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We chatted lightly about the city and the Christmas market and life in LA until the server returned and gracefully placed the dishes before us with a flourish that spoke of years of practice. I stared at my plate ofsvícková na smetanewith a little unease. The beef did look tender, and the creamy sauce looked exceptionally decadent, but I wasn’t used to eating such heavy foods. I took a cautious bite, and to my delight, the rich flavors burst in my mouth.
Ondrej watched me with an amused expression, a spark of interest in his eyes.
"Not what you expected?" he asked.
"It's delicious," I admitted, feeling a small victory. “It’s very rich, but the flavor is incredible. Thank you for the recommendation."
As we ate, the initial stiffness around the table began to thaw. Dominika complimented the chef's skill in preserving traditional recipes, while Pavel chimed in with anecdotes about the hotel's culinary history.
Things were friendly but felt stiff and laced with tension. Yeah, well, no surprise there.
Eventually, with the first course down, the conversation steered toward the heart of the matter. I cleared my throat, placing my cutlery down.
"I know this is a difficult decision for all of you," I began, trying to find the right balance of professionalism and empathy. "But I truly believe that Arcadia Group can help enhance the Novák Hotel's legacy while maintaining its unique character."
Pavel leaned back, his gaze calculating. “So you’ve said. Got anything new to say?”
I inhaled and tried to steady my nerves. Pavel had gone from my ally to my adversary overnight.
Ondrej's expression was more inscrutable. He seemed to be weighing every word, his eyes occasionally meeting mine with a depth that hinted at a myriad of conflicting emotions.
"I understand," I said, clenching my abs for balance. But before I could form a better argument, the server returned with the next course, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief with my apprehension. Then I eyed the sausage-like thing warily and wasn’t sure if I was more terrified of the conversation or this next dish.
“It’s ajitrnice,”Ondrej said. “It’s a pork liver sausage.”
My mouth filled with stomach acid at the wordliver. I was trying to decide how to politely decline and still not torpedo the deal.
“We eat it all winter. It’s a staple. You’re notafraid,are you?” Ondrej teased.
I forced a fake laugh. “It’s not the quinoa salad I’m used to, but hey, when in Prague, right?” With false bravado, I cut a small piece and braced myself as I bit in. The flavors were complex, a mix of spices that were both slightly sweet and savory all at once. My face must have been a mosaic of surprise and confusion because Ondrej chuckled deeply.
“It's an acquired taste. But you're braver than most, I’ll give you that.”
I smiled, a little embarrassed but also oddly pleased with myself for stepping out of my comfort zone. “Maybe I’ll make it the next hot trend in LA.”
Dominika smirked and raised her glass to mine. “To the brave foreigner, not afraid to eat liver.”
The mood at the table lightened considerably for a few glorious moments after that, food becoming a bridge between worlds as it often does. As we sampled more dishes, some delightful and others challenging, the conversation ebbed and flowed. There was laughter, a few playful jabs, and an undercurrent of something that felt like the beginning of understanding. Until, of course, I noticed Pavel’s sour, solemn expression. Right, then. Back to business.
I gently wiped my mouth, took a long sip of wine, and started.
“It’s a meal like this that excites me so much about bringing the Novák Hotel into our family. I —”
Pavel didn’t miss a beat in stepping in to interrupt.
“Sienna, let’s just stop right there. I appreciate everything you’ve had to say. I appreciate how hard you have worked on this project and your dedication to it. And I appreciate that you see the value in the historic nature of this hotel, that you appreciate our family legacy. But, much like my little brother, you fail to recognize one point.” He paused, probably for dramatic effect, and took a long sip of his wine. He inhaled and met my eye directly. “You fail to see that none of that matters in the end. Whether it’s your company or Wolf Corp, there is no future left for Novák Hotel. At least not in the way my parents and grandparents and so on had hoped. And I am sad about that. It is true. I’m not as heartless as you all would make me out. But I see the other truth that is right in front of us, staring us all in the eye. Novák Hotel is done. Our time here is done. It is what it is. You talk a big game about preserving its legacy and keeping the hotel as is. But at the end of the day, you’re just another big company. You may have good intentions, but your bottom line will win out. And if that’s the case, then my bottom line should win out. We’re taking the money. I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry that this didn’t go the way you had hoped, that it didn’t go the way my brother had hoped. But none of this has gone how anyone had hoped. So here we are. Dominika and I have decided. The majority votes to take the higher offer from Wolf Corp.”
You could have heard a pin drop in the dining room. Ondrej said nothing, this clearly being new to him as well. He lowered his eyes and stared deeply into the garnet wine in his crystal glass. I had a death grip on my fork. I forced myself to take a long sip of wine. I dab my lips with my napkin. I did anything to keep from screaming.
I nodded slowly.
“I see. Well, of course, I am very disappointed in the outcome. But it’s your decision to make, and I respect that. Please know that Arcadia’s interest in the Novák hotel has not waned. Should things change and you wish to revisit the sale, you have my information.” I rested my hands on the table and slowly pushed myself up. “Thank you so much for a lovely dinner. I will be leaving Prague more worldly than when I arrived. I’ll have to see if Los Angeles has any traditional Czech food. But I do think it’s probably time for me to retire for the night. Good night to everyone.”
They all offered me weak smiles as I collected myself and quickly exited the dining room.
ChapterEighteen
“Well, that was tense,” Ondrej said as he approached where I stood in a lobby alcove, trying to compose myself.
