~Friday December 20, 2024~

The shuttle van skidded slightly as it climbed the last stretch of the mountain road, tires crunching over the fresh powder. Eliana Buckley braced herself against the seat in front of her, laptop bag wedged between her knees and overnight bag squished at her side. A fresh pine smell filled the air, and the heater kept the van warm enough for Ellie to unzip her thick winter coat. She felt like a tourist as she peered out the window and watched the endless sea of snow-covered pine trees. Her long weekend awaited.

Snowcap Ridge emerged through the trees, a luxury winter retreat perched on a ridge overlooking the valley in Aspen Colorado. Built in a U-shape around a central courtyard, the sprawling lodge of timber and stone had vibes of both Scandinavian elegance and Rocky Mountain warmth. Glass walls opened toward the mountain, allowing guests an amazing view of the natural-forming slopes.

The resort itself was a winter paradise, a vacation destination catering to the wealthy. There were balconies trimmed with frosted railings, sweeping glass windows, and rustic features that fit perfectly with the snowy mountain environment. Smoke was curling from the chimneys against the pale morning sky as the van approached.

Ellie’s stomach twisted from her usual anxiety before a major event. At least she didn’t have a role that required her to cater directly to the needs of the wealthy elite. Ellie reminded herself that her job was accounting. There was no reason for the Brinkerhoffs to even notice she existed. That was her hope, anyway. Unlike people, numbers were logical and easy to understand. Numbers behaved.

The shuttle rolled to a stop in front of the entrance to the Grand Lobby, the old vehicle groaning slightly as the driver placed it in park. Glancing out the window, Ellie’s eyes passed over the welcoming entrance and traveled all the way over to the South Wing. The Staff Wing hidden behind it was her destination. A little world behind the scenes where she could breathe.

Zipping her winter coat, Ellie stood and placed her laptop and overnight bags over her shoulder. Tugging her winter hat down, she made her way to the front of the van. The driver wished her luck as she walked by, and Ellie offered him a small smile before stepping out of the shuttle.

Bitter cold and freezing winds caused Ellie’s cheeks and nose to redden in seconds. She quickly entered the Staff Wing and was immediately hit by the scent of cedar polish and coffee. Employees rushed around frantically, barely sparing her a glance as they made their way to the discreet service hallway that connected the Staff Wing to the South Wing.

Marcus Halden, the site manager and her boss, took a few minutes to check Ellie in and give her a room key. The tall, charming man thanked her for her hard work and then rushed off to get back to work. He seemed stressed, which was understandable. Snowcap Ridge was owned by Brinkerhoff Luxury Real Estate, and the family had closed the resort for their own private charity event. Everyone was on edge and working overtime.

Eliana’s lodging was a simple staff room on the second floor. There was a queen-sized bed, a desk, and a television. It wasn’t anything special, but still a cozy room. Windows faced the employee lot, but Ellie had taken the shuttle since she would be staying the entire weekend for the first time since the pandemic.

Placing her overnight bag on the bed, Ellie removed her winter hat, allowing her long auburn hair to fall free. Taking off her coat, she spent a couple minutes settling in before it was time to work. Wearing jeans and a blue sweater, Ellie took her laptop to the finance office to start her day.

The small, modern office had two desks, a humming copier, and several drawers of files. A stack of invoices were on Ellie’s desk with a note from Marcus saying everything needed to be reviewed. Letting out a breath, Ellie plugged in her laptop and got to work.

Eliana handled all aspects of accounting and finance for Snowcap Ridge; from accounts payable and accounts receivable, to payroll and financial analysis. Marcus usually helped with the big events, but he wasn’t going to have time. Ellie already had a ton of responsibilities and knew she’d be absolutely buried with the charity event.

Late nights, dedication, and a discerning eye had enabled Eliana to keep Snowcap Ridge profitable during even the toughest times. Her boss had admitted they wouldn’t have been able to stay afloat during the pandemic without her help. If only he had taken budgeting advice from Ellie, maybe he wouldn’t have wasted so much money on that overpriced car. Ellie couldn’t help but judge Marcus for dropping over a hundred grand on a car just to get through a mid-life crisis.

The hours blurred as Ellie worked, not even stopping for her usual lunch break. She ate lunch at her desk as she corrected vendor fees and reconciled accounts. An incorrectly placed decimal had created a charge for over fourteen thousand that had to be fixed. She also updated and reorganized a few spreadsheets.

