Page 44 of Room for Improvement

Edward tossed a bound stack of papers onto the desk and swore. “This is a bloody shit of a disaster.”

Bryce’s gaze landed on the pile. It was Luxury Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. While he didn’t have time to normally read it, he still knew the publication. It was one of the major international and US hotel and resort rags, as his father liked to call them.

He picked it up and quickly scanned the cover blurbs. On the right, in prime position, written in bold yellow letters were the words:

Royal Resorts Platinum Collection, Laguna Beach:

‘Room for Improvement’

His heart sank to his designer shoes.Oh, no.Bryce lifted his gaze and took in the expression on his father’s face. It was clear that Edward’s hopes for a global top 100 ranking for the billion dollar resort had been crushed by whatever had been printed in the magazine.

“What rating did they give us?”

Edward closed his eyes, then let out a sigh. “Three stars. And I think they might have given us one of those out of pity. Laguna Beach was meant to be the one that all others measured themselves up against. Our shining beacon. Fuck.”

As Bryce opened the magazine his father headed for the door. “I need some air. I’m going to get my driver to drop me off so I can go for a long walk in Central Park. I shall talk to you later, son.”

“Don’t you want to wait until I’ve read it?”

“No. I have to get out of the office, because if I see Jordan, there is a very good chance that I will murder him. After that, well…let’s just say, I’ve seen enough TV shows to be certain that I don’t ever plan to set foot inside Rikers prison.”

Under other circumstances, Bryce would have brushed off his father’s remark. However, the look of broken hope which sat on his face spoke volumes for Edward’s mental state.

Bryce wisely let his father go. A long walk would hopefully do Edward’s mind and mood some good. Rising from his chair, he followed Edward to the door and closed it after him. He was tempted to ask one of the office assistants to go and ask in-house catering to grind up some of his Jamaican coffee beans and brew him a fresh espresso.

I have a feeling I might need something stronger before this afternoon is over.

Bryce dropped back into his chair and flipped open the magazine. Thumbing through it, he stopped when he caught sight of a double page spread of the golf course and beach at the Royal Resorts California resort. He pushed away the memory of the morning when he and Vivian had walked the grounds. Of her happy smile as she snapped pictures with her cellphone.

The accompanying article was titledRoom for Improvement.

It sounded like a school report. Could do better in class. Lacks attention. The usual things he had overheard his parents arguing about during Jordan’s days at high school. A poor school rating was one thing, this was… “A bloody shit of a disaster,” he muttered, echoing his father’s words.

Watered down cocktails. Lack of towels by the pool. Tick. Tick. Then something caught his eye. A comment about the reviewer’s efforts to get a duvet struck a nerve. The more he read, the closer to boiling point his blood rapidly grew.

Whoever the reviewer for the magazine was, they too had eaten in the restaurant and found it to be adequate. They had also spent time at the poolside cabana. At least they had thoroughly enjoyed the woodfired pizzas. The mention of a long delay in checking in and then time wasted in the soulless Sunview Bar, drove Bryce to the verge of dashing the magazine against the window.

He simmered with a slow burning rage as he finally turned to the page which listed the magazine’s contributors and staff writers. Among the names, one stood out.

Vivian Holte. Vivian.

He had slept with a resort reviewer while she was on assignment.

His hand went to his mouth as the truth of the situation crashed down on him. She had to have known who he was. Was that what she meant when she said she’d taken a second look at him when they passed each other in the bar?

She was a resort reviewer for one of the biggest travel magazines in America, she had to have known who he was.And that means, oh.It went both ways. While Vivian hadn’t specifically mentioned her occupation, she had given him her real name. Had she assumed he was a regular reader of the magazine, and would therefore have known who she was?

She gave you her name. Oh, no.

Bryce’s pulse raced. Had this all been a game to her? Was Vivian that corrupt a reviewer that she would willingly let him seduce her? A night of amazing sex for a rave review. Had that been her plan all along?

Anger coursed through his veins. Vivian. Sweet. Sexy. Devil between the sheets Vivian had given the Laguna Beach resort a three star review.

No.

She gave me a three star review.

I put my soul into the hours we spent together making love, and she gave me…a three.

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