It only takes twenty minutes before we’re pulling up in front of the big five-star hotel. I pass over some cash for the ride and step out, taking in the massive building in front of me. Given that it’s nearly eight a.m. in Chicago, the streets are bustling with traffic, cars, and people. I bet a hundred people have to walk around me as I stand in the center of the sidewalk, just staring up at the giant building. But as cheesy as it might sound, it feels like this really is the first day of the rest of my life—a new beginning. The reality of that sinks in, and it drops all the way to my stomach, making me feel weighed down and sick.
I suck in a large gulp of air and push myself forward. “You can do this, El. Just show ‘em what you can do,” I whisper to myself as I approach the doors.
The doorman greets me with a “good morning” as he pulls the door open for me, but I’m so lost in thought, I don’t respond. I’m in awe as I step into the massive hotel and take in the marble floors, crystal chandelier, and glass elevators. This is one of the newer locations, and it shows. Everything looks crisp, clean, and brand new.
I approach the front desk and the person behind it holds up a finger as she answers a call. After a few seconds, she transfers the call and looks up at me.
“Welcome to the Castille Hotel. How may I help you today?” she asks with a smile as she pushes her deep red hair away from her perfectly-done face.
I force a smile into place. “Hi, I’m Janelle Ryder. I’m here for the internship.”
Her green eyes widen as a genuine smile takes over. “Of course. I’m Vanessa West.” She holds up her hand to shake.
I quickly shake her hand and she spins in her chair, picking something up before turning back to me. “Here is your name tag and security clearance to get into the employee-only areas. You’ll need to go up to the twentieth floor, and you’ll need to scan your pass in the elevator to get there. It will prompt you.” She hands everything to me.
I smile and nod. “Thank you,” I say, turning for the elevator as I look at the name tag and pass she just handed me.
I’d wondered why I had to submit a photo of myself when I sent in the application. I step into the elevator and clip my name tag to my jacket, then hit the button for the twentieth floor. When it beeps, I scan my security clearance pass and the doors close, taking me up.
I look at myself and smooth down my jacket and pants. Looking up, I find my reflection in the glass. My eyes are wide and full of excitement, but I can also see fear hidden away in them. I just hope I’m the only one who sees it. I’d hate to be known as the skittish woman who looks like she’s about to wet her pants and cry for her mommy.
The doors open and I step out, finding myself in a waiting area. I walk up to the desk where a woman with long, dark hair is sitting.
“Good morning,” she addresses me.
I smile. “Good morning, I’m Janelle Ryder, a new intern.” I hold out my hand, which she takes.
“We’re waiting for all twelve of the interns to arrive. Please have a seat and Mr. Karlsson will be with you all very soon.” She motions toward the side, where luxe-looking sofas and lounge chairs are set up.
I turn and walk over to the sofa to have a seat. While I wait, I pull out my iPad and work on my newest writing assignment. The deadline is in one week, but I have no idea what I’m going to be taking on with this internship, and I want to make sure I give both projects the time they require. If I don’t do well with this internship, it could ruin my future. However, if I don’t do well with this writing assignment, I won’t be paid for it. Neither is a good option.
“El?” a man asks, stealing my attention away.
I look up and find Chase. I smile and stand. “Hey, you got the internship!” I lean in for a hug.
He smiles his perfect smile. “I did, and it looks like you did as well.”
“I did. I’m really excited, but nervous at the same time.”
He motions toward the sofa and we both sit. “I am too. I heard that Griffin Karlsson isn’t the easiest guy to work for.”
“Really?” I ask, suddenly more afraid than I was five seconds ago.
He nods. “Yeah, apparently he has very high expectations, and he isn’t shy about letting you know how he feels.”
I press my lips together and shrug one shoulder. “That’s not really a bad thing though. I mean, if his expectations weren’t so high, then this hotel wouldn’t be doing as well as it is. I can appreciate a person who knows what they want and refuses to settle for less.”