Roman Dupre, the executive chef, had submitted a large number of vendor invoices for food. He was passionate about food quality and insisted on only the best and freshest ingredients. Ellie was still surprised at how high the produce costs were, and by just how much he had ordered. It was probably the holiday chaos, but Ellie still made a note for herself to take a closer look later.

“Ellie!” Naya Washington exclaimed as she rushed into the finance office. “The Brinkerhoffs are here, time to put the spreadsheets away and come with me!”

“What? Why?” Ellie frowned, turning her chair to face the head of guest experience. “I’m the accountant, why do I need to go out and greet them?”

“You’re staying the weekend, you’ll run into them at some point whether you like it or not,” Naya laughed. She was wearing her usual navy pea coat with gold buttons, which looked amazing in contrast to her dark skin. “Marcus wants us all out there now.”

“Ugh, fine,” Ellie grumbled, getting up from her desk.

The Grand Lobby was breathtaking, a warm and inviting main room where guests often relaxed. It had a vaulted ceiling with thick beams and a massive hanging chandelier. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided an amazing view of the slopes. The center of the room was dominated by a massive stone fireplace. There were leather couches and sofas for relaxing, and a drink station that provided free coffee and cocoa.

Most of the other employees were standing with Eliana, with the exception of the ones who were already bringing luggage to the executive suite. Marcus stepped forward and welcomed the guests, or rather, the owners. He was wearing one of his usual tailored vests over a turtleneck, doing his best to project confidence and competence. Naya stood beside him, promising them a wonderful weekend.

Eliana had been told who to expect and had been given a guest list to memorize. At the urging of Naya and Marcus, Ellie had taken the time to look up information on everyone so she would be able to identify all eight of the arrivals. They were wearing expensive winter clothing that was both practical and fashionable.

Chester Brinkerhoff was the patriarch of the family who had married his high school sweetheart, Natalie. He was a middle-aged man with graying blond hair and blue eyes. His wife was a tall woman with blonde hair and green eyes. Chester’s authority was obvious as he stood in front of the group and exuded confidence.

Max Brinkerhoff was the eldest of their three children, at twenty-eight years old. His wife, Tess was a beautiful brunette with warm brown eyes. Preston was the middle child, and he had brought along his girlfriend, NFL cheerleader Ashley Sullivan. The baby of the family was Vivienne Brinkerhoff, the party girl who was often featured in tabloids. At the age of twenty-four, she was just as wild as she was in college.

The final member of the group was Jessica Romano, the identical twin sister of Tess Brinkerhoff. Jess and Tess worked at their family’s international bank, Romano Global Trust & Holding. Tess was the serious twin and worked as the Director of Philanthropic Strategy. Despite being known as the outgoing party twin, Jess was an ethical investment analyst who was responsible for making sure clients weren’t hiding shady money. Like her sister, Jess was slim and tall, a couple inches taller than Ellie’s five-feet five-inches. Jess was a truly gorgeous brunette with brown eyes and an air about her that Ellie found instantly comforting.

“The other esteemed guests should be arriving shortly, so please feel free to take some time and explore the resort,” the site manager smiled warmly. “Be assured that we are all available to satisfy your every need.”

Chester thanked the manager before asking the head of guest experience to show him and his wife to their suite. Max and Tess decided to pick a sofa to relax on while Preston and Ashley went outside to tour the grounds. Vivi and Jess wandered around the lobby, with Vivi anxiously awaiting the new arrivals. The youngest Brinkerhoff loved high society life and couldn’t wait to post on social media about her weekend with celebrities.

Jess soon grew bored with Vivi’s constant gossip, and she skillfully slipped away after grabbing a mug of hot chocolate. Fortunately, the arrival of a celebrity couple distracted Vivi, guaranteeing Jess some peace and quiet. As she was walking toward the side of the lobby, she accidentally bumped into someone.

“Oh, sorry!” Jess exclaimed, turning to see a stunning redhead in jeans and a wool sweater.

“No, no. It was my fault,” the redhead replied, her green eyes sparkling in the light. “I’m so sorry, miss.”

“No worries,” Jess said with a light laugh. Up close, the other woman’s freckles and light skin made her look like she’d stepped right out of a winter ad campaign. “Sneaking off?”

