Bad Influencer by Kenzie Reed

Chapter Seven

Elliott

I suspected that Jillian might not be an early riser, and I turn out to be right. There’s no doubt she wore herself out running all over the park looking for photo opportunities yesterday evening, while I had meeting after meeting with various department heads.

I’m grateful that she’s slept in. Jillian Fletcher affects me, and it’s becoming a real problem. Every time she’s near, I turn into an idiot. I was seconds away from closing the distance between us and kissing the frustrating woman. The pull was strong. The need stronger. Sharing a suite with her is bad news, and there’s nothing I can do about it… except avoid her at all costs.

So it’s not that hard giving her the slip in the morning. She’s still sprawled out on the couch at 6:30 a.m. as I shower, dress and sneak out. I’m dressed down, wearing jeans and sneakers and a T-shirt and baseball cap, so I can blend in with the crowds. I have a generic security badge on my lanyard which just says “Park Employee”. That way I can observe without being recognized.

I don’t even know what my plan is for dealing with Jillian, other than avoiding her. The idea of trying to smile and pose for her pictures is enough to make me break out in hives.

It’s not just that I hate having my picture taken. It’s the fact that I’m inevitably going to disappoint her. I know this from experience.

And for some reason, the idea of letting Jillian down leaves a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach, even though I barely know her.

I stroll through the park, hands shoved in my pockets, and make my way towards the Ghost Town section. We actually bought a property that had been used heavily in the gold rush times, including an old ghost town, and built the park around it. We even have a place where guests can pan for gold.

I think back on the look on Jillian’s face yesterday, and I start to soften a little. She’s right. This is magic. A place where lifetime memories are made and treasured. A place where families can leave their everyday cares behind for a little while and enter a world of pure fun and fantasy. A place where employees are genuinely happy to come to work, and their enthusiasm shines through and spreads among the visitors.

But for how much longer? What will this place be like if Park City sinks its claws into it?

As I stroll through the entryway, framed with tall timbers like the entrance to an old fort, my brief happiness fades and tension settles over me again, twisting in my gut. I never thought I’d be CEO this young—and I certainly didn’t expect to be facing a takeover attempt from a company which is twisting what our investors should see as an asset—the fact that I’m serious and intensely focused on work—into a weakness.

I pull out my phone and call my father. There’s got to be something he can tell me. The last time we opened a new park was twenty years ago, in Idaho, and I was fifteen at the time. All I remember about it is smiling and posing for a bunch of reporters, then riding on all the craziest rides with my best friends again and again until we barfed. Good times, good times.

“Hey, Dad, I hope I didn’t wake you,” I say when he answers.

“Not at all! I’m out in the greenhouse. Come down here! My Ophrys insectifera is flowering, and it’s amazing,” he says happily.

That’s got to be some kind of orchid. And he’s got to be kidding me. I stifle a groan. I know he’s recuperating and he doesn’t have Edith sending him reminders telling him where to be every five minutes, but still, how could he forget the date of our newest park opening? This is huge.

I can forgive my mother not being here this week. She’s got her exhibition in Europe. My dad has no excuse.

“Dad, I’m not home.” I let the slightest snap of impatience creep into my voice. Now, on top of all the other stress I’ve got, I’m afraid to get angry at my father, even when he deserves it, because I’m still tiptoeing around him like he’s made of fine tissue paper. If I yelled at him and he had another coronary, I’d never forgive myself. “I’m in Colorado for the soft opening. Remember? The park’s official opening date is next week?”

“Right, right, of course!” He laughs heartily. “I don’t remember anything without Edith to keep my calendar for me. Your mother always said I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached to my body.”

I suck in a frustrated breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I could use some guidance. I know what I’d have done as CFO, but I’m still getting my feet under me as CEO. What did you do for past park openings?”

“Oh, you know,” he says vaguely. “Your mother and I had a great time. We rode the rides. Pressed the flesh. Smiled for the camera. Just had a lot of fun! We loved those times. It got me out of the office.”

Right. Fun. He just walked around being himself, and… it was enough.

