateau B, and Vail. Winter is full of ideas, so channel her enthusiasm and drive. Together, I know you’ll deliver us a Hotel of the Year.”
“You got it,” I agree, my heart swelling to grotesque levels. Balthazar has never skimped on telling me how proud he is, but this feels like a monumental moment. Like he really does see me, Luca, and Brecken continue to raise our empire to ever higher standards.
“Of course,” Luca leads. “You know we’ll do everything possible.”
“Everything?” his dad asks.
Luca shifts, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
His dad sucks in a deep breath. “As per Sienna’s suggestion, I’m asking one of you to marry Winter.”
“Asking, or stipulating?” I ask.
“Stipulating.”
Shock echoes through the grandly decorated room. Collectively, me and my brothers inhale, but to be honest I’m not reading the same animosity that swallowed us like a tsunami the first time this was raised. Maybe we all just knew this would be coming, and that fighting it was stupid when Sienna had already corrupted his mind. But weirdly, looking closely at my reaction, I find I’m not so averse to the idea.
I catch sight of Brecken, a thick brow raised in disbelief. Meanwhile, Luca’s frowning.
“I take that back,” the poison pixie states quietly. “I’ve changed my mind. And to be clear, I didn’t meanherspecifically. It could be anyone.”
“For what reasons?” Balthazar asks.
“It was silly.”
“I was unconvinced to begin with, but I believe there’s merit to it after all. With Winter on the team, sons, you’ll be invincible. And if the relationship is as strong as you say it is, then marriage would secure her future at this hotel. She’s a valuable asset.”
“She’s more than just an asset,” Brecken defends angrily.
“Of course,” Balthazar demurs. “I only mean that this is a quad of like-minded, astute businesspeople with great potential. I have a very good feeling about this, and my gut has never steered me wrong before.”
“Dad,” Sienna begins. “Have you forgotten that she was caught screwing hotel guests at WM? Do you think she’s suitable—”
“Shut your mouth,” Luca threatens. “Like that matters right now. And she wasn’t caught. A colleague did the dirty on her to steal a promotion.Andthat colleague slept with her superior to secure that promotion.”
“She’s fucking you, isn’t she? And of course, it matters! What if it got out?”
Beside her, Brecken stiffens. He leans in, way past the boundaries of her personal space, and grits, “Now how, and why, would that get out? If it’s bad for business you only hurt Dad, yourself, and us. I willdisown youif you breathe a word about that, or what we have with her right now.” Seething, his chest rises and lowers like he’s had ten rounds with Fury.
And fuck me; I’ve never seen him lay into Sienna like that before.
“What? Brecken?” she hiccups brokenly, reaching for his thigh.“I’d never do anything to hurt my brothers. I love you.”
“Prove it.”
Swallowing, she nods, those tears I thought I saw earlier free-falling down her cheeks.
“There will be no unpleasantness,” Balthazar commands, pinning Sienna with a cool look. “I mean it. Their relationship is off-limits. We will agree on an announcement in due course, the details of which will be closely guarded until it’s ready for release.”
As my gaze bounces from brother to brother, Sienna laughs caustically. “If unconventional, taboo romances are suddenly suitable for our elite, prestigious image, why don’t you keep it in the family and get one of them to marry Bella.”
