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  “We have a new employee training program in place, and, of course, retraining will be done by all of the employees,” said Mr. Chase.

  “This is a good investment for you, but in order to maximize your dollars, you are going to need to upgrade your rooms—this will increase occupancy.” Natasha paused a moment before continuing. “Mr. Chase, without substantial investment, it is often possible to improve the quality of service just through better staff training and communication skills. Little touches that make a world of difference can be missing.”

  She was so glad the meeting had finished on time. Natasha’s day was a busy one, but she was grateful because she needed the money. She had two more appointments before having lunch with a potential client.

  Natasha checked her watch. Ari and his father were on the plane by now. The flight was scheduled to depart in the next twenty minutes or so.

  Her next two meetings were productive. Natasha was grateful her day seemed to be going well. She left her office and got into her car. She was meeting with the CEO of the Savoy Hotel Group. While driving, Natasha rehearsed her presentation in her head.

  Paul Pritzkin was just arriving when she got out of her car. They walked into the restaurant together.

  They were seated immediately.

  “I’m so glad you could meet with me at this late notice,” Paul told her. “I have to leave this evening for London, and I won’t be back for a couple of weeks.”

  “Thank you for calling me,” she said. “I welcome the opportunity to work with your company.”

  They made small talk until their food arrived.

  Natasha sliced into her entrée. “LeBlanc Consulting experts will help you outperform your local competition, Mr. Pritzkin. We specialize in hotel consulting. Within this small market niche, we offer a complete portfolio of services for the hospitality industry. You can combine the following services or products in order to obtain a package tailored to your specific needs.”

  Paul glanced down at the information she had given him. “You also specialize in operator selection?”

  “Yes,” Natasha responded. “If you are looking for a hotel group to run a planned or existing hotel, we can assist you with the selection of a suitable operator. We can also advise you with regard to the financial and legal aspects of a management or lease contract.”

  Two hours later, Natasha walked out of the restaurant with a check and signed contract. She hummed softly as she made her way to her car.

  Natasha drove back to her office, grateful for the new clients she’d picked up today. She was responsible for twelve employees, and the new clients would help with overhead and payroll costs.

  Her assistant had left a copy of Hospitality News in her office. On the cover was an article about Robert DePaul’s death and his secret son. The media was predicting an all-out war between the DePaul family and Malcolm Alexander.

  For Malcolm’s sake, she prayed it wouldn’t come to that. He seemed like a really nice man. As for Ari…the truth was that she liked Ari, although Natasha was pretty sure he didn’t care much for her.

  I probably would’ve tried harder to win him over if he weren’t married. The thought made her laugh. Despite his marital status, she found him compelling, his magnetism potent.

  How could I be attracted to this man? Natasha kept repeating he’s married over and over in her head, but it was as if her heart refused to listen. She turned on the television to take her mind off Ari Alexander.

  Natasha watched TV for about an hour before calling it a night. Her sister’s engagement dinner was tomorrow night, so she and Joshua would be leaving first thing Saturday morning. Natasha was looking forward to seeing her family. She really didn’t have anyone she was close to in Los Angeles, so she relished the time spent with her brother or sister.

  After a relaxing shower, she slipped into her favorite sleepwear, a Lakers basketball jersey with Kobe Bryant’s number. Natasha was a devoted basketball fan.

  Ari drifted into her mind once more, causing her to toss a pillow at the wall in frustration. “Why can’t I stop thinking about you?” she whispered. Natasha didn’t want to think about Ari. He was married, and she respected the boundaries. Her ex-husband had never been faithful. She would never cross that line with a married man.

  She wasn’t that type of woman.

  Chapter 5

  Natasha and Joshua left early Saturday morning, heading to Phoenix for her sister’s engagement dinner.

  “I was about to get worried,” her mother told her when they arrived shortly after twelve noon. “I thought you would be here an hour ago.”

