Falling Free: What happens in Vegas... (The Fall Series) Page 13

  “Because it’s reality, Nina. It might be the only chance I to stay connected to this place.”

  “Ugh! I can’t even listen to this, Lo! Have you lost your mind? You still have a couple months to figure this out. You can’t just give up!”

  Teary eyed I asked her to come sit by me on the couch. “Listen, I want to hold on to this place more than anything in the entire world. I’ve spent hours and hours trying to come up with something, anything that would make sense, Nina. Believe me. I went over every scenario. The truth is, we’re not profitable enough right now to get a loan in this economy, and even if I found an investor I’d be in the same situation. I can barely pay Evelyn her monthly profit checks as it is. How would I pay an investor?”

  “Don’t give up. Please!” Nina’s was crying, too.

  “I’m not totally giving up. Not yet anyway, but I might have to accept it.”

  “I know,” she managed as she squeezed my hand tightly.

  “I need to call Barry today just to talk about what’s going to happen when we put The Grand on the market. Will you stay with me while I call? Oh, and I need to use your phone. I decided to let mine die until I can change the number.” We both laughed and wiped away our tears as Nina got her phone for me.

  The feeling of impending doom swept over me as I called Barry Stanton’s office.

  “Hi, Barry. It’s Lauren.”

  “Lauren!” Barry’s voice boomed through the receiver, and I quickly switched it to speakerphone to save my eardrum and also to save me from having to repeat everything to Nina when we were through.

  “I’ve been trying to reach you for days!” he continued, “I left you three messages, and when I finally called the front desk someone told me you were sick. I hope you’re feeling better.”

  “Thanks. Listen, I want to set up a meeting to discuss The Grand. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but have you heard from Parker Blackwell?”

  “As a matter-of-fact I have. That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you. All the papers are ready to sign. Evelyn and her attorney were here yesterday and signed off on the deal. Now we just need your John Hancock and it’ll be official.”

  “Wait a minute! What do you mean Evelyn signed yesterday? We need her signature to put The Grand on the market? This was all her idea!”

  “Lauren, Parker wired the money days ago. The Grandview Inn is yours as soon as you sign on the dotted line to make it official.”

  A chill went through me at the sound of Parker’s name. He did it. He sent the money. I was flooded with pure relief. I started sobbing, and Nina was hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. The nightmare was finally over! The Grandview was mine!

  I managed to choke out the words, “I’ll be there tomorrow, Barry,” before hanging up. Nina and I were screaming and jumping up and down like little kids. When we finally settled down we just stood there and looked at each other completely dumbfounded.

  “I can’t wait to tell the staff, Nina! I want to tell them as soon as I leave Barry’s office tomorrow. Can you call a meeting for tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Absolutely! I can’t wait either! Can you believe that Parker Blackwell paid Evelyn off for you? I mean thank God he did, but I never thought he could do something so completely unselfish. Do you have any clue why he would do that?”

  “I have a few ideas.” I touched the little silver locket around my neck and smiled. “There’s a lot you don’t know about him, Nina. He can be a really nice person when he wants to be.”

  “Yeah, and a lying, manipulating self-serving bastard when he wants to be, too! Let’s not forget about that, Lo.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t, Nina.” My heart isn’t going to forget anytime soon…

  “So let’s get you out of here and go celebrate. I’ll call Steve. He can be our DD. What do you say?”

  “Celebrating sounds good, but I don’t think I quite ready for that yet. Give me a little bit, k?”

  Nina eyed me suspiciously. She knew I was never one to turn down a celebration, especially at a time when there was so much to celebrate. “Okay, Lo. Spill it.”

  “Spill what?”

  “I know you’re not telling me something, and it’s time to come clean. You haven’t been yourself and I knew it was more than just The Grand that was bothering you.”

  I took the necklace off and sat on the couch letting out a deep breath before handing it to her. She opened the locket then looked at me alarmed.

  “Nina, I love him. I’ve loved him since we were fifteen-years-old, and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped.”

  “Well, I love you, Lo, and as your best friend I can’t just sit back and pretend to be okay with that. You know I’ll support you no matter what, but I’m worried. Just look at how he ripped your heart out already. It’s worse than when you and Jake split. Much worse!”

  “I know. You’re right. I love him, but I know he’s no good for me. It’s just going to take some time to get over it. You know? Be patient with me, okay?”

  “Okay.” Nina placed the locket back in my hand gently and gave me another hug. “I should probably get some work done today seeing as how I still have a job.”

  I smirked. “Good idea! Somebody’s got to keep this place going while the owner is trying to get her shit together!”

  “Very funny, Lo! I expect to see you in your office tomorrow.”

  “I know. I’ll be there. And Nina, I hope you know how much I appreciate you.”

  “You’re welcome! I’m out of here. You better be ready for the big staff meeting tomorrow. I can’t wait!”

  I sat on the couch and looked at the locket in my hand. “Oh, I’ll be ready, Nina. I still can’t believe this is really over, Nina. Evelyn is officially out of the picture, and The Grandview Inn is all mine.”

  “I know! I’m so happy for you, Lo. I’m happy for all of us. I’m going to go tell Steve now. He’s been worried too.”

  Nina fumbled through her bag and looked up at me. She pulled out a large express mail envelope and her smile faded. “I almost forgot about this.”

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. It came in the mail today. It’s from some private investigator’s office.”

  I leaned up to get a better look at the envelope. It said “do not bend” on the front, and “Attention Miss Nina Davis. Strange.

  “Well, why don’t you open it and find out?”

  “I have a weird feeling about it, Lo. I think there are pictures inside. Why would a private investigator send me a package like this? I was waiting open it together. You know, in case there’s some kind of bad news inside or something.”

  Nina was right. The package was very peculiar. “Ugh! You and Leslie are going to give me a heart attack with all your weird feelings and premonitions! I don’t think I can take any more bad news right now.”

  “Neither can I! Which is exactly why I haven’t opened it yet...”

  “I have an idea. Whatever it is it can wait until tomorrow. We’ll open it together after the meeting. Okay?”

  “Sounds good. Let’s just enjoy the good news for now.”

  “Yeah, the good news.” I winked at Nina as she walked out the door, but I almost stopped her. I had a weird feeling whatever was in that envelope wasn’t good, and it might just be more than either of us could handle right now.

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