He laughs. “Silver lining, I guess.”
Slowly, the room fills with the rest of the interns. The phone rings and the woman behind the desk answers it, whispering something. She then stands to address us.
“Mr. Karlsson will see all of you now.” She takes a few steps and opens a big wooden door.
One by one, we file into a big conference room and find a man I assume is Mr. Karlsson sitting at the head of the table.
“Good morning, everyone,” he says in a sexy Danish accent as he stands. “Please have a seat. I am Griffin Karlsson, head of advertising and your new boss for the next ten weeks.”
Chase and I take a seat next to each other, and I can’t help but look around the room and at Mr. Karlsson. He’s younger than I expected, probably only ten years older than me, if that. He has dirty blond hair that’s styled neatly. His eyes are more blue than any ocean, and his bone structure could be compared to that of a god. His cheekbones are sharp, and his jawline is strong. It’s easy to tell that he takes himself and his job very seriously. His suit fits to perfection, clinging to his strong body in just the right places, and even I can tell that it’s not a suit you could run to Saks and pick up. It’s custom-made to fit his glorious body: tall, lean, and hard.
“First of all,” Mr. Karlsson says, pulling me from my thoughts, “I want to thank you all for being here. This is a great opportunity for each one of you. Some will get sent home at the end of this project, and some may be given a job on the spot. It all depends on you and how hard you work—how much you want it. I expect some competition—you are competing for a job, after all. But I expect all of you to have dignity and respect. This isn’t a playground. Childlike behavior will not be tolerated. Understand?” Slowly, he looks each one of us in the eyes.
Once we all agree, he starts back up, walking slowly around the large table. “You’ve been selected for different reasons. Some of you are writers and editors, some are here for art and graphic design, and some are here to serve on the legal team. All of these elements make up our advertising team here at Castille Hotels. Advertising is more than just coming up with a catchy slogan and slapping a logo on it. We need artists and graphic design professionals to attract our various publics. We need writers to top that off, selling them a line that they can’t refuse. And legal, well,” he laughs, “we need to be sure we’re not getting sued for what we put out there.”
He makes his way back to the front of the room and stops to view us all. “With that said, you will be split up into three groups. If you’re on the legal team, please stand.”
Four people stand up, and Mr. Karlsson motions toward the door. It opens, and in walks a younger man with jet-black hair and a face of stone. “Please go with Mr. Cameron Styles.”
“Thank you, Griffin,” Mr. Styles says as he leaves the room with his four interns.
“If you’re here as an artist, please stand and go with Mrs. Vivian Grant.”
I look over at the door to find a woman no older than I am standing and waiting.
The next four leave, and that leaves just Chase, two other people I don’t know, and myself.
“You four are with me. Let’s get busy.” Mr. Karlsson takes his place at the table and flips open his leather-bound file folder.
He leans back in his chair, crossing his legs and getting comfortable. “It’s easy to draw attention to an exclusive resort on a warm, sunny beach. I mean, show some happy people splashing in the bluest water, sipping on decadent cockta
ils, and kissing as they slow dance, and what do you think that says to a prospective customer?”
No one else speaks up, so I do. “It shows them that if they go to that hotel, they’ll have the time of their life. It says that they will have fun, be spoiled, fall in love—all the things that tempt mankind.”
His blue eyes pop up and lock on mine, burning with intensity. It feels like time freezes as he slowly takes me in. Finally, he cracks a smile. “That’s right. Now,” he uncrosses his legs and leans forward, resting his arms on the table, “how do you draw them to a hotel in the Windy City? There are no warm beaches, perfect sunsets reflecting off the water, or people in hula skirts swallowing fiery swords.”
“Easy, cash in on what Chicago has to offer.” I shrug, biting my bottom lip as anxiety pumps through my body. I pray that’s the right answer.
His brows pull upward. “And what would that be?”