“Am I that obvious?” the woman gave a crooked smile. “I’m not much of a social butterfly, that’s probably why I’m the accountant.”

“Jeez, they even have the accountant greeting us?” Jess smirked. “Don’t I feel special.”

“Everything has to be perfect, so we’re all working this weekend,” the redhead explained. “I’m Eliana Buckley, everyone just calls me ‘Ellie.’”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ellie,” Jess replied politely. “I’m Jessica Romano, but please just call me ‘Jess.’”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Ellie responded, feeling out of place.

“Jess!” Vivi squealed, making Ellie and Jess jump. “Jared Winslow’s here!”

“I, uh, I should go,” Jess winced. “Sorry! See you around, Ellie!”

Guests continued to trickle in over the hour; celebrities, socialites, and wealthy donors. Damian Falkner arrived with his wife Olivia, and the two of them were soon deep in conversation with Max and Tess. Vivi was practically drooling when the famous drama actor, Nolan Reed arrived. Jess was convinced Vivienne was going to do everything she could to get some alone time with the heartthrob loved by women all over the country.

It was almost time for the welcome reception, so Jess headed to the North Wing to check out her suite. Soft lighting filled the room, revealing the elegant and comfortable space. There was a king bed with plush linens, the frame made of expensive dark wood and covered in leaf carvings. A chaise lounge sat across from the gas fireplace, and a pair of doors led to a private balcony facing the slopes.

Placing her purse on the desk, Jess went to her garment bag and took out her black cocktail dress. She put on a matching pair of heels, dangling earrings, and a diamond necklace before going to the bathroom to fix her hair. Jess smiled when she noticed her private hot tub and expensive shower. Maybe she’d have time for a nice, long soak later on.

The welcome reception was being held in the Summit Ballroom, located in the South Wing of the resort. People were already enjoying cocktails when Jess arrived at the two-story ballroom. She loved the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a great view of the valley. Crystal chandeliers shaped like falling snow hung from the ceiling and there was a balcony for live musicians.

Jess barely had time to snag a glass of wine before the speeches began. The site manager introduced himself as Marcus Halden, welcoming everyone to Snowcap Ridge and thanking the Brinkerhoff family for choosing the resort. He briefly explained the schedule for the evening, which began with the reception. They would have dinner following the reception, and then there would be an outdoor gathering by the firepit.

A petite woman in her thirties with strawberry-blonde hair was the next to speak. Bianca Alcott was the event coordinator for the foundation and she quickly thanked everyone for their generosity. The Brinkerhoff Winter Radiance Gala was being held to from Friday to Sunday to raise money for the Starlight Hope Foundation, a charity that specialized in gathering funds for childhood cancer research.

The third speaker was Doctor Lila Kent, a pediatric oncologist. Tess spoke next, and Jess made eye contact with her sister and pointedly yawned. Fortunately, Tess was able to complete her speech, waiting until she was walking back into the crowd to flip off her twin. Chester Brinkerhoff was the final speaker, and he briefly talked about the importance of the cause before telling everyone to mingle before dinner.

Jess sipped her wine as she spoke with friends and acquaintances. She even got the chance to talk with the most famous person at the event; billionaire pop star, Alison Tey. Tall, thin, and blonde, the singer had one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. Alison was with her boyfriend, NFL player Troy Kirby. They had been together a couple of years and were looking forward to a relaxing weekend at the resort.

Snowcap Ridge had two gourmet restaurants; Ember & Pine and Crest. Ember & Pine was contemporary dining that focused on classic local food, while Crest was a more stereotypical restaurant for fine dining. Dinner was being held at Crest; a multi-course meal with assigned seating.

Crest was the kind of restaurant that every elite resort loved to showcase; sleek pale wood, soaring windows, and tables spaced widely enough for every conversation to feel private. Jess ended up sitting next to Tess, and Max got the usual joke reminder to make sure he took the right one upstairs at the end of the night. The twins rolled their eyes when Preston suggested he just take them both.

The dinner started with multiple introductions and another couple of welcome speeches. Just before the food started coming out, a man in his forties stood up to speak. Chef Roman Dupre was wearing a black chef’s coat personalized with tiny embroidered snowflakes. He briefly thanked everyone for coming and said he hoped they enjoyed the dinner he had prepared.