The Rock Star and the Billionaire

Part 4

FOUR

Stewart's drawl made Gaia drowsy: "And once we have those in place, we can commence the shutdown. Decommissioning of the mine is estimated to take – "

"Who said anything about shutting down or decommissioning Lorikeet Island mine? We've barely scratched the surface of the ore deposit there!" Gaia glared.

"Your late mother understood that it was only a matter of time before the safety risks inherent in that seawall would require a shutdown. The environmental approvals alone would make building a new one impossible, or so expensive that it may as well be impossible. Particularly with the falling price of iron ore and the current state of the Chinese market," Stewart continued smoothly. His smile seemed particularly slimy as he added, "Your mother was fully prepared to cut her losses and close Lorikeet Island."

Not before hell froze over. Lorikeet Island was the basis for her family's luck. No one would shut it down until every speck of useful ore was gone.

"What losses?" Gaia demanded.

Stewart paled. Oh, it was only slight, but Gaia knew him well enough to recognise when she had the man discomfited. Good.

"The infrastructure losses, of course, and the high cost of replacing them. Your mother – "

Gaia had heard enough. "My mother would never shut down a profitable mine. Especially not that one. And I'm her daughter, so neither will I. What about insurance? We pay enough for it. That should cover the costs of replacing the damaged buildings, as well as the mine itself. Our usual clients will need to know about the delays, and when they can expect normal production to resume. When do you estimate we can send out the next shipment of Lorikeet ore?"

Stewart stared. "Miss Vasse, I don't think you understand. The mine is under water. There's nowhere for the staff to stay. There will never be another shipment of ore from Lorikeet Island."

She stiffened. "I don't think you understand, Stewart. Vasse Prospecting and every mine it owns belongs to me. That means every important decision also comes down to me. Maybe you used to bully my mother into bad decisions, but that won't work with me. I am not my mother, and I'm not my grandfather, either. What was impossible for them is a morning's work for me. If I say the mine stays open, then it stays open."

"Good luck with that," he sneered. "Without accommodation, you won't have any staff. Lorikeet Island is one of the most remote mines in the world. Have you ever been there? Fourteen metre tides, cyclones that flatten everything in their path, and the only way in or out of there is by plane, and the storm damaged the air strip. You can't fly people in from town every day. The only reason Lorikeet Island stayed open as long as it has is because of the old resort accommodation your mother bought out back in the eighties. And what's left of that is under a couple metres of mud. So unless you have another hotel approved and ready to go on that island, it'll be a decade before you dig up anything else there. Just because you're a Vasse, doesn't mean you understand this business, little girl. Your mother was twice the businesswoman you'll ever be, and she couldn't hold a candle to her father. Why don't you go for another one of your little secret holidays that you think no one knows about? Drink cocktails and cavort with cabana boys like you usually do, while you leave running a billion-dollar business to those of us who know what we're doing."

Harrison. The spineless twerp was a spy for Stewart. His days were numbered.

"Maybe I will," Gaia spat, deciding not to tell Stewart about the real motives behind her planned trip north. "And when I get back, we'll discuss the future of Lorikeet Island. And your future with my company."

Stewart snorted, then left without another word.

Arrogant a*s, she thought, fixing her gaze on the photograph of her and Mother. How did Mother put up with him so long? Mother had been one of the world's richest women, if not the richest, and all that now belonged to her. Mother hadn't made all that money by being an i***t. But if she'd been bullied by Stewart all this time...

Gaia shook her head. She wasn't her mother. No man would ever get the best of her.

She'd go to the Buccaneer Archipelago and see Lorikeet Island for herself, then regroup at the resort as she worked out how best to proceed with rebuilding her family's flagship mine. All she needed was somewhere for her staff to stay...

What had Stewart said about a resort? Another hotel approved and ready to go, as though he thought that was impossible. Perhaps it was, but what about one that was already built? Romance Island Resort, for instance.

Let Stewart think she was messing around with cabana boys. Instead, she'd stage the coup of the century and acquire the resort. Who would say no to the richest woman in the world?

No one, that's who.