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“Ondrej,” Pavel said again. Finally, Ondrej turned toward us. I sucked in a little breath at the pierce of his gaze. It was…intense, dripping with malice.
With obvious reluctance, he stood. He came toward me so aggressively I instinctively stepped back. He said nothing for a moment, just stared me down with an air of quiet authority. But I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I forced myself to stare back—hard. His features were sharply defined, from the arch of his brow to the firm set of his jaw—each line and angle seemingly sculpted with intention. His eyes, a shade of hazel so intense they almost glowed, held a warmth that seemed at odds with his otherwise stoic, chilly demeanor. They almost seemed watchful. The contrast of him was enigmatic and eerily beautiful.
I then realized he was extending his hand toward me. Berco, Pavel, and Dominika were all staring at me with anticipation. I swallowed hard and took his hand, feeling the heaviness of his grip and the smoothed-over callouses.
“Nice to meet you, Ondrej,” I said.
He worked his jaw before nodding curtly. “Sure. Same.” He let go of my hand abruptly and turned back around. “So let’s get on with this thing.”
Ondrej’s energy left me almost stunned, and it took me a moment to pull myself together.
“Yes, please.”
Pavel extended his hand toward a leather armchair. “Please sit. Let this first meeting be casual, Ms. Frost.”
I forced a smile and took the offer. "Please, call me Sienna. First, I must say, Novák Hotel is even more remarkable in person. It has a certain... soul to it."
Pavel smiled thinly. “Thank you.”
Dominika's smile broadened. "That's exactly what we think. This hotel is more than just a business to us. It’s our legacy, our home."
I nodded, understanding the weight of what she said. "I can see that, and I assure you, any proposal from Arcadia Group will honor the unique spirit of this place."
Ondrej’s gaze lingered on me as if trying to decipher my true intentions. “Famous last words.”
I turned my attention to him and tried to quell the butterflies that mysteriously entered my belly just then.
“I know this must all be very emotional for everyone. It’s not easy what you’re doing,” I said.
Pavel chimed in, his tone pragmatic. “Yes, it’s not an easy thing, and we want to ensure the Novák Hotel continues to thrive. But as we discussed on the phone, the time has come for new beginnings. We liked your initial proposal, and we are eager to hash out the details.”
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding with the significance of this moment. I could not mess this up.
“Well, let's discuss how we can achieve that together. I believe we can find a balance that respects your heritage while embracing the future as Novák Hotel comes into our family.”
I wasn’t used to presenting sitting down, but nonetheless, I dove into my pitch with the confidence of someone who believed in what they were selling. I spoke of history and luxury intertwining, of old charm and new comfort dancing in harmony.
“Tomorrow, I will walk you through some examples of historic properties we have renovated while maintaining their history and charm.”
Pavel was quick with his questions, all numbers and timelines and returns on investment.
“What does it matter what their profits look like?” Ondrej addressed his brother, basically ignoring me.
Pavel glared at him. “Don’t you want to ensure whoever takes over actually knows that they’re doing so the hotel stays open and thriving?”
Ondrej looked annoyed but didn’t retort.
“I’m curious about the interior renovation plans. I’d love to see some examples of what you keep calling updated luxury,” Dominika said. Her tone was upbeat but almost felt forced, as though she was used to smoothing things over.
“I’m excited to walk you through the full spectrum of our thoughts. I know our visions will align. The hotel…Váš hotel je jako krásná slepice,” I tried the phrase I’d memorized and smiled, feeling quite pleased with myself.
The trio stared back at me blankly, brows furrowed. Ondrej stared at me like I had two heads. I said the words in my head again.Váš hotel je jako krásná slepice—crap, had I messed them up?
After a long, weird moment, all three erupted into laughter. Ondrej’s chuckle was like a shock to the system. Seeing him lose it made me break out into a bashful smile.
“Krásný sen,” Ondrej said through his chuckles.
“What?” I said.
