Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 21

Heads turned as I entered the office. My blue dress stood out starkly against the sea of gray suits, sparking whispers behind my back.

My new office sat right next to Tracy’s, with only a glass partition separating me from Jared’s workspace, giving me a clear view of him at all times.

Jared called me into his office along with several managers.

The two hotels I was inheriting were failing Holcomb family properties–poorly maintained and currently operating at a loss.

The managers‘ reports confirmed my suspicions–outdated facilities, aging decor, and no viable strategy for improvement. They cited the ongoing losses as justification for withholding further investment.

Jared sat silently nearby, his cold gaze fixed on me.

I recognized his strategy immediately–he intended to saddle me with failing businesses, anticipating my struggle would send me retreating back to domestic life. The ploy was transparent.

But as I reviewed the financials, I noted their prime location near Willow Bay. When the tourism boom came, these properties would be golden.

first order of business was getting Jared to finance the complete renovation

with my most charming smile, “would you invest in your wife’s first business venture?” I met his gaze without blinking. If a little flirtation secured the deal, I’d play the

surprised him. “How much do you need?” he asked instead

a quick mental calculation, I

million?” His

hundred million,” I replied. The math was simple–only by becoming the undisputed industry leader could we justify this investment.

all. That kind of investment in failing hotels

humorless laugh. “Be serious, Victoria. Why would I pour that much money into guaranteed failures? This proves you’ve no

shrugged, undaunted. “We won’t know unless we

hundred million is serious money,” Jared

would gladly spend that exact amount next year on a luxury villa for Tracy,

take out a loan to invest

my determination. “Here’s thirty million. Do as

I’d asked,

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