Page 10 of Merry with a Tycoon

Well, two good reasons that from a business standpoint, doesn’t make any sense.

I’ve always known the building needed a major overhaul—hell, it should be razed to the ground so we can start over with something that’s more in line with the Hollister brand. We could bring in shops with more brand recognition and charge rents so high none of the existing shop owners could ever afford, not even Crystal.

But I can’t do that and I suspect, neither can my mother. Like me, she knows Seaside Square is special. It’s the first retail property my father bought with his own money—not Mother’s money that included the hotels along the Boardwalk and many others all over the country. He fixed it up himself, keeping the beachside feel of it with its muted colors and and weathered wood siding.

I run my hand along the railing as I climb the steps to Teddy’s townhouse overlooking the beach, remembering the stories my father used to tell. How he’d work on the Square every weekend, determined to prove to my mother’s family that he was worthy of her. The Hollisters might have been old money, but Thomas Hollister was all grit and determination.

It’s easy to forget sometimes that our family’s wealth originated from my mother’s side. The world sees the Hollister name on our hotels and assumes it’s always been that way. But my father was a blue-collar worker who caught the eye of Lorraine Hollister, much to her father’s chagrin.

Against all odds, against the disapproval of the Hollister patriarch, my parents married. And Seaside Square became a symbol of their love, of my father’s determination to carve out his own place in the Hollister empire.

It’s why we’ve never raised the rents, why we’ve allowed the same families to run their small businesses here for generations. It’s not just a property—it’s my father’s legacy.

I’ve been putting off the renovations, telling myself I was too busy with the Shanghai project. But the truth is, I’ve been afraid of changing something so fundamental to who we are as a family. Afraid of losing that last tangible connection to my father.

As we approach Teddy’s front door, I steel myself. This isn’t just about business anymore. It’s about making things right.For the tenants of Seaside Square, for my family’s legacy, and maybe, just maybe, for a chance at something real with Crystal.

“Ready, boss?” Javi asks, his hand poised to knock.

I nod, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

After Javi knocks on the door, it swings open, revealing Teddy wearing a silk blouse over jeans, a glass of wine in her hand. Music plays loudly from the speakers.

Her eyes widen when she sees me. “Preston? What are you doing here?”

I step inside without waiting for an invitation. “We need to talk.”

She leads us to the living room, a space that screams ‘trying too hard’ with its mix of trendy art pieces and overpriced furniture. She picks up a remote from the coffee table and presses a button, stopping the music.

“So what’s this about?” she asks as she gestures for us to sit down.

Choosing to remain standing, I clear my throat. “We’re here about the rent increases at Seaside Square.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, that. I was just trying to maximize our profits, Preston. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Not like this,” I say, my voice stern. “Do you have any idea of the damage you’ve caused?”

“What damage?” she exclaims, looking surprised “Seaside Square could use a hike in rent, Preston. The place is a dump.”

“Boss, I’ll wait outside,” Javi says as he makes his way to the front door, “give you two some privacy to discuss business.”

“I understand your desire to want to prove yourself a capable businesswoman, but this isn’t the way to go about it,” I begin as soon as Javi steps outside. “I admit, I should have talked to you the moment my mother gave you the position, but I didn’t and so I’m taking responsibility for this.”

Her eyes narrow as she eyes me suspiciously. “So what are you going to do?”

“Seaside Square isn’t just another property. It’s part of our family’s legacy.”

Teddy rolls her eyes. “Legacy? Please. It’s a run-down strip mall that’s barely turning a profit. We could tear it down, build something modern, and triple our income overnight.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Is this how the rest of the family sees my father’s hard work? As nothing more than a liability on our balance sheet?

“That ‘run-down strip mall’ was the first property your uncle bought with his own money,” I say, my voice low and intense. “It’s where he proved himself worthy of marrying into the Hollister family. And those businesses you’re so eager to kick out? They’re part of this community. They matter.”

Teddy scoffs, taking another sip of her wine. “Community? Since when do you care about that? All you ever talk about is expansion and profit margins.”

Her words sting because there’s a kernel of truth to them. I have been focused on growth, on living up to the Hollister name. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten where we came from.

“I care more than you think,” I say quietly. “And it’s time I started showing it. The rent increases are off the table. We’re going to renovate the square.”

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