Page 44 of The Last Resort
Maybe I’ll just wait a few more years until the elements have destroyed the place, then come back and make the Brocks a lowball offer.
Having his dream resort pulled out from under him in such a public way, stung his pride, but what hurt more was discovering that Rachel had lied to him. Had she known who he was all along, and if so, had their so-called love connection been all a part of a set up?
It certainly feels like it. She didn’t hold back on attacking me.
His disappointment slowly transformed into anger. The minute he got out of here, he was going to call the legal teamat Royal Resorts. There had to be something they could do to push the deal through.
I’ve spent two years of my life on this fucking project. I’m going to look a fool if I go back to New York City empty-handed.
The planning committee moved back to their respective seats. From the look of it, a decision had been reached. It had better not be another adjournment. He glanced at the pile of money which sat on the table, silently mocking him.
I am done with wasting my time with people who think this is all a joke.
He half-stirred from his musings as the head of the committee leaned closer to the microphone and spoke. “The city and the Brocks have come up with a proposal. A plan of a plan. But before I outline what is going to happen, I need to explain something to you all.” He shuffled several pieces of yellowed, aged paper in his hands, then began to read aloud.
“Aspen city and the original builders of the Green Tree Resort had an agreement. Part of that included a clause which states:If the resort falls into disrepair and no longer functions as a ski lodge, council reserves the right to take back ownership of the land. If, and when, the council deems that this event has occurred, the current owners of any structures on said land will, at their own expense, make good the site, before relinquishing the title back to the city.”
Matthew’s waning interest in the proceedings was revived. With the lodge already falling prey to the weather, the clock had to be counting down. This was good news. If he could buy a clear site, it would save Royal Resorts a heap of money. Matthew curled his toes up in his shoes doing his best not to show how thrilled he was to hear about this unexpected development.
“If title to the cleared site does revert to the city, no structures will be permitted on the site again, and the land will be preserved for conservation,” concluded the chair.
I can’t catch a fucking break tonight.
Dan’s father got to his feet and made his way to the front of the room. He was tall, and solidly built. His salt and pepper flecked hair added to his imposing bearing. This was a man whom you messed with at your own peril.
He beckoned for Matthew and Rachel to come forward. “My name is Gary Brock, I don’t really know either of you two people all that well, but I think I’m a good enough judge of character.”
He turned to Rachel. “Rachel, you, and I met briefly at Dan and Kellie’s wedding. You’ve worked hard to represent my family; and I’m hoping that when you hear what I’m about to propose, that you will agree to continue with that work.”
Matthew kept his gaze forward. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Rachel had torn him down tonight. And it was slowly sinking in that his pain was due to a lot more than just the loss of his design model.
Gary Brock looked at him. “Mister Royal, I think my family may have done you a disservice over the past two years. It’s clear you are serious about developing the ski lodge site. If you are still keen to do a deal with us, then I hope you’ll also indulge me.”
From his jeans pocket, he pulled out a piece of paper. “This is what my wife and I agreed with the committee late this afternoon. All parties will set aside their differences. The presenting representatives of Royal Resorts and the Brock family will agree to go and live onsite at the Green Tree Resort.”
Matthew tore his gaze away and chanced a brief look at Rachel. She was standing with her arms limply by her sides, but her hands were fisted into balls.
“While you are staying at the resort, you will work to come up with a plan that will meet all three of the followingconditions. One, it will be able to pass council. Two, it will gain the approval of the people of Aspen.” He paused and cleared his throat. “And three, it will meet with my family’s stipulation that the main lodge building is preserved.”
My wonderful glass and steel resort just died.
“If those conditions are met, then Mister Royal we will sell your company the Green Tree Lodge. And Rachel, we will double your success fee, and also add a completion bonus of twenty five grand.”
Mister Brock carefully folded up the paper and put it back in his pocket. Silence hung heavy in the room, then over the loud speaker came the voice of the committee chair. “If neither of you agree to do this, then on the last day of May, the land will revert back to the city of Aspen. The Brock family will also foot the bill for the make good.”
Rachel stepped forward. “But …”
The chairman held up his hand, refusing to hear her objection. “You’ve heard what Gary Brock had to say. Now, I want you and Mister Royal to go and take a walk. Buy a coffee or just stand outside in the parking lot and yell at one other, I don’t particularly care. But when you come back, you’d better have come to an agreement because the future of the Green Tree Resort rests on what the two of you decide. Tonight.”
The tick of the clock was loud in Matthew’s head. Go outside and have it out with Rachel or go back to his apartment, pack his things, and get on the first flight out of Aspen. Once he was back in New York City, he could join the ranks of the Royal brothers who had failed in business.
He returned to his seat, grabbed his Hermès scarf, and slung it around his neck, then headed for the door. He’d let Rachel decide if she wanted to follow.
Dumbfounded, Rachel turned to Dan’s father. “Are you serious? I mean how can we go and live onsite?”
The Brocks had paid her a ten-thousand-dollar success payment upfront. And they were promising her another ten grand if she agreed to this mad proposal, plus a generous completion bonus. She couldn’t argue with the money they were offering. If she failed them, the cost of bringing the site back to its natural state would run to several million dollars.
But living in a derelict ski lodge with him?
