Hotel queens, p.30
Hotel Queens, page 30
Kai narrowed her eyes, unimpressed at how close to the mark Milly probably was. Feeling exposed was far outside her comfort zone. Still, a weight had lifted, too. I’m not going to do this. “You really think it would have broken Amelia’s heart?”
“I’m sure of it. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but she looks at you as if you’re the most confounding person she’s ever met.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed.”
“She also looks at you as if you’re the most fascinating person, too. You’re someone she respects. You and Ms. Duxton do business in completely opposite ways—you with your clever schemes, her with her forthrightness. Yet you’re both so similar—driven, focused, honorable, and smart. I think neither of you are quite sure what to do with yourself around each other, because you’ve both finally met your match.”
Kai slumped in her seat. “She certainly is different.”
“I can’t help but notice you didn’t argue when I said she was someone you care for,” Milly said gently.
Oh. Kai hadn’t even paused on it. Alarm shot through her. Just how far gone on Amelia Duxton am I?
“Maybe it’s best not to overthink it,” Milly suggested, seeming to divine her panic. “Sometimes unexpected things just happen. Trust me, I know.”
Kai closed her eyes and sighed. God, I care for a Duxton. As in really care.
“So…where are we flying today?” Milly asked after a silence. “The pilot will need to know if there’s a change to his flight plan.”
Kai cracked an eyelid. “New York.”
Milly said nothing.
“You have a different opinion.” Kai opened both eyes.
“I really thought Ms. Duxton’s speech would be important to attend,” Milly said. “What can you do in New York that you can’t do from Vegas?”
“Look Mr. Stein in the eye and explain how he’s been hoodwinked—with no one getting between me and him. I have to get to the bottom of this.”
“Can’t you just Skype him when he surfaces? And investigate everything else by phone for now? It’s only a day’s delay, but it would mean a lot to Ms. Duxton if you were there.”
Kai was considering that as her phone rang. She glanced at it. Thank God. “It’s him.” She stabbed the phone. “Mr. Stein? At last!”
“Kaida, my dear. Sorry I’ve been out of reach. I think we should talk.”
“He’s a fake!” Kai’s words tumbled out as she launched into a monologue about Nedal, the bad tweet, and how a deal had never been done. “The Duxtons are behind this,” Kai finished, voice rising in anger. “I’m not sure which one, but someone’s making a fool out of you.”
Mr. Stein cleared his throat. “Those damned Duxtons.”
Kai blinked. She’d been around the old man long enough to know how he sounded when he was truly outraged. This was not even close.
“You already knew,” she said finally.
“Yes.”
“How?”
There was a long pause, and then: “I was at a bar with Joe Duxton when you tried to call before.”
What the hell? “Why?” she rasped out.
“Joe wanted to ensure I sent out the tweet.” He sniffed. “Typical Duxtons. Even when you do a deal with them, there’s no trust. Haven’t I always said they were a snake pit?”
“A deal? Why are you in bed with snakes?”
“I’m showing everyone what they’re like. It won’t be long now.”
“Can we start at the beginning?” Kai suddenly felt exhausted. “Because the Benjamin Stein I know would sooner fling himself into a volcano than do a deal with a Duxton.”
“Normally,” he said, sounding slightly guilty. “But these are unusual circumstances. So, the beginning…” He paused. “A few months ago, Joe Duxton called me, asking to meet to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement. Over lunch, he tells me that at a recent Duxton party, he’d overheard Oliver telling his girlfriend about a scheme he was putting into play. He was extremely pleased with himself.”
“What scheme?”
“His usual stupidity. He wanted to hire an actor, have him play a developer, and convince Grand Millennium that we have the world’s biggest deal in the bag. He’d wait for me to boast about it on Twitter before it was official…” Mr. Stein paused. “Did you know I was famous for doing this?” He sounded slightly offended.
“Yes, Mr. Stein. I have warned you repeatedly.”
