Page 12 of The Billionaire's Heart

Chapter 6

Ian

Iheard Rick from accounting make plans with Mia and, for some strange reason, my blood began to boil before Mia reminded me that Rick has a life partner. What the hell is wrong with me lately? Ever since I met her yesterday, she’s been on my mind and I’m feeling this strange possessive feeling over her.

“What’ll it be?” Steph, the bartender at Hooplas, asks me as I sit down at the bar.

“Beer, please.”

“You got it.”

Hooplas is owned by five of my lifelong friends. Actually, there are twelve of us that basically grew up together, but five of them went into this bar and grill business called Hooplas. It’s only been open since March, but the place has been packed almost every night.

I’m glad I invested when I did. Anything I can do for these guys, I will. They are some of the most irritating and obnoxious men I’ve ever known, but they’re true friends that call me out on my shit whenever I need it. Whatever they need, they get because I know they’d do the same for me, too.

When you have the kind of money I do, it’s hard to find someone that’ll call you out when you need it. Most people feel like they need to agree with everything I say. My parents give me shit, my brother gives me shit, and these eleven guys give me shit. They all keep me grounded and I love every single one of them for it. Most days.

“Dude, sorry I’m late. I got caught up at the office.” Garrett says, slapping me on the back as he sits on the barstool next to me.

“No worries, man. I just got here.” Steph brings me my beer. “Thank you.”

“Can I get one of those when you come back this way?” Garrett asks her.

“Of course. Coming right up.” She walks down the bar and brings him back a beer. “Here you go. Let me know when you’re ready for another one.”

“Will do, Steph. Thanks.” Garrett takes a big gulp of his beer. “So, tell me about this deal you’ve got brewing.”

Garrett, like Sawyer and I, was raised with family money. His parents and ours wanted all of us to be down-to-earth people that understood the value of hard work and what it takes to earn our way in life. They sent us to public schools, gave us chores, and held us accountable for our idiotic actions. If they hadn’t done any of that, we all probably would be just like the trust fund kids you see in the tabloids and online. Or worse.

Instead, the three of us have more money than we could ever need and the work ethic to prove it. Plus, we never would have become friends.

“I was out in the Bahamas over the weekend with Sawyer and Dad and saw this real estate opportunity. It’s an old resort. I thought I could transform it back to a high-end resort.”

Garrett looks at me. “How much is it?”

“Three million.”

“Okay… I don’t understand what you’re asking me. Sounds perfect. Buy it, renovate it, and market it as utopia in the Atlantic Ocean. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is that the only people on the island used to work for the resort, but since it closed, they’re living in absolute poverty. The owner of the island for sale only wants to sell the resort island, not the neighboring islands. I need you to work some of your magic to help get him to sell me the surrounding islands.”

“Why?” Garrett’s interested now because that’s his forte… negotiations. It’s how he’s made his billions. People call him in when they have a sensitive or difficult negotiation to get done. He’s the best there is, and I use him whenever I can.

“The guy owns three other islands, and I’d like to connect them together. I want to not only redevelop the resort, but basically create a town for the staff. Schools, parks, entertainment… the works. Give them a better life so that they want to work at the resort.”

Garrett nods his head, and I can see him processing all that I’m telling him. He’s trying to see my vision.

“I think that if I can create some infrastructure, the workforce for the resort will be self-fulfilling. Happy employees make happy customers.”

I watch him take a sip of his beer. “This is pretty ambitious, you know that, right?”

Nodding, “Yep, but completely doable. I’d use Sawyer’s company to do the redevelopment of the resort and the people of the islands to do the infrastructure.”

“What’s the timeline you’re looking to get this completed?”

I take a deep breath, “Well, if I can get all four islands, resort island included, by the end of this year,” I look around the bar, but I don’t really see anything as I’m calculating dates in my head. “…maybe have everything done in five years. Although, I’dwant the resort island and at least housing on another island done within the first year. That way, the employees aren’t living in shacks and the resort will then help fund the rest of the infrastructure.”

Steph comes by with two more beers and takes away our empty bottles as I let Garrett do what he does… think.

---