Rulers of Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

tucked it inside the envelope it came in. At last, everything was in motion. The list was complete. Though some of the tasks would take years to implement, the seeds were planted and ready to grow.
    With Linc’s help, the remarketing campaign was well underway and already proving to be a big success. Grant had overseen fundamental changes with their luxury line of hotels, ensuring that both appearance and functionality were up to the standards set by Cyrus decades earlier.
    She’d been busy trimming the fat off the family bone and paying off her relatives who couldn’t give a damn about how the hotels were run. She’d also spent the last year working closely with McAllister and helping convert his hotels into the Vasser brand. It was a merger well matched, and she enjoyed his friendship as well as his insight. He profited off the additional revenue that came with the Vasser name, and she benefited from his years of experience as the CEO of a mid-range hotel chain.
    At last, the Vasser Legacy was secure. That and the pride she felt at knowing her grandfather would be pleased was enough to have her happy dancing and popping champagne bottles inside her head.
    “You did well, Mads.” Grant came up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
    “I did, didn’t I?” She turned away from the conference room window to face him, eyes lit with pleasure. “Though I couldn’t have done this without you. I hope you know that.”
    His head dipped in an appreciative nod, and she took a moment to admire his resemblance to both her and the grandfather they had shared and loved. The rich, dark brown hair, trim and neat and always impeccably styled. Tawny brown eyes, though his were shades darker and more direct than her own.
    He’d lost the shadows that used to hide under those eyes, signs of the stress and weight he once carried on his back. The year since the scandals nearly destroyed their family had been good to him, both professionally and personally.
    It was as much the success of the family business as it was his wife’s smile that saved him. And, perhaps, saved Madison as well. She’d gained not only a sister-in-law, but also a valued friend.
    “We’ve come so far.” She walked to the expansive conference table, lifting one of the file folders her brother had brought in. The knee-length scarlet dress-suit she wore shifted against her skin as she tossed back her sable waves of hair. “These numbers are impressive.”
    “It seems the smear on our name is fading. People have begun to trust the Vasser brand again.” There was pride in his voice coupled with an ounce of hesitation. Grant was never one to count eggs before they’d hatched.
    “As they should.” She reached for another folder, this one a detailed report on the progress with the McAllister merger. “We’re just days away from beginning construction on another mid-range Vasser hotel. That’s the third one this year.”
    “Things are moving along quickly.” Grant came up beside her and thumbed through a short stack of papers. When he found the one he wanted, he handed it to her. “These are the reservation numbers for the two hotels we’ve opened so far.”
    She reviewed the stats, the charts he’d created and the graphs showing comparisons to their luxury hotel stats from previous years. “Incredible.”
    Grant smiled as they met eyes. “I agree.”
    “We’re fortunate that Reed McAllister signed on for all this, though he’s certainly profiting from it.”
    “He’s a good man.”
    She nodded. “He is. We’re going to have to meet with him in a few days, once Linc gets back from his honeymoon. Last we talked, Reed mentioned he wanted us to meet his son.”
    “It’s a family business, just like ours.” Grant glanced at his watch, then began gathering up the paperwork and files. “I have to get home. Quinn’s cooking tonight.”
    Madison rolled her eyes, though the move was affectionate. “When is she not cooking something?”
    He shot