Page 10 of 4 Weddings and a Feud

It was like Richardson had a window directly into Alex’s brain. How did he know that thought had tempted him? Years of construction fences, billowing dirt, and noisy machinery would be the perfect fuck-you to the commission and to the other properties on the Strip. It might even drive more traffic to La Villa’s quieter end of it.

But in the end, Alex was a pragmatist. The risk was too great, and he wouldn’t put his and his mother’s security on the line. Revenge wasn’t worth the expense.

He forced his grin even broader. “I’m a simple businessman, interested only in what my partner, Jack Sweetly, and I see as a solid investment.” Tossing in Jack’s name always shored up his legitimacy. “We fully intend to build a grand resort, bigger and better than the Paradise ever was. The plans are in your packets.”

Not one commission member glanced at the glossy folders in front of them. Their stares were hard and cold.

“We’ll discuss your proposal in a private session, Mr. Villa,” Richardson said. “The vote will occur in our next public session on August first. In the meantime, we’ll contact you if we have questions.”

Alex opened his mouth to argue but stopped at Lev’s slight shake of his head. Instead, he flashed the commission members a tight smile. “Thank you.”

He forced his trembling fingers to gather the papers in front of him.

“It’ll be fine,” Lev muttered as the commission members and their support staff filed out. “Our offer is the best they’re going to get.”

But was it? As much work as he’d done to redeem the Villa name, memories in Vegas were long. Especially where a swindle was involved. Would he ever erase the stain his father had left on it?

“Villa.” Richardson stood next to him, his brown eyes narrowed.

Alex swallowed. “Yes, Mr. Richardson?”

“I understand my daughter has decided to host her wedding at your hotel.”

Alex kept the surprise off his face. He’d sent over the contract on Monday, but today was only Wednesday, and he hadn’t received the signed copy yet. “I’m gratified she’s chosen La Villa to host her celebration.”

“I tried to talk her out of it,” Richardson said unapologetically. “But she’s stubborn. Like her father.”

Alex squared himself up. “She wants the best, and that’s La Villa.” None of the big hotels would bend over backward like he was offering to do, not even for a wedding as big as Miss Richardson’s.

“Don’t fuck this up, Villa.” Richardson’s jaw was granite, and Alex heard what he hadn’t said.If my daughter’s wedding isn’t perfect, you’ll purchase the Paradise over my dead body.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, sir.”

ChapterSix

It was a nightmare of his own making.

Alex’s temper was always smoldering, like the embers at the end of the bonfire parties they used to have out in the desert back in high school. Usually, he kept a bucket of water nearby to douse any flame-ups and covered it all up with a smile and a fuck-all-this attitude.

The smile had failed, and the bucket must have been filled with gasoline instead of water because the fire had raged out of control today. And now he was paying for it.

“So…who’s going to run the Sweetlys’ party?” His assistant, Yasmin, leaned on the doorframe of his office as the elevator doors shushed closed behind Evie, whose anger lingered like smoke in the hall. “Joey Campo’s a good kid, but I don’t think he can manage this.”

His pulse still roared in his ears. He cracked the knuckle of his middle finger, then he set his palms on the smooth surface of his desk to cool them. No, the rest of the staff would run right over Evie’s doe-eyed assistant. “I’ll do it.”

Yasmin raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know the first thing about managing parties.”

“How hard can it be? I’m sure Evie left a file somewhere.”

“Harder than you think. Besides, Jack expects you to be at the party shaking hands and looking good, not sweating over how to get another case of champagne at the last minute. Next time, maybe don’t fire your event planner hours before an event begins.”

“You can do it, then.” Yasmin had worked for him almost since the beginning. She knew everything about his operation.

“Oh, no.” She shook her head. “I have plans tonight.”

“Cancel them. I’ll pay you double overtime.Triple,” he amended when she shook her head again.

“No can do, boss. It’s my nephew’s graduation.”

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