Between an Inn and a Palace Lies a Single Deed
Piper Hayes · Completed · 7.2k Words
Introduction
"Doesn't Clara's family own a hotel? Cresthaven, right?"
"Since it's your family's place, we could each just chip in fifty bucks for the venue, like you're supporting your own business or something."
Cresthaven is the hotel my grandfather gave me on my eighteenth birthday.
Because it never advertises, outsiders assume it's just some bed and breakfast out in the countryside. In reality, the basic suites run eighty-eight hundred dollars a night, private dining rooms have a hundred-thousand-dollar minimum, and the ingredients get flown in fresh from around the world every single day.
She wants to hand me fifty dollars and get a free two-day retreat for fifty people.
I turn her down on the spot. Next week is already fully booked.
But that night at ten, Ashley posts in the group chat anyway:
[Good news! Thanks to Clara's generous support, the whole club is heading to Cresthaven next week for a two-day retreat, completely free!]
The replies underneath are wall-to-wall flattery.
She wants to use my hotel to buy herself goodwill and build her own reputation.
But that's up to me, not her.
Chapter 1
Clara's POV
The club is planning a team retreat, and sophomore Ashley suddenly raises her hand at the meeting.
"Doesn't Clara's family own a hotel? Cresthaven, right?"
"Since it's your family's place, we could each just chip in fifty bucks for the venue, like you're supporting your own business or something."
Cresthaven is the hotel my grandfather gave me on my eighteenth birthday.
Because it never advertises, outsiders assume it's just some bed and breakfast out in the countryside. In reality, the basic suites run eighty-eight hundred dollars a night, private dining rooms have a hundred-thousand-dollar minimum, and the ingredients get flown in fresh from around the world every single day.
She wants to hand me fifty dollars and get a free two-day retreat for fifty people.
I turn her down on the spot. Next week is already fully booked.
But that night at ten, Ashley posts in the group chat anyway:
[Good news! Thanks to Clara's generous support, the whole club is heading to Cresthaven next week for a two-day retreat, completely free!]
The replies underneath are wall-to-wall flattery.
She wants to use my hotel to buy herself goodwill and build her own reputation.
But that's up to me, not her.
Friday afternoon, the club's weekly meeting is in full swing in the business school's lecture hall.
As vice president and treasurer, I sit at the edge of the long table, quietly going over last month's books. The club's budget is never much, so I track every dollar carefully.
"Everyone, settle down!" Tyler, the club president, slaps the table. "Recruitment went really well this semester. To help everyone bond, we're planning a big retreat next weekend. Any thoughts on where to hold it?"
Before he even finishes, Ashley shoots her hand up. "Tyler, I heard Clara's family owns a hotel. Cresthaven, right? Since it's basically hers, why don't we just have the retreat there?"
Every head in the room turns to look at me.
I set down my pen, frowning slightly.
Cresthaven really is mine. My grandfather signed it over to me on my eighteenth birthday. It's an exclusive, high-end property that keeps a low profile. It sits on a hillside outside the city, doesn't have a star rating, and doesn't market itself anywhere. It runs on a strict invite-only membership, and every guest who stays there is wealthy or powerful, no exceptions.
Ashley clearly has no idea about any of that. To her, it's just some countryside inn.
"Cresthaven isn't going to work," I say, keeping my voice even. "First, we don't take walk-ins, let alone a group of forty or fifty. Second, next weekend's already been booked solid for months."
Ashley's face falls. "Are you saying you just don't want us to come? We're all in the same club. You could even charge us regular price, it's not like we're asking for a handout."
"It's not about the money." I look at her flatly. "The cancellation fees are steep. I'm not about to bump paying guests just because our club wants to have a party. And besides, the setup there isn't exactly built for a bunch of college students."
"Wow, way to make me feel like I'm not even one of you guys." Ashley's tone turns sugary sweet. "I get that you're strict with the club's money, but come on, your family's hotel just sits there empty most of the time. Would it really kill you to let us use it? We can even each chip in fifty dollars for the venue, think of it as supporting your business."
