Despite the big wooden doors to Silver Bells being so heavy, a gust of wind whipped them out of my hands with a bang as I arrived back to work. Well, as Morgan’s mom always says, a woman should always make an entrance. Although, in this case, it was more like ripping the entrance off its hinges. Harmony looked up from her computer, noting the snow I’d accidentally tracked in during my rush to get out of the elements.
“Good afternoon, Faith. Are we offering indoor skiing now?” she asked, walking over with a handful of paper towels.
“Here, give them to me, I’ll do it.” I dropped them on the floor and used my foot to mop up the rapidly melting snow, before balling them all up and handing them back to Harmony. “Don’t say I never give you anything.”
“Gee, thanks.” Harmony took the wet bundle and walked back to her desk, tossing them into the trashcan before sitting back down.
I picked up the mail and leafed through it, casually asking about Adam.
“Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you when you came in, but your Snow Queen impression threw me,” she said, batting her eyelashes as the phone at her desk rang. “Adam is gone. . . Hello? Silver Bells Luxury Tours, Harmony speaking, how may I help you?”
My entire body went numb. Adam was gone? What did that mean? Had he sold the business while I was out to lunch? He hadn’t been in this morning, but I figured we’d see each other this afternoon. What was going on? I waited while Harmony finished up on the phone, all sorts of scenarios running through my mind, and none of them good.
She hadn’t even hung up the receiver entirely, when I asked, “What do you mean, Adam’s gone? Gone where?”
She looked at my face, which had to be tense, and a knowing smile crossed her face. “He’s gone back to the city, but fear not, fair maiden, your prince will return tomorrow.”
I gave her a look. “Oh.”
“He didn’t tell you?” she asked, waiting for me to shake my head before speaking again. “Men. They’re such excellent communicators. Not.”
“Dave in the doghouse again?” I asked.
“Apparently it’s too much effort to send a text letting me know there’s a game on TV and he wouldn’t be coming over as planned last night.” She rolled her eyes, and stapled a couple of papers together. “I heard about the job offer from Bernice. You going to take it?”
I paused. “I’m not ready to give up on Silver Bells just yet. Maybe the new buyer will want to keep everything as is,” I said, the words “day spa” flashing through my head in neon lights.
“I’m sensing we need snacks.” Harmony opened a desk drawer and took out a bag of cookies, taking one herself before handing the packet to me and settling back in her chair.
I laughed. “I’m surprised you haven’t got popcorn in there!”
Her eyes widened. “Moi?”
I adored Harmony, but she did love gossip, although she was never malicious. “There’s really nothing to tell. I think Adam will sell, but I’m hoping the new buyer will run it the way it’s always been run.”
“Oh, Faith. Do you really think that’s a possibility?” Harmony asked, just as the front door opened and a woman strode in like she owned the place. She wore a long white fur coat, high heels, and her straight red hair didn’t have one strand out of place. She looked ferocious.
I held out my hand to the woman. “Welcome to Silver Bells Luxury Tours.”
“Looking for the manager.” She thrust her coat into my outstretched hand and stamped her very expensive looking shoes on the lobby floor, instead of the rug, the snow melting into a small puddle. She looked expectantly at me, and then snapped her fingers. “Hello?”
I blinked, shocked at her rudeness. “I’m the manager of Silver Bells. May I help you?”
She took a step back and looked me up and down. “Really? You’re Faith? Not at all what I was expecting.”
I was wondering who she was and what exactly she’d been expecting (and why she was expecting anything at all) when she handed me a business card: Tiffany Preston.
I handed the card to Harmony, who glanced at it before muttering under her breath. “Cruella De Vil, killer of puppies and sourer of milks.”
I stifled a giggle, turning it into a cough, and immediately Tiffany covered her mouth with her hand. Behind her stood another woman dressed in a sharp suit, which was totally unsuitable for the outdoor elements of Christmas Mountain.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand how I can help you.”
Tiffany sighed theatrically. “We’re here for Kline. Your boss?”
“Ah, I’m sorry, but Mr. Kline is out of town at the moment. If you would like to spe—”
“Yes, I know he’s out of town at the moment.” Tiffany held her hand up, and spoke as though to a child. “We left him in New York several hours ago before flying here on a private jet.”
The other woman stepped forward. “Hello, I’m Cass. We work with Adam, and he asked us to take a look around at the business to see where improvements can be made.” She smiled kindly, clearly still in possession of a soul, unlike Tiffany.
“Improvements? I don’t und—”
Tiffany sighed again. With any luck she’d hyperventilate and have to return to the city.
“You do know that Adam is selling this place?” she asked, as if wanting to bring me up to speed. “Well, he wants to get the best price he can, obviously, so we’re here to see where the business is failing and how we can improve it. We won’t be long. I can’t wait to get back to civilization. So, if you could show us where his office is, schedule a tour for us, and we’ll have four coffees.”
I showed them to the coffee bar and then to Adam’s office.
“We should have this wrapped up today, or tomorrow tops,” Tiffany said, sipping her espresso. “Adam is floating the idea to some of his corporate buddies in Manhattan, who are always looking for little projects to take on and invest in.”
I plastered a smile on my face. “A shame you can’t stay longer.”
