Page 9 of The Main Event

“That’s what all the hotels do here,” Tammy offered. “It’s just part of working in the hospitality industry.”

I sipped my drink and told myself not to say the next part. There was no stopping me, though. That filter certain people had where they could keep the mean stuff inside was something I apparently didn’t possess. It didn’t help that my mothers—both of them—constantly told me to make my voice heard when I was growing up. My father explained that it was okay to consider my audience before speaking. Unfortunately, my mothers had gotten their way on that one and I often spoke before I thought better of it.

“I actually have a plan where we might not have to do that,” I blurted.

Levi made a sighing noise, and when I looked up, he was shaking his head. “I knew you were going to say it even though I told you to wait.”

I shrugged. “I don’t see the point of holding back. Mr. Hunter here is trying to decide if he should keep me on. I might as well tell him my whole plan.”

“I want to hear your whole plan,” Jax agreed.

“Oh, me too,” Tammy drawled. “I’m sure that this will be profound from the girl who didn’t even finish college.”

It was a pointed slap, and one that I was sensitive about. I’d gone to college because it was expected of me. All the other kids in my graduation year were basically separated into two groups. Those who believed college was the only way to go and those who were resigned to making less money. I wanted to make more money. I’d gone into the hospitality program at a local college. That’s what a lot of the kids here did because everything in Salem was based on tourism. I hadn’t made it to graduation, though. I’d dropped out when I realized that it was a waste of money and nothing I was learning would actually help with the job I wanted to do.

“I don’t happen to think that college is necessary for everything,” I said in an icy voice.

“I don’t either,” Jax replied, taking everybody by surprise.

“You don’t?” I asked, hope welling in my chest.

“Of course not.” Jax wrinkled his nose. “Trade school is a great alternative. You can never have enough plumbers, electricians, and automotive technicians.”

I deflated a bit. “Right.” I tapped my fingers on the counter and forced myself to focus. “So, anyway, I was thinking that we could make a concerted effort to advertise for corporate partiesin January and February. Actually, February could be aimed at Valentine’s Day parties too. We could go all out.”

Jax blinked but didn’t immediately respond. That forced me to hurry forward and fill the silence. I wasn’t good with silences.

“It can’t happen this year because we need the downtime to finish renovations,” I said. “Once all those rooms are updated, though, they become a big draw. I think we can work with that.”

“And what happens if we spend a bunch of money on advertising and it doesn’t work?” Tammy queried. She acted innocent enough, but I knew she was being snotty just to be snotty. “I mean … if we start the spring season at a deficit, that’s going to be really hard to make up.”

My stomach constricted, but I nodded all the same. “It’s something that we definitely need to talk about, come up with a budget for, and really plan out. We might not be able to manage it. I don’t honestly know. It was just a suggestion.”

“I like suggestions,” Jax assured me. “Even if it’s something that won’t work out, I want to hear it. My problem is that you make six figures a year, and it looks here as if you actually only show up one day a week.”

He held up his hand to cut me off when I opened my mouth to argue just how wrong he really was. “I get that you do some of this at home. It seems to me that we could make party planning part of the concierge’s job, or even Tammy’s job, and be able to eliminate an entire position.”

I narrowed my eyes as Tammy started bobbing her head.

“I could totally be in charge of parties,” Tammy agreed.

Levi and I made derisive noises in the backs of our throats in tandem.

Jax arched an eyebrow as he slowly swiveled to face me. “You feel differently?”

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation. “I feel very differently. I don’t think words are what’s going to do it for you, though.”I reached over and rummaged through the small attaché case I’d been carrying and came back with a purple folder. I always color-coded my parties for the month. “I have a solution, though.”

“I’m all ears,” Jax replied evenly.

“Yes, I can’t wait to hear this,” Tammy agreed in snarky fashion.

I forced myself not to react in kind. “Tonight, Delilah Stratton is having her Sweet Sixteen party here.”

“There’s a Sweet Sixteen party on a Monday?” Jax looked dubious.

“She’s leaving for a special trip to Paris with her ten closest friends later in the week,” I replied. “This is not a normal situation. Her father is rich. He screwed her mother out of a bunch of money in the divorce. He’s going all out for Delilah’s birthday as part of the big ‘screw you’ to his ex-wife. It’s a whole big thing.”

I waved my hand to keep the conversation moving. “None of that is important, though. What is important is that we have a relatively big party going tonight. It’s one I’ve already set into motion. All the specifics are in that folder.”

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