Page 94 of (Un)Expected

My hands shook as I put the file back on her desk. “What…” I cleared my throat, trying to get rid of the bubble already forming there. “How the hell did you get this?”

Diane narrowed her eyes at my question. “I am one of the prominent business owners in this town,” she said, clearly bored. “Our company does more business than the rest of this town combined. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

“This hasnothingto do with you,” I scoffed.

“That’s where our opinions differ, Alexandria.” Diane’s voice was cold, almost lethal.

“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes, too angry to even give a shit that she was my boss. “Our businesses would operate in completely different circles. You wouldn’t even notice we exist.”

“Maybe,” Diane said, a little too smug for my liking. “However, it doesn’t matter anymore. The bank has decided to terminate your loan application. Turns out, they didn’t have a reference from your employer. I was more than happy to provide one.”

“You can’t do that!” I snapped. “It was already approved! You had no fucking right to interfere. When everyone finds out what you’ve done?—”

“How will they find out?” Diane tilted her head. “Besides, it’s done. Even if you tarnish my name, it won’t bring your sad little project back to life.” She smiled, and my blood ran cold. “However, I can help you—if you are willing to agree to my terms.”

My vision went red. I wanted to scream, torageat this woman. All my dreams, my freedom, my future were being washed down the drain as part of some sick game. Tears threatened to spill, but I forced them back, refusing to reveal any more weaknesses to Diane.

“What do you want?” I asked.

Diane leaned back in her chair. “I am willing to provide the start-up capital for your property. The board has been looking at different ways to expand The Isadora, and I think this would be a great place to start—a more…rusticexperience for our guests. It would still beunder our name, of course. You would be in charge of the day-to-day.”

This was a joke, right? This had to be a joke. There was no way this woman was stealing my dream and then asking if I would run it for her. The level of audacity was ridiculous, even for Diane. She couldn’t possibly think I’d ever trust a word she said.

“I’m not done,” Diane said, her attention shifting over to her daughter. “This offer is conditional on Calla agreeing to work for her father’s company.”

“Are you serious?” Calla snapped, her mouth hanging open. “You’re willing to screw over Alex to get me to go along with your plan? What iswrongwith you?”

“Wrong with me?” Diane said, her voice dripping with anger. “I have given you everything, Calla.Everything. All I ask is that you do something with your life, not bum around this town with zero purpose. You’re too damn smart to ruin your life with your lack of ambition.” She scoffed. “You’re an embarrassment to this family.”

“Stop,” I snapped, hating the look on Calla’s face. My friend, the one who was always smiling, always finding joy in the world, looked utterly broken under the weight of her mother’s words.

“Is that what you think of me?” she said quietly. “That I’m an embarrassment to this family?” She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes. “If that’s how you feel, fine. I won’t be a part of it anymore. I’mdone, Mother.”

Diane’s eyes widened for a moment before her stoic mask slipped back into place. She shook her head. “You don’t mean that.”

Calla stood, placing her hands on her mother’s desk and leaning forward. “Oh, I do. I’m done with your demands, done with you trying to push me to lead your life. If your love is that conditional, then I don’t need it anymore.”

“You’ll change your mind,” Diane sighs. “You’ll see I only want the best for you.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, taking Calla’s hand and pulling her over to the corner of the office. “I’m behind you, no matter what. I don’twant you to give up everything because of her. We’ll find another way to fight back.”

“Thanks, Alex,” she smiled at me. “But this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while.” She glared at her mother. “I’m tired of her guilting me, forcing me to follow her lead. I’m going to make my own choices, whether she likes it or not.”

Diane rolled her eyes, ignoring her daughter in favor of staring at me. “Are you going to talk some sense into her? Or are you willing to throw away your future along with my daughter?”

I looked at Calla, feeling empowered by her words and desire to get out from under her mother’s thumb. The whole point of this project was to find something that was mine so I could put my mark on this town the way I wanted. If I accepted her offer, it would be the same bullshit I’d dealt with for the past three years.

As much as I loved the Fox Creek Lodge, there would be others.

“No,” I said firmly, taking my place at Calla’s side. “In fact, I quit.”

“What?” Diane snapped.

“I quit. I’m done with you and this place. Maybe my plan didn’t work out, but I’m not about to sign my life away to you.” I took Calla’s hand and led her out of the office. “My life will be as far from you and your bullshit as possible.”

FORTY-THREE

Holy shit. Holy shit.Holy shit. I quit my fucking job. After years of dreaming about leaving the Isadora, I’d finally done it.

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