I twist my fingers together under the table as I think it over. “Well, I would think you’d need to appeal to the upper-class population. So we could use jewelry stores—maybe show a man proposing to his loved one. We could use the theater and restaurants in the hotel to show how much fun the guests have here—sipping their cocktails, eating their fancy dinners, smiling, kissing, dancing. And I think we’d need to sell Chicago more than the actual hotel. We’d need to show people our world-renowned theater scene, the new modern wing of the art museum and, of course, Cloud Gate—“The Bean”—in Millennium Park.”
The room is quiet as we wait to see what Mr. Karlsson thinks of my approach. Finally, he smiles and points in my direction. “You’re absolutely right. Selling Chicago is a big part of it, but why should people stay here rather than any other hotel in the city?”
“Reputation. The Castille brand has been around for many years, and it’s always been well received. Plus, this is a newer location, so everything is top of the line and up to date. Staying here isn’t just another random hotel; it’s a promise of luxury. Guests will be taken care of here. They’re not customers—they’re family.”
He looks shocked, yet impressed. “Very good, Ms. Ryder.”
Chapter 4
Griffin
“Please, call me El.” She smiles and her green eyes light up.
The look she’s giving me makes my lungs freeze in my chest and my heart pound wildly. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s also smart. She’s young, but maybe she’s responsible after all.
I nod. “Very well.” I tear my eyes away from her and look at the other three people sitting around the table. “Your assignment today is to write some slogans for the hotel. Write something catchy, something true—something that would draw you in if you were looking for a hotel.” I stand. “At noon, you may all leave for lunch, and when we come back, we’re going to go over what you’ve come up with.” I stand and head for the door, and already, they begin their whispering.
I turn around to face them. “And to be clear, I want each of you to have your own list. This isn’t a group activity. I want to know who deserves to be here and who doesn’t.” Without another word, I turn and leave them alone to get some work done. I have work of my own to get to and I can’t sit here and babysit them all day.
I head to my office, which is located in the building across the street, and sit behind my desk. The minute I do, my cell phone rings. “Hello, Vince,” I say, checking the caller ID.
He laughs. “How are the interns?”
I lean back in my chair. “I must say, I’m utterly surprised by Janelle. She seems to be the best in her group.”
“Yes!” Alison cheers from the background.
I laugh. “Don’t get excited yet. It’s still early.”
“She’s my sister, Griffin. She won’t let you down. She knows her stuff,” Alison adds on.
“We’ll see. Now that you’ve checked in, I need to get some work done.” I sit up, preparing to hang up.
“Bye, and thank you,” Alison says.
“See you later, Thor,” Vince adds on.
I chuckle and shake my head. “Bye.” I hang up the phone with a laugh. I’m happy that Vince found Alison. She seems to make him happy. He hasn’t taken this much time off from work in years. I can tell how happy he is just from hearing his voice.
Thinking about his happiness makes me question my own. A sharp pain slices through my heart when I think about where I was a few years ago and where I am now. I was happy once, but after that was ruined, I had to find happiness elsewhere. And work is where all my time and energy already go, so it only made sense to make my job my baby.
Relationships, marriage, and children are what make others feel like their life is worth living, but for me, that’s what makes life miserable. You never know if your life is about to come crashing down around you. I prefer to keep my happiness in my hands, not someone else’s.
I work until noon, when I finally push away from my desk to go to lunch. Before I take off, I run back across the street to the hotel to make sure the interns are set before I take off. The moment I step out of the elevator, they come walking out of the conference room, and we all pile in the elevator together. They’re all laughing and talking amongst themselves, and I can’t help but notice El. She’s breathtakingly beautiful: the way she moves with purpose, the way her smile stretches across her face, and the way her soft, porcelain skin and bright green eyes draw you in—she’s elegant, even though she isn’t trying to be. She isn’t aware I’m watching, and that gives me a better picture of who she really is.
