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“When will you be back?”
His grin returns. “Missing me already?”
“Shut up,” I say, as I playfully push him toward the lazy evening waves. “I just thought I’d ask so I know when to celebrate.”
“I’ll be back by Wednesday at the latest.” He kisses my forehead. “Think you can handle two days without me?”
I lift my chin. “I’ll manage somehow.” And that will be much easier now that there’s hope.
Chapter twenty-eight
Drew - The Pitch of a Lifetime
After a lot of thought, I believe that I have come up with a creative solution that will save the hotel and preserve Seaside Cove’s charm. I know that going against my family’s wishes is risky, but my plan is still good business.
It puts everything on the line for love, and for the town, but I can make it look to Troy and my sisters like I’m still focused on the bottom line.
I fly back to headquarters and begin what will be the biggest sales pitch of my career.
Knowing I’m walking into the pitch straight from the airport, I dress in my best boardroom attire before getting on the plane. It feels strange getting back into these clothes that used to feel so natural, like a second skin.
It feels weird, foreign, to be dressed as the man I’ve realized I don’t want to be. But since I’m putting everything on the line, I’m going to dress the part and make every second count.
Normally, I just briefly review my talking points before going into negotiations, because I know I can win. Right now, I can’t say the same. I spend the majority of the flight going over and over my notes, thinking of things my brother and sisters could argue against and how I can counter their points. I can’t leave any stone unturned with this plan.
The plan is to affiliate with the Seaside Inn as a silent partner. The money we infuse for upgrades will bring it up to the standards of the Bellamy brand but without the name change. We will share the profits with Meg’s family and bring the hotel into our marketing and reservations processes.
I plan to end my pitch with the idea that this can be a first for us, as a new and inventive way to build our empire without the anguish caused by total buyouts. If I can convince my family that doing this will improve the Bellamy image, then I can win their favor.
“You’re so tan!” Lillian says, greeting me with a smile and a big hug when I join her and Troy in the smaller conference room.
“Staying by the beach will do that to you,” I reply, as I shake Troy’s hand. He looks more well-rested than the last time I saw him, so hopefully that means he’s in a better mood.
“I told you the place would do you some good,” he grins. “Let’s take a seat and get this going.”
“Did you get the owner to sign?” Lillian asks, opening her laptop.
“Not yet but that’s why I needed to meet with you guys,” I start. “I have an alternative plan that I think would warrant better results than a total buyout.”
Troy glances at Lillian, who glares back.
“How about instead of shutting him down before he starts, you hear what he has to say, Troy?” Lillian snaps, catching both of us off guard. “Seriously, it’s like you guys are kids again,” she says more quietly.
“Okay,” Troy says. “What did you have in mind?”
If this works, I need to give Meg all the credit, because a majority of my points are using her arguments in favor of not selling the inn. These are the same points I couldn’t argue with myself, and the same ones that made me wonder if she was a contract negotiator in a past life.
“Our company name has a cold and detached reputation among small hotels and inns and that needs to change,” I say, delivering the hook that gets their mutual attention.
“This should be good,” Lillian grins.
“Instead of doing a total buyout, we should affiliate with the Seaside Inn as a silent partner,” I say, gauging Troy’s reaction. When I see that he isn’t completely objecting to the idea, I keep going.
“These small hotels and inns that we buy have rich histories about them and connections with their communities. When the Bellamy brand takes over, we strip those qualities down to nothing before reshaping the property into our same model over and over again.”
“I think you’re stretching it,” Troy starts to object.
“That’s the exact reason why the owner of Seaside won’t sell to us,” I interrupt him. “And I’m not done, so save your questions for the end, okay?” He presses his lips together before leaning back into his chair.
