The Billionaire (The Dalton Brothers 2)

Jo, who had left my house fifteen minutes before me, was already in the conference room when I walked in. Despite our conversation this morning, we still wanted to play it safe. So, with Walter at the head and Jo at his right, I took a seat on his opposite side and folded my hands on top of the table.

“Thank you for coming in on a Saturday,” Walter said, dressed as though this were a Monday morning press conference.

I’d done the same, wearing a black suit for the occasion, his retainer ensuring that I would be on and prepared, no matter the day or time.

“You asked for a digital mockup before the physical rendering,” Walter said to Jo. “So, that’s what the architect has prepared.”

As excited as I was for this moment, I was also dreading it. The ideas Jo had given the architect were unique and sounded fantastic, but that didn’t mean they would translate to a design that would actually work. I was worried like hell that I was going to hate it. That Walter was going to hate it. That I would give my opinion—something I would never lie about—and it wouldn’t be in her favor.

That in front of her father, I’d have to go against the woman I loved.

And knowing how much Walter valued my opinion, it made me sick to think what that would do to her career.

Walter pointed a remote toward the wall of TVs, and they all turned on at the same time, showing the design of the building. He pressed another button, and the angle changed, revealing each side of the massive structure and the way it was embedded into the mountain. “The architect took Joanna’s concept, and this is what his team came up with.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

I was speechless.

The hotel was shaped like a tree trunk, protruding out the side of the rock, starting out wide at the bottom and gradually thinning as it grew the twenty-two stories, expanding again as it neared the top. The texture matched the look and feel of the mountains, the spiral grooves etched into the facade, like the rings inside a tree.

As the image continued to spin across the screens, I glanced at Walter and then at Jo, waiting for one of them to say something.

“Joanna, is this what you wanted him to build?”

I put my hands in my lap, so he wouldn’t see me wringing my fingers.

She was slow to look at her father, staying reserved when she said, “Yes.” She swallowed. “I know you had visions for it as well, and I tried to relay those to the architect. I realize this isn’t what we discussed, but I’ve studied this town and our intended demographic, Dad. I’ve analyzed our competition. I truly believe in my heart that this is going to set us apart.”

His face stayed stoic when he looked at me and added, “What do you think, Jenner?”

Jo had taken a gamble.

An expensive one.

One that had more than paid off.

I took a deep breath, slowly glancing over at Jo before I gave him my honesty. “There’s nothing traditional about this build-out, nor does it match any of the buildings in your portfolio. But I don’t think it should. What Joanna and the architect have created makes a statement. It makes the property desirable. People will want to stay there just to say they’ve been there. That right there is effortless marketing, and it doesn’t get much better than that.” My leg bounced under the table as I continued, “You know I’ve been all over the world, and not a single hotel I’ve been in is as beautiful as this one.”

“I see,” he replied.

He glanced back at his daughter, and I still couldn’t get a read on him, his opinion and thoughts not making their way to his face.

“Joanna …” he started and stopped.

My fucking stomach hurt for her.

I’d been in the same position as her many times in the past. I’d presented new ventures to my parents, waiting for their response, their aloof faces staring back at me in the boardroom.

I knew this was a moment she’d been anxious about.

I also knew this could be a huge breakthrough for her career—or not.

“I knew my inability to meet with the architect was going to result in a shift of control, that you were going to heavily influence this project.” He shook his head. “I’ve been worried about what that would look like from a brand standpoint and how that could affect your future at this company. I certainly can’t have my daughter having a vision so vastly different than my own. And then I see this and …” His head dropped, and so did my goddamn stomach. “It’s exactly what Spade Hotels needs.” He gazed up at her, pride now filling his stare. “I couldn’t be prouder. You really delivered on this one, pumpkin.”

As I processed his words, relief passed through me.

Jo’s face mirrored the same feeling, a warmth now growing across her lips.

She quickly looked at me, and I squeezed in, “Congratulations, Joanna.”

Her grin grew, and she said, “Dad, you love it? Really?”

“It’s stunning,” he replied. “You’ve exceeded every expectation, and Lord knows, I set hundreds for this project.” He smiled. “Never did I think you’d create something this special, but I should have known better—you’ve proven me wrong at every stage of your life. This moment, this achievement, this massive undertaking is certainly no different.”