Page 20 of Heated Takeover

“Where is everyone?” I ask, momentarily panicking that I might have read the time wrong.

“Late,” he punches out the single-syllable word.

“Oh,” I say, looking around the room. “So should I just…?”

“Sit,” he says and I do. Do I love that he can make me follow his commands like some kind of well-trained poodle? Not really. But a little bit. I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, but there is a certain amount of static in the room.

“I’m surprised that literally everyone else is late,” I say, unsure what else to say.

“I’m not,” Marcus sniffs. “I could tell before that you were the only one in this company with substance. I knew it years ago, to be honest.”

“I don’t really think that’s true,” I challenge, though I have less snark than I did five years ago when I talked to him. It’s not that I am more intimidated now than I was then. I’m not. Money and status don’t daunt me, but that he is now technically my boss changes the dynamic a little. I’m feeling inherently more submissive than before. “Most of the people here are good people, and they were hired by my father, so–”

“I will be the judge of their competence,” he cuts me off, and my mouth snaps shut. I’m not sure how I feel about his tone or the way he’s looking at me. It’s taking physical effort to keep my eyes on his face and not trail elsewhere.

Suddenly a group of people walks in: Carla, the new head of accounting, the creative director, the creative producer, the production manager, and of course Garrett. Everyone is chatting and walking with no urgency, and I can immediately tell, make that feel, that Marcus is losing his patience.

“We have clocks in this building for a reason,” he says, and they grow quiet and sit. And after a moment that makes everyone shift in their seats, he finally speaks.

“As many of you already know, Ashford Hospitality purchased a controlling fifty-one percent of Mission Events so the two companies can integrate their operations.”

“What happened to Jim?” someone asks quietly.

“Jim is still welcome to work with us, but he hasn’t come forward yet,” Marcus says, and I silently scoff at that.

Maybe because you took control of the company from him and he feels betrayed.

“But whether or not everyone is on board, we are moving forward. Things are going to have to change because we are operating at a much higher caliber now,” he says.

“Where is Marty?” someone else asks.

“If you’re referring to Martin Marutski, I fired him,” he says. Everyone should know this, but there is a gasp of surprise around the room from everyone except for me.

“I thought he was on PTO,” someone says.

“He is sans the paid part. Permanently,” Marcus states. I agree that Marty was a total idiot with a terrible beard, but the scare tactic Marcus is using right now is kind of off-putting.

“Let me explain to everyone where we are at. Ashford is in need of an entirely renovated events department. Hence the operational integration. So we are building from the ground up. This does not mean anyone else will be fired, though I will take measures as needed. Mission is known for its quality, and that will continue. I won’t accept anything less, which is why I want to appoint a new director of events. Someone who will head Mission Events directly under the CEO.”

I swear, if he is bringing in some asshole from Ashford that I have to work under, we are going to have words. I haven’t spent the last five years working my butt off as the lead event planner to have someone come in and think they can tell me what to do. Or worse, tell me how to do my job. If Marcus thinks I am going to listen to someone who knows nothing about the Blythe name, he has another thing come–

“Natalie.” Someone nudges me with their elbow, and that’s when I realize everyone is staring at me. Including Marcus.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the question,” I say, my cheeks flaming red.

“There was no question,” Marcus states. “I reviewed five years of performance records, client feedback, and Jim’s written recommendations. I said that I am appointing you.”

“Appointing me for what?” I ask.

He blinks. “As the new director of events for Ashford and Mission,” he says, and I just stare at him.

Everyone else in the room is clapping, but I am stunned. What the hell is he talking about?

Chapter 10

Marcus

Natalie and her sister Reese are completely different when it comes to personalities.