That’s what I was afraid of. I’m very good at a lot of things, but being Stewart Bradford isn’t one of them. My dad is what this company needs right now, and there’s just no possible way I can deliver. How can I relax and have fun when there’s so many loose ends and things that need to be done?

Well, worrying’s not going to fix anything. I head to the food cart area and order a cup of coffee from a cart designed to look like a log cabin. Workers are up early and clustered around the carts, ready to begin today’s test runs.

“Hey there, stranger!” Cameron calls out to me. I glance up and wave, feeling a little of my tension lift as he makes his way towards me. He and Trevor arrived last night on the redeye. It’s always nice to have people around who have your back.

“Operations department’s looking good,” he adds.

“I wasn’t worried.”

“Liar. You’ve got that worry line starting between your eyebrows.” He’s carrying a cup of coffee, and he takes a healthy sip.

I manage a smile. I’m about to ask him how long he spent on his perfectly tousled hair when I hear a loud, familiar voice coming from a food cart next to us.

“Excuse me, what do you have that has no fat and no sugar?” It’s Lauren Smallwood, my ex-fiancée, and her voice has a jabbing whine that I never let myself notice when we were together.

“Napkins,” the cart attendant drawls.

I make a mental note to give her a bonus.

Cameron scowls in Lauren’s direction. “I thought I smelled evil.”

“Did not,” I scoff.

“Okay, it’s true.” He flashes a smirk at me. “She’s a stealth skank. I never saw her coming.”

Lauren glances our way, and her face lights up. She hurries over to us and stops just a few feet away. “Hey, Elliott! You’re looking good.” Once upon a time I bathed in the warmth of her smile. Now it curdles my stomach.

“What are you doing here?” I demand.

She pouts her glossy pink mouth and bats her eyes. “That’s no way to talk to an old friend, is it?”

Is she serious with this? I’m being lectured by my ex-fiancée, whom I caught banging my former best friend—not Cameron, my other best friend, Keith, whom I no longer speak to. And what she said after I caught her was even worse than catching her in the act.

“Damn, Lauren, I didn’t recognize you without Keith’s dick in your mouth.” Cameron sneers at her.

“Cameron, I have neither the time nor the crayons to explain to you how to construct a proper insult,” she scoffs. Then she flashes me a huge smile. “It’s really good to see you again. We never really got to properly talk, after…” She trails off.

Cameron speaks up again, his voice a lazy drawl. “After you got caught on the living room floor, getting railed from behind by your fiancé’s best friend?”

Rage blazes from her big blue eyes. “Cool story. In what chapter do you shut the hell up?”

Cameron’s about to spew out a venomous reply, but I put my hand on his shoulder. “I can handle this. If you could just head over to the operations center, I’ll meet you shortly.”

“Be careful,” he says sourly, casting a scornful side-eye at Lauren. “I wouldn’t get too close to that one unless you’ve had all your shots.” And he strolls off, whistling to himself.

I spin back to face her, pinning her with a glower. “How did you get in?” I demand. She’s not wearing a badge. Everyone is required to wear a badge on a lanyard.

She dodges the question. “Why wouldn’t I be allowed in?”

“Because everyone is required to check in with security this week before entering the park, and you were most definitely not on their list.” Lauren, of course, is gorgeous, and charming when she wants to be, and she probably told some very convincing lie to get in, but this is not okay.

“Details.” She shrugs, with a dismissive little hand flip.

“Security!” I bellow, gesturing at a security guard who’s in line at a food cart. He trots over immediately, gives me a puzzled look because of my low-key clothes, then nods in recognition when I fish my other badge out of my pocket.

Her eyes flash in anger. “You have got to be kidding me!”

People turn to stare at us.

“Excuse me, do you see a badge on this woman?” I snap at the security guard. “I’ll answer for you. No. She does not have permission to be here, and I’d like her escorted off the premises. I’m also going to be talking to Trevor about reviewing our security protocols.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” he replies.

“Over-dramatic, much?” She puts her hands on her hips. “And I’m not going anywhere. If he touches me, I’ll sue you for assault.”