  “There was a bad accident on the I-10.” Natasha hugged her mother. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Joshua hugged his grandmother next. “Where’s Pop?” he asked, referring to his grandfather.

  “He’s in the backyard grilling some hot dogs.”

  Joshua’s face lit up. “He is?”

  Natasha met her mother’s amused gaze and broke into a grin. Her son loved hot dogs, especially grilled hot dogs. “Put your cap on, Joshua.”

  The little boy did as he was told then ran off to the back of the house.

  “He looks good,” her mother said.

  Natasha agreed. “Joshua still tires pretty easily, but he’s much better than before.” She noted a look of sadness on her mother’s face. “The doctor says that he’s a little miracle. Joshua is going to be fine, Mama.”

  Corrine Henry had aged some with worry for her grandson—Natasha could see it on her mother’s face. “He’s fine,” she repeated.

  They were interrupted by the arrival of her brother, Nathan, and his family.

  Natasha was enveloped into a tight bear hug. She laughed and then said, “Boy, you play too much.”

  She greeted her sister-in-law with a kiss on the cheek. “Kate, how do you put up with him?”

  “My baby loves me,” Nathan responded, wrapping an arm around his wife.

  Natasha smiled at the look of happiness on her brother’s face. “Yeah, she does love you. That makes me very happy.”

  He embraced her. “You know that I want the same for you.”

  She kissed his cheek. “I’m going to check on the children.”

  Joshua was in the backyard with his cousins, eating. Her father was sitting at the picnic table with them, talking. He was probably telling them stories of his days as a marine.

  Natasha’s eyes traveled the property that ran two acres long. A huge tent had been secured for Natalie’s engagement dinner later that evening. A florist had arrived a few minutes ago with a van loaded with gorgeous arrangements.

  Smiling, Natasha walked up to her father. “Hey, Daddy.”

  Nathan Sr. stood up and gave her a hug. “Hey, baby girl. How was the drive?”

  “It was good,” she responded. “Joshua slept most of the drive down. When he woke up, we sang songs the rest of the way here.”

  She stepped out of the way of the workers carrying centerpieces. “The flowers are lovely.”

  “I know they cost a lot of money,” her father complained. “This is just the engagement party. I don’t know if my wallet can survive the wedding.”

  Natasha laughed. “It won’t be too bad, Daddy. You know Natalie—she’s the sensible one.”

  “I also know your mother.” He winked at her.

  “I know you’re over there talking about me,” Corrine said, walking toward them. “Your father complaining about that wallet of his again?”

  Natasha and her father both cracked up with laughter.

  “I need to unpack our clothes for the dinner tonight,” she told her parents. “I’ll be back in a few. Dad, please don’t let Joshua have another hot dog.”

  “I’m not going to let the boy starve, Natasha. If he’s hungry, let him eat.”

  “Just give him some fruit…please. I’m trying to get him to eat more fruit.”

  After eliciting a promise from her father, Natasha headed back inside the house.

>   Nathan had carried her luggage into the house and to her old bedroom, so all Natasha had to do now was unpack. They were going to be in Phoenix for only one night, so they didn’t bring much.

  She hung up her dress and laid out the suit Joshua would be wearing for the dinner this evening.

  Natasha freshened up before joining her mother in the kitchen. “What can I do to help?” she asked.

  Corrine glanced around the huge gourmet kitchen. “Everything has been taken care of, sweetheart. Mandy and Alice will be here in a couple of hours to get everything set up for dinner.”

  Her mother owned a catering company, and her employees would be serving the guests this evening.

  Natasha’s eyes bounced around, taking in the attractive display of desserts for the dinner, the party favors and the appetizers. “I can’t have any of this stuff, Mama. Just looking at it makes me gain weight,” she teased. “Everything looks really nice, Mama. You always do a wonderful job.” Natasha recalled the great selection of food at her wedding celebration, and how beautiful the church and reception had been decorated. Everything had been perfect, except the marriage.

