Chapter 5
Chapter Five
A lex never sweated. But today, standing in front of the gaming commission, a drop skidded down his back under his dress shirt and caught at the waistband of his trousers.
He resisted the urge to tug at his collar. He d thought wearing a tie would help his case. All it had done was constrict his air supply and capture the heat around his torso.
He sucked in a breath through his nose as Lev, behind him and in charge of the laptop, desperately flashed up another chart. It showed the solid growth of La Villa after its first lean year, when Alex had done anything he could to lure customers in from the more popular center of the strip.
One of the commission members shuffled through his papers. Another looked at her phone. The other three scowled at Alex. He shot them his most affable smile, hoping it masked his nervousness.
The gaming commission had never been fans of his. Alex hadn t tried to hide who his father was or what he d done. Instead, he d done everything he could to show them he d never follow in his father s criminal footsteps. He d double- and triple-checked every required form, he d poached the most reputable casino manager from one of the big casinos, and he d partnered with Jack Sweetly, the most upstanding investor in Vegas.
When no one else had offered for the falling-down piece of shit, they d grudgingly approved his purchase of the budget motel with its unrestricted gaming license. They d probably thought with the money he d sunk into the operation and the nonexistent foot traffic at that end of the Strip, La Villa would fizzle out within a year of opening, and after someone razed it to build a strip mall, they could give the gaming license to one of the bigger outfits in the heart of the Strip.
But they didn t understand how desperately Alex wanted to succeed.
They d been shocked at the scantily clad women he d hired to lead crowds of people from the center of the strip to the ass-end of it where he d renovated the dilapidated old motel into a grand casino and resort. They d been appalled at the tiny shorts and revealing tops his dealers and waitstaff of all genders wore. But those gimmicks kept people in the casino at La Villa, and soon people wanted to stay in the hotel, too. Gamblers and nongamblers wanted to eat in the authentic Italian restaurant with the exquisite wine cellar Alex cultivated on his trips to Tuscany.
And he d do the same with the Paradise, if they d let him.
From the head of the conference table, Ray Richardson sliced a hand through the air. Hold on, please.
Lev froze, mid-gesture at the graph that showed the sharp rise in La Villa s gaming taxes, which only proved how profitable the operation was.
Do I understand correctly that you plan to demolish the Paradise?
Alex s left eye twitched. He d worked hard with his lawyers to bury that detail in the paperwork they d submitted. But Ray Richardson hadn t risen to become the president of the commission by missing details.
That s correct, Alex said. My team doesn t believe the building is worth salvaging.
Richardson glanced at his colleagues with a grim smile. The newer members of this commission might not recall that Mr. Villa s father formerly owned the Paradise. I wonder if the demolition of the casino has something to do with erasing that history?
Alex put up his palms in a pretense of openness and honesty. It s a business decision. Renovations would cost far more than a rebuild.
Richardson tipped his head to the side. Is it really your intention to rebuild, or will you leave the empty lot as a screw-you to everyone who doubted you, including this commission?
It was like Richardson had a window directly into Alex s brain. How did he know that thought had tempted him? Years of construction fences, billowing dirt, and noisy machinery would be the perfect fuck-you to the commission and to the other properties on the Strip. It might even drive more traffic to La Villa s quieter end of it.
But in the end, Alex was a pragmatist. The risk was too great, and he wouldn t put his and his mother s security on the line. Revenge wasn t worth the expense.
He forced his grin even broader. I m a simple businessman, interested only in what my partner, Jack Sweetly, and I see as a solid investment. Tossing in Jack s name always shored up his legitimacy. We fully intend to build a grand resort, bigger and better than the Paradise ever was. The plans are in your packets.
Not one commission member glanced at the glossy folders in front of them. Their stares were hard and cold.
We ll discuss your proposal in a private session, Mr. Villa, Richardson said. The vote will occur in our next public session on August first. In the meantime, we ll contact you if we have questions.
Alex opened his mouth to argue but stopped at Lev s slight shake of his head. Instead, he flashed the commission members a tight smile. Thank you.
He forced his trembling fingers to gather the papers in front of him.
It ll be fine, Lev muttered as the commission members and their support staff filed out. Our offer is the best they re going to get.
But was it? As much work as he d done to redeem the Villa name, memories in Vegas were long. Especially where a swindle was involved. Would he ever erase the stain his father had left on it?
Villa. Richardson stood next to him, his brown eyes narrowed.
Alex swallowed. Yes, Mr. Richardson?
I understand my daughter has decided to host her wedding at your hotel.
Alex kept the surprise off his face. He d sent over the contract on Monday, but today was only Wednesday, and he hadn t received the signed copy yet. I m gratified she s chosen La Villa to host her celebration.
I tried to talk her out of it, Richardson said unapologetically. But she s stubborn. Like her father.
Alex squared himself up. She wants the best, and that s La Villa. None of the big hotels would bend over backward like he was offering to do, not even for a wedding as big as Miss Richardson s.
Don t fuck this up, Villa. Richardson s jaw was granite, and Alex heard what he hadn t said. If my daughter s wedding isn t perfect, you ll purchase the Paradise over my dead body.
I wouldn t dream of it, sir.