Chapter 40

Donna's Pov.

The question hung heavy in the air, catching me off guard. It was the same question swirling in my own mind, yet somehow, I hadn't managed to voice it.

"Why are you asking, Jake?" I countered, surprised by his bluntness.

"Well, you two are best friends, aren't you?" he replied, a knowing glint in his eye. "Seems like you'd be the one to know."

"We are," I confirmed, chewing on my lip. "But honestly, I can't say for sure. They could be dating, or it could just be a friendly thing."

Jake chuckled. "Donna, Donna," he said, shaking his head playfully. "I have a sixth sense about these things. That emphasis on their 'plans' and the way Delphine practically glued herself to Lorena? All signs point to a budding romance.”

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Men and their overblown intuition. Still, a seed of doubt had been planted. "Maybe," I conceded, noncommittal. "But until Lorena tells me herself, it's just speculation.”

He patted my shoulder, the gesture both comforting and vaguely patronizing. "Suit yourself, sis. Just keep your eyes peeled. Now, what about you? Any special someone keeping you company these days?"

A familiar warmth bloomed in my cheeks. "Actually, yes," I admitted, surprised by the ease with which the words slipped out. "Charlie. Still with Charlie."

A slow grin spread across Jake's face. "Charlie the cop, right? The one who saved you from…" He trailed off, leaving the unspoken words to hang in the air.

Memories of that terrifying night,which was my first night in Los Angeles, the adrenaline rush, and Charlie's strong presence flooded back. "Yeah, that Charlie," I confirmed, a shiver dancing down my spine.

“Wow," Jake whistled, a smile spreading across his face. "He must be a good guy then, for you to stick with him for almost a year.”

“Yes he is," I agreed, a smile tugging at my lips. "I have no complaints there."

The conversation shifted, the tension easing. "So, spill the beans," I said, eager to redirect the focus from Charlie, since I was still considering whether or not to break up with him. "How are you doing? And why are you and Mom in Los Angeles anyway?”

He let out a low chuckle. "That is a loaded question, sis," he teased. "But alright, I'll bite. I'm good, thanks for asking. And the reason for our surprise visit? Well, we miss you, of course.”

Something about his answer left a hollow ring in my ears. I narrowed my eyes. "Really? The whole surprise visit thing? Sounds… convenient.”

"Well, there is that too," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "Can't deny a little vacation, some time to unwind wouldn't hurt. Running the Vineyards and wineries can be stressful, you know.”

He paused, his gaze flickering with amusement. "Speaking of the vineyard, guess what just landed in the Pearson portfolio?"

"What?" I asked, intrigued.

"La Grenia," he announced with a flourish. "That's right, sister. We just snagged our biggest competitor."

A wave of surprise washed over me. La Grenia was a prestigious winery, a thorn in our side for years. Secretly, I was thrilled.

"That's… amazing!" I exclaimed, a genuine smile splitting my face.

A comfortable silence settled between us for a moment, the weight of the news hanging in the air. Then, a practical thought struck me. "Jake," I said, "it's getting late. I should head home, get some rest, and prepare for rehearsals in the morning."

"Home, huh?" Jake raised an eyebrow. "Why not stay here? I can book an extra suite. We could catch up properly, order some room service… you know, make a night of it."

The idea was undeniably appealing. Skipping the trek home, the chore of cooking dinner – it all seemed suddenly very tempting. "Alright," I conceded with a smile. "A night of catching up and room service sounds good to me.”

****************

A pang of guilt twisted in my stomach as I dialed Charlie's number, I was lost in conversation with my brother that I forgot to tell him I was coming to his apartment tonight.

"Hey," he answered, his voice warm and inviting.

"Hi, Charlie," I began, forcing a lightness into my tone. "Listen, something unexpected came up."

"Oh?" His voice held a hint of curiosity. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," I reassured him, perhaps a little too quickly. "It's just… my mom and brother are in town."

"Really?" Surprise crackled over the line. "That's great news! Why didn't you say something?”

"I just found out myself," I lied, feeling a bead of sweat prickle on my forehead. "They're staying at the Colton Hotel, so I thought I'd catch up with them tonight."

A brief silence followed. Then, "Oh," he said. "Well, give them my regards. And Donna?"

"Yeah?" I responded.

"When can I meet them?”

"Yeah, yeah," I replied swiftly as soon as he finished his sentence. "I'll see about it. Hopefully, we can all get together soon. Anyway, gotta go. See you tomorrow."

I spotted Jake flirting with the receptionist as he requested my room’s keycard, I rolled my eyes.

He finally waltzed over, a satisfied grin plastered on his face as he held up a keycard. Together, we entered the elevator, the silence growing heavier with each passing floor.

Just as the doors were about to close on the third floor, they abruptly slid open again. Standing there, looking as surprised as I felt, was Louis.

"Hey, how have you been?" he asked, his gaze landing directly on me and ignoring Jake completely.

A nervous laugh escaped my lips. "I'm good, Louis. You?"

"Well, we're still in the thick of things since the press conference yesterday," he admitted, a hint of tiredness in his eyes. "But seeing you now... it brightens my day."

Before I could reply, Jake cleared his throat, a touch of annoyance in his voice. "Donna, who is this young man?"

Louis, clearly surprised by the familiarity in Jake's tone, stammered, "Uh, I'm Louis Colton."

Caught between my charming boss and my ever-so-slightly-obnoxious brother, I sighed inwardly."This is Louis Colton, my boss," I explained to Jake, then turned to Louis. "Louis, meet my brother, Jake Pearson."

Jake's eyes widened in recognition. "Louis Colton," he repeated, a hint of something akin to awe creeping into his voice. "As in the owner of the entire Colton Hotel chain?"

Louis offered a polite smile. "Yes, that's me, at your service."

The salesman in Jake instantly took over. He shook Louis's hand with far more enthusiasm than necessary. "Mr. Colton," he boomed, "I must say, I've been enjoying my stay here immensely. Excellent service, top-notch facilities."

Louis seemed genuinely flattered. "Thank you, Mr. Pearson. We strive to provide the best possible experience for our guests.”

"Well, everything's been great," Jake continued, his voice taking on a slyly persuasive tone, "except for the wine selection. No Pearson Family wines in sight, which is a shame really. We produce some of the finest wines in Napa Valley, you know. It will perfectly complement the luxurious atmosphere of this establishment, and any other Colton Hotel in the world, for that matter."

A familiar groan rose in my throat. Here we go, I thought, bracing myself for Jake's relentless salesmanship. Louis, however, seemed to take it in stride.

"I understand your point, Mr. Pearson," he said. "While I only recently assumed control of the hotels, I can assure you I'll look into expanding the wine selection. Perhaps we could discuss this further tomorrow afternoon?"

Before I could interject, Jake was already whipping out a business card. "Absolutely, Mr. Colton. Let's iron out the details then. Here's my card, feel free to reach out."

Louis took the card, his gaze flitting between Jake and me for a moment. The elevator doors finally pinged open, signaling our arrival on the eleventh floor. I offered a quick wave to Louis as Jake and I exited.