Keeping Gemma (Holiday Cove 2)

Henry maintained his smile, but it was starting to fracture. “It’s not quite that simple, Mr. Rosen,” he interjected, his tone snagged as he said my name. “What I want to do is completely re-brand the museum. Give it a facelift to maximize the new business and launch it into a new stratosphere on the profit charts.”

He flicked to a new slide, and while I kept a neutral face, my eyes nearly bugged out at the dollar amounts displayed on the screen. I’d managed to bring the business my father started from a hobby, only found in local magazines and a few travel website listings on obscure websites, to a full-fledged tourist attraction. Sure, things had grown and expanded quickly, but the figures on the screen were ten times higher than anything I’d ever dreamed up for the future.

“As we talked about, on my visit a few weeks back, I have a passion for aircraft and aviation. You’ve done a great job, and I’m ready to invest and take it to the next level.”

“All out of the goodness of your heart, am I to assume?” I tossed back, chuckling as a few members of the meeting concealed their own smirks.

Henry gave a sharp glance around the table before locking his fierce gaze with mine. “I’m making you an offer, Mr. Rosen. I’m willing to buy your business, in exchange for a rather handsome lump sum, in addition to a percentage of future earnings for the life of the business.”

He clicked another button and a new slide popped onto the wall. This time, I did gag back a gasp at the figure. Henry grinned like the Big Bad Wolf. He’d huffed, puffed, and was ready to eat. “As you can see, it’s quite a generous offer, and with a percentage of the revenue, it would actually be more…lucrative.”

My resolve to hold onto the business wavered for a mere second as the outlandish figure on the wall added onto the other numbers that had already been displayed.

I swallowed hard and reminded myself that the business wasn’t for sale. If I let Henry buy it, and “re-brand,” I would lose out on a lot more than just a pile of money. I would be losing out on the legacy that my father left behind for me—and that was way more important than dollar signs with a bunch of zeros.

I met Henry’s gaze. “I’m flattered, Mr. O’Keefe,” as I said his name, it struck me as how twisted the path that had led to that moment had been. We’d gone from brawling in a parking lot over an old plane to verbally sparring across a board room over the fate of my entire life. “However, the museum is not for sale, and I’m not interested in re-branding at this time. I apologize if I’ve wasted your time.”

Henry’s eyes darkened as he stared me down. His fixed smile twitched.

“Gentlemen, can we have the room?” Henry said, looking around the table, flashing what was left of his tightly wound expression.

Everyone jumped up and hurried away from the room.

When the door closed, Henry dropped his pretense. “I get that you don’t like me. I’m not a fan of yours either, but this is a smart business move for both of us.”

I shrugged. “Well, you already think I’m a bullheaded idiot. I’d hate to disappoint.”

Henry sank into the chair at the head of the table and steepled his fingers in front of his face, taking a moment to consider me. “What is it you want? If not money, and not women, then what?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Dude, are you even for real right now? Fuck…I’ve heard money can blind you, but I didn’t realize it could make you deaf too. I don’t want your money. I don’t need the leftover hookers you’re looking to retire from your rotation. I can get real women just fine. And money? Hey, I’m cool there too. I’ve never been afraid to get my hands dirty.”

I stood up from the table and leaned forward. “We’re done here. Don’t try to call me again.”

“Before you go…”

I turned back and watched as Henry pulled an envelope from his breast pocket. He opened it with a slow smile and lay out the contents on the table. I shook my head at the pictures of the side of Henry’s face after our altercation in the parking lot. “Your museum is mine, one way or the other, Rosen. Either you sell it to me, make a mint, and move on. Or I’ll take these to the police, have you arrested for assault, and then sue you for damages. You’ll have to liquidate just to pay the legal fees it will take to get you through the court process. My team can be…relentless.”

He leaned back in his seat, a self-satisfied smile on his face. “The choice is yours. The easy way or the hard way. Surely, even a—how did you put it? Ah, a bullheaded idiot, such as yourself, can see the choice is obvious here.”