Lauren nudged her gently. ‘How about we wait and see before jumping to conclusions?’
‘Yeah, you’re right, as usual.’ Sydney’s gaze sharpened, her head tilting to the side as she studied Lauren’s face. ‘You seem . . . different. Lighter, somehow. Happier.’
Heat rushed to Lauren’s cheeks, and she averted her gaze. ‘Do I?’
‘Definitely.’ Sydney reached out, tipping Lauren’s chin up with her finger. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say—’
A knock at the door cut her off. Jake’s muffled voice carried through the heavy oak. ‘I’m heading to the meeting. Don’t be late.’
Lauren pushed to her feet, extending a hand to Sydney. ‘Guess that’s our cue.’
Sydney let Lauren pull her up. ‘I want details later, got it? I’m not going to be able to focus on a word Mum says until I know what’s got you all . . . glowy.’
‘Glowy?’ Lauren laughed. ‘That’s not even a word.’
‘Fine, radiant then. Effervescent. Incandescent.’
‘Are you just going to list synonyms until I spill my guts?’
Sydney grinned. ‘If that’s what it takes.’
Their playful back-and-forth continued all the way to the hotel’s conference room, their laughter turning heads as they entered.
At the head of the long, polished white desk sat Lauren’s mother, Eleanor, regal and composed, sipping tea from her bone china cup. The other board members were positioned around her, their faces schooled into expressions of polite attentiveness.
As Lauren and Sydney slid into their seats, Oliver entered, his eyes immediately seeking out Sydney. The smile they shared was so intimate, so full of quiet joy, that Lauren had to glance away, her chest aching with a sudden, fierce longing.
That’s what I want. A love so real it steals your breath.
Ivy, Lauren’s grandmother, was the last to arrive, moving to her chair with a brisk walk that belied her age.
Once they were all settled, Eleanor cleared her throat, commanding the room’s attention without even raising her voice.
‘I’ll get right to the point,’ she said crisply. ‘With the upcoming expansion, the hotel needs a strong leader at the helm to navigate this transitional period. To that end, I’ve made a decision regarding the new general manager.’
Lauren tried to read her mother’s inscrutable expression but failed miserably. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sydney tense, her knuckles white where they gripped the edge of the table.
‘And I’m appointing . . . Jake for the role.’
The words fell like stones into the absolute stillness of the room.
Sydney lurched halfway out of her chair before catching herself, her features contorted with shock and disbelief.
‘What a great choice, Mother,’ Sydney said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Only someone who knew her as well as Lauren did would catch the undercurrent of pure, seething fury.
And it was justified. Oliver had worked himself to the bone, learning every aspect of the business inside and out in the hopes of one day taking on a greater leadership role. To see him passed over in favour of Jake, who coasted by on charm, was a slap in the face.
Jake preened under the attention, looking for all the world like the cat who’d just been handed the keys to the cream factory.
‘Thank you, Eleanor,’ Jake said smoothly. ‘I’m honoured by your faith in me, and I promise I won’t let you down.’
‘I have no doubt,’ Eleanor replied.
Lauren sought out Sydney’s gaze, trying to convey her sympathy but Sydney wasn’t looking at her. She was staring at Eleanor.
‘She did this on purpose,’ Sydney muttered under her breath. ‘She wanted to humiliate Ollie.’
Lauren sat through the remainder of the meeting, barely listening as her mother discussed the quarterly results and upcoming projects. Her attention was fixed on the way Jake smugly nodded along while Oliver maintained a professional demeanour, but the tension in his posture was unmistakable.
As the meeting finally adjourned and everyone began to file out, Lauren lingered, pretending to gather her things. She waited until the last person left, then stood and faced her mother, who was organising her papers.
‘Mum, we need to talk,’ Lauren said, her voice tight with barely restrained frustration.
Eleanor glanced up, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. ‘About?’
Lauren tried to keep her voice steady. ‘Why did you promote Jake over Oliver? It doesn’t make any sense.’
Eleanor’s expression remained calm, but Lauren could see a flicker of something – annoyance, perhaps? ‘Lauren, I made a business decision. Jake has shown the qualities we need in that role.’
‘That’s not true, and you know it,’ Lauren countered, her frustration boiling over. ‘Oliver has been working harder than anyone. He deserved that promotion.’
Eleanor sighed, setting her papers aside and folding her hands on the table. ‘It’s not that simple. There are other factors at play.’
‘Other factors?’ Lauren echoed, incredulous. ‘Like what? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re intentionally punishing Ollie. What is it? Because he’s older than Syd? Because they chose not to have kids? Is that it?’
Eleanor’s eyes hardened, but she maintained her composed demeanour. ‘This isn’t about personal relationships, Lauren. It’s about what’s best for the company.’
‘Best for the company?’ Lauren repeated, her voice rising. ‘What does that even mean? Ollie is the best person for the job, and everyone knows it.’