  “I’ve been hearing a lot about Robert DePaul’s son,” her mother said.

  Natasha nodded. “I hate to say this, but if his son had been Caucasian, I don’t think there would be all of this fuss.”

  Corrine shrugged. “I don’t know, Natasha. A secret son is a secret son—people love to hear about the skeletons of others coming out of the closet.”

  Natasha grabbed an apple and took a bite. “I’ve met Malcolm Alexander. He’s actually a very nice man.”

  “So do you think it’s true? Is he really Robert DePaul’s son?”

  “I don’t believe Robert would’ve left his entire estate to Malcolm if he wasn’t sure,” Natasha said. “He wasn’t out of his mind like the media is trying to portray. I think Robert just wanted to do right by his only son.” She shook her head. “It’s crazy what they are accusing him of—Malcolm didn’t know anything about Robert being his father.”

  Corrine picked up an apple and bit into it. “So what is this Malcolm Alexander like?”

  “He’s very Southern,” Natasha said with a smile. “A true Southern gentleman. He’s quiet. I can tell that he thinks before he speaks. Now his son…Ari is the opposite of his father. He’s never met an opinion he didn’t share.”

  “Sounds like you two have had some fireworks.”

  “We have,” Natasha admitted. “But it’s because he’s extremely protective of his father.”

  “Is he handsome?”

  Natasha smiled. “When Ari’s not scowling at me, he looks pretty good. Before you start trying to match us up—you can forget about it. He’s married.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “He wears a wedding ring, Mom,” Natasha responded with a chuckle. “He’s as married as they come.”

  “That’s too bad,” her mother responded. “Well, Malcolm Alexander does have other sons, right?”

  “Why are you always trying to find a man for me? Mom, I don’t have time for romance. I have my son to worry about.”

  Corrine’s mouth curved with tenderness. “Natasha, you’re still young—you should enjoy your life.”

  “My life is fine, Mom,” she insisted. “Really, it is.”

  Her mother didn’t look as if she believed her, so Natasha decided to let the matter drop. Her marriage lasted all of one year. Her husband ran off with a stripper shortly after he found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t until he was gone that she found out about all the other women he had been seeing—some before they were married. Calvin didn’t want to pay child support, so he voluntarily terminated his parental rights.

  Natasha had finally made peace with the past, and she desired to just move forward with her life. Her beautiful son had come out of the marriage; he was the only pleasant thing about her relationship with her ex-husband, the serial cheater.

  Saturday afternoon, Ari and his siblings joined their parents at the dining-room table.

  Malcolm and Barbara had called a family meeting. Even their two youngest children, who were attending college in Atlanta, had come home for the weekend.

  “We’re all here and accounted for,” Kellen said with a chuckle.

  Barbara smiled. “Seems like the only time we see you is when there’s a family meeting, son.”

  He gave a slight shrug. “Mom, you know me. I have places to go and people to see.”

  She gave him a playful pinch. “Ask those people for money next month when your rent has to be paid.”

  “How about you come to Atlanta?” Kellen inquired. “We can do a mother-son dinner or something.”

  “Let’s get started,” Malcolm interjected. He gave them a brief recap of what had transpired during their trip to Beverly Hills. “So where we are now is that there’s an offer on the table to buy the hotel properties. We suspect it’s DePaul’s relatives.”

  “Why are they being so sneaky about it?” Zaire asked.

  “I don’t care why,” Ari responded. “Dad, I don’t think we should entertain any offers to buy the hotel properties. I know we’re talking about a chain of luxury resorts—the hard work has already been done for us. All we have to do is maintain the high standards set forth by Robert DePaul. Family, we can do this.”

  Blaze nodded in agreement. “I’m with Ari on this. It’s not like we have to reinvent the wheel.”

  Sage nodded in agreement. “Dad, I agree with Ari and Blaze.”

  Malcolm looked in Drayden’s direction. “I’d like to hear your thoughts on this, too.”