I laugh. She actually has the nerve to say that out loud.
Fifty dollars? A welcome glass of champagne in Cresthaven's lobby costs more than that. And she wants to get a whole retreat out of it for free?
"No." I close the ledger, done arguing. "If you want a retreat, go find a venue in the city. The club will reimburse it through the normal process. Cresthaven's off the table."
I grab my bag and walk out, leaving a trail of whispers behind me.
I figure that's the end of it. My position couldn't have been clearer. But I underestimate exactly how far Ashley is willing to go.
At ten that night, I step out of the shower and my phone won't stop buzzing. I open it to find the club's group chat has completely exploded. Ashley has posted a message tagging everyone:
[Good news, everyone! The venue for next weekend is locked in! Big thanks to Clara for making this happen, we're all heading to Cresthaven for a two-day retreat, totally free! Feel free to bring friends too! Let's give Clara a round of applause!]
The replies pour in underneath. Thank you so much. So generous of her. Ashley you're amazing, you actually got the tightwad to say yes.
My expression turns cold as I read it.
She's acting first and explaining after the fact, cornering me in front of everyone. I already know exactly what happens if I push back now: I become the petty villain who won't let the club have its fun.
But being the villain has never scared me.
I reply directly in the chat: [I already made this clear at the meeting today. Cresthaven is fully booked and does not host retreats. Ashley's message is false. Please find another venue.]
The moment it sends, the chat goes dead silent.
Less than a minute later, Ashley is calling me. I barely pick up before her voice comes through, sharp and accusing.
"Clara! What is your problem? I already told everyone it was happening, and now you humiliate me in front of the whole group?"
Last Chapters
You Might Like 😍
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates
"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."
I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.
Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.
"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."
New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.
Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates
When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.
But she doesn’t know about the child she’s carrying or that the moment she left, Domonic decided rules were made to be broken - and now will he ever find her again? Will she forgive him?
Tango with the Alpha's Heart
“He met her at the Alpha training camp,” he said. “She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice.”
My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks.
Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna.
Emily became the laughingstock of the pack on her 18th birthday and never expected the Alpha's son to be her mate.
After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that her mate has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, she disappears from the pack.
Now, five years later, Emily is a respected high-ranking warrior in King Alpha’s army.
When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate.
Will her mate figure out it is her?
Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
The Blackthorn Saga: The Heir (Book 1 & 2)
Pulled into a hidden world he never knew existed, Kruz is forced to face the truth—he isn’t just different.
He’s a vampire.
The transformation is only the beginning. Thrust from a life of survival into one of power, wealth, and expectation, Kruz is given a position no one his age should hold: District Elder.
With it comes authority. Responsibility. And enemies he doesn’t yet understand.
And then there’s the bond.
Forced into a connection he didn’t choose, Kruz is tied to a girl—whether he wants it or not. She’s a complication. A problem. A constant reminder that his life is no longer his own.
Because the one person he wants… is the one he can’t have.
As pressure builds and danger closes in, Kruz is forced to walk a line few survive—between duty and desire, control and instinct, the life he had and the one being forced upon him.
Because in this world, power isn’t earned slowly.
It’s given.
And if you’re not ready for it—
It will destroy you.
One Weekend with the Billionaire
I open my mouth to respond, but all that comes out is a staggered breath and a small sigh. He chuckles, a low, rough rumble and then leans down and kisses the middle of my back.
I feel the tip of him again at my entryway. He pushes in slightly, and my body comes to life again. My muscles react to his presence, contracting and loosening, as if my body is trying to suck him deep inside.
He's my husband's boss, so this is supposed to be wrong.
So why does it feel so right?
Braxton Merriweather always gets what he wants. Now, he wants her--Julia Thompson, the wife of one of his workers. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he knew he had to possess her in every way.
When Jeff Thompson takes him up on the bargain he proposes, Braxton is shocked. He's even more surprised when Mrs. Thompson agrees.
But now that he's had a taste of her, he wants more. How can he possess a woman who's already married to someone else?