Most people are one way when they’re around people, and completely different—usually for the worse—when they think they’re alone. Automatically, I can tell that El is her own person. She does what she wants, when she wants. She doesn’t put on a front or try to make people believe she’s something she’s not. In fact, I bet she doesn’t care one way or the other if someone likes her. She’s just comfortable in her own skin, and that has always been a turn-on for me. That’s something that drew me to Candice all those years ago.
With that thought, I shake my head clear just as the elevator dings and we all pile out. The interns go in one direction—probably heading for the restaurant here in the hotel—while I head toward the front doors.
“Mr. Karlsson,” someone calls out from behind me.
I turn around and find myself face to face with El.
“Can I help you?”
Her face flushes and a nervous smile appears. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but my sister is Alison Ryder.” She looks up at me from beneath her long, dark lashes.
I nod once. “I am aware. Is there a problem?”
She bounces from foot to foot. “Well, it’s just that, I’m not the kind of person who expects to ride someone else’s coattails to the top. I’m sure I was only picked because of who I know, but I don’t expect or want any favoritism when it comes down to it.”
I let out a soft laugh. “For one, Ms. Ryder, I do not play favorites. You will work for any credit you receive here. And two, you have nothing to worry about. I can already tell your work speaks for itself.”
Her gorgeous green eyes pop up to mine. “Really?”
“In the short amount of time I’ve known you, you’ve already outshined your competition. Keep up the good work. Now, I must be getting off to lunch, and you should do the same. We have a lot of work to do when we get back. You’ll need your strength.”
“Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. I hope I haven’t caused you to miss your reservation.”
I wave her off. “Not for you to worry about. I’ll see you in an hour.”
She offers up a smile and holds up her hand to wave goodbye. She takes a few steps backward, eyes still locked with mine before she finally turns and leaves me staring after her.
“So, that’s what you’re into,” Cameron says, walking up to my side.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, turning for the door.
He follows me out. “You want the teacher-a
nd-student thing,” he jokes, flashing me a smile and nudging me with his elbow.
I laugh and shake my head. “That was nothing. You’re mistaken.”
The doorman opens the door to the back seat of my awaiting black town car, and I slide in. To my surprise, Cameron joins me.
“I’m crashing your lunch. I didn’t get my reservation in on time. Where we going?”
“I’m going home. My chef has prepared lunch. But I guess you’re welcome to join.”
He smacks me on the back. “Thanks, buddy. So, this girl…”
“It’s nothing. Turns out, she’s Alison Ryder’s little sister, and while she knows why she was accepted into the program, she doesn’t want any favoritism while she’s here. Truth be told, I had already viewed her application and was going to pick her anyway.”
“Uh-huh. It didn’t have anything to do with her picture now, did it?” He flashes me a smile that annoys the shit out of me.
“Not all of us do everything with their dick in mind, Cam.”
He snorts. “You can mark my words, Griffin: she will be the one to bring you to your knees. For some reason, you can’t avoid her like you do the rest of them.”
“I don’t avoid any of them,” I argue.
“But you don’t have control of yourself with her. You flirt and smile with this one.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s not like she noticed. I caught her talking and smiling at another guy in my group. They seem to know each other.”
“Who cares? He’s nothing. You’re top dog. It’d be nothing to steal her away.”
I shake my head, needing to clear it. Cameron is getting in my head. “I’m not stealing anyone away from anyone. I’m not interested. Case closed.”
He rolls in laughter as he pulls a cigarette from his inner breast pocket. “We’ll see about that, my friend. We will see.”
“Yes, we will,” I agree, determined to keep my distance and space from this woman. It doesn’t take a genius to see that she’s not interested in me. And even me, a person who avoids relationships like the plague, can see how much she has a thing for that Chase guy. Either way, it’s not something I want to get mixed up in. Plus, if she ends up working out for the company, I don’t want any rumors going around. People are vindictive assholes. They’d say she only got the job because she slept with me. No way would I want her career to start out like that.
Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 60