Tiffany flicked her glossy red hair over her shoulder and sat down at Adam’s desk. “We need a quick sale so that Adam can be back for the Plaza Christmas Ball. We go together every year, and I prefer to have his undivided attention.”
As she turned her undivided attention to the paperwork on Adam’s desk, I heard the phone ringing in my office. I hurried along the corridor and sank down into my chair, my head spinning. We go together every year.
“Hello?” I asked, forgetting my usual greeting—that’s how flummoxed I was about Tiffany’s appearance.
“Faith? It’s Adam.”
My belly fluttered at his voice. “Hi, Adam.”
“I’m sorry for running out on you without a heads-up, but I had a call in the middle of the night and I didn’t want to wake you.”
I interrupted him. “It’s fine. Harmony explained.”
There was silence for a moment. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Um, no.
“Look, a couple of members of my team will be arriving today. They shouldn’t get in your way, they’re just there to—”
“Yes, Tiffany and company. Not the jewelry, of course. I’ve already had the pleasure.”
Silence again. “I meant to warn you but it’s just been one thing after another here. How’s it going?”
“All good,” I said, except that he was going to the Plaza Christmas Ball with that obnoxious woman when he was supposedly interested in me. “I should go and check if they need anything.”
“Okay,” he said. I heard Adam call to someone that he’d be right there. “Another crisis. I’ll be back tomorrow. Faith . . . I miss you.”
My eyes watered. “I miss you, too.”
Silence filled my ear, and I wished I had a rewind button so I could hear that last part again. I smiled. Things couldn’t be that serious with Tiffany if he was telling me he missed me.
I returned to Adam’s office, having stopped by Harmony’s desk to develop a plan for operation “no day spa” so that Adam’s crew could report back that business was picking up here. Right on cue, Adam’s phone rang and I answered, putting it on speakerphone.
“Hello?” Morgan’s voice came through the line. “I booked a tour at Silver Bells Luxury Tours and I’m so excited about it. But we’ve just arrived at the airport and there are no rides available. I don’t know how we’re going to get there in time for the tour.”
I stifled a grin. “Mrs. Simmons? Yes, we’ve been expecting you. That’s no problem at all. Leave it with me and I’ll get a car to you right away.”
I dialed Ruby’s cell phone number, and kept it on speaker. “Christmas Mountain Rental Cars, how may I assist your every need?”
“Hello, it’s Faith from Silver Bells,” I said, wanting to roll my eyes at Ruby’s overkill. “I need a car sent to the airport right away to pick up a couple of guests, a Mr. and Mrs. Simmons? That’s perfect, thank you.”
Over the course of the next hour, one disaster after another occurred, courtesy of Morgan, Ruby, Morgan’s brother Connor, and even Harmony herself, who hid in the bathroom while making the call, each one dealt with professionally and swiftly by yours truly.
Cass shook her head. “I didn’t realize how busy the business was here, Faith. I’m impressed. You’re clearly the glue that holds this place together.”
I smiled gratefully at her, feeling glad she could pass on to a prospective buyer that I was indispensable. If I could be kept on as manager of Silver Bells, then I could safeguard everyone’s jobs, and hopefully keep things more or less the way they were.
“Faith, you seem to be the driving force here,” Cass said. “Tell us how you think we can improve things.”
Tiffany shot her a look. “I don’t think we need Faith’s input. The figures are all here and our tours later are all we need.”
Cass shook her head. “Adam was very clear that he wanted Faith’s input.”
“Well, when Adam gets back, then he can ask for Faith’s input. But in the meantime we have two days to sort this mess out before he comes back.”
“Adam will be back tomorrow,” I said.
Tiffany’s face wrinkled. “And when exactly did he tell you this?”
“When he called this afternoon,” I said, annoyed that she clearly had it in for me.
I spent the afternoon with Tiffany and Cass pointing out areas, which I thought could be enhanced to bring in more visitors, and Cass nodded, taking notes, and asking questions. Tiffany followed in stony silence.
By the end of the day, business was all wrapped up and Tiffany stalked past me while Cass was thanking me and saying goodbye.
“Don’t worry about Tiffany. She’s jealous of you, you know.”
I was astonished. “Of me? Why?”
Cass smiled. “Because Adam speaks highly of you. He and Tiffany dated a couple of years ago.”
“I was under the impression that they still were,” I said, remembering what Tiffany had said about the Plaza Christmas Ball. “She said they go to the same ball together every year.”
Cass laughed. “Ha, she wishes. Well, they both go to the Christmas ball every year, but definitely not together. Their dating was short lived. Tiff is very high maintenance. I shouldn’t be saying this, but Tiffany has had her sights set on Adam since he broke up with her. Now that she knows he’s interested in you—”
“In me?” I asked, my heart beating faster.
“We know Adam well enough to hear it in his voice,” Cass said, smiling at me. “But when Tiffany sets her sights on something or someone, she usually gets it. Nothing stands in her way. Just be prepared.”
“It’s been a pleasure having you here,” I said, feeling like Cass was a new friend.
“We’ve got all your ideas here, Faith. You build a strong case. I’ll make sure your ideas get presented, I promise. Take care.”
We shook hands and I stared after Cass, thinking back over what she had said and feeling more than a bit worried. Tiffany was the kind of woman who got what she wanted, whatever the cost. I couldn’t help but worry that I was about to lose Adam, even before I officially had him.