Page 48 of Fortress of the Heart

We have several boutique stores, all designer, plus a beauty salon and spa, several jewelry stores, a barbershop and a gift shop. We will eventually have a waterfront park linked to surrounding riverside paths as well. The hotel and casino sit on twenty-five acres overall; the park alone will take up about six acres. That’s still in the pipeline, as is the golf course.

We’ve thought of everything.

It’s an exciting time for us, and I can’t wait to get things finally rolling. This is my baby, after all, and everything I have been working toward has been for this moment.

While it has had its headaches, plenty of them, like the one currently in progress, I know it will be worth it.

I park out front and swirl my keys in my hand as I see my cousin, Jonas, leaning on the balustrade.

Showtime.

10

MARCO

“The prodigal son returns,”Jonas scoffs.It’s a favorite saying amongst family members and we all use it from time to time.

I’ve rarely seen my cousin in a bad mood. The only time his jaw ticks is when there’s about to be a hostile takeover or something comes out of the blue that messes with his schedule.

“It’s been the week from hell, and it’s still only Monday,” I reply as he hands me a coffee, then add, “Here I was thinking Georgie was my assistant.”

“She’s around here someplace. I thought you might need an extra shot, what with this bullshit with the signage and the contractors.”

I roll my eyes. “They’re on notice. Trouble is, if I fire them, there’s nobody to take over at such short notice.”

“They’re almost done,” he assures me. “I can’t believe they took a piss off the roof.”

“Fucking idiots,” I mutter. “Helena told me it was at the side of the building.” I run a hand down my face.

Despite the shitty news, the place is looking fantastic, but there is still a lot to do. It’s glaringly obvious.

We march through the foyer, and I see the carpet has been laid. It looks incredible.

There are people everywhere.

I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve arrived that they all scatter as soon as I enter, but when Georgie runs toward me in her six-inch heels and almost breaks her neck tripping on the edge of the rug, she careers toward me and lands in my arms.

My coffee manages to spill all over me in the process. Fucking great.

“Mr. Medici!” she cries, her hands flying to her mouth. “I’m so sorry…I didn’t…let me get some napkins!”

She teeters off toward the reception and comes back a moment later, waving a wad of paper towels at me as I motion for her to stop. I don’t need her wiping me down, for heaven's sake. Luckily, my jacket took the brunt of it and not my pants.

“If you break your neck in those ridiculous heels, it’ll be your own fault, not the hotel’s,” I say with a frown. I refrain from telling her that she just ruined my favorite Hugo Boss, which cost about half her salary.

I’ve fired people for less.

I dab myself as Jonas fails to stifle his laughter.

I turn to him. “Something amusing?”

“Isn’t spilling coffee on a Medici some kind of sign?”

“Yes, it means my assistant needs to work on her coordination skills and perhaps wear more sensible shoes,” I grumble, casting an eye at Georgie.

She’s gone a strange color.

I take pity on her even though she hasn’t got the weight of the world on her shoulders as I have. She isn’t bad at her job, and she’s still learning the ropes. I was going to ride her ass about the La Perla situation, but I hold my tongue.

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