The Owner's Meeting
Dan and David sat on the upper deck of BonBons Sereins, the morning air crisp and scented with the aroma of fresh yeast and roasted coffee beans from the bakery below. They were waiting for Amber Ann, but the peacefulness of the lake view was interrupted when two men appeared at the top of the stairs: Calvin Tucker and Brandon Crisps.
Brandon was the picture of casual confidence, laid back with a lazy, effortless smile that seemed to say he owned every room he walked into. Calvin, by contrast, was a wire of tension. He wore a deep frown, his shoulders squared as if he were stepping into a boxing ring rather than a business meeting. Since only the four of them were on the deck, the new arrivals walked directly over to Dan and David's table.
Brandon reached a hand out toward Dan in a friendly gesture, but Dan didn't take it. He didn't even acknowledge the hand. Brandon's smile only broadened, undeterred by the cold shoulder.
"Hello. I am Brandon Crisps, and this is Calvin Tucker. Are you the owners of the six-villa retreat?"
David waited for a few beats, giving Dan a chance to lead, but when his friend remained stony-faced and silent, David cleared his throat to fill the awkward gap.
"Yes, we are. I am David, and this is Dan."
Calvin's head cocked to the side, his eyes scanning Dan with a sudden, sharp intensity. His eyebrows rose toward his hairline. "Dan Trace? Our Amber's ex-husband?"
David closed his eyes for a split second, bracing himself for the explosion he knew was coming. Brandon looked on with an amused, cat-like interest. Dan finally reacted, sitting forward and narrowing his eyes until they were slivers of flint.
"I am her husband," Dan corrected, his voice low and dangerous. "And she is not your Amber."
Both Brandon and Calvin shared a smirk that made Dan's blood boil. He felt a surge of pure, unadulterated rage welling up within his chest. He moved to stand, his muscles coiled to confront the two men, but David's hand clamped down firmly on his arm, holding him in his seat. Dan shot a look at his friend, only to see David nodding toward the stairs.
Amber was on her way up.
Dan forced himself to relax back into his chair, taking a deep, steadying breath. Both Brandon and Calvin turned away from him to look over their shoulders. As Amber appeared, carrying a heavy tray of refreshments, Brandon immediately walked over to assist her. Amber gave him a bright, genuine smile in thanks, and Dan felt his body tense all over again.
He had to keep reminding himself that he was still in the process of winning her back. He was the one on probation, not her. He worked to keep his expression neutral as she walked over and began laying out the table to start the meeting.
"This is not an investor meeting per se," Amber announced, her voice clear and authoritative. "It is more a meeting of the major property holders of Blue Serene."
She sat down between Dan and Calvin, and they began the first official owners' meeting of the Blue Serene Lake Resort and Spa.
She introduced the four of them and began outlining their individual projects. Dan felt a fresh sting of jealousy—a physical heat in his gut—when he heard that both of Calvin Tucker's restaurants were half-owned by Amber. The thought of her spending hours in close proximity to the arrogant chef sat like lead in his stomach. He looked over at Calvin, only to find the man smirking at him again, clearly enjoying Dan's discomfort.
Despite the underlying tension, the meeting eventually found a productive rhythm. They discussed cross-marketing strategies and the logistics of using Brandon's artisan products in their respective businesses. As they nibbled on sandwiches, delicate pastries, and drank coffee, the atmosphere calmed.
Eventually, Amber set her cup down and sighed, her smile fading into a look of professional concern as she looked at Brandon and Calvin.
"I am sure you have both heard the rumors," she began. "One of our major loans was denied, and two of our initial investors backed out this morning." She paused, letting the weight of the news sink in. "First, I want you to know that while they backed out, they did not ask for their initial capital back. The project is stable."
She turned and looked directly at Dan. He found himself momentarily dazed by the warmth in her eyes—it was a look of genuine appreciation that made his heart skip. Then she looked at David.
"Dan and David have decided to invest further into their property and help the resort as a whole. I am happy to say there will be no delays in the construction timeline because of their help."
Amber's smile broadened, and for a moment, the friction between the men at the table seemed to vanish.
"Now, let's discuss how our personal projects are going. We are a community, and I want us all to feel comfortable coming to each other with problems. I want all of our businesses to succeed.
When the meeting finally adjourned, Brandon and Calvin made their exits – and David went to his and Dan's retreat construction site - leaving Amber and Dan alone on the upper deck. As her employees efficiently cleared the table, a comfortable, expectant silence fell between them. Before either could speak, however, Dan's phone began to vibrate aggressively in his pocket.
Amber turned away to give him privacy, looking out toward Calming Stays, her boutique hotel. From this vantage point, the three-story building looked magnificent, nestled against the lake with twelve bungalow units peppered like jewels along the secluded, wooded side of the property. It had only been open for a few days, but the booking system showed it was already full for the next month. She felt a surge of pride; she was no longer just a "middle sister." She was a mogul.
"Amber."
Dan's voice was different—urgent, sharp, and stripped of the jealousy from earlier. She turned back to him, noting the paleness of his face.
"The private eyes want to meet," Dan said, his eyes locking onto hers. "They've found something. I want you to go with me."
Amber didn't hesitate. She saw the gravity in his expression and knew that whatever was coming, it was the "Proof" they had been waiting for. She nodded slowly.
"When and where?"