The Owner

Chapter 1

My day starts off just like any other day. I wake up at seven, take a shower, brush my teeth, fix my hair and makeup, and get dressed. By the time I'm done getting ready, my parents are already waiting for me at the kitchen table with breakfast made. Our conversations consist of my dad talking about the company and my mom talking about the latest book club drama. After breakfast is over, my dad and I take the car and go to work at Collins Incorporated. We've been working with each other since I graduated when he offered me a job because he thought I could bring "more youthful ideas" to the company. Not that I really believe that. I'm pretty sure he just wanted to be able to spend time with me and maybe get me to one day take over after he's gone. It is after all family operated and has been in our family for three generations.

My dad's company is centered around hotels. What we do is buy buildings, typically hotels that are going out of business, from people who are struggling to keep up with everything and then we turn them into thriving hotels that are unrecognizable. After Collins Inc. owns the hotel,  people have to make reservations months in advance just to get a table for two at the restaurant. Right now we own 13 of the most popular hotels in New York and are currently looking at a possible 14th this afternoon. My dad put me in charge of designing the inside of the hotels, from the lobby and restaurant to the rooms and penthouse. Yes I got the job because I am his daughter, but I also go it because I am a damn good designer. I am more than qualified considering that I have had four years of interior design in high school and am now one my last semester of more advanced courses at the New York School of Interior Design. This job is more than a job to me. This is what I live and breath. Being able to take something that is broken and turning it into something beautiful is just amazing.

Lately my dad has been stressed out about some financial problems but has assured me and my mom that it is nothing to worry about. He's actually going to talk to some of the investors about it today, one of them being Harry Styles, who is the wealthiest man in New York, to sort this whole problem out. As I'm looking over some of my designs for the potential new hotel, my assistant knocks on my door.

"Excuse me Ms. Collins, your dad- I mean Mr. Collins wanted you to go down to the building on West 53rd Street."

"Thank you Lily. I'll head over there right after I finish this design. I'm almost done," I reply not taking my eyes off of my computer.

Lily's footsteps disappear and I continue on the design in front of me. As I had said, I pack up and head to the 53rd Street after fifteen minutes of finishing touches. Lily and a couple of other assistants go with me to look at the building and really just get a feel for it so it is easier to decide what it needs and how to go about the remodel.

When we get to the building, I immediately fall in love with the old architecture. The inside is even better than I thought it would be. Most of the building that my dad buys are run down and nearly abandoned, but this one is in really great condition. I almost don't want to make any changes to it, maybe just clean it up a bit.

"This place is amazing. I can't believe this place is going out of business," I say fascinated by the arches and granite floors.

My crew also seems shocked and amazed at the building. We tour the lobby, bar, restaurant, a few of the rooms, and finally the penthouse. The condition of this building is remarkable. I send my dad a text to tell him my thoughts on this for a new addition to our chain of hotels and ideas that I'm already designing in my head. He doesn't answer as quickly as he normally does, and that's when I remember that he is in a meeting about the financial problems.

After my team and I finish looking at the hotel, we head back to work. When the elevator doors open the whole office seems in a panic. I look to see if my dad is in his office and I see him with his head in his hands. I walk over as calmly as I can, trying not to think of the worst possible situation we could be in. I startle my dad as I open the doors to his office, quickly shutting them behind me.

"What's wrong. How did the meeting go? We're going to be okay right? You told me and mom that everything was going to be fixed after this meeting," I continue to question until he says something.

"Beth, I'm not sure if this offer is going to help us," he says under his breath.

"What did Mr. Styles say. Wasn't he going to offer you a deal that was going to help us," I start to panic.

"He said he would pay off the financial debt but that I would have to trade with him," he mumbles.

"What did he want? A hotel? Why don't you just give him one of the hotels. We have plenty dad. Mr. Styles is a simple man. Of course he can be rude and a little difficult but we've been in business with him, his father, and even his grandfather for years. I don't see why you don't just giv--" I'm cut off.

"He doesn't want a damn hotel, Beth," he raises his voice.

My stomach drops at the face my dad makes. He looks so defeated and so lost. I'm scared to ask what Styles wants because of what the answer might be. It can't be good if my dad didn't just take the offer in this situation.

"Dad, w-what does he want. W-why can't we just take the offer," my voice gets caught in my throat.

My dad doesn't look up from his desk. He refuses to make eye contact with me. Before I ask again but in a more demanding way.

"I already took the offer, Beth."

"What was it, Dad?" I question.

After a long pause and a deep breath, my dad finally looks at me.

"He wanted you. He wanted you, not a hotel. He said he would pay all of the debt as long as I gave him to you. It's in a contract and everything. Beth, look at me. I did this for everyone who works here, I did it for our family and--" he continues but I zone him out, still trying to process the fact that he just traded me for his company. Is that even legal. It can't even be legal. How did this even work. My dad just traded the only daughter he has for a damn company and is saying he did it for his family. I can't believe this. I can't believe any of it.