Conference Meeting

Edward adjusted his glasses and glanced over at Evangeline, his voice steady. "Is there anything else we need to do, or should I give you more time?" he asked.

Evangeline, her eyes still focused on the documents in front of her, calmly responded, "It's fine. Go ahead and tell me what you want to tell me." She picked up another file, scanning through it with quiet focus.

Nodding, Edward slid a piece of paper across the table. "This is the budget plan for the extension of some rooms and the maintenance of others. These numbers correspond to each of those projects. Also, the hotel terrace needs an extension. You can check the draft contract we have with the builders. Once you approve it, I'll speak to the lawyers."

Evangeline's lips curled into a small smile as she glanced at the file. "This feels familiar," she murmured to herself. "It's like the contract Grandmother had me look over years ago when I returned from the Eardoznian academy. That one was about the lobby ceiling renovation." Her thoughts lingered on the past for a moment. Dominic has changed so much about how we handle things since he took over. It's going to take time to get used to this... interesting indeed", she mused, brightening slightly as she continued reading.

While Edward droned on about the increasing VIP demand at the hotel, Evangeline could feel Dominic's eyes on her. She glanced up briefly, catching his expression—calm, but ever observant. When Edward shifted topics, bringing up the need for more concierge staff, Dominic finally joined the conversation, his deep voice commanding the room.

For the next two hours, they discussed logistics, contracts, and projections. Evangeline felt the weight of the meeting pressing down on her, but she remained composed, occasionally taking a sip from her cup of tea to stay alert. Still, her mind wandered, wondering how much longer this could drag on.

"The banquet and guest rooms are fully booked until the year's end," Edward continued, glancing toward Dominic. "We've kept everything vacant as usual with the anniversary coming up."

Dominic, not missing a beat, turned to Evangeline. "That shouldn't be a problem. My wife will handle that, right, Evangeline?" His gaze lingered on her just long enough to catch her stifling a yawn.

Evangeline sighed, fatigue creeping in. "Yes, of course. It won't be a problem," she replied, though she could barely suppress the exhaustion in her voice.

She shifted in her seat, swirling the tea in her cup absentmindedly. This meeting feels endless, she thought. "And Dominic, handling everything as Viceroy... no wonder he slept like a baby last night. It's all tough work. I don't know how they do it. My art career was never this demanding... And the gallery Mr. Venison runs for the family must be exhausting as well."

Just as she thought the conversation might be wrapping up, Edward cleared his throat. "Oh, and one more thing, Master Dominic."

Dominic stopped flipping through the papers and looked up. "What is it, Mr. Jenkins?"

Edward clasped his hands together. "Since you revoked the traditions for the honorary committee, the Bellatrix family—one of the eight families—requested assistance in finishing the renovation of Banquet Hall Five. They've offered to pay extra for labor, as they're facing urgent deadlines. They're one of our significant clients, but I turned them down before they could start making unnecessary demands. Accommodating something like that would put us at a disadvantage."

Dominic's face remained unreadable as he responded. "Good. You did the right thing. After what the Vorenforth family attempted with Evangeline, I won't let that happen again."

Evangeline froze, taken aback by his words. So... he does care about me? she wondered, her heart momentarily skipping a beat. "No, I can't trust this man... She mentally shook herself, remembering their marriage was a mere contract. We're just pretending to be husband and wife because of a signed document"

She cleared her throat softly, trying to refocus on the paperwork. "Let's move forward with the plans," she said firmly, her confidence returning.

Dominic leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as he spoke. "It would be a problem if word gets out. It won't help us at all. That's why I ended the tradition—it was too complicated for Azielle. She wanted to make the business unique, but it was too much. Stressful, even. Keep an eye on the eight families. I'll be doing my part as well."

His tone was indifferent, but beneath the surface, his words carried weight. Edward nodded attentively, scribbling notes. "Understood. Also, after we're done reviewing the revenue, you can settle the remaining issues. The Bruswards family, as you know, was under house arrest and couldn't attend the bid. They lost access to that auction for the land they were after."

