“I know things…aren’t running as smoothly as before. There are a lot of factors that are contributing to that.” Charles said. “Maybe we’ll be back on track when you return.”
“I sure as hell hope so Charles. I’m not about to bust my ass to bring another client in just so Seth screws it up. And don’t waste your breath defending him.”
Charles leaned back in his leather chair and crossed his arms. “I don’t take sides with my brothers. As far as the business side of it, Seth presented the facts and I agreed, that deal wasn’t in our best interest.”
Raising a brow, he asked, “Since when was making money not in our best interest?”
“We didn’t need Sheen’s money. It was dirty.”
“And you know this how?” he asked. “Because when we met, there we no indication of anything illegal going on.”
“Sal did some additional digging. Once it was confirmed, we backed out of the deal.”
“With the kind of money Sheen was throwing into this deal, I can’t picture him just walking away,” Ethan stated. “What made him change his mind? And don’t try telling me Sheen was intimidated by the Lawson name.”
Charles hesitated for a moment, then said, “He realized that the Lawsons had backing that he wasn’t prepared to take on as well.”
“You mean the Hendersons?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why Dean was here?”
“It was more their brother-in-law Bennett. He and Sal were actually the ones who met with Sheen, and not your brother Seth.”
“I still don’t understand why the Hendersons were involved in the first place.” Everything seemed to link them closer and closer. Was there any part of their lives the Hendersons didn’t touch?
“Bennett and Sheen had crossed paths years before when Bennett was still in the Marines. What actually took place, I’m not sure, but let’s just say, the US Government has their eyes on him. And we don’t want any connection to people like that.”
“At least that’s something we can agree on.”
“I should’ve told you all this before,” Charles stated.
Yes you should’ve. Did this fix things? No, but it made it slightly better. It didn’t change the fact his efforts over the past few months had been for nothing. He needed time away from work and there wasn’t any better time than the present. Before leaving he asked, “Charles, is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Charles nodded. “Yes. Have a good vacation, because when you come back, I promise, we’ll be back on track.”
Good to hear.Getting up Ethan replied, “I’ll be ready. See you next month.”
Kollette Sommers couldn’t believe it. There is no way this was the right place. Her father had told her he was taking the hotel chain in a new direction, but this was too much. How did he expect his customers who enjoyed staying in the lap of luxury to stay here?
Heck, I’m not sure how I’m going to manage.
She wasn’t one of those high maintenance women, but there were things she enjoyed when she was on vacation. Kollette had a feeling this place didn’t meet any of her requirements.
Pulling out her cell phone to call her father, she was met with the same thing she’d encountered for the last hour. No signal. How was she supposed to report her findings back to the office if she couldn’t reach anyone? Kollette tossed her phone on the passenger’s seat and leaned back, closing her eyes. This has to be a bad dream. It’s got to be.
She practically leaped out of her skin as a deep voice beside her Jeep asked, “Miss, are you going to sit in your Jeep all day or do you want to come inside and warm up?”
Kollette had been so focused on the log cabin in front of her that she hadn’t noticed anyone approaching. She rolled down her window enough to ask, “Is this the Potters place?” Deep inside hoping it wasn’t.
“Yes ma’am. I’m Roy Potter. I take it you’re looking for lodging?”
She hated admitting that she was. “I believe you have a reservation for me. Kollette Sommers.”
“If you’re asking if I have a room, the answer is yes. I don’t keep track of names,” Roy said. “Why don’t you pull your Jeep up yonder and I’ll carry in your bags.” Roy pointed to a spot near the cabin.
It was large and rustic looking, much like Roy himself. She rolled her window up and did as he asked. When she got out, a cool gust of wind whipped around her and she pulled her sweater snug. “You’re right. It is nippy here.”