“Lauren, I have neither the time nor the crayons to explain how trespassing laws work.” Her lip curls back as I throw her own insult in her face. “But since you’re planning on causing a scene, we can notify the sheriff’s department.” There are several sheriff kiosks located throughout the park.

“You can’t throw me out!” She waves her hand around at the employees who are lining up at the carts. “Look at all these people. Everyone else is here!”

“Everyone else has permission to be here. You’re working for the company that’s trying to purchase us—which is technically a violation of the non-compete contract you signed, and you’re lucky I didn’t pursue that in court.”

She glares at me. “Fine. I’ll leave. And I’ll come back next week when it’s open.”

“Actually, I can ban people from the park. And since you’ve trespassed, you’re now on the banned list.”

Her face flushes a dull red that shines through her thick foundation. “Mr. Rule Follower,” she sneers. “I’m just remembering why I felt the need to look elsewhere for excitement. How many times did I fall asleep listening to you— Hey, get your hands off me!” she shrieks at the security guard as he grabs her arm.

“There you are!” a welcome voice cries out. It’s Jillian, hurrying towards me.

“Jillian Fletcher!” one of the employees calls out. “I love what you did to that animal lab!”

“Thank you!” Jillian smiles at her. “Dogs are people too!”

They are not, unless something has changed since I took biology class, but that gets a cheer from the people watching.

Without thinking, I fling my arm around her waist and pull her close to me. “Hey, babe!” I say with a big, fake smile.

What the hell am I doing? I don’t even know. One day I’m trying to get her to quit, the next day I’m practically copping a feel in public. I’ve lost my mind. I love the way Jillian feels pressed up against me, though.

More security guards are moving towards us at a fast trot. Lauren’s mouth curls up in a sneer. “Isn’t that the puppy girl who was on the news?” she sneers.

“Puppy girl?” Jillian laughs. “Thanks. I’ve been called worse things by better people.” She leans in to me, and I catch a whiff of her light floral perfume. “Morning, honey. You didn’t buy me a coffee? And I thought you cared.” She blows me a kiss.

Lauren skewers Jillian with a murderous gaze. “I see you’ve downgraded.”

“Who’s your charming friend, babe?” Jillian smiles at me, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Just kidding, don’t care. Now, I think you said something about breakfast?”

“Excuse me, who am I?” Lauren’s voice goes high and shrill. “I’m his ex-fiancée.”

Jillian turns to stare at her with a blank expression. “I’m sorry, you never came up. Elliott and I really only talk about things that are important.”

“I’m Lauren Smallwood.” Lauren announces her name as if it should be accompanied by a blare of trumpets and an unfurling red carpet.

Jillian shakes her head, her brows pinching together in a little frown. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure we haven’t met before. Anyway, Elliott, I was hoping that we—”

The security guards swarm around Lauren and start hustling her down the pathway, away from us.

“Lauren Smallwood of the Seattle Smallwoods!” Lauren shouts over the guards’ shoulders.

As soon as they’re gone, I drop my arm. “Sorry about that,” I say. “That was inappropriate. I… don’t know what came over me.” But it felt amazing. My whole body is tingling and alive. Jillian woke up nerve endings I didn’t know I had, and although I know I should run, I don’t. “I’m sorry, Jillian.”

She laughs. “I mean, it’s not like you grabbed my butt or anything. It’s all good.” Great… now I’m picturing cupping one of her round, perfect butt cheeks in my hand. And that’s not good at all. “You dated her? She’s a bit… much.”

“That’s a long story and not anything I want to talk about.” I heave a sigh. “She works for Park City Properties now. She apparently snuck into the park, I suspect to do some spying for them. We shouldn’t have to deal with her again, though. I hope. I’ll have security keep an eye out for her so she can’t sneak back in.”

“Whatever you say, boss. Moving on.”

“That’s it? You’re not mad at me for using you to get at my ex?”

She shrugs cheerfully. “Why would I be? I’m here for you. But now you owe me.” Her mouth curves in a wicked smile.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. You owe me, and I am collecting immediately.” She links her arm through mine. “Let’s go have some enforced fun.”