“Hmph. Well, I get excited!”
“You do.”
“So after I announced we had Mayfair Palace, the Duxtons would announce they already had it. Oliver thought his father would think him a genius for humiliating me in this way.”
Kai sighed. Juvenile and cruel. Trademark Oliver Duxton. “Where does Joe fit into this?”
“He thought the idea was so ridiculous and risky that it might finally ruin Oliver’s chances for CEO. Exposing Oliver as a fool might convince the board to go with Joe’s preferred pick—his son, Simon—as the new CEO. At that point, Oliver hadn’t disgraced himself by being arrested yet. Joe asked for my help to sink Oliver by going along with the con, then later revealing it.”
Kai sat frozen. “Are you saying Joe would expose his family to worldwide ridicule just to ensure Simon becomes CEO? He hides his viper streak well.”
“He is smart like that,” Mr. Stein noted with a grunt. “And yes, all he cared about was his boy getting power. So, I was told everything about the Vegas sting, including when and where to send you. I agreed to post a tweet about winning Mayfair Palace, and to later leak to the media information from Joe proving Oliver was behind this fake-developer scam. So instead of Grand Millennium looking foolish, the headlines will be how the Duxtons are underhanded and despicable.” He sounded pleased. “Exactly as I’ve been saying for years.”
“But what about Amelia Duxton? Isn’t she also Simon’s competition? How will Joe eliminate her as a threat?”
“She’s already been eliminated. Joe sent her off somewhere so she couldn’t be at a board meeting she was supposed to attend to present her case. Apparently the board was furious she snubbed them. And he’s making her give some big industry speech. Apparently her speeches are so dreary, it’ll bury her.”
“One bad speech shouldn’t ruin a good CEO candidate, though.”
“Well, Joe says she also has personality defects—she’s too rule-focused, rigid, and black-and-white. She is also homosexual, so Conrad would never approve her.” His voice morphed into disdain at that. “And Joe says she’s emotionless—she had her own cousin arrested and didn’t even care.”
“Maybe he deserved to be arrested.”
“Probably. Anyway, she’s not a contender. All Joe’s energies have been on destroying Oliver.”
“I…see,” Kai said. “And you’re okay with all this?”
“What do I care? Simon is no bully like Oliver. A little stupid, but that’s for Joe to worry about.”
“There’s a small flaw in the plan: the Duxtons don’t have Mayfair Palace. They can’t announce what they don’t have.”
“Not yet, but Joe says it will happen soon.”
Kai’s stomach dropped as a depressing thought suddenly occurred. “Did you ever even want Mayfair Palace? Was any of this real?”
“It is true I met with Hamadani about it in London. He laughed at me.” Mr. Stein’s voice became tight. “But then he apologized and explained the price he wanted. I realized his hotel was not in our range. Mayfair Palace was never going to be ours.”
So all this had been for nothing? Kai couldn’t believe it. And it was hard not to notice that in all Mr. Stein’s glee at hurting the Duxtons, he’d forgotten something important.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was a setup?” she asked, betrayal flooding her. “You used me.”
“My dear, it played much better if you looked like you believed what you were doing. When this comes out, there will be eyewitness accounts to sell it. There’s a hotel conference going on over there, and you’re well-known among the industry. People will have seen you in discussions with that actor. Joe made sure you were always negotiating in public places.”
She’d been played just so some reporter could quote gossipy observers in a blow-by-blow telling of the scam that made her a laughingstock? Did her boss even care?
“So,” Mr. Stein concluded, “when it all comes out, the Duxtons will be condemned even more thanks to you playing your role to perfection. You did well, my dear.”
Kai’s temper rose. “Mr. Stein, I’ll be known as the negotiator too stupid to spot a fake developer.” The reminder of all the little clues she’d glossed over felt even more galling now.
“A small price to pay—but it was necessary, don’t you see?” His tone was cajoling.
“Necessary? The worst part is, I didn’t even sign a deal, but I’ll be mocked just the same as if I had.”
