“Come in.” She waved the woman in.
“I hate to bother you so close to quitting time,” Cemal said, glancing down at her watch.
“It’s okay.” She closed her screen down. “What can I help you with?”
“It’s about a new rumor.” Cemal sat down when Raven motioned to the chair.
Raven sighed. “What is it this time?”
She was thankful that she’d made a friend in Cemal at the start. The girl kept her ears open and often came back to Raven with any stories she’d heard.
“This one is a little different.” Cemal leaned forward. “This one is about you directly. I overheard a few of the waitstaff talking about you as if they’d known you in school. Before you left. Before the fire.”
“We have a few on staff who I went to school with. Let them talk.” She relaxed slightly. “It is a small town, and the potential employee pool is pretty shallow.” She smiled and turned back to her computer.
“Yes, well, these rumors involve you sleeping with Mr. Ramsey and…”—Cemal took a deep breath— “your uncle.”
“What?” Raven laughed. “Seriously?”
Cemal nodded as she wrung her hands together.
“Who…” Raven started then held up her hands. “Never mind. We agreed that you’d relay the rumors to me, not snitch on who you’d heard them from.”
She knew the girl didn’t feel comfortable tattling on her fellow co-workers.
Raven leaned back in her office chair and had a thought. Pulling out her cell phone, she sent a text to Cade, asking him to meet her there for dinner.
The dining hall was officially open to the public. Most times it was filled with locals and employees. Still, she was happily surprised at how many people showed up each day for meals. She credited Tim and the new kitchen staff for most of the excitement. But she knew that a lot of locals were dying to see what she’d done with the place or just needed a different choice other than the diner. Something a little fancier. More upscale.
Previously, if they’d wanted to experience that, they would have had to drive all the way into Redding.
Besides, it was where two people in town had been murdered. Some people in town found that totally fascinating.
Cade replied to her text almost immediately, saying that he’d see her there at six. That gave her two more hours to come up with an official plan.
When she couldn’t think of a way to stop the gossip about her, she figured a way to add fuel to the fire instead. Maybe stir things up with some obvious lies?
She even made lists of some of the best ones. Still, she didn’t know how any of them could stop the current rumors flying around the resort. Giving up, she tossed the list into the trash and started pacing her office.
“Problems?” Fiona asked, knocking on her door.
“How do you stop a rumor?” she asked, falling into her chair.
Fiona frowned. “Rumors usually die by themselves once the truth is revealed.”
“What if there isn’t any way to reveal the truth?” she asked, feeling slightly defeated. “When there’s a lack of proof or those involved are dead?”
“This is in regard to the new rumor about you?” Fiona asked.
“I know it shouldn’t bother me at this point, but it just…” She shook her head.
“Irks you?” Fiona finished for her.
“Yes,” she said with a slight chuckle at Fiona’s choice of words. “In high school, it used to drive me crazy. Then, after the fire…” She shrugged. “Years of counseling and my grandmother taught me to put aside those things that I couldn’t control.”
“So why is this rumor any different?” Fiona asked.
Raven thought about it before answering. “Because, at some point, it needs to stop. I can’t let my aunt and uncle win.”
“You think this new rumor was started by them?” Fiona asked.
“Obviously.” Raven leaned back in her chair.
“What would your uncle have to gain from spreading such disgusting lies? And including himself in them?” Fiona asked.
In the past hour and half, she had thought of a million ways to stop the rumors, but not once had she wondered why they’d been started in the first place.
“I can see by your silence that you haven’t thought that one through yet,” Fiona said with a slight nod. “Okay, so let’s start figuring out why he’d start the rumor.”
By the time Cade walked in, she and Fiona had a list of possibilities, revenge being at the very top.
“This is a surprise.” Cade walked over and kissed the top of his mother’s head. “I would have thought that you’d already be home.”
“Sean and I have decided to join the two of you for dinner,” his mother said cheerfully.
“Another wonderful surprise.” Cade walked over to place a kiss on Raven’s lips. “Ready for some food? I’m starving.”
“Yes.” She took one more look at the list she and Fiona had made and then shut down her computer. She stood and wrapped her arms around Cade. “How is your ankle?”
“What’s wrong with your ankle?” his mother broke in.
“Nothing now,” Cade responded. “I sprained it a few days back.” He shrugged and stood back as both women stepped out of the office.
Raven took the arm Cade offered, and his mother took his other arm, and they made their way to the dining hall. Sean was just walking in the front doors when they stepped into the lobby area.
“I like what you’ve done to the place,” Sean said after he placed a kiss on Fiona’s cheek.
Raven noticed that Cade only stiffened and then winced slightly upon seeing his mother’s and uncle’s physical affection.
“This is fun,” Sean said as they stood just outside the dining hall. “We should do this more often.”
“Yes,” Cade said at the same time as Raven.
The moment the four of them stepped into the new and improved dining hall, Raven pulled Cade to a stop just so she could admire the view.
Here it was, Thursday night, and the dining hall was half full. The bar area was standing room only.
“Can you imagine what it’s going to be like after we open the doors for real?” Raven said, trying not to sound so excited.
The truth was, if things continued to go this well, she’d be able to complete the next list of repairs and upgrades around the place, including adding a gift shop, a larger swimming pool with slides for summer guests, and even one more ski lift or two.
“I can see that you’re plotting world domination again,” Cade whispered in her ear. “Or at least what other updates you can do around the place once you have the cash.”
She smiled and turned into him. It was strange and nice to know that he could pick up on her moods so well. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a quick kiss.
“I’ll stop plotting, as you put it.” She took his hand as they were seated at a table near the wall of glass overlooking the mountains.
She knew that she got the executive treatment, since she was the boss, but still, from any seat in the dining area the view was pretty much the same—a stunning wall of absolute mountainside beauty, no matter the season or the weather.