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His insights, though subtle, were like breadcrumbs leading me through the forest of my project. They hinted at the delicate balance I needed to strike—honoring the cherished past while ushering in a modernized future. I made a flurry of mental notes I hoped would stick until I could write them down.
“Oh, and the guests absolutely adore the grand piano,” he continued, pointing toward the instrument that had serenaded my entrance, “We’ve had afternoon music for as long as I can remember.”
I nodded, my mind alight with visions of classical and modern harmonies intertwining, much like the very essence of the Novák itself—a dance of eras and styles. And it was our job now to bring it all together.
"That's quite a tenure. You must have seen many interesting things over the years.”
"Indeed, I have," he chuckled. "This hotel has more stories than all the books in Prague. Each guest brings their own, leaving a piece of it behind when they go."
We turned a corner, and the hallway narrowed. I glanced at the portraits lining the walls, each frame a sentinel of the past. "And the Novák siblings? What are they like?"
Berco’s expression softened. "They are like nephews and niece to me. And they are as different as the seasons despite their roots. Pavel, he is the oldest. He is like—he is like autumn, pragmatic, a man who sees change as an inevitable part of life, always looking to the future.”
Pavel was the brother pushing to sell and the one my boss had most been in contact with.
“Dominika, she is the spring. Her energy, her vibrancy, brings life to these old walls. Everyone loves her. The guests. The staff. Her brothers. And Ondrej—” Berco paused for a moment, and his expression took on a more contemplative look. “He is…he is the complicated one. He is like the winter. Sometimes cold, but with a quiet strength that sustains us through the toughest times."
I felt a slight chill at the poetic description. His description painted a vivid picture in my mind, giving life to the names I had only read on paper.
"They sound like a formidable team," I said, imagining the dynamics that played out within these walls.
Berco nodded and then paused before a heavy wooden door adorned with intricate carvings.
"They are, Ms. Frost.”
“Please, call me Sienna.”
He smiled thinly, and I got the impression he didn’t like that idea. “Each of them brings their own strength to this place. But, like all families, they face their challenges. Their disagreements. It's what makes them human, after all. This business with the sale—well, it’s not my business in the end, but it has caused some tension between everyone. I would be prepared for that.”
He reached for the door handle, pausing before turning it. "You'll find that the Novák Hotel is more than just a building. It's a reflection of the family that runs it—rich in history, full of character, and never without its surprises."
He turned the knob, and I sucked in my breath. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for, and I could hardly wait for the scene to unfold. I felt like a spectator in a theater, the curtain about to rise on the most crucial act of the play. My pulse quickened, my mind teeming with questions and possibilities. What would they be like? Would they share my vision for the hotel's renaissance?
The door swung open. The plush room felt like a bridge between eras, its grandeur whispering tales of the past while a sleek laptop and projector on a large executive desk hinted that we were, in fact, in 2023.
And there to one side, seated on dark leather Chesterfields, sat the Nováks. Berco wasn’t wrong—even at first glance, the contrast between the siblings was as striking as a chiaroscuro painting, each sibling illuminating the other's distinct qualities.
I had seen a picture of Pavel, so I recognized the oldest sibling. He had bright eyes but looked weary—like someone who hadn’t slept well in a while. I guessed the stress of selling your family’s hotel could have that effect. But otherwise, he was quite nice to look at with a sharp jaw and a dash of premature salt-and-pepper. He stood when I entered.
“Ah, Sienna Frost, I presume,” Pavel said in very clear, only slightly accented English. He was very tall, even by my standards, and lean. He rocked his trim slacks and sport coat quite well. He shook my hand almost aggressively. “Pavel Novák.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person,” I said.
Pavel turned to Berco. “Thank you, Berco.”
Berco, taking his cue, nodded and left the room, leaving me to swim with sharks. You got this, Sienna.
My eyes drifted to the other siblings.
Dominika rose gently, smoothing out her silky green blouse and black slacks. She wore deep red lipstick that boldly contrasted her milky white skin and stylish dark bob. She was a vibrant splash of color against the hotel's more subdued palette. She exuded a contemporary flair that contrasted sharply with the traditional grandeur of her surroundings.
“Dominika,” she said, extending her hand. “It is lovely to meet you. Thank you for coming all this way.” Her voice was velvety, and her Slavic accent gave her the overall impression of a vampire—albeit a very friendly one.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I said. My eyes drifted then to the remainder of the trio, who remained seated. He was staring hard at the wall, willfully refusing to participate, it would seem.
I assumed this brooding figure was the winter child, Ondrej. Pavel followed my gaze and rolled his eyes.
“Ondrej,” Pavel snapped. There was almost a scolding to his voice, and I could already get a pretty clear picture of the dynamics at play here.