“Meh. I was always going to send out the tweet regardless of the deal’s outcome.”
Kai fell silent. Her humiliation had been planned from day one.
“As The Dragon, you used to reveal the truth about the Duxtons, and now I’m doing it,” Mr. Stein finished. “How is what I’ve done so different?”
“I don’t hurt innocents in the process.”
“Innocents? Come now, Kaida, you are many things but not an innocent. You know what that vicious family is like. They act so smug, but they’re hypocrites. Every single day I regret we were ever in business together.”
Shock rippled through her. “What?…You and the Duxtons? When?”
He exhaled. “I will tell you, but I do not want it passed around.”
“Tell me what?”
“Grand Millennium was originally founded by both Conrad and me. When we were young, we were closer than brothers. When we fell out, I bought him out and tweaked some details in the company history. Few people know. You’d have to look up the official records to find out.”
Kai choked.
Mr. Stein sighed. “I know, I know. Some days I do not believe it, either.”
“What went wrong?”
“Our families decided I should marry Conrad’s sister. Lilith was a lovely girl, a friend, and they kept at me until I agreed. I knew it was a mistake. I told her just after the engagement that I could not go through with it. My family was angry, but the Duxtons acted as though I had spat on her. I was a boot scraping.”
“Was she heartbroken or something?”
“Lilith was fine, and she’s been happily married to her husband now for forty-seven years. You see, I told Conrad why I could never marry his sister. How it was impossible. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Kai said quietly. “I’ve known for years.”
After a long pause, he said, “Well. I grew up in a different world. Conrad seemed fine at first, but before long, the lies about me started. The Duxtons mocked me often. It died off for a while, but then Oliver grew up and realized the fastest way to his father’s approval was to be cruel to me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Mr. Stein’s voice caught. “All I ever did was save a girl from an empty marriage. I did not dishonor her. All I want is the truth told about what the Duxtons are really like. So people see.”
“It must have been devastating. You thought Conrad was family and he betrayed you.”
“Exactly.”
“But Mr. Stein, I thought we were family,” Kai said, her voice strained. “How do you think I feel now?”
“It’s not the same at all! I was vilified! You— People will soon forget what happened. This is nothing. Come on now, you know this is nothing!”
“I’m not saying it’s the same as what you went through, but it’s also not nothing.” Kai felt sick. “From now on, every major story I’m ever mentioned in, my being scammed in Vegas will be the footnote at the end. I’ll be a joke. My reputation is about to be trashed.”
“You’re being selfish, my dear. Exposing the Duxtons is more important than anything else. I thought you, of all people, understood that.”
“Revenge matters more to you than me?” Hurt pierced her.
“You’re twisting my words. Listen to an old man: I promise it’ll blow over. Come home now and we’ll talk some more. We’ll put this behind us.”
Put it behind us? Like it was some silly argument?
Suddenly she didn’t care about his old grudge, or about honor, ego, and power-plays, any more than she did the Duxtons’ cruel games. She felt so used.
Kai wanted to be away from here, her boss, this conversation. All she wanted was to be with Amelia and watch her present a groundbreaking speech.
“Actually, Mr. Stein, I’d like to network at this conference before I leave. This is important to me. I’ll fly out tomorrow.” She suddenly realized she had never asked Mr. Stein for anything before.
“No, Kaida, it’s time you were back home, doing actual work. Besides, I’ve missed you,” he added cheerfully. “All right? No more debating. Come to New York immediately.”
“Mr. Stein—”
“I will see you soon.”
The phone went dead. Kai dropped it in her lap and stared at the ceiling of the car for a moment.
She turned to Milly. “Did you catch any of that?”
“All of it.” Milly’s expression was guarded. “What are you going to do now?”
Kai didn’t answer, aware only that she’d never felt less like obeying an order in her life. And he’d just blown through all her objections as if they were nothing. Had her boss just gaslit her? Or maybe he truly believed that what he’d done to her was nothing?
