Page 17 of Out of Bounds
“I better be on my best behavior then.” I smirk.
“Don’t worry. He just wants this done properly. It’s been difficult trying to manage the wine business in Italy from here. I think he’s eager to go.”
“Understandable.” I dip my head and we proceed into the house.
My family have always owned the Crystal Resort on the Beach dating back a hundred years when my great, great grandfather moved over from Tennessee and set it up. It’s the most prestigious resort in Wilmington that’s right there on the seafront. He set up over fifty years ago and people from all over the world visit the place. He was already doing well but became the billionaire he is year before last when his friend and business partner died and left him the beach next to the resort, another hotel which expanded the resort, the country club, yacht club, and fifteen sail boats.
That’s when everything changed. I thought he’s be happy to carry on business and relish in his new found wealth. However, he shocked me when he called me last month and spoke about retiring.
We walk into the grand hall where I find him standing by the entrance of the floor to ceiling glass doors puffing on a Cuban cigar.
He looks deep in thought, and I notice he’s had a haircut and the only dark patch of hair he had on his white head has decreased. He didn’t shave his beard. That’s still down to his chest.
And Grandpa Mackenzie still looks like the badass navy man I loved to listen to when my father would allow me to see him. The muscle he still sports makes him look more like he’s in his late fifties as opposed to his late seventies.
When he sees me, he puts out his cigar and smiles, but the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
It makes me wonder if something is up. My detective senses are telling me something could be.
“Hello son,” he says. He has a deeper southern accent.
“Hey.”
He shakes my hand like usual but gives me a hug too before looking at Mom and Diane and sighing.
“I guess now that we’re all here we can just get right into it. Do either of you want a drink before we begin?”
“I’m fine,” I say.
“Me too.” Mom smiles.
“All right, let’s sit down then.”
We sit in the soft leather sofas and Grandfather takes the armchair with Diane in the one opposite him.
“Well, I won’t lie I barely slept last night.” Grandfather begins and stares at me. “That’s not because I worried about you taking over the business.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Rest assured everything will be in good hands.”
“I don’t doubt that. But what worried me is the stipulations I have in giving you the business.”
Mom and I glance at each other then I look back to him.
“What sort of stipulations?” He never mentioned anything of the sort before.
“Well, that’s what worried me because I know you’re going to disagree with the lot of them.”
“What is it?”
“Well. Traditionally Crystal Resort has always been owned by a married couple. It was something our forefathers were really keen on. While they would have loved where we’ve taken business and the exponential wealth, they liked the idea of it being family run.”
I don’t like what I sense he might be saying to me.
“It will be family run and I don’t plan to sell it,” I assure him.
“I know you wouldn’t. That was never my worry because I know you respect the value of the place in the Dawson family as much as I ever did. That being said, I can’t move on without honoring my own father’s request when I passed on the business.”
“What is that Grandfather?”
