by Natalie Ann
“Oh,” Molly said. “Where?”
She shouldn’t have opened her mouth and said that when she was much more reserved. She could only blame it on the relaxing night of sleep she’d gotten after Eli left her room yesterday.
He’d gone back to work, she’d spent the afternoon in the gym and then the spa, returned to her suite, made dinner, read a book and went to bed, sleeping solidly through the night.
Tonight she was cooking dinner for the two of them in Eli’s penthouse. As much as she’d like to prepare it ahead of time, it’s not like she had access to his place without asking.
“He has casinos all over the world,” she said. It was the truth and best to keep it that way.
“That’s funny. You don’t have an accent,” Molly said.
“No,” she said, smiling back.
“It would seem to me that you wouldn’t need to learn anything here,” Molly said.
“It’s more like a collaboration of sorts. I’m seeing how Eli does things compared to how we do. When it’s all said and done, we’ll meet and I’ll give him ideas and suggestions.”
That sounded better to her. “Then why are you doing small administrative stuff like this? Or working shows?”
She hated all these questions but knew it was more curiosity than anything else. There had been comments about her spending time with Janet Bond too. In the past several days the looks she was getting were leading more to believe she was here shagging the boss and he was giving her something to do with her time. Maybe even a charity position. She was squashing those rumors fast.
Part of that was true now. No, it was all true. Just not the charity part.
Oh well. “You can’t make adjustments or suggestions without seeing things from the ground up. So, what is planned for today?”
“Not a lot. I’m going through the shows we have booked for the rest of the summer and into the fall. There are still some slots open for this winter, but most fill up fast. I need to make a few calls for the ones in the next month to verify we have the setups correct for what is needed.”
“Why are you only doing that a month out?” she asked. “That doesn’t give a lot of time to make changes or get what is needed on an island this small.”
“No, it doesn’t. We end up scrambling a lot too. It’s just the way they’ve done it. I guess that is one of those suggestions you’re going to have?” Molly asked.
“Yes. I wonder if you had things in place prior to reaching out to agents if you’d have a better chance of getting entertainment booked further out.”
“We haven’t done a lot of different things. It’s been concerts or comedy shows more than anything. I know Eli would like to expand into more magic shows.”
Interesting. “I’ll talk to Eli about it. Shows are a big attraction. You’d be surprised by the number of guests who love dance. I know the theater here isn’t as big as many other casinos but adjustments could be made easily. A stage is a stage.”
And it was giving her an idea she’d like to propose to Eli too. One she’d had for years and her uncle wouldn’t hear of it. But in America, they were all for things like this.
Three hours later, she was leaving the theater after walking around and looking, getting an idea of the size and going backstage.
“Are you lost?”
She turned to see Griffin standing there. “Hardly. Just checking something out for an idea I had. I probably should keep it to myself though. I know this is busy work for me, but I spun it up as me being here as part of a collaboration for some of the employees.”
“It can be that too. What’s your idea?” When she hesitated, Griffin added. “You can tell Eli first, but if it has merit he’ll do it. And then he’ll come to me and I’ll have to make it work. I’d rather have a heads up before he gets all excited and I have to talk him off the ledge or make him see reason.”
She laughed. “Since this isn’t anything my uncle has done and I’ve got no idea what it might entail, I’ll run it by you and then you can tell me to keep it to myself if you want. It would take time to get moving, if it ever came about, and I’ll be long gone by then.”
It hurt to say those words let alone think them and she had to remind herself this was temporary. She shouldn’t get attached to this place or the “job” she was filling in for.
“Let me be the judge of that.”
“Okay. Here goes. I’ve noticed it seems America has all these reality shows and contests. People are trying to win money or a career, an agent. You name it, that is what they want to do.”
“Everyone wants their ten minutes of fame,” Griffin said. “Are you thinking a reality show here at the casino? What? How to learn to be a dealer or a poker player? I’m almost getting nightmares now.”
“I wasn’t thinking that, but it would have merit too.”
“I should have kept my lips closed,” he said, his tone dry. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of venue headliners. Not everyone wants a massive recording contract. Some people want to be on stage. Why not narrow in on musicians or magicians. Smaller sized, run a competition of sorts to get the best act. Then sign that person exclusively to Bond Casino, for let’s say one year.”
“That I could handle more than filming a reality show here.”
“Ah, but the reality show has merit too. On Amore Island. Just think of the possibilities.”
“I am,” Griffin said. “Nightmares again.”
She laughed. “What are you two talking about?”
“Are you following me?” she asked Eli when he came up next to them. “First Griffin shows up and now you. Or can’t you two be apart for more than an hour?”
Griffin snorted. “Considering Eli has the night off with you, it’s a good thing we can be apart.”
“You told him,” she said to Eli.
“Griffin can be trusted. Besides, I don’t want to be interrupted tonight, so he has to know where I am.”