"Right." Dominic shifted in his seat, the slight tightening of his jaw betraying his calm exterior. "They wanted that site for a hotel, didn't they? But another family already secured the bid because they share the same ambition. The other families that lost their footing after the collapse of the social class system are trying to regain their place by building hotels now." His words were laced with a subtle mockery, and he scoffed, his hand clenching the paper he was holding.

Edward, the older man, frowned. "Yes, Dominic. That's exactly what's happening. Those families are trying to climb back up, using these hotel ventures as leverage."

Dominic's smile widened, almost amused. "Competing with us? They'll be sorely disappointed soon enough." He glanced at Edward with a knowing look. "And speaking of competition, my brother, Edward—your namesake—has been at it again. He's trying to convince people I'm stealing everything from him. Now, he's after this hotel."

Edward Jenkins, with a hand on his chin, raised an eyebrow. "Your elder brother, Edward Brusward?"

"Exactly. He's been stirring up trouble, but I have a plan in mind." Dominic paused, his expression hardening slightly. "Here's what I need you to do. While you're keeping an eye on the eight families, watch that site the other family bought. I'll send someone to speak with the auction house owner for advice on the matter. Also, do you have the tax records?"

Edward nodded again, this time reaching for a thick file on the table. "Yes, Dominic. Here are the tax reports for the past quarter." He handed the file over, and Dominic flipped through the pages while Evangeline, who had been quietly observing, scribbled notes of her own.

She leaned back slightly, eyeing Dominic's tired face. He's carrying so much on his shoulders, she thought. The palace affairs, hotel business, politics—it's no wonder he looks exhausted. Now that I'm more involved, maybe I can lighten some of that load.

As Dominic continued discussing tax strategies with Edward, the conversation veered towards their cooperation with Maxem, a company pushing for the use of automobiles over carriages. Evangeline's mind wandered for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to her first interactions with Dominic. "This man once told me he'd kill me, and now here we are, sitting together, calmly talking business. His personality can be unsettling at times."

Her gaze flicked to a file on the table, and she let out an absentminded sigh as she reached for it. "My, my..." she muttered softly, unintentionally interrupting the flow of the conversation.

Dominic, catching her voice, stood abruptly and moved to sit beside her. The sudden motion startled her, and she flinched inwardly. "God, he scared me!"

Dominic's eyes scanned the paper in her hand, and he leaned closer. "Is there something you don't understand?" His voice was low, yet firm.

Evangeline, regaining her composure, shook her head slightly. "No, it's fine. I was just... curious about the budget for the terrace extension. The increase in cost seems sudden."

Before she could finish her thought, Dominic took the paper from her hand and quickly skimmed through it. "I see what you mean," he murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly as he examined the numbers. "We'll need to look into why there's such a jump in the estimate."

As he read through the details, Edward continued on the subject of taxes. "The competition is growing fierce among the families, especially with the recent tax incentives for new hotel ventures. The Bellatrix family, for instance, is pushing hard to secure contracts with key builders."

Dominic handed the paper back to Evangeline, his expression thoughtful. "We can't let them get the upper hand, especially not with the Bellatrix family involved. I'll have our financial team review the budget again. And Edward, make sure we're keeping close track of any developments with the other families."

Evangeline nodded silently, feeling a sense of relief that Dominic was so meticulous. Despite the complexities of the business, she had to admit—he was good at what he did. "We'll handle this," she said quietly, more to herself than anyone else.

Dominic glanced at her, his face softening just a fraction before he turned back to Edward. "Let's ensure we're ahead in this game. We can't afford any missteps."

