AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Callan
I’m surprised I have any hair left after all of the times I’ve run my finger through it and tugged on it over this past week. Never has one of my own creations become such a living nightmare. This project has turned a paradise into hell on earth. This resort, my ultimate design, the one that I’ve been most proud of, a beacon of luxury, has become a cesspool of chaos and despair.
What can go wrong has gone wrong — embezzlement, sabotage, and things breaking all over the place. I can’t figure out what in the hell has actually gone right. The worst part of all of this is it’s supposed to be open by now. Instead of celebrating with Sasha at my side during a grand opening, which was going to be the next stop on our spontaneity tour, I’m grappling with issue after issue.
Walking through the lobby, I glare at everyone. I don’t know who the culprits are, but the staff is discouraged and I’m frustrated. The woman I want to be with more than any other is thousands of miles away and I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I’m losing her. I shouldn’t have any thoughts left allowing me to even think about personal problems when my company is blowing up, but she’s on my mind more than the problems here.
I need to focus. I’m stuck in this place, trying to salvage what’s left of my reputation in this country along with saving my sanity. I can’t look at anyone and see anything but resentment and frustration. What have I done so wrong? Why do people get upset with me building these places when it brings so much prosperity to their communities? You’d think they’d appreciate it. I just don’t get it.
I lean against the wall and watch as people clean up and try to fix what’s been broken. No one looks my way. I’m not often invisible. Maybe I need to stay hidden so I can hear what people are thinking, what they’re feeling. Is my approach in these communities upsetting the public? Am I too focused on these resorts being grand? I didn’t do that in Hawaii. I made that resort fit into the environment because I immediately fell in love with the spectacular place and didn’t want to ruin it. Luxury doesn’t mean a thing if it’s at the cost of the locals discontent.
As I take several more minutes to look around and think, I decide it’s time to change my strategy. I want to create stunning places, but the focus needs to be on the local environment so everyone can appreciate what I’m bringing. Sasha’s right in that; I’m an outsider. I can’t stomp into these places and demand they bend to my will. It will continually cause problems and stress... for the community and for me. It’s not too late for this place. I can turn this around.
First, I need to tackle some of the immediate problems. Someone is embezzling and needs to be rooted out. I don’t tolerate theft. If someone wants something they damn well better earn it. It won’t be easy, but I’ll find the person or people, and they will be prosecuted.
The sooner I solve this problem, the sooner I can get back to Seaville. I need to talk to her, to be with her, to figure out what in the hell is going on between us. It’s been a week and I miss her. I’ve never missed someone before. I need help to figure things out.
There are two people I can fully trust... my brothers. I leave the resort and head outside where I can be assured of privacy and place a call to Zach to explain all that’s happening. I breathe a sigh of relief when he tells me they’ll be on the next plane here. With nothing else to do for the night I head to my room and desperately try to sleep. Morning will come soon enough, along with help.
I toss and turn for most of the night, but by the time I come downstairs, Blaze and Zach are on their way from the airport. I smile for the first time in a week. I send everyone away because my brothers and I need to do a walk through, and I want to be able to talk freely.
“The heroes have arrived,” Blaze calls as he and Zach walk into the lobby.
I turn and smile as I move forward. “I appreciate you coming. This is hell.”
We flick each other a whole lot of crap, but at the end of the day, we truly are there for each other when we need to be, even in our worst moments. No distance can break the bond we formed in our childhood. We might’ve lost our way for a while, but we always find our way back home eventually.
“What do you need?” Zach asks.
I walk them over to a table where I’ve laid out a whole lot of paperwork. We have blueprints, financial reports, contracts, and a list of employees.
“I don’t even know where to start. It’s all a mess. This place is supposed to be open now, but we’ve had money and property stolen, shoddy work, and incomplete inspections. I need to get this turned around and I’m not sure who I can trust.”
“Let’s get to work then. We’ll figure it out. There’s nothing we haven’t been able to solve when the three of us put our heads together,” Zach says.
Blaze looks over the paperwork, then gives me a glance. “What is it?” I ask.
“You might not like it.”
“I probably won’t, but I asked you here for a reason.”
“All of this looks like it’s caused by a deeper problem. I think if you want it to stop, you need to talk to the community, assure them you want them actively involved, and want them to be a part of this. If they don’t think you’re coming in to take over, but to bring them something to enhance the community, then they’ll be your eyes and ears when you can’t be here,” Blaze says.
I nod. “I came to the same conclusion over the past twenty-four hours. I might have to revamp my entire business plan if I want to keep building these resorts.”
“At least you’re willing to learn. Many corporate giants think they can do no wrong. I’m not saying you’re doing it wrong, I’m saying change can be good. Communities like this seem to want more intimate places, which is a different mindset from city people.”
“I’ve learned this talking with Sasha. As soon as I showed her my place in Hawaii, her entire attitude about a resort changed. Let’s schedule a town hall meeting and let the people speak, and assure them we’re here to work with them, not against them.”
We draw up more plans, my stress already starting to fade. Together we come up with a solid business plan, then schedule a meeting for the next day. I’m incredibly grateful they came. We’re all exhausted by the end of the day and fall asleep with no problem.
The next day, we stand in front of a crowded room, shoulder to shoulder, a united front. A sea of skeptical faces is in front of us, but we aren’t deterred. Zach and Blaze have natural charisma, and we spend hours allowing the citizens to voice their concerns. Some questions need answered three or four times, but we never lose patience. Maybe they’re testing me, making sure I’m not just blowing smoke, that I mean what I’m saying. I don’t change my answers, and the attitude in the room shifts. There’s a new air of cautious optimism. It really does help to simply listen to people. Complaints I ignored in the past, I listen to and address. Just because I might think something isn’t important doesn’t mean others don’t. Who’s to say one opinion is more important than the next?
It takes hours, but we finally get some of the issues resolved. It will only be a matter of time before it’s all solved. By the time we walk out of the meeting, we’re exhausted, but I’m feeling better than I have since I had to leave Sasha on the island to get home on her own. I feel like total garbage over that.
“I need a drink,” Blaze says when we’re away from all the people.
“I agree,” Zach says.