She knew that and shouldn’t have gotten bent out of shape over it. There didn’t seem to be too many secrets between these two.
“Why doesn’t he have dinner with us too?” she said sarcastically.
Griffin laughed. It completely transformed his face to see the smile and not the serious man she was coming to like. “What did I tell you this morning?”
“Not funny,” Eli said. “No, Griffin is not joining us for dinner. What are you two talking about?”
“Work,” Griffin said. “She has good ideas.”
Eli smiled. “And you are running them by him and not me?”
She looked at Griffin and didn’t want to give away what he’d said about having to pull Eli off the ledge. “He was available and you weren’t. I just wanted to know if I was nuts and figured he’d give me his honest opinion.”
“She’s spending time with you, so she must be nuts, but her ideas have merit.” Griffin pulled his phone out, then said, “This is the call I’ve been waiting for. I’ll fill you in later, Eli.”
It was the two of them standing there now. “Are you going to tell me your idea?”
“Not now,” she said. “I’m sure you’ve got things to do.”
“I do. I also wondered if you wanted to go to the penthouse before me? You don’t have to, but I wasn’t sure if there were things you had to bring up there or prepare ahead of time.”
“I do, but we could talk while I’m cooking and preparing if you’re okay with that. I could fill you in on what Griffin and I were talking about.”
“I’d like that,” he said. “I’ll get you around five.” He looked around, then nodded her into the theater after he swiped his card to get in. The minute the door closed he had her back to the wall, his mouth on hers and if he wasn’t holding her up, she might have melted to the floor.
He lifted his head after a minute. “Wow,” she said. “That should hold me over until later.”
“That was the point.”
20
Life On D
isplay
At five on the dot, Eli was knocking on Bella’s door.
She opened it and said, “Why didn’t you just use your master key?”
“What if you were doing something you didn’t want me to see?” he said when he walked in. He leaned down and kissed her. Something his father did to his mother when he walked in the house, now that he thought of it.
Funny how he never had those images before with other women.
Then he had to remind himself he hadn’t dated anyone that would be considered a relationship in years. He’d have no reason for those thoughts to pop in his head.
“I’m not that adventurous of a person if I’m reading your mind right.”
“Ah,” he said. “We might have to change that.” He looked at the table and saw two bags that he was assuming were food, then another small bag that was probably holding her clothes.
“All set?” he asked, moving over to get the food.
“I am.”
She put the clothing bag over her shoulder and grabbed her purse, then went to the fridge and pulled a box out. “What’s that?”
“Dessert,” she said. “It wasn’t easy as I was limited to what I could make with what was here, so in the end I ordered from the bakery a few miles away and picked it up when I got the rest of the food for tonight.”
He was touched she’d thought of it. “And what is for dessert?”
“An assortment of pastries. I figured a cake would go to waste, but pastries could be picked at for a few days.”
“That works,” he said. “And what is on the menu for dinner tonight?”
He couldn’t tell what was in the bags. “Nothing that takes too long. I’ve got a few salmon filets, rice, and asparagus. I took a risk but should have asked if that was okay.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I eat just about anything. I’m not fussy as long as I’m not the one doing the cooking.”
They left her suite and walked down the hall, nodding to a guest going into their room. No one would know who they were. Even though he had a suit on, it’s not like he wore a nametag marking him as an employee let alone the owner.
Bella had the same summer dress on as she had earlier when he’d seen her working. He liked that she was still dressed up. He’d only seen her in casual wear a few times. She almost seemed uncomfortable in them and he wondered if she was just used to dressing up like he was.
He was comfortable in anything, but this island was his home. She was still a guest here.
Though he was trying his hardest to get her to relax, he wondered if he’d be able to achieve that goal or not.
They got to the end of the hall and into the service elevator. It was empty, but if it had staff in it, he and Bella would have gone to the first floor so that there would have been no talk and gotten on his private one from there. Instead he did what he had the other day, and put his passcode in and overrode this one to take him to the penthouse floor where it’d open into the hallway.
“So, what is behind that door?” Bella asked when they got off.
“That’s Griffin’s private suite with security cameras and access no one knows about but owners.”
“So he lives there too?” she asked.
“Yes. Again, no one knows but owners and a few family members that would be privy to that knowledge. As far as everyone else is concerned, Griffin has a suite similar to yours.” He figured he might as well let her know. “Matter of fact, it’s the one next to yours on the end.”
“Oh,” she said. “So he’s next door watching me?” He turned to look at the grin on her face when he opened the door to his penthouse. It brought them to the foyer just like his elevator did.
“No. He stops into the place once a day to look around or make an appearance so that people know he’s there. He messes it up or showers. Does whatever he does in there and housekeeping cleans it for him twice a week.”
“Do they clean his place next to yours?”
“No. Then they’d know he was there. He doesn’t like anyone going through his things, which is why there isn’t much in his suite other than to make it look like he lives there.”
