Chapter 162
“Now, onto the recovery plan,” she said, turning back to the board. “We are suing Aspen Schneider for defamation, and we are launching a new marketing campaign: ‘The Safest Place in New York.’”
“The Schneiders are powerful,” a board member warned. “They will counter-sue.”
“Not anymore.” Jocelyn smiled. “Their stock is junk. They can’t afford a lawyer.”
After the meeting, she walked through the lobby.
Staff were taking down the “Closed” signs. Guests were re-booking. The scandal had made the hotel famous — everyone wanted to stay at the site of the so-called Violin Heist.
𝘕𝗈𝘃el𝘴 𝗂n 𝘵𝗋𝗲ո𝖽 𝘰ո 𝗀а𝗹𝘯𝗼𝗏е𝗹ѕ.𝖼𝗈𝗺
“Any publicity is good publicity,” Liam joked, falling into step beside her with a tablet full of new reservations.
“I prefer the boring kind,” Jocelyn sighed.
She approached the front desk and stopped. A massive floral arrangement sat waiting — two dozen red roses, velvety and deep.
“For you, Ms. Wolfe,” the receptionist said, beaming.
Jocelyn lifted the card.
To the victor, the spoils. — G
A flush rose to her cheeks before she could stop it. She drew one rose from the arrangement and brought it to her nose. The scent was sweet and heady.
“He’s attentive,” Liam remarked, eyeing the card with poorly concealed curiosity.
“He’s just playing the part,” Jocelyn said quickly, as much to herself as to him. “It’s for the staff. To keep up the image.”
But her heart was beating faster than it should. The part, she was beginning to notice, was feeling very real.
And very dangerous.
The Golden Horizon Care Facility smelled of lavender and sanitizer. It was quiet — a stark contrast to the chaos of the last few days.
Jocelyn entered Grandma Wolfe’s room. The old woman sat in her wheelchair by the window, gazing out at the gardens.
“Grandma? It’s Jocelyn,” she said softly.
Grandma turned. Her silver hair was perfectly coiffed, and her eyes, usually cloudy, were sharp today.
“I saw the news,” Grandma said. Her voice was raspy but strong. “You finally got rid of Vincent.”
Jocelyn braced herself for a lecture on family loyalty. “I had to. He sabotaged us. He nearly cost us the hotel.”
Grandma smiled — a rare, wolfish grin that showed all her teeth.
“Good,” she cackled. “He was always weak. Like your grandfather. Sentimental fools.”
Jocelyn blinked. “I thought you’d be mad.”
“Mad? You protected the legacy. That is what a Wolfe does.”
Grandma patted the bed. “Sit.”
Jocelyn settled on the edge of the mattress. “It’s hard. They hate me.”
“Let them hate,” Grandma said, loosely quoting Machiavelli. “As long as they fear. Respect comes from power, child. Not love.”
Grandma narrowed her eyes. “And the husband? The Collins boy?”
“He helped,” Jocelyn admitted. “A lot. He destroyed the Schneiders financially to protect me.”
“Keep him,” Grandma said, nodding with approval. “He has teeth. I like a man with teeth.”
“He’s complicated,” Jocelyn said, looking down at her hands.
Grandma laughed — a dry, hacking sound. “Eyes don’t lie, child. I saw the wedding photos. I saw the way he looked at you in that magazine.”
“That was acting,” Jocelyn protested.
.