Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(78)

“Nice outfit,” Tabitha mutters under her breath. The entire table hears. Some of the Circle members tut, shaking their heads in disapproval. Some of them are too scared to say anything, or even breathe around Tabitha.

Tabitha is not well liked within the business community. Thankfully, her father is a sterling bloke and upholds the MacEvoy brand name. Tabitha is here simply to appease her father. Nothing more. And then there's keeping her busy to keep her away from the office; her staff are not the biggest fans of daddy’s little princess either.

Eva casually slides her notepad she’s taken out of her purse onto the ebony table. Slowly she sits down, then fluffs out her hair. Leaning over the table, she threads her hands together. “Thanks, Tabitha. Hip-hop lessons today. You should join a class. Might loosen you up a bit. Remove the stick that’s permanently stuck up your ass.”

She said ass in our meeting.

My polite sweet-dimpled goddess, gone bad.

Without meaning to, I snort. I love how fierce my woman is and how she’s growing in confidence again, since Ewan is no longer pestering her.

“And I will say this one last time. If you have nothing nice to say to me, then move on, Tabitha.” Eva looks around the table. “Hi, I’m Eva, Charlie’s daughter. Most of you know me, anyway. I’m sorry about that, but I’ve had enough of Tabitha’s new sport of name-calling and belittling me in front of everyone. I’m here to help my dad out this week. I’ll hold my tongue from here on in.”

Like a fish out of water, Tabby’s mouth opens and shuts as if expecting someone to jump in to defend her.

But that doesn’t happen.

I pull my chair in and give Eva’s knee a reassuring squeeze under the table discreetly.

Atta girl. Rise above.

As Mrs. Kinnear appears to complete the full list of attendees, I address the room. “Shall we begin?”

Well, this afternoon just got interesting.





Eva

Fucking Tabitha MacEvoy.

Who the hell does she think she is?

Talking to me like that.

No more.

Whatever I said, I can’t even remember now. It appears to have silenced her during the entire meeting.

Dad and Mom are away today to view new chalets for the sports retreat. I assumed they would scale down the business or hold it steady, but nope, they are off to choose four new log cabins for the retreat, allowing them to expand.

Even though they could, my parents have no intention of retiring anytime soon. They love what they do, and it shines through in every way. Hence the reason for their success too. It’s no coincidence.

Knowing Knox would be here today, I offered to stand in for Dad, even though Eden was keen.

She’s got a great business head on her and thrives in marketing, promotion, and strategy meetings, but I thought I would leap in first when Dad asked one of us to take his place.

It gives me more time with Knox, even if we can’t speak to each other properly.

Simply orbiting around him feels comforting.

The meeting has been boring as hell, but he’s here, squeezing my knee from time to time.

My gentle but powerful and reassuring Greek god in a suit.

As I doodle in my notepad, I listen to the business circle members saying that mail drops and advertising is the way to increase more tourists in quieter times. It is a false economy in my opinion.

You’re all wrong.

I continue making blue ink star shapes on the outer edges of my notepaper.

After a few seconds, I realize how quiet the room became and look up.

Everyone is looking at me.

Oh damn, did I say that out loud?

“We’re wrong? And I suppose you have a better idea?” Tabitha challenges me.

I shuffle in my seat and sit up straighter. “Eh, no. I’m only here to take notes for my father.”

“Oh no. If you think you know better than we do, then please proceed.” She interlaces her fingers against her mouth, except her index fingers in a handgun steeple.

She thinks she’s got me.

Well, screw you, Tabitha MacEvoy.

Challenge accepted.

I managed our business when Eden took a sabbatical after she had her car crash last year, and I loved every single minute of it. It’s me that introduced paid-for partnership ideas on our social media. We’re now flooded with daily requests. Our social media is flawless. And of course it helps to have triplet babies and golfing champion daddy Hunter with abs for days, partaking in all the silly online challenges. Eden and Hunter have helped us gain thousands of followers in the last six months. Plus Archie pulls in the views. People sure do love watching my seven year old break dancing. He’s so cool.

“Okay.” I clear my throat.

“You don’t have to, Eva.” Knox lays his hand on my arm and it dawns on him what he’s done. He removes it as if I scorched his skin.

I wish it didn’t have to be like this.

“No. I’m good,” I reply. “So…” I clap my hands together. “You want consistent income. You want consistency in sales or tourists staying longer than one night or day? Then from my experience and what we have found at the dance studio, there are a couple of things that work. For us, day-trippers aren’t an issue as they don’t factor into our business model, but what we found, painfully so at the beginning, is running classes on a pay as you go is a surefire way to fail. That’s why we offer blocks of classes. People pay up front for blocks. Take Cupcakes and Castles.” I point to Gemma, who owns the local cupcake shop. It’s my sister Eden’s favorite place in town. “You could offer subscription boxes. Reaching far and wide. You can’t expect all the customers to come to you; you need to go to the customer. Every time a day-tripper comes in, push that subscription service, offer a discount. Market it like, oh, I don’t know, they get a taste of Castleview even when they aren’t here. Offer a digital cupcake making class too; you send them all of the ingredients as part of the subscription. And you all are missing a trick with social media. A simple photo doesn’t cut it anymore. You have to tell your brand story. People love stories.”