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Dad just waved, so I climbed into the truck and took off. I used my GPS to get to the Aspen Ridge Lodging office, so I had no trouble navigating through the ski resort's downtown.
Of course, being the end of summer, there was no snow to be seen. The mountains were bald rock at the peaks, with bright grass-covered runs trickling downhill between swaths of evergreens. The town itself was an attractive cross between the charm of the old west and the sleek appeal of modern mountain style. It’d been a while, but I’d visited once on a ski trip and had always loved Aspen Ridge. When my parents retired here, I’d sworn we’d visit every season to ski.
That’d been four years ago, and this was the first time we’d come. But we were here to stay, hopefully, so I supposed that’d make up for it.
Despite the season, the small resort town was packed with visitors, thanks to warm weather activities like mountain biking, rafting, and horseback riding. I made a point to arrive at the tail end of summer. I wanted the kids settled before school started, and my boss wanted me on board before winter, their busiest season.
I navigated to the resort parking garage and inserted the card I’d received in the mail, granting me permission to park for free. Thankfully, since signs at the entrance proclaimed parking to be $35 a day.
After a final once-over, I grabbed my shiny new briefcase—which was empty apart from a few sheets of paper—and followed directions for the main offices.
My pulse raced, but I tried to focus on the important things.
One, I already had the job.
Two, training leaders was basically what I’d done for my entire career, culminating in a stint at the Air Force’s prestigious Officer Training School. Turning one flighty woman into the successful CEO of a ski resort would be cake after whipping groups of sullen college grads into battle-ready lieutenants.
Three, this was the best opportunity I was likely to receive in Aspen Ridge, and for the kids’ sake—and my own—I needed to be near my parents. JJ Tremont had promised that once his daughter was ready to take over, he’d make sure I had a position in upper management.
So first the daughter, then the cushy job with a view of the gorgeous terrain.
I made it to the elevator and mashed the button for the top floor, then closed my eyes and pictured the new dream I was chasing. Afternoons spent on the slopes, teaching the kids to ski. Finally being able to attend school events, holidays with my family, a community that didn’t exist around a military life. I’d resigned myself to a long career of service, and Cheryl’s decisions had ripped that right out of my grasp… but perhaps there was a better life waiting for me here.
The elevator slowed to a stop, and the doors opened.
Showtime.
* * *
Ellie
* * *
“Dad,I really have got to go. The preparation is going to take me all day,” I made a show of tidying up my desk, hoping he’d take the hint.
“I know, Izzy. I just wanted to remind you about the golf tournament in a few weeks.” He settled into my corner chair like he had no intention of leaving. I’d intentionally made it a cozy space with tall plants and a side table so I could curl up and feel like I’d escaped. I hadn’t imagined my father would usurp it to hold me hostage when I was trying to leave.
The sigh poured from my lips like someone had punched me in the chest. “I really wish you’d listen when I ask you to call me Ellie. No one has called me Izzy for years.”
“All the same, Zach said he hasn’t heard from you in a while. Did you two have a falling out?”
My god, why was my dad discussing my love life with my ex?
“We broke up almost a year ago, Dad. You know that.”
“Well, you two seemed pretty cozy at that fundraiser a few weeks ago.”
“We’re friends, Dad. We were friends long before we dated, and we’re always going to be in the same circles. It doesn’t pay for us to be enemies.”
“Still, when I’m gone, you’re going to need someone to help run this place. Zach knows all about how a place like this should be run.”
My jaw clenched; sure, Zach knows all about it. Zach had huge plans for how he wanted to take overmyfamily resort, which was the main reason we broke up. Not that I could tell my dad about it. He practically made Zach a member of the family ages ago, it would crush him to know what Zach’s actual intentions were.
Instead, I just answered, “I have an MBA, Dad. I’m perfectly capable of running Lodging on my own.”
“Still, I just don’t want to worry about you struggling under all the pressure, Isabelle. It’s a lot more than you think.”
“I have a pretty good idea, seeing as how I’ve been here for the last few years as your ‘Assistant CEO.’” I slammed my desk drawer a little harder than I meant to, but he was not getting the hint. At this rate he looked about ready to order a second breakfast and take a nap in my cushy chair.