Meanwhile, she’d always seen her relationship with him as closer than family. Apparently she was the only one. Where was his loyalty? Was she only ever a useful tool to him?
The taxi pulled up at the airport. “We’re here, ma’am,” the driver announced.
Kai’s emotions whirled. At the end of the day, what was clear was that Mr. Stein had no problem sacrificing her if it dealt a blow to the Duxtons. She’d always known that behind his grandfatherly veneer he could be an uncompromising bastard when crossed.
Funny thing was, so could she.
“Driver.” Kai leaned forward. “Take us back to Hotel Duxton.” She glanced at the time on her phone. “We need to be back by six-thirty. There’s a fat tip in it for you if we make it.”
The man nodded and stomped the gas pedal.
Milly grinned.
“Are you going to get cocky now about me doing what you suggested in the first place?” Kai allowed a hint of amusement in her tone.
“Me? Oh never, Ms. Fisher.”
“We’re back to that again? Ms. Fisher?”
“Of course. You’re my boss,” Milly said agreeably. “Unless…are you planning to quit?”
Kai’s stomach clenched. “I’m not sure. I’d always thought I mattered far more to Mr. Stein than I do. Apparently, I’m more a means to an end.”
Milly eyed her thoughtfully.
“Would it cause you problems if I did quit?” Kai asked.
“No. I would leave, too.”
“Why? There’s no need. Mr. Stein would give you your pick of postings. Your experience is invaluable.”
“Perhaps.” Milly lowered her voice, although it wasn’t necessary given the driver was now blaring out Johnny Cash on the radio. “But I was only ever in this for The Dragon, not The Closer. When I found out your secret, I was so proud. I’m not brave enough to do what you do—that’s not me. I’m more a puppy than a dragon. But if I can support you behind the scenes? I want that. So wherever you go, I’ll be with you.” She paused. “I mean, as long as you’re okay with it.”
“Don’t underestimate your abilities,” Kai said. “Who else to nudge wayward, thick-headed dragons back on their path than persistent puppies?”
Milly’s face brightened. “I’m glad you think so, Ms. Fisher.”
Kai turned to gaze outside at the dusk. “I’m torn on whether to resign, because I can see why Mr. Stein’s so hurt. Imagine having someone you thought of as a brother shun you because of something you can’t change about yourself. He’s blinded by pain.”
“I know.” Milly hesitated. “However, Mr. Stein hasn’t even thought about your feelings once. He hasn’t acknowledged how much he’s hurt you, and until he does, I think you’ll find it hard to work for him.”
“Well.” Kai sighed. “I do feel disposable. Honestly, I don’t know what I’ll do next.”
“I’m sure whatever you choose, it’ll work out.”
Milly’s absolute certainty was calming.
Kai decided she didn’t want to think about her boss or the Duxtons or their games. She had bigger priorities. Namely one tall, icy goddess named Amelia. A woman who was brave and decent and, according to Joe Duxton, apparently so bad at speeches she might need some moral support.
Now that was someone worthy of her attention.
Chapter 24
Always Bank on Smarts
Amelia paced her room, trying to memorize her speech as her nerves and uneasiness grew. Kai should be here, calming her anxiety in that supremely confident way she always had. Oh, Amelia was good at projecting confidence even if she didn’t feel it. But Kai made her believe it.
So, where was she right now? Halfway to London?
She still fought the idea. The look in Kai’s eyes when she’d said she wouldn’t go after Amelia’s deal had been sincere. But that had been before Stein’s tweet.
Her phone rang, and she pounced on it, then immediately deflated. Not Kai.
“Hello, Tamara.”
“Ms. Duxton. I have news about the Arabic fax.”
“Oh?”
“It was sent from Joe Duxton’s office machine.”
What? Her uncle would never indulge in such juvenile antics as hiring a fake Nedal. “Joe sent it?”
