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“I do not understand,” Pavel said, looking over the testimonials and evidence I had just presented to him. “What am I looking at?”
“That right there is evidence that we can save the Novák. And we can save it quickly,” I said.
Pavel’s eyes scanned the images in front of him and then looked up at me with a mixture of incredulity and curiosity.
“What do you mean, save the hotel? We’re selling the hotel.”
“I know. But you don’t have to. Do you know what viral means?”
“Like something you treat with penicillin,” Pavel said.
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe in your case. But for the rest of us, it means that the hashtags and the story about this hotel have exploded across the globe. Literally, people from all over the world are talking about saving this hotel.”
Pavel shook his head slowly as the words processed. “But why? Why does anyone care?”
I bobbed my head. “A combination of things. This place means more to people than you realize. It’s an icon of Prague. That and people love a good underdog story. It’s the kind of thing people rally to. An easy, non-political cause to get behind.”
“OK,” he said slowly. “So, how does a bunch of Instagram posts save the hotel? Is there like a GoFundMe that goes along with this?”
“Not quite, but close. We use this publicity to throw a fundraiser. We tell the world your story. We get the community, the influencers, the investors to come out and write you a check.”
Pavel chuckled. “Oh, you’re serious about all this.” He looked at Ondrej with skepticism. “Do you know that she’s serious?”
Ondrej grinned. “I do know that. And I know it sounds crazy. But look how quickly she made this happen.” He gestured toward my phone.
Pavel was still shaking his head as I continued. “I know you want out of the hotel. But Ondrej doesn’t. So, for his sake, for the sake of your parents, let’s raise the money and bring in the investors. Save the hotel and keep it in the family. Then Ondrej can buy you out. Sure, it may not be quite as much as Wolf Corp is promising. But doesn’t this mean a little bit more?”
I might have imagined it, but I swear I saw a sheen of tears spread over Pavel’s eyes."
ChapterThirty-Four
"Needless to say, Pavel got on board. Dominika was over the moon and, as I secretly suspected, had never wanted to sell the hotel. She was all in with her brother.
Within a few days of our viral campaign, it had trickled down to that very eager and influential demographic—the youth. They love nothing more than a cause, and preserving Prague's heritage seemed to fit their cause du jour.
Like all things that touched the pulse of the younger generation, it had transformed. It had become a movement, a cause to rally behind, driven by the furious, indefatigable energy of those who were determined to shape the future.
It had been a hassle to get everything in order so quickly but plans for the last-minute fundraiser to save the hotel had come together. Honestly, the speed at which it all came together was dizzying, even to me. The way people rallied, ready to lend their support, was nothing short of miraculous. It showcased not just my commitment but the magnetic pull of the Novák Hotel, a cultural beacon that refused to be extinguished.
Word of the campaign reached local businesses, stirring a sense of solidarity. The owners of nearby cafes and shops, many of whom had grown up with the Novák Hotel as a backdrop to their lives, started their initiatives. They placed posters in their windows, showing their support with the #SaveNovákHotel slogan. Some even dedicated a portion of their sales to aid the hotel's recovery efforts, their actions a testament to the deep-rooted connections within the community. Vendors had shipped in to donate wine and desserts. Decorations and flowers. The staff had volunteered to work without pay. Local artists, musicians, and performers came together to perform. Everyone was committed to showing the world that the Novák Hotel deserved to be saved. That it deserved to stay in the hands of those who loved her most.
The conversation with my boss had made me want to vomit, but I forced myself to make that call regardless.
“What the hell, Sienna? I’m told you canceled your flight. Where are you?”
I cleared my throat. “I’m still in Prague.”
“I gathered. But doing what? What is going on?”
“I’m going to need some PTO.”
“Why? Are you OK? Did something happen?”
To his credit, he did sound genuinely concerned. But I imagined it was more because of the piling workload back at the office and less for my actual well-being.
“I’m fine. I just, there’s been a development here. And I want to see it through.”
There was a long pause on the other end. Finally, Will cleared his throat and said very calmly, “Have you been poached by Wolf Corp.?”
