The Rock Star and the Billionaire

Part 5

FIVE

"What did you say your name was again?" a vague-sounding female voice asked.

"Gaia Vasse," she snapped, almost spitting the words into her telephone. What kind of i***t hadn't heard of her?

"Can you spell that, please?"

Gritting her teeth, Gaia did as requested, before the useless girl's reply was drowned out by another woman's shouting.

"You're not going because you announced on national television that we've opened the resort to terrorists. I've had ASIO sniffing around all week, wanting to see our guest lists, while our IT guys report almost daily hacker attacks. It's unheard of. What possessed you to say something so stupid?"

She sounded English, though her accent wasn't the refined sort Gaia preferred. No, this woman was as common as they came. One of the hotel staff, then. Definitely not a guest.

An Aussie male voice piped up, more annoyed than angry. "I said we welcomed guests of all nationalities and religions. Anyone who found it too cold in Russia or too hot in Syria would find Romance Island Resort a perfect sanctuary where their privacy is our priority. Tell me what about that makes it sound like I'm inviting terrorists to stay here!"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. Every word makes it sound that way, and you don't get it! That's why I'll manage the media for the resort from now on. I don't have time to go to Perth, but now some ASIO Agent Dunn calls me every day until I fly down so he can interrogate me. No way are you going anywhere near that convention. You'll only make matters worse. Leave the business side of things for those of us who know what we're doing. Why don't you just go back to banging every fangirl you can find and let me do my job?"

"Flavia isn't a fangirl." The man's voice was reproachful.

"Fine, go back to banging whoever, then. Some of us have to work."

"Oh, Ms Lane?" the girl on the other end of the phone simpered.

"It's Vasse, not Lane," Gaia snapped.

The girl ignored her. "Ms Lane, I have Guy Vast on the phone for you."

"Who?" A sigh. "I'll take it in my office. Thanks, Philly."

The i***t receptionist was named for a horse? It figured. She wouldn't last more than five minutes in Vasse Prospecting. If the three people Gaia had just heard were an example of the incompetence of the staff at the resort, it would be hers within the week. Gaia smiled.

"Putting you through now," the girl announced, and her irritating voice was replaced with ringing.

"Hello, this is Xan Lane," the bored Englishwoman answered.

"I asked to be put through to the hotel manager," Gaia replied icily.

"That's me," the woman said easily. "I thought this was about a Mr Vast. Are you his assistant? Our receptionist should be able to handle all your booking requests."

"I'm no one's assistant," Gaia snapped. "My name is Gaia Vasse, and I'm interested in buying your hotel."

Silence, broken by a smooth, "What a lovely surprise, Miss Vasse. My condolences on the loss of your mother."

At least she recognised the name, and knew who she was. That was a start.

Xan continued, "But I'm afraid the resort is no longer for sale. The new owner took possession in January."

As if Gaia only bought properties listed on the open market. "Five months is hardly enough time to get attached to the place. Or for you to get accustomed to the change in management. I assure you, this is the best offer you'll ever get for the place. Especially with the proposed mine extension on your doorstep."

More silence. "You're planning on expanding the mine at Lorikeet Island? I'd understood from Mr Stewart last week that the shutdown team would be here as soon as the dry season starts. He made sure to assure me that the increased shipping traffic wouldn't impact on the resort or disturb our guests. This is a very exclusive resort, Miss Vasse, as I'm sure you'd appreciate. The sort of place people like yourself choose for their holidays."

For all her common accent, the hotel manager wasn't too bad at talking business. Not in Gaia's league, though. "So I understand. Which is why I'll be flying up to inspect it for myself. We should meet in person to discuss the proposed sale of the resort."

Xan coughed. "You really should discuss this with the owner, not me, Miss Vasse. He has his own plans for the place. I just manage it, and I'll continue to do that, regardless of who owns the resort."

A possible future employee. One who knew what she was doing. Gaia restrained herself from rubbing her hands in glee. "Oh, I think we should keep it between us businesswomen. When we've worked out all the details, then you can bring my proposal to the owner as a done deal. No need to bother him just yet."

"If you say so, Miss Vasse. I'll get Philly to arrange the meeting. I look forward to it."

As she ended the call, satisfaction bloomed in Gaia's chest. She'd give the woman increased shipping traffic. A mine shutdown was nothing compared to an expansion. By the time she was done explaining the changes to the hotel manager, the woman would hand her the resort at a bargain price, because no guest would want to stay in a mining port. She could move her staff in next month.