ONE
Logan
“I swearif I hear one more complaint from the tourists, I’m going to walk out of this resort and never come back,” I grumble.
“Is owning a ski resort really that bad?” Levi asks over the phone.
We’ve been friends since we served together in the army. However, we don’t see each other very often. And it’s not about the money. Levi inherited his father’s business, a global hotel chain.
I made some early investments in a few tech companies that I’d never heard of and thought I’d be lucky if I had enough for retirement in forty years. Instead, I ended up a billionaire.
I guess I got lucky.
My luck seems to have run out, though.
I bought a ski resort in Montana. The place needed renovations and what I thought would be the hard part is over. Except that was a breeze. The contractors blew through the original estimate like water and found every expense in the book to tack on.
I’d never hire them again, but the place is mostly done. Four times over budget. And I’ve got to make up the money somehow. Adding a few dollars per ticket for an entrance fee helps, but it’ll take years to recoup my investment.
“Oh, the logistics are great. The resort itself is gorgeous. It’s like your house times three.”
Levi chuckles. “Are we seriously measuring how big our houses are and comparing?”
I let the innuendo slide. I hadn’t meant what he’s suggesting.
“How’s Julianna?” Levi asks.
Julianna is fifteen and ready for college. She wants to go away to school, move out of the country if she can, and be as far from her old man as possible.
I’m not keen on that arrangement, and just because I have the money doesn’t mean I’m flushing it down the toilet for an education in drinking.
If she gets into a top-notch school, I’ll handle the tuition, but she’s not going to Oxford on her current GPA. And I’m not letting her fly to England or Paris to get the same degree she could get here just because she wants to travel the world.
She can take a gap year.
But I’m not funding it.
I didn’t come from money, and I don’t want her to think it isn’t hard-earned, even if I got lucky.
“She’s on holiday break,” I say, and scratch the back of my neck. “New school has her a bit overwhelmed, I think, too. You should come out with Amelia. Julianna would love to see her.”
“Do you think you have room for us at your place?” Levi asks, poking fun at me.
“I think we can spare a room. I mean, I could just charge you double, since I’m sure you’ll be the biggest pain in the ass in the entire lodge.”
“I can’t be any worse than the grandmothers who try to take their grandkids skiing,” Levi says.
He’s not wrong.
Julianna is out of breath, jogging toward me and coming into my office. “I have to go.” I hang up before I can give a proper send-off to Levi. He’ll understand.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, glancing her up and down. Why the hell is she running around?
“The floor out there is crazy crowded, and you’re in here, hiding,” Julianna groans. “I can’t believe you’re making me work floor duty.”
“I’m not making you mop the floors.” My gosh, the kid knows how to lay it on thick.
“You deal with the customers, Dad. See what it’s like behind the actual desk, not in your office.”