33. Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

Tatum

Most people these days prefer working from home. I do not.

For one, I can’t stand my own home and hardly go there. I should probably sell it and put the money into the company, but something stops me from going through with it.

My home at Dane’s is a safe place for me, and the last thing I want to do is mix business and pleasure. I hate working out of the office I have set up there. I need clear boundaries or I’ll end up like Dane, not knowing when I’m working and not working because I’ll be working all the time. I refuse to become that person.

I have back-to-back meetings all day today, so not only will I be in the office all day, but it’ll drag. The part I hate most about my job is all the damn meetings. Being nice to people I can’t stand is something I loathe.

The buzzer goes off and Suzie, my secretary, lets me know my eleven o’clock is here.

“Let him in,” I tell her .

A moment later, my door opens and in steps Marcus Dumont. He hurries to my desk, so I stand and greet him with a handshake.

“Drink?” I ask. “I was gifted this Canadian orange whiskey. I’ve been wanting to try it.”

“Orange whiskey?” he asks, furrowing his bushy brows.

I shrug, holding up the bottle.

“Yeah, I’ll try it.”

I pour us each a finger and sit at my desk, sliding him a glass. I sniff mine, noting the obvious orange scent. Taking a sip, I focus on the flavors, unsure if I like it or not.

“Hm, well, I don’t hate it,” Marcus says.

“I was thinking the same.” I put my glass down and stare at it for a moment. “Though, I do wish they would leave good alcohol alone. Do they have to put orange in everything?”

Marcus chuckles. “You’re a different breed, Tatum. Most people your age can’t handle the good stuff.”

“What can I say?” I grin, holding my arms out wide.

Marcus shakes his head, grinning.

He’s in his early fifties. A good looking guy. We’ve gone out together a few times and the man can party for being more than twice my age. Worked out in my favor when some chick thought she was fucking a father and son. Neither of us told her it wasn’t true.

“So, what’s going on?” I ask.

Marcus is the senior sales manager of Fresh & Cozy Linens, which is the linen company I have a contract with for the resorts. They handle all our bedding and towel necessities.

“I have a business proposition. ”

“Is that so?” I reach for my glass, taking another sip.

Still can’t decide if I like it… I don’t think I’d spend money on it, but the bottle will be empty at some point. It’s a good conversation starter.

“Myrtle Beach—”

“No,” I say with a shake of my head. “I already told you I’m not ready for that kind of competition yet.”

“Now, just hear me out.”

I gesture for him to continue, though my answer will stay the same.

“One of the major hotels is selling, and I think you should buy the building.”

“If a major hotel chain is closing down, it’s because they aren’t making money. Meaning I won’t either.”

“No, it’s not that they aren’t making money, it’s just that it isn’t one of their highest grossing locations. You know how those places are, Tate. What’s profitable to you isn’t profitable to them. It’s like apples and oranges.”

I’m shaking my head as he’s speaking. “Doesn’t sound right.”

“You can look at their records, Tate. I’m not lying.”

I tap my finger on the desk. “What does this have to do with you?”

“Obviously we’d have a contract for another location. It’d bring business for us.” He leans back in his seat, crossing his ankle over his thigh.

“Were you working for them?” I raise a brow.

“Nope. I sent a few guys there over the weekend to scope out the area and see if anyone was looking to switch companies. One of them told us they weren’t interested because they were closing down by the end of the year. The end of the year, Tate. That gives you plenty of time.” He reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls out a tri-folded sheet of paper and hands it to me.

I take it but don’t open it, holding Marcus’s gaze.

“Reservation for tonight.” My eyebrows raise higher. He chuckles. “I may have told my guys to let them know someone may be interested in buying. They offered the suite. I said you probably wouldn’t go on such short notice, but they said they’d hold it anyway. Everything included. All you have to do is book a flight.”

Spending the night in Myrtle Beach? I don’t hate the idea, but not for business. Because I know someone who may want to spend the night with me for fun.

Marcus finishes his drink, leaving the glass on the desk when he stands. “Think about it. Call me Friday with your thoughts. I think this will be good for you.”

He leaves without another word.

I’ve already opened two locations this year. I’m not sure opening another one so soon is a good idea. The last thing I need is to put money into this just for it to flop and take the rest of the company down with it. I can’t afford a big hit like that right now. We’re finally in the green and I’d like to stay that way for a few years before I take unnecessary risks. Because that’s exactly what this is.

Regardless of what I want to do business wise, this is a vacation I don’t want to miss out on. The perfect opportunity that fell right in my lap to make up for the fact that I had to act like Devon didn’t exist this morning when I walked into her room and found her with her brother. It’s a good thing I kept my mouth shut as I walked in and didn’t say something stupid, like how badly I wanted to lick her pussy—which is what I’d intended on doing when I went in.

Dane told me at breakfast he wouldn’t be home tonight. He has a last-minute trip to take to the west coast and will be gone for a few days. Brent comes home tonight, but he’ll be busy working and will likely be in the office all day tomorrow. He won’t even know Devon is gone. Despite what she thinks, it’s Dane who is the overprotective one. Brent loves his kids, but he’s so caught up in his job he doesn’t know where they are half the time. Not unless Dane is sitting across from him in a meeting.

I get on my laptop and search for two plane tickets to Myrtle Beach. Once they’re booked—we leave in a few hours—I call Devon.

“Hey,” she says. I can tell in her tone she’s bitter over this morning. This will make up for it. At least she didn’t ignore my call.

“Pack a bag. We’re going somewhere tonight.”

“Where?” she asks, every ounce of bitterness gone to be replaced with excitement.

“It’s a surprise, but we won’t be back until tomorrow night. And make sure you have a bathing suit.”

“What about my dad? He’s coming home later.”

“Devon, I will, for the foreseeable future, handle your brother and your father when it comes to us, so please stop asking.”

“Okay.” I hear her smile through the phone and it makes me smile too .

“Be ready in an hour. We can’t be late.”

We end the call and I grab my things.

On my way out, I stop at Suzie’s desk. “Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day. I have to check out a location in Myrtle Beach.”

“Oh, okay. Sure.”

She’s a middle-aged woman. Very professional. She’s been here since my father took over and has never spoken an ill word of him or this company, to which I appreciate. She also knows what she’s doing, so that helps.

Once I get to Devon’s, I head to my room to pack my own bag, then knock on her door. I give her a quick kiss when she opens it, pick up her bag, and we’re on our way.