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“So. I heard my stupid brothers arguing again,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Oh? What about?”
“You. But I think you know that, and that is why you are outside alone on a freezing night.”
I sighed, feeling the weight of everything. “Things were getting tense between them, so I thought it best to leave.”
“Things are strained between them right now, as you know. It's not easy, being caught in the middle of such a situation. And it seems like maybe things are getting a bit personal.”
I snapped up. “What does that mean?”
Her mouth turned up in a cheeky half-smile. “You and my brother have been spending a lot of time together.”
“He’s been showing me around a little. I think he just wants me to really understand Prague.”
“Mmm, hmm.”
“You sound like Pavel.”
“Maybe because we both know our brother. We can see through his sour facade better than most.”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re not gettingpersonal.Just friendly. It’s nothing for anyone to get worked up about.”Especially not you, Sienna.“I came here with a job to do. And I just need to focus. But I have to admit I don’t usually feel so emotionally invested. But I guess I’ve never had clients like you three before.”
Dominika nodded, her expression one of knowing. "It's never strictly business when it comes to places like the Novák Hotel. They hold stories, memories, a part of ourselves. It's what makes them so special, so hard to let go of."
Dominika paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before continuing.
"When our parents passed away, it was sudden and devastating. We were all lost in our grief, but Ondrej... he took it upon himself to be the pillar we all leaned on. He had every right to fall apart as young men do, but he shouldered the responsibilities without question.”
She gazed at the skeletal branches of a nearby tree, stripped bare by winter yet standing resilient against the cold.
“Pavel, being older, stepped into our father's shoes to run the business, but Ondrej ensured everything still ran. He made sure the hotel didn’t crumble and die. He fixed toilets and repaired roof shingles. He made drinks. He filled in when anyone on staff called out sick.”
“Sounds like he kept himself busy,” I said.
She smiled lightly. “He did. We all had to be incredibly strong, you know. Managing a hotel like this is challenging enough, but doing it while carrying the grief of losing our parents while trying to keep their dreams alive... it's a huge burden for anyone."
I thought about my own parents’ situation and how hard it was to keep things together amid that turmoil.
“I think Ondrej feels that, of any of us, he has bled the most for this place. And I think Pavel—well, honestly, I think it’s tough for Pavel to be here. I think he wants out to forget.”
“But why—why are they arguing over me?”
She laughed lightly. “Men can be so ridiculous, can’t they? Pavel is convinced Ondrej is trying to get close to you so he can find a way to sabotage the sale. Maybe if things get too intimate between you, everything will fall apart. Or maybe he’ll learn something about your company that will make it all come crashing down. Pavel has always had a suspicious mind.”
I blinked, not knowing how to process that.
“That’s—wow. I certainly don’t know what to say. Is there any truth to it?”
“That Ondrej would do that? Of course not.” Dominika swatted away the words with her hand. “Ondrej can be severe and stubborn, but he doesn’t have a duplicitous bone in his body.
I exhaled with some relief. I wasn’t prepared to be a pawn in a family drama.
“But—” Dominika interrupted my thoughts. “Still, be careful there. It’s obvious to everyone there is a little—” she bobbed her head. “A little chemistry between you two. And I think we can all agree things could get messy if they progressed.”
I nodded curtly. “Right. Of course. I mean, there’s nothing there. So no one needs to worry.” Even I heard the squeak in my voice. And I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of confusion. The lines between professional objectives and personal feelings were blurring. Dominika was right about that.
But I was professional, and I could handle this.
