Business by day, Romance by flight

Chapter 14

Tiffany’s POV

Wednesday - 4th December 2025, NYC

‘Oh f**k’. That was not something I thought would happen. I could still feel the heat in my cheeks. Even while looking out the window, watching the amazing scenery pass by. So this is New York City. It was huge. I thought the skyscrapers is Sydney were big, well I’m pretty sure the NYC gave Sydney a run for its money. It looked like a huge maze of streets, buildings and towering skyscrapers. A full on concrete jungle. I shivered, I could never find my way around this place. I looked away from the overwhelming display of confusion only to see Cain sitting there calmly reading on his iPad. My heart skipped a beat, automatically making me remember the feel of him carrying me. The feel of having him so close, to feel his breath near my ear. ‘Oh s**t’. I bet I was a beetroot again right now.

I shook my head, taking a look at my injured wrapped ankle. I never felt it at the beginning, hell I rushed down the stairs easily enough and I stood and everything, I never noticed it. That is, until I seemed to come down from my adrenaline high, thats when I noticed the twinges of pain that slowly transformed into a constant four to five star throb at that point. The ambulance women told me if the pain gets to about a six or seven or is to constant then to take pain killers, if it gets to a ten then get to the hospital. Otherwise just see a GP.

I sighed, like I would have one of those here, it’s my first time in this place. I’m sure if I asked Cain he would possibly know someone, or at least know who to ask.

I was pulled out of thought by Cain.

“Are you feeling alright?” I looked in his direction briefly before turning away quickly. My cheeks heating almost instantly. Great I can’t even look at the guy without remembering that incident.

“Yes”. I said it a little louder than I was aiming for. Calming myself, I answered a bit more civilised and in control.

“Sorry, yes. I’m alright just thinking about what the ambulance women said. She told me to see my GP if it gets worse. I was thinking thats a bit hard”. I tried to laugh but I don’t think it turned out quite right. I glanced in Cain’s direction, trying to keep it discrete.

He had lowered his tablet, and was looking forward but seemed to be thinking.

“I have someone in mind that I could get you in to see if you like. Is it hurting, should I take you to the hospital.” I shook my head.

“No, its ok. It hurts a little, but not that bad. She mentioned just to take pain killers, it’ll be fine in a couple of days. Besides I have a special cream in my bag that I can use to help with situations like this”. I gave him a sincere smile. He nodded. Still not looking in my direction much. I wonder if he is as embarrassed as I am about that situation. He doesn’t seem to be really looking at me either. That kind of made me want to giggle. I smiled instead. What the hell am I so embarrassed about, he did help me. Besides it was kind of cute that he did that in the first place.

I turned in his direction scooting closer on the back seat. I really just need to get over it.

“So reading anything good. Is it work? Can I help with anything”. Cain stared at me in disbelief before smiling and unlocking the tablet with Face ID then handing it to me.

“These are the reports from the different resorts I own around the area, and the next excel point is the reports from the agencies. I’m looking at what’s up and what’s down basically. I have one resort that has me wondering. I know the last time I was here it was well run and had a good turn around, but it seems to have dropped”. I looked at him and then back at the report, locating the one of concert. I thought about it for a moment, before opening a safari page and typing in the name of the resort. Cain moved closer, his arm snaking out along the back of the seat while looking over my shoulder at what I was doing. I just breathed, his deodorant tantalising my senses, but I fought hard to ignore it.

The google page opened. I located the website and pressed on it. A well designed webpage opened. It was well designed and it had all the bells and whistles that a good selling point required. There was only one thing that caught me eye as I searched through the available hyperlinks.

“Do you have much to do with the staffing for these other businesses or do they focus on that themselves?” I asked him, he thought about it for a moment.

“Because I’m not at these businesses that often, I tend to let them organise their own staff and such, but that said I prefer to have some impute more on the management positions”. I nodded.

“This page here states that the resort is under new management. Do you know who the manager is?” He looked at the page, locating what I was reading.

“Do you know when it was written?” He asked taking out his phone. I scrolled with my finger looking for a last updated date. I found it at the bottom.

“It was last updated three months ago”. He looked confused. I tilted my head slightly.

“I never had any knowledge of this update”. He scrolled through his phone, finding a number. I watched as he pressed the call button and put the mobile to his ear. I was that close to him I could hear the ringing tone, and then the call connected. I could hear a Scottish accent on the other end of the phone.