Edward chuckled lightly as he noticed Dominic lost in thought. "Even if this woman was fond of books and everything about the hotel and Viceroy matters, I gave them all to Caleb, ensuring no one else had access. Has she been reading them all this time, even with the resentment she holds for me? What a terrifying woman," Dominic mused, impressed but maintaining his usual stoic expression. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

Edward straightened and called out, "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing a staff member with her head slightly bowed. "Mr. Jenkins, the conference meeting is about to begin," she said softly.

Edward immediately facepalmed, groaning, "Damnit, I forgot about that." He turned to Dominic and Evangeline. "Let's go, Dominic. Lady Evangeline, you can wait here if you'd like."

Dominic rose from his seat without a word, adjusting his jacket as he prepared to leave. Evangeline, however, stood up as well, her movements deliberate as she reached into her bag and pulled out a note she had taken from Caleb. She walked toward them, her confidence unmistakable.

"I'll follow you," she declared, her tone calm but firm. "From what I've gathered, I'll be presenting the meeting matters."

Edward gasped, his eyes wide with surprise. "What?" he stammered, clearly not expecting Evangeline to take such an active role.

Dominic, however, only twitched his eyes, glancing at her with a mixture of curiosity and slight disbelief. He had underestimated her again. Without hesitation, Evangeline strode past the two men, leaving them momentarily stunned as they followed her toward the conference room.

As they made their way down the corridor, Edward couldn't help but chuckle again, shaking his head. "I see you're taking things into your own hands, Lady Evangeline."

Evangeline shot him a brief, knowing smile. "Well, it's about time, don't you think? I've been observing everything for quite some time now, and with the anniversary approaching, I thought it was necessary to step in."

Dominic remained silent, his expression unreadable, but he couldn't ignore the shift in the room when Evangeline took charge.

Evangeline quickly scanned the documents laid out on the table, taking notes as the conversation about the hotel's staff records and resources began. Edward started the discussion. "Now, about the staff. We've had some issues with the record-keeping in the housekeeping and concierge departments. There have been complaints about scheduling errors and resource allocation."

Evangeline leaned in, noting down the key issues. "I've noticed that as well. If we don't resolve these staffing problems before the anniversary, it could create chaos with the influx of guests we're expecting," she interjected. "And let's not forget, we've had an increase in VIP clients, which means we'll need to reassess our concierge training."

Dominic's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he listened. "You're right," he said, his voice low. "I'll have Caleb look into the resource distribution for each department. The housekeeping staff has been stretched thin, and if we don't make adjustments, we could face a drop in service quality."

Edward nodded, flipping through the staff records. "We're also due for evaluations. I'll schedule meetings with each department head to ensure they're prepared for the anniversary events. The last thing we need is an understaffed banquet hall when every room is fully booked."

As they continued to discuss the staff and upcoming anniversary, Evangeline remained actively involved, offering practical solutions. "For the banquet hall, I suggest bringing in temporary staff, at least for the event itself. It'll ease the pressure on our permanent team," she said.

Edward glanced at her, clearly impressed. "That's actually a smart idea. We could use an agency to handle that for us."

Suddenly, there was another knock on the door, and the staff member who had interrupted earlier reappeared. "Pardon me," she said, bowing slightly. "There's an issue with the guest list for the anniversary banquet. It seems there's been a mix-up with the invitations."

Evangeline sighed, rubbing her temples. "Of course there has," she muttered under her breath. She turned to Dominic, her expression determined. "I'll handle it. We can't afford mistakes like this so close to the anniversary."

Dominic nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "Very well. Make sure everything is sorted. The anniversary is crucial."

As the meeting resumed, they continued discussing various challenges surrounding the event and hotel operations. Despite the interruptions, Evangeline's confidence and sharp attention to detail stood out. She had not only joined the conversation but had also taken control of the situation, something that did not go unnoticed by Dominic.

"She's not the woman I thought she was," Dominic mused silently, watching her handle the meeting with ease.

