Chapter 103
Chapter 103:
“This is… huge,” she whispered. “Why give this to me? The Collins Group usually uses the Ritz or the St. Regis p>
“He believes in your management,” Vance said with a wink. “And he hates sleeping on the couch. He figures this will earn him some brownie points p>
Jocelyn flushed. “I see p>
“This is the official LOI,” Vance continued. “It’s ironclad. All you need is your legal team’s final sign-off. Just profit p>
Jocelyn flipped to the signature page. This letter of intent would save her quarterly targets, silence Uncle Vincent, and give her ammunition for the board. It was a lifeline.
She looked up at Vance, her professional mask firmly in place. “Consider it done. I’ll have my legal and finance teams finalize everything by tomorrow morning p>
She paused. “Tell him… thank you,” she said softly.
“I will,” Vance said. He turned to leave. “Oh, and Mrs. Collins? Nice watch p>
He left the office, whistling.
In the elevator, he pulled out his phone and called Gaston.
о𝘳𝗀𝗮𝗻i𝘻е 𝗒𝘰𝘂𝘳 𝗅і𝘣r𝖺𝘳𝗒 𝗈ո
“She signed,” Vance reported. “And she definitely thinks I’m your boy toy. She looked at my velvet jacket like it was evidence p>
Gaston’s voice crackled over the line. “Good. Keep her guessing. But make sure she uses that contract to crush her uncle at the meeting tomorrow p>
“She will,” Vance said. “She’s got fire in her, G. I see why you like her p>
“Careful, Vance,” Gaston warned.
“Understood. Mission accomplished p>
The boardroom of the Wolfe Hotel smelled of stale coffee and old men’s cologne — the scent of the “Boys’ Club” that her Uncle Vincent presided over. It was a smell Jocelyn had grown up fearing.
Today, however, the air felt different. Charged.
Uncle Vincent sat at the head of the long mahogany table, looking smug. He adjusted his tie, glancing at the other board members — men who had been loyal to her stepfather, Robert.
“Revenues are flat,” Vincent began, tapping a spreadsheet. “Occupancy is down five percent. The scandal with your mother at the care facility didn’t help our image, Jocelyn. We are a family brand p>
Jocelyn sat to his right, hands folded on the table. She wore a sharp white suit. Her face was calm, impassive.
“We need to discuss leadership changes,” Vincent proposed, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Jocelyn is distracted by her… new marriage. Perhaps a leave of absence is in order p>
A few of the older men nodded, murmuring agreement. They preferred Vincent. He let them expense their lunches and didn’t ask questions about operations.
“Actually,” Jocelyn said, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a knife, “I have an announcement p>
She stood up. Harvey, standing by the door, stepped forward and placed a stack of documents on the table. Jocelyn slid copies of the Collins Group’s Letter of Intent down the polished wood.
“We have secured the exclusive partnership for the Global Tech Summit,” she stated clearly.
Silence. Absolute, stunned silence.
Vincent grabbed the paper. His hands shook as he read the header. His face went pale, draining of color until he looked like a wax figure.