The woman continued to look at her, waiting for the punch line, Raven imagined.
“Mr. Brooks is my uncle,” she clarified. “I’m the owner of…” She motioned around the lobby of the resort with her hand.
The woman shook her head and blinked a few times. “I… I’m sorry.” She shrugged slightly, and Raven began to wonder what the cause of their miscommunication was.
“I’d like to speak with my uncle about a place to stay,” she added.
“Was he expecting you?” the woman asked, clicking on the computer in front of her.
“No.” She bit her tongue to stop herself from giving this stranger any further explanation.
“If you’ll have a seat”—she motioned to the leather sofas in the middle of the waiting area— “I’ll see if he’s available.”
“Thank you,” she said, dragging her luggage, three bags that held every stitch of clothing she owned, along with her other worldly possessions.
When she sat down, she held in a little squeal as she sank deep into the old furniture. Her gaze ran over the worn sofa and outdated coffee table.
Her eyes stung at the state of everything. What had happened to the once-glamorous resort? If her father were alive, she imagined that there wouldn’t be so much as a scratch on any of the furniture. Yet here she sat in a worn-out sofa, in the outdated resort, which was quickly and quietly dying and taking her and the rest of her family down with it.
Her eyes scanned over every detail of the lobby. She itched to explore other areas of the massive resort but knew that she’d have time to evaluate every detail in the coming days. After she’d had time to recover from the long drive.
Just here in the lobby, she mentally noted the dated wallpaper, the unpolished floors, the drapes that should have been thrown out ten years ago. As she continued to wait, she realized that the old broken furniture was probably the best part of the waiting area.
Her temper grew the longer she waited. What had her uncle been doing with all the money coming into the resort? Some of it had been coming to her, she knew. Each month she’d received a deposit into her account, as per the arrangement between her and her uncle’s lawyer. The funds had helped pay for her schooling as well as the hours and hours of counseling she’d needed over the years.
It was a little over half an hour before her aunt Roslyn walked towards her. Her aunt’s low heels were the only sound she’d heard in all that time waiting, with the exception of the running water of the fountain.
Not once had the phone rang or any other customers or guests come into the facility. As each minute had ticked by, her heart had died a little more and her nerves had grown worse.
The moment she spotted Roslyn, she pasted on a smile and stood up. She stopped herself from rushing across and hugging the woman. The memory of the last time she’d seen her aunt played over in her mind, causing her spine to straighten and her smile to strain.
She was seventeen, standing alone over her parents’ fresh graves, when Roslyn stopped next to her. She hoped for a few words of encouragement. What she got was far from it.
“You know, they’re in there because of you,” Roslyn said as she stood rail straight next to her.
Raven glanced through tear-filled eyes at her aunt. Over the years, Roslyn had always been distant—kind, but distant.
“I didn’t do this,” she said softly.
Roslyn leaned closer to her and lowered her voice. “Didn’t you?” Her eyes narrowed slightly, then she straightened suddenly. “I don’t want you anywhere near my children. It’s very obvious you’re a bad influence. I’ve talked to Colin’s mother. She’s willing to take you in.”
“Take me in?”
“She’ll be here in a few hours.” Roslyn started to turn away. “For the time being, your uncle and I will run the resort per your parents’ wishes.” She walked away without another word.
“Aunt Roslyn.” She nodded briskly.
“So, you’ve returned?” Her aunt’s once-beautiful blonde hair had been cut shorter and had streaks of grey and dark brown in it, giving it an unwashed and messy look.
There were far more wrinkles and age lines than there had been and at least twenty extra pounds on the woman’s normally fit frame.
Roslyn Brooks assessed Raven with dark, unemotional eyes.
“I suppose you want a place to stay?” she asked as she motioned to Raven’s luggage, sounding as if Raven were asking for a handout. Raven nodded quickly and raised her eyebrows slightly, a move that she knew her aunt would take as a play for power. After all, this was her place. Willed solely to her by her mother and father. Her uncle and aunt had only been running the business while she’d been away.
Her aunt turned quickly and walked back over to the receptionist. Raven followed, leaving her luggage where it was.
“My niece will need a room,” Roslyn started.
“A suite,” Raven corrected quickly. “One in the west building.” She remembered that it was the last building her father had added during his ownership of the resort and so the newest. “Top floor,” she added at the last minute.
Roslyn sighed and looked even more annoyed, but she nodded to the woman. Then she turned back to Raven. “How long can we expect your visit to last?”
Raven smiled. “Oh, I’m not here on a visit,” she said smoothly. “I’m back. I intend to take my place and run the resort.” She leaned slightly on the countertop, making sure that her voice was raised just enough that the receptionist would hear.
When the woman’s fingers stopped working on the keyboard, Raven knew that the employee had gotten the message, loud and clear.
Her aunt’s eyes narrowed as her lips thinned. “Indeed?” she said between clenched teeth. “Does Colin know your plans?”
“No.” She sighed and acted bored. “I had hoped to surprise him with the news. It’s too bad he’s out.” She shrugged slightly. “You will have to let me know the moment he’s back”—she glanced around and frowned— “at work. Until then, I’ll take a day to get settled, some time to get caught up on where things stand before…”
“Before?” Her aunt watched her closely.
Raven smiled. “I’m sure we can work something out,” she said with a shrug and turned away from her aunt to take the key card that the receptionist was handing to her.
“I’ve put you in the west executive suites,” the woman said with a friendlier smile.
“Thank you…” She glanced towards the woman and noted that there was no name badge, no set uniform, or anything that could count as a dress code. Actually, the woman’s attire was seriously lacking, messy, and just plain… unattractive. As the first impression of the resort, it was in dire need of correcting.
“Christina,” the girl answered.
Raven frowned. “Is that really your name?”
The woman glanced over at Roslyn and then back at Raven before shaking her head slightly.
“What is your name, your real name?” Raven asked.
“Cemal,” she answered in a low tone.
Raven smiled. “A much more beautiful name.” She nodded. “Thank you, Cemal. Is there someone who can help me take my things up?”