The conference room was buzzing with anticipation. The guests were seated, waiting for Dominic to enter and present the reason for this meeting. The air was thick with murmurs of business matters and whispered speculations about the expansion of the hotel. However, as the sound of clacking heels approached, the chatter shifted. To their surprise, it wasn't Dominic who entered the room—it was Evangeline.

The guests exchanged glances, and a wave of quiet gossip rippled through the room. "What is she doing here?" one of them whispered. "She's not even involved in the business," another muttered under their breath. They didn't bother hiding their skepticism, believing her incapable of handling such important matters.

Evangeline, however, walked in with grace and confidence, unfazed by their whispered judgments. Just as she was about to address the room, the door opened again, and Dominic strode in. The guests immediately fell silent, rising to their feet and bowing to greet him.

Dominic's gaze swept over the room, and it was clear he wasn't pleased. His usual composed demeanor had a sharp edge. Edward followed him in, taking his place quietly at the corner of the room.

"Everyone... may I have a word?" Dominic's voice cut through the room, and the murmurs ceased. His eyes were cold as he spoke, clearly addressing the earlier gossip. "My wife, Evangeline, will be presenting today's meeting and discussing the extension of the terrace." He paused, letting his words sink in. "I'm not presenting today. But what I noticed when she walked in was that you looked down on her, assuming she was not capable of handling business. Yet when I walked in, your attitude was very different."

A tense silence fell over the room as Dominic's words struck a chord. His voice dropped lower, colder. "Let me be clear. If this behavior repeats itself, disrespecting my wife will be the same as losing your partnership with me. And I don't care how much that loss would cost you."

The guests flinched, exchanging uneasy glances. Their gossip quickly turned to nervous whispers of agreement, and they nodded, ready to listen to Evangeline.

With the room now focused on her, Evangeline stepped forward, the confident clack of her heels marking her every move. She began her presentation, laying out the plans for the terrace budget extension, the upcoming anniversary, and the current staff record issues. Her calm voice carried authority as she walked them through her ideas, and she spoke with the ease of someone who knew the hotel inside and out.

Dominic leaned over to Edward, his arms folded. "Evangeline is capable," he remarked quietly, watching her. "She shouldn't be underestimated."

Edward nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Evangeline as she continued. "I see that now. She knows more than we expected."

Evangeline then addressed an issue that caught the room's attention. "Regarding the custom tiles for the terrace extension," she began, "there's been a delay. I've recently learned that the family supplying the tiles is in debt." Her words made several guests shift in their seats. "They're attempting to push the price on us, claiming it's a rare material. But I know better. They're simply looking to use us to cover their losses."

Dominic raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the source of her information. He knew the family was struggling but hadn't discussed it with anyone. One guest, hesitant but hoping to salvage the situation, suggested, "Maybe we should accept their price, given their reputation."

Evangeline turned to him, her expression sharp. "No. They're taking advantage of the hotel's reputation, assuming we won't challenge their claim. I'll negotiate the price myself. They want to offload the stones—fine. But we won't be taken for fools."

Her confidence caught even Edward off guard. "How did she know this?" he whispered to Dominic, but his brother only shook his head, equally surprised.

Evangeline continued, "Using my experience as a gem collector, I've seen these tactics before. They're labeling it 'rare' to inflate the price, but I'll ensure we get what's fair. This hotel's reputation isn't something to be played with."

Dominic, impressed by her command of the room and her understanding of the business, joined the conversation. "She's right. We'll handle the negotiation. We're not in a position to be exploited by a desperate family."

Edward raised his hand to ask a question. "How will you negotiate without damaging future relations with that family?"

Dominic answered smoothly. "We'll position it as a partnership, not a confrontation. We'll offer them a fair deal, but we'll make it clear that they cannot manipulate the hotel into covering their debts."

The guests began to ask more questions, intrigued by how smoothly Dominic and Evangeline were handling the situation. As each question arose—whether about the terrace construction or the competition from other families also trying to build hotels—both Dominic and Evangeline answered with confidence and poise, their responses reinforcing their control over the situation.