  “Dad, this is something you and Mom have dreamed about. I think you should do it. We can sell the hotels here in Georgia or do some major renovations so that it will reflect the same luxury as the DePaul properties. It could be one of the few DePaul hotels on the East Coast.”

  Ari nodded in agreement. “I like that idea.”

  “You all really want this?” Malcolm inquired, looking around the table at his children.

  They all nodded.

  He turned to face his wife. “What do you think about all this, hon?”

  Barbara smiled. “Malcolm, I agree with our children. This is something we’ve always dreamed about.”

  “If we keep the hotels, then I would prefer that we do this as a family,” Malcolm said.

  “I’m in,” Ari announced.

  “Me, too,” Sage and Blaze said in unison.

  “Dad, I’m in for moving to Los Angeles,” Drayden said. “But you know I want to open my own accounting firm.”

  “So does this mean you’ll be moving to California and starting your business there?” Barbara asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. I believe I’d be more successful out there than here in Aspen.”

  The two younger siblings, Zaire and Kellen, were quiet.

  Malcolm met his youngest daughter’s gaze. “What are you thinking about, Zaire? I’m not used to you being so quiet.”

  There were chuckles around the table.

  “Forget y’all,” Zaire muttered. “Dad, I’ve just been sitting here listening to everybody. There is something none of you have considered.”

  “What’s that, dear?” Barbara asked.

  “Do you really think the rest of Robert DePaul’s family will let us walk in and just take over the estate? I don’t think they are going to give up that easily.”

  “She does have a point,” Kellen interjected. “Everything sounds all nice, but it’s not going to be an easy road. I don’t think we should get our hopes up. I know DePaul left everything to you, Dad, but his estate could be tied up in court for years. Do we really want to put ourselves through that?”

  “The will is ironclad,” Ari told his brother. “The law is on our side. Robert DePaul made sure of that before he died. If his family takes us to court, they lose their share of the inheritance.”

  “Hey, I just wanted to throw that out there,” Kellen said. “Leona Helmsley left twelve million dollars
to her dog, Trouble, and the courts reduced it to two million. You know that I don’t mind a good fight, but there’s no point in getting all scuffed up in a battle we can’t win.”

  “That was because the Queen of Mean was declared mentally unfit when she made her will.” Ari stated. “Robert DePaul was of sound mind when he died.”

  Zaire glanced at her father. “We’re all on board, Dad. Your DePaul relatives won’t know what hit them when the Alexander family arrives in Beverly Hills.”

  Natasha strolled about, nodding at a few people as she moved about in the enclosed tent. She made her way over to where Natalie was standing with her fiancé.

  “Where’s the munchkin?” her sister asked.

  “With Dad,” Natasha responded with a chuckle. “They wanted some male-bonding time.”

  “How is he feeling?” Natalie inquired.

  “He was a little tired after the trip, but he’s so excited to see everyone.” Natasha glanced around. “Where is Nathan?” she asked.

  Natalie surveyed the room. “Our brother is probably somewhere making out with his wife,” her sister responded with a chuckle. “Guess we’ll be meeting another niece or nephew in nine months.”

  Natasha shook her head. “They have a set of twins. We’re triplets…they just might end up with quads or something scarier.”

  Natalie and her fiancé laughed.

  “Don’t laugh,” Natasha warned. “You two haven’t gotten started yet.”

  Ten minutes later, everyone was seated at tables dining on garlic-lime chicken, grilled asparagus with lime dressing, four-cheese mashed potatoes with wild mushrooms, and onion bread.

  “Mama outdid herself with this menu,” Natalie whispered to her.

  Natasha agreed. She sliced off a piece of the tender chicken and stuck it into her mouth, savoring the flavor.

  She couldn’t help but notice how Natalie was glowing with happiness. Natasha was genuinely happy for her sister, but it also reminded her of how lonely she felt without a man in her life. Having the support of someone special would help ease some of the tension of what her son had to go through.