Julia feels trapped by her marriage to her high school sweetheart. In the two years since they've been married, he's changed, and not for the better. When billionaire Braxton Merriweather shows interest in her, she's flattered. And intrigued. Is it possible that one of the richest men in the world could really want her?
And if so... what does she do about her husband?
One Weekend with the Billionaire is a sexy story for mature readers.
The Spy Who Left
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
The mafia princess return
Offside Temptation
Ethan Ryder was a disaster waiting to happen. Hot-headed, reckless, and constantly one bad decision away from ruining his career. I was supposed to hate him. Instead, I memorized him. I learned exactly how to push his buttons on the ice just to see the fire in his eyes.
When he grabbed my jersey in that locker room and kissed me in front of twenty cameras, it wasn't a mistake. It was the moment the line between hatred and obsession finally snapped. The media called it a scandal. They called us a divorced couple. But they didn't see the way Ethan trembled when I cornered him in the hallway afterward.
"You're staring again," he whispered, his back hitting the wall.
"You're still here," I replied calmly, stepping close enough to feel his erratic pulse.
He thought I was cold. He thought I was controlled. He didn't realize that every time he looked at me, I was fighting the urge to completely destroy the distance between us.
Now, the league is forcing us to live together, train together, and smile for the cameras to fix our public image. But the more time we spend alone in my apartment, the harder it is to pretend I just want to play hockey...
Taste of Fate: The Vampire King's Human Mate
He reached for the back of my head and pulled me up just enough to reach my neck. When his fangs slid into me, the pain was instant, electric. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My hands found his shoulders, clawing for something to hold. My legs kicked. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
He moaned against my throat as he drank, and the sound was devastating.
Invincible Upon Release: The Strongest Mage
Her family looked down on him, and even she herself said coldly: “You’re not worthy of being my husband.”
Everyone thought this newly released good-for-nothing was just a poor fool who’d taken the fall for his brother.
Thorne said nothing.
He merely raised his hand, gently pressing his bride’s forehead.
In an instant, the chaos in her eyes faded. Holy light surged from beneath the church, shooting into the sky.
The world’s only candidate for the Saintess, blessed with holy power, slowly opened her clear eyes before him.
Iron And Glamour Just Don't Mix
Well… Sometimes you just might turn out to be right.
It turns out, the fae stole my little brother. In his place? A pixie with boundary issues and a talent for home repairs.
I’ve spent my life taking care of everyone else. So when my baby brother is taken, I don’t hesitate. I walk straight into a faerie mansion and make a bargain with its infuriatingly charming master.
Kie is everything you’d expect from a dangerous fae, beautiful, political, and entirely too amused by me. Power wrapped in a smirk. Sensual, mischievous, and far too aware of the effect he has on people. He agrees to help me find my brother.
For a price.
Now I’m bound by a faerie bargain and navigating a world of glamour, manipulation, and ancient rules I definitely should have learned sooner, enchanted forests, political games, magical contracts, and a fae lord who treats seduction like a perfectly reasonable negotiation tactic.
Iron is how I keep people out.
Glamour is how he draws them in.
And apparently, they just don’t mix.
Lethal Web of Mafia's Revenge (Sequal to "Innocent in Mafia's Web)
He was a beast inhabiting this mansion, inflicting inhuman torture on my poor soul. He had created a living hell for me, this pitiful girl, within his castle.
On this cold winter night, he threw my wounded body into the icy pool, arrogantly enjoying it all, drinking and smoking expensive cigars. A satisfied, cold smile played on his lips as he reveled in my pain. His face was filled with the darkness of sin.
“How...more...am I…still…standing?” I stammered, my lips trembling.
Zain paused, thinking. Then, turning away from her, he replied:
“Until you die!”
With that, he left. As he wished. At that moment, my wish came true; I died.
But not in a frozen pool; I was struck in the head by a bullet from afar, blood splattering everywhere—that was far more gruesome.
My consciousness began to fade, but suddenly, I opened my eyes again and found myself mopping the floor in an ordinary restaurant.
I was startled: What happened? I was reborn? This is unbelievable!
