Page 16 of Saving it with My Best Friend's Brother

I made it in eight minutes, breaking at least three-speed limits. The scene at Pine Haven was controlled chaos, which reminded me painfully of Mom coordinating family events while trying to hide how much she was struggling.

The temp staff—four housekeepers and two servers—stood awkwardly in the lobby while Amelia attempted to handle their paperwork and a maintenance emergency in the kitchen. Her professional mask was slipping, showing the exhaustion underneath.

“Hot water’s out in the east wing,” she explained breathlessly as I walked in, her hair coming loose from its careful styling. “Jorge’s trying to fix it, but—“

“I’ve got the staff,” I said, taking the orientation packets from her trembling hands. “Go deal with the water heater.”

She hesitated. “Hunter—“

“Trust me, I’ve got this.” The words carried more weight than just temp staff orientation.

Something shifted in her expression—gratitude, maybe, or relief. Or maybe recognition of what I was offering. She nodded once and hurried toward the kitchen.

I turned to the temp staff with my best CEO smile—the real one, not the one I’d used at the records office. “Welcome to Pine Haven. Let’s get you sorted.”

The next hour was a crash course in resort operations. I walked the new housekeepers through room protocols that Amelia had drilled into every staff member, showed the servers the dining room layout where generations of families had celebrated milestones, and helped Jorge diagnose the water heater issue over the phone while remembering Dad’s lessons about hands-on management.

By the time Amelia returned, looking slightly damp but triumphant, the temps were working efficiently and the crisis had passed. Watching her interact with the staff reminded me of how Mom used to handle our household staff—with warmth and respect that inspired loyalty.

“The water heater?” I asked as she approached.

“Fixed. Turns out it just needed—“ She stopped, really looking at me for the first time since I’d returned. “You’re wearing a tie.”

I glanced at my outfit, realizing I was still dressed for my records office visit. The guilt from my earlier manipulation flickered. “Had an errand in town.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What kind of errand?”

Before I could answer—or lie—Mrs. Henderson appeared, looking distressed. “Oh, Ms. Horton! I’m so sorry to bother you, but we’re having trouble with our room’s air conditioning...”

“I’ll handle it,” I blurted, grateful for the interruption. “You focus on their anniversary dinner setup.”

Amelia’s expression softened slightly. “You don’t have to—“

“I want to.” Our eyes met, and for a moment, the bustle of the lobby faded away. “Let me help, remember?”

She nodded slowly, then turned to Mrs. Henderson with the kind smile she reserved for longtime guests. “Hunter will take care of everything. Now, about those special flowers you wanted for tonight...”

I watched them walk away, something warm settling in my chest at how naturally Amelia remembered details about eachguest’s preferences. Then I remembered what I’d discovered at the records office, and the warmth turned to ice. Crystal Ridge wasn’t just targeting a business—they were going after a community, just like what had happened to Dad’s employees.

Making my way to the maintenance office, I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number—one I hadn’t used since my corporate takeover days.

“Derek? It’s Hunter Miller. Remember that favor you owe me? I need everything you can find on Crystal Ridge Developments. Focus on permit applications and any connections to local officials.”

I lowered my voice as a group of guests passed, Mrs. Henderson’s grandchildren racing toward the play area. “Something’s not right here, and I need to know what we’re up against.”

“Anything specific I should look for?” Derek asked, his tone sharpening with interest.

I thought of Arthur Horton’s words: “I won’t sell to those vultures.” Of how Amelia looked when she talked about Pine Haven’s legacy. Of Mom’s face when we lost everything.

“Yeah,” I said grimly. “Look for patterns. Other properties they’ve gained through foreclosure. And Derek? Make it quick. We’re running out of time.”

After hanging up, I stood for a moment in the quiet hallway, listening to the hum of Pine Haven’s daily operations. Somewhere above me, the new housekeepers were getting rooms ready, their voices mixing with returning guests’ welcomes. The dining room echoed with preparations for the Hendersons’ anniversary celebration—their fiftieth, Jorge had proudly told me. And through it all, Amelia moved like a conductor, keeping every piece in harmony.

I’d be damned if I’d let Crystal Ridge destroy any of it.

***

Evening settled over Pine Haven like a soft blanket, the Hendersons’ anniversary celebration in full swing in the main dining room. I stood at the back, watching Amelia work her magic. She moved among the guests with effortless grace, her simple black dress elegant against the warm glow of candlelight. Something about her reminded me of old photographs of Mom hosting charity events—that same natural ability to make everyone feel special.

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