Not Quite Dating(27)

Eric sat opposite Jack in one of the conference rooms on the main floor. Eric was much younger than Jack and was probably worried about his job if he became too disagreeable. Jack had had to deal with those emotions from employees for years. It usually took some time and effort to help them relax and feel safe enough in their jobs to offer what they really felt.
“I’ll remind you about this conversation next time,” Eric promised.
“As you should. Have you considered a different name?”
Eric shrugged. “I haven’t given it much thought. I’ll put picking a new name for the hotel at the top of my list.”
Jack thought of Jessie and her ideas. “What about the Morrison East?”
Eric wrinkled his nose. “Well, that might be confusing to our guests here out west.”
“Jack’s Place.”
“Almost too casual, but I like that direction more. Oh.” Eric shot up in his chair. “How about the Morrison Family Inn?”
Jack smoothed his suit jacket against his chest as he considered the title. “I like that. Gives people the Morrison name, a name associated with quality and leaders in the hotel business across the nation, but puts in the family twist. I think that will work.”
“Shall I pencil that in?”
“Do it, but let’s run a few market tests to determine if the public will see this the way we do.”
Eric nodded. “I’ll have my assistant get on this when I get back to my office.”
“Get back to me next week on the results.”
Eric stood and folded his papers before shoving them into his briefcase. “If there isn’t anything else you need, I’ll go ahead and return to San Francisco and meet with you before Christmas for the board meeting.”
Jack stood and shook the other man’s hand. “We’ll see you then. Thanks for coming all the way down here.”
“My pleasure.”
“And Eric?”
He turned toward Jack.
“In the future, speak up. I’m not going to can you if your ideas differ from mine.”
Eric nodded. “With the economy the way it’s been, everyone fears for their jobs.”
Jack understood his concerns. The hotels had gone through a couple of rounds of layoffs since the recession. The budget-minded hotel idea had bloomed because of the bad economy.
“The Morrison hotels are riding the storm. I don’t foresee any more layoffs.” It was the best Jack could do. He couldn’t promise the man he’d always have a job, but he wanted him at ease enough to offer insightful ideas on something as important as the name of a hotel.
“Thank you, Mr. Morrison.”
“Safe flight home.”
As Eric left the room, Jack stacked his market analysis papers together and placed them in his briefcase. His cell phone in his pocket rang as he headed out of the room.
Recognizing the number, Jack answered with a greeting. “Hey, Mike.”
“Good, you’re answering.” His friend’s frazzled voice turned Jack’s smile to a frown.
“What’s up?”
“It’s Dean. Has he called you?”
“Haven’t spoken to him since Vegas. The construction end of the new hotels is a ways off, so I didn’t think I’d hear from him for a while. Why?” Jack set his briefcase back down. Dean owned and operated a major western United States construction company that Jack planned to use to build the family inns. Dean was going to take on the oversight of the project personally.
“Damn. I thought he’d have called one of us.”
“What’s going on? Is he OK?” Jack rubbed a hand over his face and sat forward in his chair.
“Probably not. Maggie called off the wedding.”
Of all the things he expected to come out of Mike’s mouth, Maggie and Dean’s engagement ending wasn’t one of them. “Oh man. Dean must be devastated.” For better or for worse, Dean had adored Maggie.
“He’s disappeared.”
“Do you know what happened? Why did she call it off?” Jack stood and paced the room. Dean was his best friend, and he had no idea what was happening with him. Damn, what kind of friend was that?
“No idea.”
“Never mind, that isn’t my business. Where do you think Dean went?” Jack could think of a few places to check out. Places they would escape to during Dean’s early years in Southern California.
“He could be anywhere. He left on his motorcycle, according to Maggie.”
Being pissed on a motorcycle never ended well. Dammit! “I thought he sold the motorcycle.”
“Apparently not. Anyway, I don’t think he went far. Maybe up to Arrowhead or possibly Mammoth.”
“It’s December. Mammoth is covered in snow.” Dean could be wild, but he wasn’t reckless. “I’ll pick you up in the hour. We’ll head out and find him.”
“You read my mind, bro.”
Jack hung up the phone, thinking about his friend. Dean would be distraught. Probably didn’t want company, but if left alone, he might find himself drinking too much and having an accident. Jack and Mike could keep him safe while he wallowed for a few days.
Up in his suite, Jack tossed his case aside and stepped into his bedroom to change his clothes. Once he’d dressed down into jeans and a button-up plaid shirt, he plopped his hat on his head and started for the door.
“Damn,” he said, thinking of Jessie. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.
She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
Her voice was honey to his ears. “Hey, Jessie, it’s Jack.”