“Hello Malcolm”. Cain spoke.

“Halò Mr Serdon. How may I help you seiōr?” Malcom asked.

“I’ve just been looking at the reports for the resort you have been running and have noticed a drop, then looking at the webpage it states that its under new management. I knew nothing about this. Is everything alright?”

“Ach sh*t, my apologies seiōr. I have been out of action for a few months now, I was in an accident. I have broken a few vertebrae in my spine. I am a-mach à òrdugh… ahh… out of order so to speak for a little while. You were supposed to have been notified. My assistant manager should have notified you, but to change the page with out my concent. She was just supposed to step up until I returned”. I could hear his agitation on the other end of the phone; he couldn’t stop apologising.

“Duilich, Mr. Serdon”.

“No Malcolm. Please stop apologising, I understand. You have been through enough, this is not your doing. I would have preferred to be notified about your injury. Is there anything I can do to help”.

“No, No sir. I followed the correct procedures, my sick and long service are helping to keep me afloat. I’m working quickly to get back to my position…”

“Please recover first. Healing takes time do not rush the process, please keep me updated on your progress and I’ll get too the bottom of this issue”.

“Tha sir, thank you. Rayna has been after my position for a while, gu mì-fhortanach. Ahh…unfortunately. Sorry sir, she may have taken this opportunity to take over”.

“That’s ok Malcolm, I will work this out you just get better and recover. If you need any help, please call me”

“Tha sir.” With that they hung up. Cain rubbed his hand over his face, then through his hair. He was looking stressed.

I tapped around a bit more on the device. It had the usual information, including links to f*******:. I tapped around until I found what I was looking for.

“You might want to have a look at this”. Cain looked over at the screen in front of me. I found the ratings of the resort. He appeared shocked.

“What the hell”. There was different comments with low stars. Comments such as; ‘this was a really nice resort until the new management took over’. Or ‘there are staff members here that are nasty and rude, and when asked to speak to the manager, she uses the same rudeness as her staff. I wouldn’t recommend’. Some other comments that got me were some from families and couples. ‘My family and I visited, we have been coming here since the resort was first built and we loved it; but now the staff are so rude. They wouldn’t let us swim in the pool because my kids were too noisy for their other guests. They changed our rooms to the furthest room, again and I quote ‘your bratts could disturb the other guests’. This was rude and downright disrespectful.’ I covered my mouth in shock and looked at Cain. He took the tablet and continued reading the comments.

“Listen to this one; ‘My new wife and I came here for our honeymoon, since it has been our favourite holiday resort. Well we got forgotten multiple times, we paid the extra for packages and we were treated disrespectfully and told if we don’t like the service then to just leave. When I asked for a refund, I was denied and told there was no evidence that we paid. I had the printed receipt. The lady took it and put it through the shredder right in front of me. I printed it from the email so I still have a copy, but this was rude and uncalled for”. Cains voice was showing anger, he furrowed his brow. He was not happy. I don’t doubt it. I’d be pretty p****d too.

“I apologise Tiffany, but I am going to have to push our other business ventures ahead, I am going to have to try and sort this”. I just shrugged, sitting back in the seat. I could feel his arm behind my head, but I tried not to show that it bothered me. He handed the iPad back to me. Pulling his arm away and rubbing his face with both hands. He was really frustrated.

“What would be the best way to deal with this? I should call up and have a meeting with them….” I shook my head.

“No, you shouldn’t”. He looked at me confused. So I continued.

“You call them up and let them know that you are suspicious about how they are running things in Malcolm’s absence and they will have an excuse for everything. If you want full proof of their incapabilities then you need to catch them in the act. Have you heard of a show called undercover bosses?” He sat back in the seat listening intently.

“Do they know you at all?” He seemed to think about it for a moment.

“No, I keep my presence low in all my businesses. In fact the agency in Sydney is possibly the only one of my businesses that actually does know who I am. They know my name, but otherwise they doesn’t know my face. Malcolm does, since I hired him myself. His staff are all hired and managed by him and my accountant”.

“Good, so go undercover as a customer on a holiday and wait and see if they show there colours. If you can get evidence of this then you have the opportunity to fix the problem”. He nodded in understanding. Then a smirk seemed to play at his lips. This confused me.

“So will you play the part as my wife”. I choked.