Raindrops on Roses: Book One of the Favorite Things Trilogy by Millenia Black Read Free Book Online Page B

together?"
Douglas suggested as he turned Priscilla's Porsche Panamera onto
the causeway.
    She looked over at him
thoughtfully. "I don't know, Doug. I mean, of course, I want to
meet her eventually , but I don't think I'm ready to leave home for anywhere
right now."
    Douglas shook his head,
snorting in amazement. "I'm still trying to get my mind around this! Who do you
think her father was, anyway? Do you think she even knows? I think it's
possible it had something to do with the real reason Gran quit the
movie business and went off to Europe the way she did." He paused,
serious again. "Jesus. She must've been like sixteen years old when
she gave that baby up...Do you think the father was someone
famous?"
    "That's doubtful," said
Priscilla. "Remember she started in the business at eighteen
because of Granddad, they had just gotten married." She shook her
head. "Wow...what a scandal it would've been if it had been a co-star. Like
Loretta Young and Clark Gable." She thoughtfully toyed with the
button on her jacket. "I can't believe she's kept that secret all
these years. And now that she's gone, those awful gossip rags are
dredging it all up. Let's pray it doesn't gain any more
traction."
    "Wishful thinking, Cilla. Her will is public
record once it's probated. So just brace yourself and lay low."
    "Great," she sighed, adjusting her
shades.
    "I need to check in with Jerry at the
hotel," Doug said a few minutes later. "Right now we're revamping
the websites and updating Gran's bio in the company profile. It
shouldn't take too long, but I can take you home first if you
like..."
    "No, it's okay. I think I'll sneak into
Blossoms and say hello to Natalie."
    Douglas drove into the heart of downtown
Mayfair, where the world-famous Raindrops on Roses Hotel &
Resort stood proudly as one of the island's main attractions. Their
accommodations had become so popular over the years, bookings were
made nine to twelve months in advance year round.
    As the second in the Favorite Things hotel
chain, the Mayfair location had opened in the late 1970s and had
quickly become even more profitable than the first. Today it
remained at the top of the ledgers, the most popular of all three
hotels.
    When they arrived, Doug
headed for the elevator bank and Priscilla used a back door to
discreetly enter Dew
Blossoms , the hotel's floral shop. Natalie
Soto was in the office, busy working at her desk. She looked up and
smiled as Priscilla walked in.
    "Hi, honey," she sang, jumping up to give
Priscilla a warm hug. "It's so good to see you here...this
beautiful face."
    "Oh, you too," Priscilla said into her
shoulder. "And thank you so much for this. I needed a good
hug."
    "Things will never be the
same around here without our Veronica. She's gone much too
soon. Way too
soon."
    "I know," said Priscilla,
taking a seat. "But life goes on, doesn't it? And we get to go with
it. Yippee ," she
added cheerlessly. "Doug stopped in to see Jerry so I thought I'd
hide out with you until they finish."
    "Not a problem, chica. I'm
glad you came in, because I have something to tell you..." She
lowered her voice. "Charlotte is making everyone very, very
uncomfortable. There's talk. They say she thinks she will take over
as manager of the hotel now that your grandmother is gone, and she
has a list of people she wants to get rid of! A list of people she
wants to replace ."
    "Yes, we've heard all
about it so don't worry—Charlotte's being handled. Just ignore it,
Natalie, and please help dispel those rumors whenever you can.
There are no plans to change management at Raindrops at all. From
what I know, Jerry's always done a great job and Gran would
never, ever have
replaced him. I'm pretty sure Doug plans to address it formally
with the staff soon."
    "Well, that's a relief," Natalie said,
falling back into her chair. "Because I personally don't think
Charlotte ever really liked me. I don't know what I ever did to
her, but she doesn't like me."
    "Well, at the end of the
day she's my