“I can understand wanting the privacy. I’ve never known any differently having staff and security around me at all times, but if you aren’t used to it, it can be intrusive.”
“And we aren’t going to talk about that tonight. It’s just about the two of us. Anything I can help you with? Can I take a quick shower first?”
“Go ahead,” she said. “I took one before you got me.”
“And you put this pretty dress back on for me?”
“I did. I figured if it was enough to make you grab me earlier for a kiss to hold me over, then it had to be appealing to you.”
The look in her eye was soft and sweet. “I find everything about you appealing. This dress included. But I have to say, I’m much more interested in getting it off of you so I’m glad dinner won’t take long to cook.”
“It won’t. And if we keep talking like this, then I’ll burn dinner. So maybe I can tell you about my idea that Griffin said was going to cause him nightmares. Once dinner is done, work is off the table.”
“Sounds like a perfect plan to me.” Since his dick had been twitching in his pants thinking about tonight he needed a distraction anyway. When he came back out of his room ten minutes later in shorts and a T-shirt, he said, “I feel underdressed.”
“Don’t,” she said, moving out from behind the island. “The other reason I put the dress back on is because when barefoot is a nice casual summer dress.”
He looked down at her red toenails, a pretty pedicure that looked new. Or maybe she had it yesterday and he hadn’t been paying enough attention to those details.
“And sexy,” he said. “How about a glass of wine while we talk?”
“That sounds lovely,” she said.
He went and found the perfect complement to her dinner, poured them both a glass and sat down prepared to watch her cook.
“So tell me this idea.”
“Just a brief summary. When working with Molly today she mentioned that she was checking with the entertainment due in the next month or two to make sure everything was set or what was needed. She said there were still slots to fill this winter. Most slots are filled almost a year in advance at my uncle’s.”
“Because he’s bigger and more established. More sought after than me. I’m still building.”
“You are, I understand that. But I suggested if you reached out to set things up much sooner, that agents would be more inclined to want to book other talents rather than worrying it’s a last minute rodeo with Wonder Woman’s lasso flying in the air trying to grab everything at once.”
He smiled over that analogy. “I’ve heard it phrased close to that before. It’s a wild few days getting things set up if it’s something we don’t have access to. I can only wear so many hats and that isn’t my area of expertise.”
“It’s mine,” she said. “So as I mentioned to Molly, I’m here doing an assessment or collaboration of sorts.”
“That’s a good explanation for your reason. I’m sure people are talking more about us too,” he said, sipping his wine. She had the rice going and was seasoning the fish. “Do you need a pan?”
“Nope. I’m going to use the grill top,” she said. “I’m all good. And yes, there have been comments about us, but I’m good at deflecting.”
“Like Captain America’s shield.”
She laughed. “I had that coming using a Wonder Woman reference.”
“You did.”
“So to build on that observation today…the idea I tossed to Griffin was that people always seem to love competition. Someone wants to win. They want a prize. Audiences love to be part of the judging on top of it.”
“A competition for what?” he asked.
“I jokingly referenced a reality show and Griffin cringed.”
“He would,” he said. “He’s not into putting his life on display like so ma
ny want their claim to fame that way.”
“Agreed. Though I do think you could have all sorts of great ideas for a reality show on this island. Think of the publicity.”
“That would be something to consider, but it would be more along a family conversation. If it could benefit the island as a whole, maybe. But not something I’d want to take on solely.”
“Of course not. My idea was more in line with let’s say a magic competition. You get contestants here, audiences judge and pick a winner. The winner is signed to exclusive shows at Bond Casino for say a year. The details would be worked out to the number and so on. A major marketing tool to not only get magic shows on the island but also guests who want to be part of it. Or have a say in who wins.”
“I like it,” he said. “Would it be too much to ask you to write up a proposal and work on that? Make it your priority while you’re here? Maybe even meet with Hailey to find out the legal course of actions.”
“I could do that.” She grabbed the salmon and asparagus and put them on the grill, then turned back to him and picked up her wine. “I’m sure you’d like as much of that in place before I left. Who knows when that will be? But something like that takes time.”
“It does. And I’m not thinking of anything other than tonight. Even tomorrow. We have to take this day by day. Can you do that?”
“I can,” she said softly. “I am.”
The minute dinner was done, Eli helped her set the table and talks of work halted.
It was nice to have that conversation and feel like she was being heard.
Uncle Oliver listened to her, but normally said yes, you deal with it, if it made sense. Or if it was too far out there, pushed her off. He wasn’t always one to step outside his ring of fire when it came to the entertainment.
To him, that was the side revenue. The casino was his bread and butter and he focused on that.
But here, she noticed that the entertainment must bring in a lot more revenue than she thought. Not that she had access to that information and wouldn’t ask.
She was smart enough to figure it out on her own though. She saw the schedule of shows, she could see the tickets that were sold or look back at what had been done in the past.