26. Drew: Family Pressure

Chapter twenty-six

Drew – Family Pressure

My family is pressuring me to close the Florida deal and maximize assets for the company. But I am struggling with my internal conflict between my duty to the family and my growing feelings for Meg.

"We need to close this deal, Drew," Troy says over Zoom. He looks tired and worn down.

"I don't see it happening," I admit, mirroring the same lack of empathy he dished out to me just a couple of days ago. "I've been talking to the owner for days and he won't budge."

"Didn't you say you thought you were getting through to him just the other day?" He asks. "What happened to that?"

"I thought I was but every time I bring up the contract, he says no. He won't even entertain the idea of negotiating. He'll give me his time to listen to what I have to say but that's about it."

He sighs like he's more annoyed than anything. "Our team has been doing more research into Seaside and if we get this contract, the revenue is going to be huge," he insists. "We can't afford to let this get passed off to another company."

"Troy, I don't think any company can get this guy to agree to a buyout, so if competition is your biggest worry, I think you're fine," I insist. "He keeps telling me that the inn is going to his granddaughters when he dies, and he wants it to stay with them."

"So, if we want the place, shouldn't we be talking with the granddaughters then?" he points out, smirking. "Why don't you use your charm to win them over?"

"They're not budging either. I think they got to him before I could," I admit.

"Drew, we need to get this contract."

No, we don't. We're already billionaires. We don't need this deal or any others, really . "I keep telling you, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Let's just move on to the next project." I try shifting gears.

"Ugh," he groans, and his smirk fades quickly. "You've dealt with tougher owners. Do whatever you need to do to get the guy to sign, okay? J ust make it happen ."

Before I can object, he ends the call, leaving me swearing under my breath. Sometimes I wonder if he even considers how hard my job can be. He acts like he can snap his fingers and poof! I can make deals happen.

The Bellamy brand doesn't care about the heart of a place. They just want to make the biggest buck. I hear Meg's voice echo in my head. The more I try (and fail) to work with my brother, the more I realize she's right.

Troy doesn't care that this inn is tied to a family legacy and a community. All he cares about is convincing the right people to sign a contract. He didn't so much as ask how old the granddaughters were, just said that they needed convincing. He didn't care why the owner would want his family's input on the deal.

Has my brother really turned into the icy executive that I see and frankly loathe in myself? Is there anything else left of him? If I walk down that path, will there be anything else left of me?

The more I struggle with this, the more I realize that I need to find a way to reconcile my personal desires with my professional obligations. I want Meg more than I want this stupid buyout, because not only is it coming between us, but it's making it hard to work with my own family.

This whole visit was just supposed to be a research trip into buying a sleepy inn on the beach, nothing more. Instead, it's turned into my worst nightmare: not only struggling to close a deal but falling for the perfect girl in the process and hurting her at the same time.

How the hell am I going to make this right?