Page 85 of Claimed By my Frenemy

Theo nods, a smile playing on his lips. "But what I was thinking is that we could start planning some events—things that would bring our guests together and create even more memories. Maybe we could host beach parties, cooking classes, or guided tours. We could even collaborate on some special packages that include stays at both the bed and breakfast and the resort."

The idea excites me, and I can’t help but smile. "That sounds wonderful. I love the idea of creating more experiences for our guests. And it would be a great way to bring our businesses even closer together. I think a cooking class would be super fun."

We spend the rest of the evening brainstorming ideas. And as I talk with Theo, I feel more and more excited about the possibilities.

My bed and breakfast is turning out exactly like I dreamed it. I can’t wait to tell my friends about it.

42

THEO

Sitting at my desk,I stare at the numbers on the screen in front of me. The resort's financials are solid, even though I had to scale back some of the original plans. Revenue is up, bookings are steady, and guest feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

I read a couple of the most recent Google reviews.

“Fun place with kids. We went bowling every afternoon, and the kids never got tired of it!”

“I have a love/hate relationship with the casino on-site. Definitely had fun!”

“Great place for people of all ages. No need to drive places to relax. Everything is right here.”

I smile at the reviews, proud that I’ve created exactly the atmosphere I was aiming for. All the hard work, the late nights, and the stress have paid off.

Still, I can’t just sit back now. I’ve never been the type of person who can just rest on success and assume I’ve reached it. I’m always striving for something else. And right now, it’s time to think about the next step, the next investment. There’s always another challenge to take on, another opportunity to seize. I’ve been eyeing a few properties in the area, places that have thepotential to be just as successful as the resort. But this time, I want Mia to be part of the decision-making process. Maybe that’s just an excuse to spend more time with her, but I don’t care.

I find Mia in the kitchen of her bed and breakfast, chatting with one of the staff. She looks up as I walk in, her face lighting up with a smile that never fails to make my heart skip a beat.

She finishes her conversation with the staff member quickly, then comes over and gives me a quick kiss. "Hey, Theo, how’s everything going?"

"Great," I reply, feeling a rush of warmth at her touch. "I was just going over the numbers for the resort. I’m doing really well, even with the changes I made. But now it's time to think about the next project."

Mia’s eyes sparkle with interest. "What do you have in mind?"

"I’ve been looking at a few properties. I thought we could check them out together. I’d love to get your input if you’re not doing anything else today." I pull out my phone and show her a couple of properties.

She nods eagerly. "I'd love that. When do you want to go?"

"How about in a couple of hours? I need to finish up something at the resort, then I’ll be ready.”

Mia squeezes my arm. “Sure. I’m going to prep the welcome packets for my guests coming in this afternoon, then I’ll be ready.”

A few hours later, we’re driving along the coast, heading to the first property on my list. It’s a charming old inn with a lot of character, but it needs some serious renovations. As we walk through the empty halls, Megan points out details she likes.

“Look at that lighting fixture! It’s so unique.”

“It should be hanging over the front desk, not in the middle of a hall that half the guests won’t see.”

“I agree. It needs to be a centerpiece so it can get the attention it deserves.”

“Mmm, you’remycenterpiece,” I tell her. I can’t believe cheesy things like this are even coming out of my mouth, but Mia manages to bring out the cheesiness in me.

“What do you think of the property as a whole?”

“It looks like it needs alotof work. Would it be worth it when you won’t be able to charge nearly the price for those rooms as you would for your resort?”

“I’m not sure. I’d have to run the numbers now that I have a list of repairs that would need to be done. It’s good to offer low-budget options too, though. That way, I’m reaching all sorts of crowds.”

Next, we visit a beachfront property that’s currently just an open lot. It offers a blank canvas with endless possibilities, but it also comes with the challenge of starting from scratch. I’ve just done that, so I’m not afraid of doing it again, but I need to make sure I can invest the funds in that big of a project.

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